Sample in a Jar

Last updated
"Sample in a Jar"
Single by Phish
from the album Hoist
Released1994 (1994)
RecordedOctober–November 1993, American Recording Co., Woodland Hills, California
Genre Rock
Length4:38
Label Elektra PRCD 8989-2
Songwriter(s) Trey Anastasio, Tom Marshall
Producer(s) Paul Fox
Phish singles chronology
"Down with Disease"
(1994)
"Sample in a Jar"
(1994)
"Julius"
(1994)

"Sample in a Jar" is a song by the American band Phish. It was released as the second single from the band's fifth studio album, Hoist . The song peaked at No. 49 on the Radio & Records Rock chart. [1]

Contents

On the surface, the lyrics seem to deal with a relationship argument while intoxicated. In The Phish Book, Trey mentioned that the song is “basically about sitting in a car with the seatbelt on, drunk.” [2]

Covers

The song was covered by the band Little Feat on the album Chinese Work Songs . [3]

It was also covered in 2023 by the band True Elixir whose version also contains a line from the Phish song Run Like an Antelope and a 2001 Space Odyssey jam.

Personnel

Musicians

Trey Anastasio – guitars, vocals
Page McConnell – keyboards, vocals
Mike Gordon – bass guitar, vocals
Jon Fishman – drums, vocals

Also appears on

Notes

  1. "Rock Tracks" (PDF). Radio & Records . Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  2. Sample in a Jar History Online. Accessed: May 17, 2014.
  3. Chinese Work Songs Online. Accessed: May 31, 2018

Related Research Articles

<i>A Picture of Nectar</i> 1992 studio album by Phish

A Picture of Nectar is the third studio album by the American rock band Phish. The album was released on February 18, 1992, by Elektra Records and was the band's debut release for a major record label.

<i>Billy Breathes</i> 1996 studio album by Phish

Billy Breathes is the sixth studio album by American rock band Phish, released by Elektra Records on October 15, 1996. The album was credited with connecting the band, known for its jam band concerts and devoted cult following, with a more mainstream audience. The first single, "Free", was the band's most successful song on two Billboard rock charts, peaking at #11 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart and at #24 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks Chart. The album itself became the band's highest-charting album on the Billboard 200, where it peaked at number seven.

<i>Undermind</i> (album) 2004 studio album by Phish

Undermind is the eleventh studio album by American rock band Phish, released on June 15, 2004 by Elektra Records. The album was the group's last release before they disbanded in August 2004. It is also their final studio release for Elektra Records ; When the band reunited in 2009, their subsequent albums would be released through their own JEMP Records label which had launched in December 2005 for live releases.

<i>Rift</i> (album) 1993 studio album by Phish

Rift is the fourth studio album by the American rock band Phish, released on February 2, 1993, by Elektra Records. It is a concept album, detailing the experience of a man dreaming about the rift in his relationship with his girlfriend. Rift was recorded in September and October 1992 and produced by Barry Beckett. Rift was certified gold by the RIAA on October 15, 1997.

<i>The Story of the Ghost</i> 1998 studio album by Phish

The Story of the Ghost is the seventh studio album by American rock band Phish, released by Elektra Records on October 27, 1998. The album features an emphasis on the jazz-funk influenced "cow-funk" style, which the group had been experimenting with in concert throughout 1997 and 1998. The album's first single was "Birds of a Feather", which was a Top 20 hit on Billboard magazine's Adult Alternative Songs chart. The album's cover was painted by visual artist George Condo.

<i>Farmhouse</i> (album) 2000 studio album by Phish

Farmhouse is the ninth studio album by the American rock band Phish. The album was released on May 16, 2000, by Elektra Records. Farmhouse was the last Phish studio album before their two-year hiatus between October 2000 and December 2002.

<i>The Siket Disc</i> 1999 studio album by Phish

The Siket Disc is the eighth studio album by the American rock band Phish. The album was released in June 1999 through the band's website and mail-order service, and was released commercially by Elektra Records on November 7, 2000. Unlike Phish's other records, The Siket Disc is completely instrumental, and its songs are excerpts from studio jams recorded during the sessions for The Story of the Ghost.

<i>Hoist</i> (album) 1994 studio album by Phish

Hoist (stylized as (HOIST)) is the fifth 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, peaking at No. 34 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. The album was certified gold by the RIAA on August 19, 1996, and remains the band's best-selling studio release, outsold in their discography only by the platinum-certified A Live One.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Birds of a Feather (Phish song)</span> 1998 single by Phish

"Birds of a Feather" is a 1998 song by the American band Phish. It is the second track from their 1998 album The Story of the Ghost and was released as their twelfth promotional single by Elektra Records. The song is a funk rock song written by the entire band and lyricist Tom Marshall, and was influenced by Talking Heads.

<i>Live Phish Volume 3</i> 2001 live album by Phish

Live Phish Vol. 3 was recorded live at the Darien Lake Performing Arts Center in Darien, New York, on September 14, 2000. The show was part of the band's final tour before taking an indefinite extended hiatus three weeks later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Down with Disease</span> 1994 single by Phish

"Down with Disease" is a 1994 song by American band Phish. It is the second track from their 1994 album Hoist and was released as their fifth promotional single by Elektra Records. The song is a funk rock song written by Phish guitarist and lead vocalist Trey Anastasio and lyricist Tom Marshall. The song's lyrics were based on a bout with infectious mononucleosis suffered by Marshall.

