Dave's Picks Volume 21
Grateful Dead · 2017
217 min · 34 tracks · psychedelic rock
A sprawling tapestry of improvisation and heartfelt lyricism, blending rock, folk, and blues into a singular live experience.
Top tracks — play these first
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Promised Land Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
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Box of Rain — This track features poignant lyrics written by Phil Lesh as a tribute to his dying father, showcasing the band's ability to convey deep emotion through music.
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Playing in the Band — The extended jam on this track exemplifies the Dead's improvisational skills, evolving organically over its lengthy runtime and inviting listeners into a hypnotic musical journey.
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China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider — This medley is a quintessential showcase of the Grateful Dead’s signature style, seamlessly blending two songs that highlight their lyrical storytelling and musical synergy.
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Stella Blue — A hauntingly beautiful ballad that encapsulates themes of loss and longing, demonstrating Jerry Garcia's emotive vocal delivery and melodic guitar work.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album captures the essence of live Grateful Dead performances with strong improvisation but lacks tight cohesion due to its sprawling nature.
What we noticed
- The album features extended jams, with several tracks seamlessly transitioning into one another, creating a continuous flow of music.
- Many songs are performed in medleys, with improvisational sections that diverge from the original studio arrangements.
- The performances vary in tempo and mood, with some tracks building to climactic peaks while others maintain a more laid-back vibe.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic journey with improvisational peaks
- for extended listening sessions
- engaging storytelling throughout tracks
- great for late-night adventures
- waves of emotional release
Maybe skip if you
- prefer short, standalone tracks
- seek instant gratification
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Deep Cut — Part of an archival series, appealing mainly to dedicated fans of the Grateful Dead.
- Themes
- father-son farewell· psychedelic improvisation· live musical journey
- Career context
- Released in 2017, Dave's Picks Volume 21 is part of the ongoing archival series celebrating the Grateful Dead's extensive live recordings. At this point in their legacy, the band had long been recognized as pioneers of live improvisational rock music, having built a devoted following over decades since their formation in the mid-1960s.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Phish· The Allman Brothers Band· Jefferson Airplane
Tracklist
Disc 1
- 1 Promised Land Start here 3:37
- 2 Deal 4:42
- 3 Mexicali Blues 3:41
- 4 Brown‐Eyed Women 5:46
- 5 Beat It On Down the Line 3:36
- 6 Row Jimmy 8:24
- 7 Looks Like Rain 7:50
- 8 Wave That Flag 5:48
- 9 Box of Rain 5:18
- 10 Big River 4:36
- 11 China Cat Sunflower > 7:12
- 12 I Know You Rider 5:45
- 13 You Ain’t Woman Enough 3:13
- 14 Jack Straw 4:46
Disc 2
- 1 Don’t Ease Me In 4:06
- 2 Playing in the Band 17:35
- 3 Ramble On Rose 6:38
- 4 Me and My Uncle 3:23
- 5 Mississippi Half‐Step Uptown Toodleloo 7:11
- 6 Greatest Story Ever Told 5:24
- 7 Loose Lucy 7:07
- 8 El Paso 4:28
- 9 Stella Blue 7:47
- 10 Around and Around 4:41
Disc 3
- 1 Here Comes Sunshine > 9:19
- 2 Jam > 11:08
- 3 Me and Bobby McGee > 6:07
- 4 Weather Report Suite: Prelude > 3:11
- 5 Eyes of the World > 15:58
- 6 China Doll 6:12
- 7 Sugar Magnolia 8:59
- 8 Casey Jones 7:26
- 9 Johnny B. Goode > 3:37
- 10 And We Bid You Goodnight 2:11
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
At Fillmore East
The Allman Brothers Band
Features extended improvisation and a blend of rock and blues in a live setting, capturing a similar vibe.
A Live One
Phish
Shares the same spirit of live improvisation and eclectic song selection, creating a unique concert experience.
Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane
Combines psychedelic rock with heartfelt lyricism, echoing the emotional depth found in Grateful Dead's work.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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