A clash between two clubs in administration promised little but provided a feast of attacking football with eight goals scored, plus a host of near misses.
Quite what managers and former top class defenders Terry Butcher and Jim Duffy made of it is unclear, although Butcher must have been delighted to see his team hit three goals or more for the fourth time in six outings as they enjoyed only their third home win of the season, and climbed back into the top six.
The result also ended Dundee's three-match unbeaten league run, but it required a stunning performance from Motherwell.
Jason Dair stole the show by scoring in the first half before creating Motherwell's fourth goal for Alex Burns, and then rounding things off 17 minutes from the end with a low drive into the far corner of the net.
Burns himself fully deserved his goal following a series of missed chances, and his persistence also cleared the way for teenager David Clarkson to slide home Motherwell's third goal early in the second period.
A high scoring affair had always looked likely from the moment Dundee striker Nacho Novo smashed a fierce half-volley narrowly wide after only two minutes.
Dundee deservedly went ahead in the 12th minute when German Sebastian Kneissl, on loan from Chelsea, set up Neil Barrett for a cool finish from ten yards.
The lead lasted barely three minutes as Clarkson's cut-back from the left ran through to Keith Lasley, who fired home from close range after Burns had completely miscued.
Novo briefly threatened again for the visitors, but within a further three minutes, Motherwell had made it 2-1 with Dair supplying a low shot to give him his first goal for the club.
Barrett then grabbed his second of the evening in the 28th minute when a diving header eluded keeper Gordon Marshall and crept over the line.
The first half had been electric, but the second was to prove even better with goals from Clarkson and Novo tying things up at 3-3 before Motherwell finally broke clear.