Customer Reviews

A Live One

5 star:		(67)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When you talk to Phish fans, one of the first things they will tell you is how studio releases are nothing compared to the live scene. 100 % true. This album is the quinessential official release however. Even live releases, Slip Stitch and Pass and Hampton Comes Alive dont compare musically to this album. Some people will say this doesnt even compare to a bootleg of a whole show and thats where I differ. Some live shows are going to have songs that are just "time fillers" and don't feature that great of songs or playing. This album, however, combines the best performances of different songs from 1994 and while the Tweezer might be too long and feature some pointless noodling, all the songs are a work of art.

Bouncing Around The Room: Most fans dislike this song, or atleast say they do. But, I like it alot and while after hearing it a few times it does get old, it is a great song and its fun to listen to every once in a while.

STASH: Yikes! This song is great. The whispered lyrics, the crowd clapping, and the jam are awesome. Definitely one of the better Stashs you will hear.

GUMBO: This rare song was perfect for this album. The mellow jazz in this song is intoxicating. The a capella section is very nice and the chorus is catchy and fun, but not too catchy, which is a good thing.

MONTANA: This is a portion of a Tweezer from Montana. It is only 2 minutes long and is a nice little dark groove. Sounds like 4 guys just sitting in a room practicing.

YOU ENJOY MYSELF: This is without a doubt the quinessential Phish song. It takes a while to figure it out. The first time I heard it, I didnt pay much attention, but this is just musical mastery. Page's piano solo in the middle, the vocal segment is great, The jam is very layered and has many different themes and the vocal jam is very entertaining. Mike's bass is very potent in this song. He is a mad man!

CHALKDUST TORTURE: Straight up rock and roll! The lyrics are great and the jam is fun and somewhat short, but definitely worth listening too.

SLAVE TO THE TRAFFIC LIGHT: This is my favorite song next to YEM and this version is one of my favorites. It is strong to start out then mellow and then builds up to a beautiful climax at the end. If you don't like this song, there is something wrong with you.

DISC 2:

WILSON: In the same league as chaldust torture, even though chalkdust is a much better song. This is a rock and roll song and is very fun in the fact that, like Stash, the crowd participates and you can hear the chants of "Wiiiiilson" in between the opening licks. Very energetic.

TWEEZER: Many people are divided on this song and while I like Tweezer, this one is not for me. It drags on too long and while it sounds different throughout and has a lot of improvisation and experimentation, it can get boring at times. There are so many better versions out there.

SIMPLE: This song is short, sweet, and simple. Nowadays it has a longer jam and the ending vocals is no longer am a capella ending. The guitar riff on this is very catchy and strong. The vocal harmonies are beautiful and this song is, in my opinion, still underrated today.

HARRY HOOD: Some people think this is the best version ever. Back then it probably was, but this is still a top-notch song. The lyrics dont make sense unless you know phish, but are still fun to saing along with, and the composed and jam segments are very beautiful. Definitely worth the price of the 2nd disc.

SQUIRMING COIL: This song is pretty straight forward and in a good way. It is a very beautiful song and catchy in a way. The ending piano solo is almost 5 minutes long and is absolutely the best 5 minutes of anything on this disc. Listen yourself and you will be amazed.

All in all, this disc is definitely worth buying. It was the first Phish disc I ever bought and while it may take a couple times of listening to, to get used to, it is without the best official from the regular-joe, Vermont jam-band. Buy it if you haven't heard it.

Ladies and gentlemen, this album is nothing short of fantastic. Many people say that this album pales in comparison to bootlegs...and I, to an extent, agree. However, it is not a bootleg, it is a live album, and should therefore be compared to all the other live albums on the market. From that mindset, one quickly realizes how brilliant "A Live One" is.

Bouncing Around the Room- A lot of people hate this song. I, personally, think it kicks. Cool guitar line at the end, and some neat layered vocals.

Stash- Ah, the utter brilliance that is Phish is clearly illustrated in this song. A great song with a great jam. This one's all about tension and resolution.

