Dave's Picks Volume 23
Grateful Dead · 2017
167 min · 21 tracks · psychedelic rock
A sprawling journey through improvisational psychedelia, blending folk melodies with extended jams and intricate musicianship.
Top tracks — play these first
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New Minglewood Blues Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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Terrapin Station > — This track showcases the band's ability to weave complex narratives into their music, with emotionally charged lyrics that build gradually into a grand instrumental climax.
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The Other One > — As a centerpiece of many sets, this track exemplifies the band's signature improvisational style, transitioning seamlessly through various musical themes and moods.
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Cassidy — A fan favorite, this song captures a poignant storytelling element typical of Robert Hunter's lyrics while highlighting Jerry Garcia's emotive vocal delivery.
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Row Jimmy — This track emphasizes the band's softer side, featuring rich harmonies and reflective lyrics that create an intimate atmosphere amidst the more energetic jams.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album captures the Grateful Dead's improvisational style with strong musicianship and cohesive transitions between tracks.
What we noticed
- The album features a continuous flow of music with several tracks seamlessly transitioning into one another, particularly through the use of extended jams.
- Improvisational sections, such as 'Drums' and 'Space', create dynamic shifts in energy and atmosphere throughout the performance.
- 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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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
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 peaks
- improvisational exploration and flow
- extended tracks for deep listening
- lyrical storytelling in waves
- for late-night gatherings
Maybe skip if you
- prefer concise, standalone tracks
- seek instant gratification
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Deep Cut — Part of an archival series, showcasing live performances for dedicated fans.
- Themes
- psychedelic journeys· improvisational storytelling· nostalgic reflections
- Career context
- Released in 2017, Dave's Picks Volume 23 is part of the ongoing archival series by the Grateful Dead, which showcases live performances from their extensive career. At this point, the band had long since disbanded following Jerry Garcia's death in 1995, yet their legacy continued to thrive through such releases, appealing to both new fans and longtime followers.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Phish· The Allman Brothers Band· Jefferson Airplane
Tracklist
Disc 1
- 1 New Minglewood Blues Start here 6:20
- 2 Dire Wolf 4:34
- 3 Cassidy 5:08
- 4 Peggy‐O 7:22
- 5 El Paso 5:21
- 6 Tennessee Jed 9:06
- 7 Jack Straw 6:07
- 8 Row Jimmy 10:36
- 9 The Music Never Stopped 8:07
Disc 2
- 1 Bertha > 6:51
- 2 Good Lovin’ 6:26
- 3 Ship of Fools 7:33
- 4 Samson and Delilah 7:48
Disc 3
- 1 Terrapin Station > 11:07
- 2 Drums > 7:51
- 3 The Other One > 16:57
- 4 Space > 3:52
- 5 St. Stephen > 7:39
- 6 Not Fade Away > 14:08
- 7 Around and Around 8:57
- 8 U.S. Blues 5:52
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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