Phish - Best of the Phish Live Series?

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I really like #9 ('89) and #19 ('91 w/ Giant Country Horns).

I have 9 of them in all: 2, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 19.

The ones I have are mostly pretty cool for specific reasons, but some were a letdown. For instance, I got 13 and 15 because they were covers of the Beatles and Talking Heads. While they are both done well and interesting and I suppose I needed to have them for that novelty factor, I would rather have Phish material.

#4 is great because it is super slow and ultra perfect, the quality sounds practically like it was done in a studio.

#2 is good, but the recording is pretty lame. Not terrible, but not great. A bit thin and tinny.

I'm looking for stuff like the old Amy's Farm tape that was circulating back in the late 80s/early 90s (and why was it not released in the live series? It's one of the best shows ever!)

Or really excellent more recent material like that disc #4 of the highest quality.

I can't afford the whole series, though I could've bought the package deal and saved a bundle, but at this point I'd just like a couple more of the really perfect ones. The Bomb Factory seems a little too much Tweezer, but I've never heard it, so maybe I"m wrong?

― Big Eyes, Sunday, 30 January 2005 03:06 (twenty-one years ago)

I like the blank one

― kyle (akmonday), Sunday, 30 January 2005 03:10 (twenty-one years ago)

That is a good one. But not really what I'm looking for.

― Big Eyes, Sunday, 30 January 2005 03:12 (twenty-one years ago)

The ones that I think are (probably) worth getting:
12/29/94 Providence (20)
10/31/95 Rosemont Horizon (14)
8/14/93 Tinley Park (7)
10/31/94 Glens Falls (13)
12/14/95 Binghamton (1)

I don't know the post-95 stuff well, but don't find that era that exciting. I have the Fukuoka disc; it's ok.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Sunday, 30 January 2005 03:22 (twenty-one years ago)

I actually don't own the Quadrophenia set, but think that that was their most effective 'halloween costume' qua Phish music, especially given the reprised versions (Drowned, Sea and Sand) on 12/31/95, which, if not the Greatest Show of All Time, is my sentimental favorite.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Sunday, 30 January 2005 03:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Being at Halloween 94 was excitement enough, but the only stuff to really take away from that show are the great (I recall) Reba and Bowie, and maybe the Sleeping Monkey.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Sunday, 30 January 2005 03:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Halloween 95, though, is nearly wall-to-wall

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Sunday, 30 January 2005 03:28 (twenty-one years ago)

I've never understood what was so special about Amy's Farm, btw. There are better (earlier, usually) shows from that (ok, but not that exciting) era, and better (later) horn shows.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Sunday, 30 January 2005 03:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, I know what you're saying. To me, it's so different that it's very cool. What I noticed about the LATER post-95 stuff, especially around 2000 is that they sound like something completely different. They are less raw and the live recordings are flawless and crystal clear, which allows you to really hear the smooth tones and textures offered in place of the earlier raw appeal. Granted, the earlier stuff was more focused and generally faster and goofier, but there's something pretty damn cool about their later ethereal vibe, too, especially since they had less trouble being 'on' when they experimented in the later days. Some of those earlier jams would get out in left field and then >blat< a fuckup reigns it back in. They weren't terrible fuck-ups or anything, but the later stuff sounds like some sort of unified conscious being playing all parts for its own amusement, rather than churning out the hits and the jams for an enthusiastic audience.

― Big Eyes, Sunday, 30 January 2005 03:32 (twenty-one years ago)

oh, and the Bomb Factory should be added to my worth-getting list, though it might be in a maybe category with Binghamton and Glens Falls

there's nothing wrong with too much of one song, if in fact that song goes somewhere interesting (like the 12/29/94 Bowie and 10/31/95 YEM). back in the day, the Bomb Factory Tweezer was one of the storied ones. I never thought it was so great, but also thought it wasn't terrible. haven't listened lately.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Sunday, 30 January 2005 03:34 (twenty-one years ago)

You know what's especially good about Amy's Farm? The Dude of Life is not only BEARABLE, it actually sounds very Phish-like somehow. They had it laid back and just perfectly done. The studio CD was so sterile and play-by-numbers it just sucked in comparison. Plus the chick singing in "She's Bitching Again" had a really cute delivery that was nowhere to be found elsewhere. Trey's guitar was flowing in and out seamlessly. The whole thing sounded very authentically like a 60s or 70s band that might've opened for Cream or Hendrix. Thank you Mr. Miner was also very nice. A lot of that recording was the first time I heard certain songs, too, so maybe that is why I have such fond memories. But a cleaned up LIVE SERIES version would be excellent for sure. Definitely better than #2.

― Big Eyes, Sunday, 30 January 2005 03:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Also, yeah, i definitely want more horns! Recommendations for horns?

― Big Eyes, Sunday, 30 January 2005 03:41 (twenty-one years ago)

thx for your input, btw!

― Big Eyes, Sunday, 30 January 2005 03:41 (twenty-one years ago)

eleven months pass...

so has anyone heard the 12/31/95 disc that just came out? I'm not necessarily going to claim it as more superfanesque than any other show, but this is near or at the top of their live work as far as many fans are concerned. there's a fair amount of embarrassing fuckuppery, especially in the somewhat-restrained first set (though without the visuals you can't catch Trey laughing at how badly he fucked up), and the actual improv is hit or miss, but there are also (perhaps pre-composed) moments that really are among the best stuff they've done, especially if you like the Trey-out-front stuff more than the more collaborative era that followed. and the song selection is fairly strong.

of course, i may be biased given that i was in the 4th row, Trey-center, with a 2-foot-long multi-colored tropical felt fish on my head, drinking, er, blackberry brandy.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Thursday, 12 January 2006 19:42 (twenty years ago)

it might be the best exponent of Phish-as-great-rock-(rock 'n roll, even?)-band

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Thursday, 12 January 2006 19:46 (twenty years ago)

what with Who, Chuck Berry, and Edgar Winter covers. plus the usual fauxs, e.g. Zep (Chalkdust)

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Thursday, 12 January 2006 20:08 (twenty years ago)

two years pass...

hey gabb i seem to remember phish played 'come sail away' live every now and again

am i inventing this or is it true and if so where can i find recordings

― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Friday, 10 October 2008 06:54 (seventeen years ago)

oh to be prince caspian...

― CaptainLorax, Friday, 10 October 2008 07:01 (seventeen years ago)

four years pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNHIFM0Y87c

― xzanfar, Sunday, 9 June 2013 01:37 (thirteen years ago)

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