Gumbo- A short, snappy number with a catchy chorus. Nice guitar solo at the end, and cool a cappella breakdown.

Montana- Fair. A brief psychedelic groove that provides a nice transition into

You Enjoy Myself- Brilliant. The playing is first-class, and it has a great Bobby McFerren-esk vocal jam.

Chalkdust Torture- A straight out rock tune with a kicking-yet-musically-intersting solo.

Slave to the Traffic Light- A nice cool-down after Chalkdust. A relaxed reggae tune with cool lyrics.

Wilson- An OK song, but a bit overrated. It has an interesting breakdown in the instrumental section. I personally prefer Chalkdust for a straight rocker.

Tweezer- Ah yes, the source of all the controversy. A great, joyous, and highly weird song with a great, joyous, and highly weird jam. A fun listen, but you have to be in the right mood.

Simple- Sheer joy in it's purest and most undilluted form. A great song, highly underrated.

Harry Hood- A neat song with a beautiful jam. You have to hear this one all the way to the end.

Squirming Coil- The actual song isn't so hot, IMO. However, Page's solo is beautiful.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this album is wonderful. Do yourself a favor and get it!

Peace, N.

If you are fan of Phish, and want to get a CD of them live without going into Bootlegs, there are three choices. First, there is Slip, Stitch and Pass. This a great live album, but not the best. There is Hampton Comes Alive, which is a six CD box set containing two full live shows. It is really great, but it may be too long and expensive for a casual fan or for someone starting out. In my opinion, A Live One, is the best one available. It is 12 great songs on two CDs for a good price. It has Phish's long, intricate jams, like You Enjoy Myself and the 30 minute Tweezer. It also contains their more simple and shorter songs, such as Bouncing Around The Room. In my opinion, the best songs on this album are Bouncing Around The Room, which is the best version of the song I've heard, Chalkdust Torture, Wilson, Tweezer, and Simple. All the songs are great. This is also a great starting place for Phish.

There was a posting that claimed that "A Live One" isn't a good Phish "example" to draw new fans, especially those accustomed to listening to most of the drivel that passes for music on radio and MTV. I couldn't disagree more. While I don't personally like every song on this album, a every single one showcases Phish's musical ability. I have never seen/heard a band (the Dead included, and I am a Dead fan) that could match them when it comes to creativity and new ideas, (whether they throw a brass band in to mix it up or even a fu%^ing vacuum!) In the past few years I've traveled throughout Latin America, Europe, and most recently Australia and New Zealand. "A Live One" is one of the cd's I've always carried, and everyone who heard it for the first time was impressed to say the least. (I had countless offers to buy it from me, especially down under.) A lot of people knock this album because it's not a bootleg, like that automatically takes away from its "coolness." That's ridiculous. "A Live One" is a great gateway to Phish.

This was the first Phish album i ever bought, and i bought it solely on the fact that Trey Anastasio was on Guitar World's 100 Greatest Guitarists List (of course, Billy Corgan was also on that list, but that's another story...). How presently surprised i was when i popped disc one in my cd player! Sure, "Bouncing Around the Room" is a little too "pop-y" but it grows on you. But the song that instantly attracted me was "Stash", the cool intro, the whispered lyrics, and especially the seven-minute guitar jam just pulled me in. Next comes "Gumbo" and "Montana" which i can't say much for other than they're cool too. "You Enjoy Myself" is thought by many to be the quintessential Phish song and i agree with that, nothing says Phish as much as that song, and this version is absolutely amazing. The first disc ends with "Chalkdust Torture" (big rock song) and "Slave to the Traffic Light", both great songs as well. The second disc, to me isn't as great as the first but it's still highly enjoyable. "Wilson" is another big rock song and it's great. "Tweezer", the reason that some people say the disc drags on too long, is simply amazing. Although i don't like this word, i'll say it--it's a great "jam" and if you're really involved in the music and not weened on eMpTV style pop songs, the length doesn't even affect you. I'm not a big fan of "Simple" or "Squirming Coil" but they're still listenable. My favorite song on disc two is "Harry Hood", with its three lines of lyrics and incredible music, it just...uh, i don't know...has to be heard i guess. All in all, this double live cd is excellent and could make a Phish fan out of you (if you're not already)

This is an awsome CD that includes some of phish's absoulute best:

Bouncing Around The Room- I don't love or hate the song, but it's a good opener for an amazing CD.

