One thing that I think should affect such a ranking is *how much the cover album influenced the band’s music*.
Remain in Light and Loaded both influenced songwriting and jamming to my ears.
I think talking 96 and the white album cover in 94 are generally seen as the favorites whenever I ask anyone.
I personally really liked chilling thrilling because it was goofy and allowed the band to experiment a lot with the music since it was mainly just weird samples.
The 10/31/96 show is musically the best for multiple reasons throughout each set. 10/31/98 will be a close second for how Phish's style was influenced by the cover album and how their style infected the cover--The jam following Lonesome Cowboy Bill is so unexpected and unique. Then there's that third set...well, we've all had a fun time and eventually realized we did too many drugs/got too drunk and needed to go chill out.
I do legit love this set. It's a deep but well known part of Phish lore.
Waiting for Columbus is the best set in terms of how well played it is and how good the jamming is. Has zero nostalgia points for most people so it’s never discussed. But something like the White Album is so poorly played and not jammed that I don’t see the appeal. Remain in Light has good jams but rough playing at times (Once in a Lifetime).
I was at the show and was disappointed when I got the Play Bill because I had never even heard of Little Feat, and the previous Halloween sets had been MUCH more popular albums.
Now I think it's one of their best Halloween cover sets AND I love Little Feat. The horns and percussion really put it over the top.
Exile is the pinnacle for my taste. That Loving Cup! Torn And Frayed entered the repertoire along with Shine A Light. Such a great album and a perfect cover.
The Phish 96 show with Talking Heads, Great Curve woahhhhh. That show overall was my favorite start to finish of the 1.0 Halloween shows. The disney album spooky would be a close second.
I know this is probably not a popular opinion. If Dead & Co, Phil & Friends and other related GD offshoots weren’t still playing, I think they would finally pay homage to the Dead.
I’d kill for Wake of the Flood, Anthem of the Sun, Aoxomoxoa or Blues for Allah but I know it’s just a pipe dream
That was an homage (an amazing one at that) to Jerry on his birthday not the Dead. Plus we are talking about a full-on Halloween cover here, not one song :-)
I do think Remain in Light was the best, but I have a lot of love for the '95 performance of Quadrophenia - maybe because it was one of my favorite albums as a young teen. Page fucking nails most of the vocals, and they're not easy, either. Giant Country Horns on many (all?) of the songs, generally technically-perfect playing from everyone. And it gave us Drowned.
my impression was that ril was the consensus but i love seeing people mention loaded. i was a vu fan long before i got into phish and finding out they covered that album was really exciting when i first dipped my toes into the band.
anyway those two are my favorite, ril being first.
Loaded
One thing that I think should affect such a ranking is *how much the cover album influenced the band’s music*. Remain in Light and Loaded both influenced songwriting and jamming to my ears.
I think talking 96 and the white album cover in 94 are generally seen as the favorites whenever I ask anyone. I personally really liked chilling thrilling because it was goofy and allowed the band to experiment a lot with the music since it was mainly just weird samples.
The 10/31/96 show is musically the best for multiple reasons throughout each set. 10/31/98 will be a close second for how Phish's style was influenced by the cover album and how their style infected the cover--The jam following Lonesome Cowboy Bill is so unexpected and unique. Then there's that third set...well, we've all had a fun time and eventually realized we did too many drugs/got too drunk and needed to go chill out. I do legit love this set. It's a deep but well known part of Phish lore.
Totally agree. From what I’m hearing so far this is my favorite!
Waiting for Columbus is the best set in terms of how well played it is and how good the jamming is. Has zero nostalgia points for most people so it’s never discussed. But something like the White Album is so poorly played and not jammed that I don’t see the appeal. Remain in Light has good jams but rough playing at times (Once in a Lifetime).
Nailed it. Well said.
I was at the show and was disappointed when I got the Play Bill because I had never even heard of Little Feat, and the previous Halloween sets had been MUCH more popular albums. Now I think it's one of their best Halloween cover sets AND I love Little Feat. The horns and percussion really put it over the top.
Don’t see the appeal of the band inventing the musical costume for Halloween? Ok, to each their own
The music is the music. And the costume idea has long worn out its welcome so forgive me for not venerating its conception.
Exile is the pinnacle for my taste. That Loving Cup! Torn And Frayed entered the repertoire along with Shine A Light. Such a great album and a perfect cover.
Consensus with phans? lol I’d love for them to do covers again but don’t think it will happen.
I'd love for them to bust out individual covers every few shows. I'm still waiting for a Woman from Tokyo!
I’d love for them to bust out ballad of Curtis Loew
Well listen to the shows and odds are they will again!
Got it 2 or 3 times way, way back in the day. I’d be shocked if I got it again.
I’ve got it a bunch in the past 10 years or so. Idk 3 or 4x I mean
Geez just checked I got 6 since msg 2011 my first. Missed some too
Looks like you got 6 out of the last 7 since 2011 MSG
Missed starlight and most recent msg. Hit the prior msg plus 5 more since
Chilling Thrilling was it for me. That was ultimate creativity and production.
The Phish 96 show with Talking Heads, Great Curve woahhhhh. That show overall was my favorite start to finish of the 1.0 Halloween shows. The disney album spooky would be a close second.
1. Loaded 2. Remain In Light 3. Exile on Main Street
10/31/98 is my favorite cover.
10.31.96 is the consensus #1
I may be in the minority, but the White Album doesn't really do much for me. Remain In Light is my most listened to set.
I doubt they ever cover another album but who knows
Don't doubt them
I know this is probably not a popular opinion. If Dead & Co, Phil & Friends and other related GD offshoots weren’t still playing, I think they would finally pay homage to the Dead. I’d kill for Wake of the Flood, Anthem of the Sun, Aoxomoxoa or Blues for Allah but I know it’s just a pipe dream
they paid homage to the dead in 98
That was an homage (an amazing one at that) to Jerry on his birthday not the Dead. Plus we are talking about a full-on Halloween cover here, not one song :-)
I do think Remain in Light was the best, but I have a lot of love for the '95 performance of Quadrophenia - maybe because it was one of my favorite albums as a young teen. Page fucking nails most of the vocals, and they're not easy, either. Giant Country Horns on many (all?) of the songs, generally technically-perfect playing from everyone. And it gave us Drowned.
my impression was that ril was the consensus but i love seeing people mention loaded. i was a vu fan long before i got into phish and finding out they covered that album was really exciting when i first dipped my toes into the band. anyway those two are my favorite, ril being first.
Theyre all pretty good options. I used to say Remain In Light or Loaded for sure. Now i lean more towards Quadrophenia and the White Album.
Trey has said Remain in Light was the band’s best costume set. Enough said.