Track Listing

1. Cities
2. Wolfman's Brother
3. Jesus Just Left Chicago
4. Weigh
5. Mike's Song
6. Lawn Boy
7. Weekapaug Groove
8. Hello My Baby
9. Taste

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #25100 in Music
• Released on: 1997-10-28
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Dimensions: .23 pounds

Amazon.com essential recording
For those who eschew the swinging teenage elbows of an actual Phish concert, this 1997 Hamburg date offers a comprehensive account of the quartet's breadth. Talking Heads' "Cities" is a perfect match for their brand of quirky funk. ZZ Top's "Jesus Just Left Chicago" receives a gritty 13-minute reading with ample room for Page McConnell's blues-heavy piano. Guitarist Trey Anastasio alternates between quiet, emotive passages and searing power licks. There's also an a cappella version of the ragtime chestnut "Hello My Baby." Their patented blend of nonsensical lyrics and intense jams is represented by "Weigh" ("I'd like to cut your head off, so I can weigh it... Five pounds? Six pounds?") and by unrecorded fan favorites including "Mike's Song" and "Weekapaug Groove." --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews

Go phishing!
Wow!A great live album. Funky, bluesy,jamming music that shifts tempos beautifully. The version of the Talking Head's 'cities' is a great lead off song followed by a 13 minute exploration of 'wolfman's brother' right into the mellow slow blues of ZZ Top's 'Jesus just left chicago'! Did I say wow already?
I am not a phishead, but enjoy phish's muscic immensly. I have heard Phish was a great live band (never saw them) and this must be the perfect snapshot. Phish in order of my preference: Farmhouse - Slip,Stich, and Pass - Rift - Hoist - Billy Breathes - A live one -. Bait up and cast away!

Blues, Funk, Rock, andJazz. rolled into one tight album!
I'm sorry but no matter what others say this album is so tight and incredible.

Cities- Funky, cool and fresh

Wolfman's- This is probably the highlight of the show! It sounds so tight and perfect. Love it!

Jesus Left Chicago- This comes in right behind Wolfman's. Solid blues and funk. Page is an unbelievable piano player and vocalist.

Weigh- Listen to the comments between this and the last song. Fun. Just a good song. Weird lyrics.

Mike's Song- This isn't the best mike's but it definitely floats your boat. Good good good jam, especially the egyptian stuff near the end.

Lawn Boy- Sweet. A great mellow song. Again, page is so bad!

Weekapaug- My fav. song, Mike tears it up and the comments between Trey and Fishman during the intro are sweet! Great version.

Hello My Baby- They can sing a capella as well. Short and sweet.

Taste- This is the song i listen to the least on the album. It's still a very good song, very solid.

Plain and simple this album is so tight and its just music the way it was meant to be heard. Forget any negative comments. This is where it is. Phish is more musically diverse than anyone else, which makes them the best band hands down. Thankyou and peace.

Rolling Stone Magazine was right!
Rolling Stone said once that Phish was perhaps the most importaint band of the 90's. I hadn't been a serious fan of the group (nor had I a full appreciation for their ability as live performers) until I got this album. The intimate, small crowd setting in Hamburg, Germany makes for a perfect opportunity for Phish to shine. The band seems very relaxed here, and lead guitarist Trey makes reference to having good memories of this particular stage. The first song on the disc is clearly a warm up, not just for the band, but also for the listener. Throughout the rest of the album however, (which I highly reccomend you take the time to listen to straight through without distractions) the band falls further into their groove, and near the end, the four musicians are so attuned to one another in that remarkable Phish way that it simply takes the breath away. This album exemplifies the talents of all four band members and shows their ability to create that wonderful "organized choas" of music that we haven't heard since the days of Pink Floyd and Syd Barret. If anyone doubts that Phish draws a vast amount of inspiration from early Pink Floyd, then look no further for your proof than the 5th track on this album(Mike's Song), which is without a doubt my favorite part of the performance. Mike's Song is a favorite of many Phish fans and doesn't have a studio version. After several minutes of jamming, the group pays homage to early Floyd when the song switches deftly to Syd Barret's psychadelic classic: Careful With that Axe Eugene. Knowing where Phish is drawing inspiration from gives me a new appreciation for their sound. Knowing that Phish is primarily a touring band, and produces a more inspired sound in front of a crowd, I also heartily reccomend that you look into their most popular live concert recording in A Live One. It's well worth a listen as well, but my favorite will always be Slip Stitch.