Stash- Unbeleivible. the jam is on the top 100 jams ever. the climax is so high I want to cry.

Gumbo- A nice, chill, song. the Horns give it a nice touch.

Montana- I odn't know what this song is about. It doesn't really have any depth to it, but it's probably just a build up for the next track.

YEM- freakin incredible. flawless, and done extremly well. Many agree it's the best YEM out there. A MUST HEAR.

Chalkdust- A fast, rockin chalkdust with a nasty guitar.

Slave To the Traffic Light- An awsome version of the anthematic ballad. I was never a huge fan of the song till I heared this version.

Wilson- You can really feel the enegry exuberate, and it's a nice intro to the next track

Tweezer- This 30 minute epic is a very fun listen. Though it may be constantly changing and noodling in different directions, I like it like that. I never get bored of it. You must admit that it keeps you entertained.

Simple- I always thought this was an awsome song, repitive as it may be, and this is a flawless randition of the song

Harry Hood- My favorite track. It's a great song to begin with, but this version just blew me away. It was voted for being the best Harry ever.

Squirming Coil- Is always a rather good song. This version has an amazing 5 min piano solo, though, that remains the perfect ender to an awsome CD

Overall the point should be clear by now: BUY THIS CD OR BE EATEN! it will be the best investment you'll ever make

If there has been a band that has had the most success of being an "underground" band, it would have to be Phish. Phish has long had the reputation of being a band with an "open audio taping" policy and as a result they built up a great following - especially as a live act. . In fairness to the quartet, this is a band that produces some of the most innovative music anywhere on the music scene. For years, I didn't understand what the fuss was about Phish - until I heard them. And when I heard them, it was live on this recording - "A Live One". This is one of the first official live recordings released by the band and it does not disappoint. In fact, this is one terrific piece of work that can satisfy many genres.

The recording was made at "Clifford Ball". "Clifford Ball" is in Plattsburgh, New York - a small city in the northeast part of the state located near the Canadian border. Much of the Vermont-based Phish's live followings are at rock festivals in the Northeast. Phish is commonly called a "jam" band. In the live setting for many of their songs, Phish seems to follow a very simple formula. The songs have simple lyrics - most of the lyrics toward the beginning of the song. Many of their songs are then extended with some beautiful and intricate instrumental pieces - "or jam" pieces. These pieces can be long - and one number on this CD goes up to 30 minutes! If you want to know why Phish isn't played on conventional radio - this is the reason. It's a shame because conventional radio's loss becomes the fans gain. What I like best about many of the long numbers is that it will often take you on a music journey to parts unknown. It's important to know that Phish will grow on you. Some of the songs will catch on right away - other songs will slowly grow on you.

"Phish: A Live One" is a double CD set - but it only has 12 songs. You aren't getting the short end when it comes to music - there are 131 minutes of music. Phish also doesn't make the mistakes that many live albums make. Phish provides as close to a full concert experience as you can get in an audio version. They don't make the mistake of rearranging the order of the songs or putting together a compilation of live numbers from different shows. They provide the songs in order from a single show - this makes the flow go very well and help to create a live experience. The first CD covers all of the material before the first intermission while the second CD covers the second half of the show. You are made well aware of this at the end of the first CD at the conclusion of "Slave to the Traffic Light". Another thing that is nice is how one song goes right into another.

