Phishing Poll Thursday, Vol. 6: Best Fishman Songs

Thursday 09/19/2013 by bertoletdown

PHISHING POLL THURSDAY, VOL. 6: BEST FISHMAN SONGS

Norton Charleton Heston. Bob Weaver. Henrietta.

Sneezeblood Eyeball.

Call him what you will, the truth remains: Jon Fishman is Phish's one, true, natural-born showman. Though threadbare of garment and hairbare of head, the man knows how to own a song like nobody else.

Pick one favorite Fishman tune? A fool's errand for sure. So we made it easier for you by including only those that have at one point been accompanied by HYHU. And, as usual, you can always click through and vote for (or against) more than one . . .

See you in the comments!

[ranker width="450" height="711" title="Phishing Poll Thursday, Vol. 6: Best Fishman Songs" id="1009117" link="http://www.ranker.com/list/phishing-poll-thursday-vol-6-best-fishman-songs/phishingpoll" /]

50 Ways to Leave Your Lover, 2011-08-08
Bike, 2000-09-12
Cracklin Rosie, 1993-05-06 (with Dick Solberg on violin)
Faht, 1995-10-03
Feel the Heat, 2003-12-31
Fooled Around and Fell in Love, 2003-07-29
Getting Jiggy Wit It, 1998-11-20
Great Gig In The Sky, 1994-05-02
I Kissed A Girl, 2009-08-16
I Wanna Be Like You, 1994-04-04 (with Giant Country Horns)
If I Only Had A Brain, 1990-04-05
Lengthwise, 1998-07-28
Lonesome Cowboy Bill, 1998-10-31
Love You, 1991-11-07 (with Aquarium Rescue Unit)
Purple Rain, 1996-08-06
Sexual Healing, 1998-07-20
Suspicious Minds, 1996-12-06 (with Elvii)
Terrapin, 1993-02-20
Touch Me, 1991-07-21 (with Giant Country Horns and Steve-O)
Why Don't We Do It In The Road, 1994-10-31
Wind Beneath My Wings, 1995-11-28

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63 comments - Link: http://phi.sh/b/523a692e

Comments

2013-09-19 2:23 pm, comment by Doctor_Smarty

Why isn't Moma Dance on this list???

Score: 6

2013-09-19 2:28 pm, comment by Doctor_Smarty

Also Crosseyed & Painless

Score: 10

2013-09-19 2:29 pm, comment by Jayem

How is Bye Bye Foot not on this list. Its a great song and he wrote it!!!

Score: 10

2013-09-19 2:34 pm, comment by Doctor_Smarty

Sweet Virginia

Score: 2

2013-09-19 2:34 pm, comment by Doctor_Smarty

In a Misty Glade

Score: 1

2013-09-19 3:07 pm, comment by Frizz

Tomorrow's Song.
It needs to come out and play again. And be jammed upon.

Score: 7

2013-09-19 3:23 pm, comment by ericwyman

As the intro indicates, this list pertains to the songs closely associated with the "Hold Your Head Up" intro.

(This particular member of) the poll team acknowledges that Jon Fishman is indeed a lead vocalist and writer on a number of other songs in the Phish catalogue.

Score: 7

2013-09-19 3:29 pm, comment by TheEmu

NO "GAUL SWERVES AND THE REST IS EVERYTHING ELSE??" WHAT AN ATROCITY!!!

Score: 5

2013-09-19 3:30 pm, comment by SporkFan

Why is Faht on the list if it's only HYHU tunes?

Score: 2

2013-09-19 3:34 pm, comment by PersnicketyJim

You mean best Fishman gags. I came here hoping to defend his chops on Seven Below and Rift. I see others have made a case for his vocals, which is another good category.

Score: 1

2013-09-19 3:34 pm, comment by CreatureoftheNight

When I think of Fishman songs, I include songs like Tube and Gumbo. He may not sing them, but they wouldn't exist without him.

Score: 0

2013-09-19 3:42 pm, comment by Just_Ivy

@ericwyman said:

As the intro indicates, this list pertains to the songs closely associated with the "Hold Your Head Up" intro.

(This particular member of) the poll team acknowledges that Jon Fishman is indeed a lead vocalist and writer on a number of other songs in the Phish catalogue.

Score: 0

2013-09-19 3:42 pm, comment by Fluffyfluffyhead

Score: 4

2013-09-19 3:44 pm, comment by ericwyman

@SporkFan said:

Why is Faht on the list if it's only HYHU tunes?

