Rift (album)
Encyclopedia
Rift is the fourth official studio album by the American rock band Phish
. It is the band's second concept album
, the first being The Man Who Stepped into Yesterday
in 1987, which has never been officially released. Rifts songs convey the experience of a man dreaming about the rift in his relationship with his girlfriend. Recorded in September and October 1992 and produced by Muscle Shoals
music veteran Barry Beckett
, the album was released by Elektra Records
on February 2, 1993.
All songs were written by Trey Anastasio
and Phish lyricist Tom Marshall
except "Mound" and "Weigh" by bass guitarist Mike Gordon
and "Lengthwise" by drummer Jon Fishman
.
The instrumental, "All Things Reconsidered", is an intentional variation on the theme to the National Public Radio news show All Things Considered
, and has been featured on the show itself several times. An orchestral version of the song appears on Trey Anastasio's 2004 solo album Seis De Mayo
.
The cover art was created by New York-based painter David Welker
, who worked closely with the band during winter 1993 in order to visually depict each of the album's tracks in a single image, with the notable exception of "The Horse". (For this reason, a horse intentionally appears on the cover of Phish's next album, Hoist
). Relix magazine listed Rift as one of the most iconic album covers of all time in 2007.
Rift was certified gold by the RIAA
on October 15, 1997.
Production
Phish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
. It is the band's second concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
, the first being The Man Who Stepped into Yesterday
The Man Who Stepped into Yesterday
The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday was written as the senior thesis study by Trey Anastasio, the guitarist and lead vocalist of the American rock band Phish...
in 1987, which has never been officially released. Rifts songs convey the experience of a man dreaming about the rift in his relationship with his girlfriend. Recorded in September and October 1992 and produced by Muscle Shoals
Muscle Shoals Sound Studio
The Muscle Shoals Sound Studio was formed in Muscle Shoals, Alabama,in 1969 when musicians Barry Beckett , Roger Hawkins , Jimmy Johnson and David Hood left FAME Studios to create their own studio...
music veteran Barry Beckett
Barry Beckett
Barry Edward Beckett was a keyboardist who worked as a session musician with several notable artists on their studio albums...
, the album was released by Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
on February 2, 1993.
All songs were written by Trey Anastasio
Trey Anastasio
Trey Anastasio is an American guitarist, composer, and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish...
and Phish lyricist Tom Marshall
Tom Marshall
Tom Marshall may refer to:* Tom Marshall , Canadian poet and novelist* Tom Marshall , American singer/songwriter known for his association with the band Phish...
except "Mound" and "Weigh" by bass guitarist Mike Gordon
Mike Gordon
Mike Gordon is a bass guitar player and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish. Gordon is also an accomplished banjo player, and is proficient at piano, guitar, harmonica and percussion...
and "Lengthwise" by drummer Jon Fishman
Jon Fishman
Jon Fishman is an American drummer best known for his work with the band Phish. He is credited with co-writing 19 Phish originals, 8 of them as a solo credit....
.
The instrumental, "All Things Reconsidered", is an intentional variation on the theme to the National Public Radio news show All Things Considered
All Things Considered
All Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...
, and has been featured on the show itself several times. An orchestral version of the song appears on Trey Anastasio's 2004 solo album Seis De Mayo
Seis De Mayo
Seis De Mayo is an entirely orchestral album by the guitarist and composer Trey Anastasio. It was released on April 6, 2004 by Elektra Records and seems to return to the "musical obscurism" that was evident in his first solo album, One Man's Trash...
.
The cover art was created by New York-based painter David Welker
David Welker
David Welker is a New York City based artist.Graduating from Syracuse University in 1986 he has since lived and worked in downtown Manhattan as a recluse. His artwork on the cover of the 1993 Elektra release Rift,by the rock band Phish, was listed as one of the top ten album covers of all time by...
, who worked closely with the band during winter 1993 in order to visually depict each of the album's tracks in a single image, with the notable exception of "The Horse". (For this reason, a horse intentionally appears on the cover of Phish's next album, Hoist
Hoist (album)
Hoist is the fifth official studio album by the American rock band Phish, released on March 29, 1994, by Elektra Records. At the time of its release, Hoist was Phish's best selling album to date....
). Relix magazine listed Rift as one of the most iconic album covers of all time in 2007.
Rift was certified gold by the RIAA
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
on October 15, 1997.
Track listing
- "Rift" (AnastasioTrey AnastasioTrey Anastasio is an American guitarist, composer, and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish...
, MarshallTom Marshall (singer)Tom Marshall is a lyricist, keyboardist and singer/songwriter best known for his association with Trey Anastasio and the rock band Phish...
) - 6:13 - "Fast Enough for You" (Anastasio, Marshall) - 4:51
- "Lengthwise" (FishmanJon FishmanJon Fishman is an American drummer best known for his work with the band Phish. He is credited with co-writing 19 Phish originals, 8 of them as a solo credit....
) - 1:19 - "Maze" (Anastasio, Marshall) - 8:13
- "Sparkle" (Anastasio, Marshall) - 3:54
- "Horn" (Anastasio, Marshall) - 3:37
- "The Wedge" (Anastasio, Marshall) - 4:07
- "My Friend, My Friend" (Anastasio, Marshall) - 6:09
- "Weigh" (GordonMike GordonMike Gordon is a bass guitar player and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish. Gordon is also an accomplished banjo player, and is proficient at piano, guitar, harmonica and percussion...
) - 5:08 - "All Things Reconsidered" (Anastasio, Marshall) - 2:32
- "Mound" (Gordon) - 6:02
- "It's Ice" (Anastasio, Marshall) - 8:14
- "Lengthwise" (Fishman) - :34
- "The Horse" (Anastasio, Marshall) - 1:23
- "Silent in the Morning" (Anastasio, Marshall) - 5:28
Personnel
PhishPhish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
- Trey AnastasioTrey AnastasioTrey Anastasio is an American guitarist, composer, and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish...
- guitars, vocals - Page McConnellPage McConnellPage Samuel McConnell is an American multi-instrumentalist most noted for his work as a songwriter and keyboardist with the American rock band Phish....
- keyboards, vocals - Mike GordonMike GordonMike Gordon is a bass guitar player and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish. Gordon is also an accomplished banjo player, and is proficient at piano, guitar, harmonica and percussion...
- bass guitar, vocals - Jon FishmanJon FishmanJon Fishman is an American drummer best known for his work with the band Phish. He is credited with co-writing 19 Phish originals, 8 of them as a solo credit....
- drums, vocals
Production
- Engineered by Kevin Halpin, assisted by Jon Altschiller
- Mixed by Justin Niebank, assisted by Mark Nevess
- Recording engineer - Pete Greene, assisted by Greg Parker
- Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Masterdisk
- All songs published by Who Is She? Music, BMI
- Pedal steel on "Fast Enough For You" - Gordon Stone
- Illustrations - David WelkerDavid WelkerDavid Welker is a New York City based artist.Graduating from Syracuse University in 1986 he has since lived and worked in downtown Manhattan as a recluse. His artwork on the cover of the 1993 Elektra release Rift,by the rock band Phish, was listed as one of the top ten album covers of all time by...
- Photography - David Gahr
- Design - Mike Mills
External links
- Phish.com - Official site: discography, album info, lyrics, and audio files.
- Artist Dave Welker's Official Site - Rift Painting (Full)
- EmilsTabs.org - A community–run archive of tabs and related resources.