In addition to the long jam numbers, Phish does some terrific short number songs. The set kicks off with a song called "Bouncing Around the Room". This song will grow on you the more you hear it. This song features a few simple guitar chords, a simple drum beat - and some outstanding harmonies by the members of the band. These harmonies are as good as it gets in a song. There isn't a long jam in this song - but it will satisfy. Another short number on the first CD is "Gumbo" - this song has a bluesy edge to it. Finally, the first CD features a Jazz/Rock 2 minute track called "Montana" with some great bass work by Mike Gordon. The second CD (set) kicks off with another "short" song called "Wilson". The crowd is really into this song as they sing along to the chorus of "Wilson!". "Wilson" also featues some very nice guitar and bass work by Trey Anastasio and Mike Gordon respectively. Finally, another nice "short" track is "Simple". This is another great example of some simple lyrics augmented with classic Phish harmonies in action. "Simple" also brings a nice Hard Rock edge to the quartet and some nice keyboards by Page McConnell.

You will have the classic Phish long tracks. There are 6 tracks over 10 minutes long. Two of those tracks "You Enjoy Myself" and "Tweezer" are 20 and 30 minutes long respectively. These songs start out with some vocals at the beginning, but are also two great examples on how Phish takes you on the ride of your life in terms of a musical journey with some terrific instrumental jams that follow. The more you listen to these tracks, the more you will appreciate them. Other tracks such as "Harry Hood" and "The Squirming Coil" might be shorter, but also do a great job when it comes to an extended jam. "The Squirming Coil" has some nice Jazz, Rock, and even a few "Big Band" elements in it. Perhaps my favorite track is "Stash". This is Phish at their finest. It is a 12 minute track, but it blows me away every time I hear it. This featues more of the great harmonies (especially the chorus "Maybe So and Maybe Not"). There is also a Latin Jazz element to this song that really shapes it beautifully - and of course a jam!

The collection is packaged as a mini boxed set. The two CDs are contianed in a fold out with an envelopes (1 for each CD). There is 48 page booklet that contains plenty of Phish band pictures, plus a listing of tracks, band members, acknowledgements, and other credits. There isn't a lot of insight a novice fan is going to get from the booklet - so the novice will have to learn about Phish through their music. Great CD for the novice or deep Phish fan - Highly recommended.

I obtained this double cd in a time period that was very appropriate. I saw my first Phish show on 20th Oct '95 in CR, Ia. A wonderful fall night were Phish blew me away w a performance to remember for very long.
I was a Dead head so went with lots of skepticism. Had listend to this band on and off for a couple of years. When the Dead quit playing, there was a void that needed to be filled.

The show on 20 th Oct '95 and the Madison WI Oct 24th show from the same year, sent me into an absolute bliss of experience, that I will remember on and off forever. WAY FINE MUSIC.

Anyway, lets get to this double cd. It was the first forray of Phish into Live music at a commercial level. And it was a very solid outing. The first disc is classic. Throughout we get awesome Phish. The second disc also, but I stayed a big fan of the Phirst one.

Well, I went on to see this band 4 more times up to fall '97. Taped them twice. Now I live in Chile, South America, very far from a Phish show, but when I think of this cd, I get very cool memories of when I was 20 Years old, heading down to CR to see them. It was a rainy fall night. Very Iowan. And the show also gave lots of quality music.

5 stars.

= )

I'll admit I am the last person in the world who would listen to Phish, i like long improvisations, and all that stuff, its just i did not think this band would be for me, I thought it would be too simplistic to sustain the length of the tracks(thats the jazz buff in me talking). I dont know why I thought that, I had not even heard the music,when I finally heard some Phish, which happened to be this cd, my mind changed. Im not a hardcore fan or anything, I own this cd and thats it, it is very good, but Im not gonna go buy all their albums or anything, I'll take it slowly.

A Live One is a great live album, but, I do agree with most who say songs like "Tweezer" coul have ran a little less that 30 minutes. It seems like a waste of disc time to me, where many more songs could have fit into the same spot, giving a better overall Phish-going experience. However, great versions of "Bouncin' Around the Room," "Gumbo" (witch a great Brass Band on background) and "Wilson" make up the difference. A nice addition to anyone's CD collection, and certainly for anyone who likes Jam Bands, Phish, or live music in general.