The Story of the Ghost
Encyclopedia
The Story of the Ghost is the seventh official studio album by the American rock band Phish
. It was released by Elektra Records
on October 27, 1998.
Much of the album originated during large-scale improvisation
sessions. The band then took favorite moments from those in-studio jams and wrote songs around them, adding lyrics from a book of writings by long-time Phish lyricist Tom Marshall
. Additional excerpts from the improvisational "Ghost Sessions" were also later released as The Siket Disc
.
A few of the album's songs reflect the band's 1997 "cow-funk" sound, with bass guitarist Mike Gordon
taking a more prominent role. Much of the album, however, is defined by what Rolling Stone
called an "unhurried vibe ... with airy, uncluttered grooves and relaxed vocals." Unlike Phish's previous albums, The Story of the Ghost does not include any instrumentals. "End of Session" is the only song on the album to have never been performed live.
Early incarnations of several tracks from the album can be heard on the 2000 release Trampled by Lambs and Pecked by the Dove
, a collection of song sketches recorded by frontman Trey Anastasio
and lyricist Tom Marshall.
"Birds of a Feather" and "Frankie Says" were both debuted live during the "Island Tour", a brief run of shows the band played while taking a break from recording the album in April 1998. All four nights of the "Island Tour" were later released as part of the LivePhish Series
.
In February 2009, The Story of the Ghost was made available as a download in FLAC
and MP3
formats at LivePhish.com.
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 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 October 27, 1998.
Much of the album originated during large-scale improvisation
Improvisation
Improvisation is the practice of acting, singing, talking and reacting, of making and creating, in the moment and in response to the stimulus of one's immediate environment and inner feelings. This can result in the invention of new thought patterns, new practices, new structures or symbols, and/or...
sessions. The band then took favorite moments from those in-studio jams and wrote songs around them, adding lyrics from a book of writings by long-time 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...
. Additional excerpts from the improvisational "Ghost Sessions" were also later released as The Siket Disc
The Siket Disc
The Siket Disc is a 1999/2000 release from the American band Phish....
.
A few of the album's songs reflect the band's 1997 "cow-funk" sound, with 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...
taking a more prominent role. Much of the album, however, is defined by what Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
called an "unhurried vibe ... with airy, uncluttered grooves and relaxed vocals." Unlike Phish's previous albums, The Story of the Ghost does not include any instrumentals. "End of Session" is the only song on the album to have never been performed live.
Early incarnations of several tracks from the album can be heard on the 2000 release Trampled by Lambs and Pecked by the Dove
Trampled by Lambs and Pecked by the Dove
Trampled by Lambs and Pecked by the Dove is a collection of raw tracks and song sketches written and recorded by Trey Anastasio and Phish lyricist Tom Marshall in Vermont farmhouses over four weekends in 1997. The collection was released on November 1, 2000 by Elektra Records.The songs were...
, a collection of song sketches recorded by frontman Trey Anastasio
Trey Anastasio
Trey Anastasio is an American guitarist, composer, and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish...
and lyricist Tom Marshall.
"Birds of a Feather" and "Frankie Says" were both debuted live during the "Island Tour", a brief run of shows the band played while taking a break from recording the album in April 1998. All four nights of the "Island Tour" were later released as part of the LivePhish Series
Live Phish Series
LivePhish is an ongoing series of complete Phish concert recordings. The original twenty-volume series was released by Elektra Records and launched while Phish was on hiatus from recording and touring ....
.
In February 2009, The Story of the Ghost was made available as a download in FLAC
FLAC
FLAC is a codec which allows digital audio to be losslessly compressed such that file size is reduced without any information being lost...
and MP3
MP3
MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
formats at LivePhish.com.
Track listing
- "Ghost" (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...
) - 3:52 - "Birds of a Feather" (Anastasio, 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....
, 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...
, Marshall, 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....
) - 4:15 - "Meat" (Anastasio, Fishman, Gordon, Marshall, McConnell) - 2:39
- "Guyute" (Anastasio, Marshall) - 8:27
- "Fikus" (Anastasio, Fishman, Gordon, Marshall, McConnell) - 2:21
- "Shafty" (Anastasio, Fishman, Gordon, Marshall, McConnell) - 2:21
- "Limb by Limb" (Anastasio, Herman, Marshall) - 3:32
- "Frankie Says" (Anastasio, Fishman, Gordon, Marshall, McConnell) - 3:07
- "Brian and Robert" (Anastasio, Marshall) - 3:03
- "Water in the Sky" (Anastasio, Marshall) - 2:29
- "Roggae" (Anastasio, Fishman, Gordon, Marshall, McConnell) - 2:59
- "Wading in the Velvet Sea" (Anastasio, Marshall) - 4:30
- "The Moma Dance" (Anastasio, Fishman, Gordon, Marshall, McConnell) - 4:28
- "End of Session" (Anastasio, Fishman, Gordon, Marshall, McConnell) - 1:54
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, pedal steel, 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