Dick's Picks Volume 4 cover

Released 30 years ago

Dick's Picks Volume 4

Grateful Dead · 1996

190 min · 18 tracks · psychedelic rock

A sprawling journey through psychedelic soundscapes featuring intricate jams and the band's signature improvisational spirit.

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Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Casey Jones Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
  • →
    Dark Star > — The extended exploration in this track showcases the band's improvisational prowess, transitioning seamlessly through various themes while maintaining an ethereal quality that defines their sound.
  • →
    Turn On Your Love Light — This performance exemplifies the Dead's blending of rock and blues, featuring passionate vocals and a dynamic drum section that invites audience participation.
  • →
    That's It for the Other One > — This track serves as a quintessential example of the band's ability to weave multiple musical ideas into one continuous piece, representing their experimental approach.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

61 /100
Treeline
Higher than 71% of albums we've rated

The album showcases the Grateful Dead's improvisational style and live performance energy, appealing to dedicated fans.

What we noticed

  • The album features extended jams, with several tracks exceeding ten minutes, allowing for improvisational exploration.
  • Transitions between songs often include seamless segues, creating a continuous flow rather than distinct breaks.
  • The first half of the album maintains a lively tempo, while the second half introduces more ambient and experimental sections.
Composition 25% of the score
6/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
7/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
8/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
8/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
5/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 6/10

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

  • wave-like pacing with peaks
  • immersive live performance experience
  • extended jams for deep listening
  • joyful sing-alongs with friends
  • heartfelt storytelling through improvisation

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer short, standalone tracks
  • seek instant gratification

Where this album fits

In the catalog
Deep Cut — Highlights the band's live culture; appeals to dedicated fans rather than new listeners.
Themes
1970s improvisational spirit· psychedelic soundscapes· audience participation energy
Career context
Released in 1996, Dick's Picks Volume 4 captures the Grateful Dead during a period of dedicated fan engagement, following their acclaimed live performances in the late '60s and early '70s. This collection features recordings from 1971, showcasing the band's ability to blend rock with jazz and folk influences, solidifying their status as pioneers of live improvisational music.
New to Grateful Dead? Find your way in →

Tracklist

Disc 1

  • 1 Intro by Zacherle 1:50
  • 2 Casey Jones Start here 4:28
  • 3 Dancing in the Streets 9:29
  • 4 China Cat Sunflower > 5:09
  • 5 I Know You Rider > 5:04
  • 6 High Time > 6:50
  • 7 Dire Wolf 4:23
  • 8 Dark Star > 29:41

Disc 2

  • 1 That’s It for the Other One > 30:07
  • 2 Turn On Your Love Light 30:27

Disc 3

  • 1 Alligator > 3:55
  • 2 Drums > 12:31
  • 3 Me and My Uncle > 3:14
  • 4 Not Fade Away > 13:55
  • 5 Mason’s Children > 3:52
  • 6 Caution (Do Not Stop on Tracks) > 14:24
  • 7 Feedback > 8:40
  • 8 We Bid You Goodnight 1:59

What to play next

Wake of the Flood
Listen next

Wake of the Flood

1973

Continues the improvisational spirit with rich soundscapes and intricate jams.
Blues for Allah
Go back to

Blues for Allah

1975

Sets the stage with experimental sounds and themes that lead into this album's journey.
Full Grateful Dead discography Where to start with Grateful Dead Artists like Grateful Dead
psychedelic rock

If this landed

Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.

At Fillmore East

At Fillmore East

The Allman Brothers Band

Shares a similar improvisational spirit and blending of rock with blues influences in live settings.

A Live One

A Live One

Phish

Captures the same expansive jams and audience engagement, echoing the Grateful Dead's live experience.

Abraxas

Abraxas

Santana

Combines psychedelic rock with Latin influences, creating an intricate sonic tapestry akin to the Dead's style.

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata