I've been trying to figure out for a while the best Phish album to give to somebody as a first listen and today, while listening to Live Phish 11, it hit me.

1) Great song list (early songs, new songs, covers, old renditions of songs)
2) Great transitions
3) GREAT jams
4) '97 Funk
5) Great filler
6) And just fantastic flow all throughout

Not to mention, the best Monday morning I've had in a long time.

I would say go for a more song based set list, like 92 or 94

LP10 was my first LivePhish series! Fantastic shit. The only real issue I have with Live Phish 11 is the lack of an ending on the Reba.

For a first listen stay AWAY from 97' funk.

Phish fans love 20-minute funk jams, but n00bs? Not so much. Also, the first track is tweezer. After a noob hears th freezer line the first 10 times they will turn it off and go "this band sucks." Given him or her Slip Stitch and Pass if you are wanting to go 97'. Personally, I think Billy Breathes is a much better option.

@MiguelSanchez said:

is it just me or does anyone else have absolutely no idea what show is being referenced when someone says live phish volume __?

as a young n00b, I can match it up pretty good, but for someone like yourself who knew of 11-17-97 waaaay before LP 11, I would expect otherwise

go with island tour '98. 4/2-4/5 or so. especially 4/3 -- set II: Roses are Free > Piper > Loving Cup > Antelope. Definitely one of the better antelopes I've heard. the 20+ Roses jam is killer too

@forbin1 said:

@MiguelSanchez said:

is it just me or does anyone else have absolutely no idea what show is being referenced when someone says live phish volume __?

Sign'd

I think I own one lp volume...the alpine one from 2000 I think..

Alpine 2000 was lp 5. And if someone says an lp volume i can usually figure out the date/venue.

@me_no_are_no_nice_guy said:

I was into buying all of the LP releases when they first started, so it's not too difficult for me. At the time there wasn't a lot of SBD material available, so the LP releases were a god send.

which is your favorite out of the original 20?

@_________________________ said:

@me_no_are_no_nice_guy said:

I was into buying all of the LP releases when they first started, so it's not too difficult for me. At the time there wasn't a lot of SBD material available, so the LP releases were a god send.

which is your favorite out of the original 20?

That's tough. Probably Live Phish 10 or 7.

The 8/14/93 show is really the first time that I heard antelope and it really clicked for me.

Live Phish 11 is really hard to beat, and 15 (talking heads costume) is right up there as well.

@RR1994 said:

For a first listen stay AWAY from 97' funk.

Phish fans love 20-minute funk jams, but n00bs? Not so much. Also, the first track is tweezer. After a noob hears th freezer line the first 10 times they will turn it off and go "this band sucks." Given him or her Slip Stitch and Pass if you are wanting to go 97'. Personally, I think Billy Breathes is a much better option.

Tweezer was the first time I asked what band is this?! This is awesome! So i respectfully disagree.

@jerryguscia said:

@MomaDan said:

Live Phish 4 brah. Of course I wouldn't give that to any noobs, their mind wouldn't be able to comprehend what madness was taking place in Japan.

That would be hilarious. Give them that and the Victor Disc. "This is some of their shorter, more accessible music."

Haha

I love Phish, but I still have trouble getting into that show...

@me_no_are_no_nice_guy said:

@MiguelSanchez said:

is it just me or does anyone else have absolutely no idea what show is being referenced when someone says live phish volume __?

I was into buying all of the LP releases when they first started, so it's not too difficult for me. At the time there wasn't a lot of SBD material available, so the LP releases were a god send.

oh, i'm with you. i was broke as shit when those were coming out and i was still at my local record store the day of the release, buying 3 of the first 5. my phish boner was enormous the day i learned 8/13/96 was coming out. i had 3 different auds of that show. each one of them sounded horrible.

I was thinking about this - I'd probably start them off with LP 10 as well, to give them a feel for Phish's songs and what they used to be like, then give them LP 1 to show them what they eventually became at their first peak, then explain their 1997 metamorphosis, then give them LP 11. Or, considering how many newer fans tend to be '98 guys, give them LP 6 instead, which is a late-90s show with an early-90s feel.

Save LP 4 until waaaaaaaaaaaaaay down the line. That's like Phish's version of a final boss level in a video game.

@n00b100 said:

Save LP 4 until waaaaaaaaaaaaaay down the line. That's like Phish's version of a final boss level in a video game.

So that would make the Providence Bowie its evil final form?

you're on the internet. on a phish setlist database no less. if you don't know the live phish volumes, you can easily check them. but live phish 11 is one of the many livephish volumes whose date i know by heart.

I think a lot of us listened to the AUDs of these great shows prior to the LP releases, which is why we (myself included) either refer to the actual dates or need a list to accurately discuss this. My favorite out of the 1-20 volumes is volume 1 (12/14/95). One of my favorite second sets ever.

I also highly recommend the other LP archival releases (beyond LP 1-20)

Actually I lied. Instead of starting him off with that. Just play him the 10/31/95 YEM on infinite replay until his head explodes like a watermelon. XD

That.

This is one of my most listened to shows!