<i>Phish: Live in Brooklyn</i> 2006 live album by Phish

Live in Brooklyn is the name of a concert CD released on July 11, 2006, by the rock band Phish with a simultaneous release as their second full concert DVD. Performed on June 17, 2004, at the minor league baseball field KeySpan Park in Brooklyn, New York, it was the opening night of what was promoted as the band's final tour, before their 2004 breakup. The concert was simulcast in movie theatres across America.

<i>Phish: Live in Brooklyn</i> (video) 2006 American film

Live in Brooklyn is the name of a concert DVD and CD released on July 11, 2006, by the rock band Phish. Performed on June 17, 2004, at the minor league baseball field KeySpan Park in Brooklyn, New York, it was the opening night of what was then intended as the band's final tour. The concert was originally recorded for a simulcast in movie theatres. The concert features the debuts of "A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing" and "Nothing", both of which recorded on their most recent album, "Undermind". Also, "Dinner and a Movie" and "The Curtain With" had not been played since their Las Vegas 2000 run shortly before their hiatus.

<i>Phish</i> (album) 1986 demo album by Phish

Phish is a demo album released by the American rock band Phish on cassette in 1986. Often cited as the first Phish "album", The White Tape was originally a collection of original material that the band used as a demo/sample tape for venues, and was sometimes labelled "Phish" or simply "Demo". The album was widely circulated among Phish fans for more than a decade before being officially released in 1998.

<i>Joy</i> (Phish album) Album by Phish

Joy is the twelfth studio album by the American rock band Phish, released on September 8, 2009, on the band's own label, JEMP Records.

"Cavern" is a 1992 song by the American band Phish. It is the third track from their 1992 album A Picture of Nectar and was also released as their second promotional single by Elektra Records. The song is a beat-driven funk rock song written by Phish guitarist and lead vocalist Trey Anastasio and lyricist Scott Herman and Tom Marshall.

“Cavern” has been a rock in Phish’s rotation since early 1990. While most fans have become accustomed to the song as a set-closer or encore, initially it was much more versatile, appearing just about everywhere in the setlist. It was only beginning in 1992 that the band began utilizing it in its current role. In fact, beginning in fall 1992, well over half of the performances of “Cavern” have come either at the close of a set or during an encore. And no wonder: the song’s straight-up rock feel and fist-pumping climax make it a fitting exclamation point on the end of an evening of more excursionary jamming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chalk Dust Torture</span> 1992 single by Phish

"Chalk Dust Torture" is a 1992 song by the American band Phish. It is the thirteenth track from their 1992 album A Picture of Nectar and was also released as their first promotional single by Elektra Records. The song is a riff-based, fast-paced rock song written by Phish guitarist and lead vocalist Trey Anastasio and lyricist Tom Marshall. The studio recording features a lowered pitch effect on Anastasio's lead vocal, and in order to accommodate the lower pitch, the song's typical key of E was dropped to Eb. "Chalk Dust Torture" was the band's first song to receive significant radio airplay, peaking at No. 53 on the Radio & Records Album-oriented rock chart in 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fast Enough for You</span> 1993 single by Phish

"Fast Enough for You" is a 1993 song by the American band Phish. It is the second track from their 1993 concept album Rift and was released as their third promotional single by Elektra Records. The song is a slow-tempo ballad written by Phish guitarist and lead vocalist Trey Anastasio and lyricist Tom Marshall. The studio recording features a pedal steel guitar performed by Gordon Stone.

In "Fast Enough for You," Tom Marshall (lyricist) supposes that we wouldn’t burden each other as we do with weighty expectations and needs unmet, and things would be a whole lot happier. But that’s not the way it is, and the lover to whom our narrator speaks is not content with the pace of the affair. He is thus a target for her scorn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julius (song)</span> 1994 single by Phish

"Julius" is a 1994 song by the American band Phish. It is the first track from their 1994 album Hoist and was released as their seventh promotional single by Elektra Records. The song is a blues rock song written by Phish guitarist and lead vocalist Trey Anastasio and lyricist Tom Marshall. The song features backing vocals by Rose Stone, Jean McClain and the Rickey Grundy Chorale and horn instruments by the Tower of Power Horn Section.

"Gumbo" is a song by the American band Phish. It is a funk/jazz song written around 1990 by Phish guitarist and lead vocalist Trey Anastasio and drummer Jon Fishman. It is the third track from their 1995 live album A Live One and was released as their ninth promotional single by Elektra Records in 1995.

Like "Split Open and Melt," "Gumbo" started out as a strong tune but one that had a destiny that didn’t lie solely in its composition. A mix of acid jazz and loose funk attended with three-part harmonies and silly lyrics, it had all the ingredients for greatness. The first several versions clearly lacked something, which seemed to be fulfilled with the addition of horns – five times on the Giant Country Horn tour in 1991 and twice with the West Coast return of the horns. The (12/2/94) version appears on A Live One as well as the European compilation, Stash.