Dick's Picks Volume 35
Grateful Dead · 2005
290 min · 45 tracks · psychedelic rock
A vibrant tapestry of improvisation where classic rock meets psychedelic exploration, showcasing the Grateful Dead's eclectic spirit.
Top tracks — play these first
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Big Railroad Blues Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
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Sugar Magnolia — This track exemplifies the band's ability to blend upbeat energy with intricate musicianship, making it a fan favorite during live shows.
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Truckin’ — With its narrative storytelling and iconic hooks, this song reflects the quintessential Grateful Dead experience, embodying their spirit of wanderlust.
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Morning Dew — A hauntingly beautiful rendition showcases emotional depth and vocal harmonies that resonate with themes of loss and hope, highlighting their lyrical prowess.
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 and a varied setlist.
What we noticed
- The album features extensive improvisational sections, with several tracks seamlessly transitioning into one another, creating a continuous flow.
- Many songs are extended versions, often exceeding ten minutes, allowing for deep exploration of musical themes and solos.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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9/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. 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
- improvisational spirit and exploration
- dynamic journey with peaks
- long-form jam sessions
- for communal listening
- wave-like pacing for relaxation
Maybe skip if you
- prefer short, standalone tracks
- seek instant gratification
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Deep Cut — Part of a live archive series, appealing to dedicated fans but not a primary entry point.
- Themes
- post-Garcia legacy· live improvisation spirit· American road trip
- Career context
- Released in 2005, Dick's Picks Volume 35 is part of the extensive archive series that celebrates the Grateful Dead's live performances. At this point in their career, the band was already a cultural institution, continuing to influence the jam band scene and maintain a devoted following despite the passing of frontman Jerry Garcia in 1995.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Phish· The Allman Brothers Band· Jefferson Airplane
Tracklist
Disc 1
- 1 Big Railroad Blues Start here 4:02
- 2 El Paso 5:40
- 3 Mr. Charlie 3:44
- 4 Sugaree 7:23
- 5 Mama Tried 3:05
- 6 Bertha 6:43
- 7 Big Boss Man 5:39
- 8 Promised Land 3:56
- 9 Hard to Handle 8:45
- 10 Cumberland Blues 5:36
- 11 Casey Jones 5:55
- 12 Truckin’ 10:08
Disc 2
- 1 China Cat Sunflower > 5:28
- 2 I Know You Rider 5:59
- 3 Next Time You See Me 4:34
- 4 Sugar Magnolia 6:27
- 5 Sing Me Back Home 10:49
- 6 Me & My Uncle 3:39
- 7 Not Fade Away > 6:24
- 8 Goin’ Down the Road Feeling Bad > 6:09
- 9 Jam > 4:08
- 10 Johnny B. Goode 4:34
- 11 Uncle John’s Band 7:11
- 12 Playing in the Band 5:04
- 13 Loser 6:09
Disc 3
- 1 Hurts Me Too 7:48
- 2 Cumberland Blues 5:42
- 3 Empty Pages 5:22
- 4 Beat It On Down the Line 3:45
- 5 Brown‐Eyed Woman 4:11
- 6 St. Stephen > 5:31
- 7 Not Fade Away > 4:08
- 8 Goin’ Down the Road Feeling Bad 8:24
- 9 Not Fade Away 3:12
- 10 Me & Bobby McGee 6:17
- 11 Big Boss Man 4:30
- 12 Brokedown Palace 5:03
Disc 4
- 1 Good Lovin’ 11:42
- 2 The Other One > 8:06
- 3 Me & My Uncle > 3:14
- 4 The Other One 6:25
- 5 Deal 5:47
- 6 Sugar Magnolia 7:01
- 7 Morning Dew 11:28
- 8 Turn On Your Lovelight 25:42
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
A Live One
Phish
Captures the same improvisational spirit and eclectic blend of rock and psychedelia in live settings.
At Fillmore East
The Allman Brothers Band
Shares a similar live energy and improvisational ethos, blending rock with Southern influences.
Blue Mountain
Bob Weir
Explores themes of American life and storytelling, maintaining a reflective and improvisational vibe.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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