This http://phish.net/setlists/?d=1992-12-04&highlight=696

And this http://phish.net/setlists/?d=1993-07-17&highlight=696

Score: 0

2013-09-19 3:45 pm, comment by IamHIGHdrogen

buffalo bill

Score: 0

2013-09-19 4:00 pm, comment by ericwyman

If even one comment focused on the mere merits of the HYHU interlude, I'd be infinitely more impressed with an ability to at least respect the given topic.

I know all the songs that could be classified as a "Fishman songs" already.

#sofuckingmeta

Score: 1

2013-09-19 4:03 pm, comment by ColForbin

The fact that "Bike" is in 8th is a crying shame.

Score: 4

2013-09-19 4:07 pm, comment by drshaws

C'mon - where's the love for I Kissed a Girl. A great bit of Harpua/Trey banter - "It didn't work on so many levels - When your spirt guide is a middle-aged man in a dress singing about kissing a girl and liking it..."

Score: 3

2013-09-19 4:37 pm, comment by Just_Ivy

Does anyone know if there are any "Fishman Songs" that don't appear on this list from '92 (I think) when HYHU was replaced with "Cold As Ice"? I'm being lazy and will look into it but if anybody knows, it would be interesting (for me at least).

You guys know what I'm talking about, right? I'm reasonably sure all the "Cold As Ice" Fishman "sandwiches" had middle songs like "Love You" and "Cracklin' Rosie" that are usually associated with HYHU but I'm not 100% sure about that.

Score: 0

2013-09-19 4:39 pm, comment by SporkFan

@ericwyman said:

@SporkFan said:
Why is Faht on the list if it's only HYHU tunes?
This http://phish.net/setlists/?d=1992-12-04&highlight=696

And this http://phish.net/setlists/?d=1993-07-17&highlight=696

Ahh, well call me a noob then. I've only heard it at my first show 12/2/95, when Faht was played sans HYHU.

Score: 0

2013-09-19 4:42 pm, comment by Just_Ivy

An exception to the rule, perhaps?

HYHU > "Lively Up Yourself" > "Cold As Ice"

Score: 1

2013-09-19 6:24 pm, comment by User_938_

@ericwyman said:

If even one comment focused on the mere merits of the HYHU interlude, I'd be infinitely more impressed with an ability to at least respect the given topic.

I know all the songs that could be classified as a "Fishman songs" already.

#sofuckingmeta

The best HYHU by far is the Bomb Factory. Sickness.

Score: 2

2013-09-19 7:31 pm, comment by whatstheuse324

12/10/99 HYHU out of Rosie was pretty dope, I think Fish did about five laps around the stage.

Score: 0

2013-09-19 8:22 pm, comment by PurpleWhale

Suspicious Minds with Elvises in Las Vegas is tops for me

Score: 0

2013-09-19 8:24 pm, comment by PurpleWhale

Willin ... deserves mention with the other great halloween covers

Score: 0

2013-09-19 8:43 pm, comment by LawnBoy0925

Bye Bye Foot!!

Score: 1

2013-09-19 9:24 pm, comment by PunkDwarf

The 5/3/94 I Wanna Be Like You is hilarious. I laugh at Phish antics on the reg, but I have never laughed harder while listening to a show. Fish's scatting completes me.

Score: 2

2013-09-19 11:01 pm, comment by Fluffhead

The 2/3/93 HYHU > Terrapin > BBJ > HYHU will forever be Fish's greatest accomplishment. Trey on drums. Fish taking on the role of Trey's ball. Electroluxing the audience with each bounce of the ball.

Score: 0

2013-09-19 11:02 pm, comment by Fluffhead

Oh yeah, and Bike should be winning.

Score: 2

2013-09-19 11:11 pm, comment by TwiceBitten

Cracklin' Rosie is really the one for me

Score: 2

2013-09-20 1:22 am, comment by NoHayBanda

/poll
/thread

Score: 2

2013-09-20 2:43 am, comment by B_Dub

I will say that the finest Fishman moment (for me) was 6/9/09 when Trey told the story of how he wrote Dog Faced Boy, Gumbo & Tube from stolen lines out of Fish's journal. Then they played the songs... "The Fish Trilogy"

Nice reference. Exactly what I thought of as soon as I saw the topic for the week. Was at that show and great vibe. Also to mention here was after the trilogy, the first Lengthwise in nearly 11 years.

Score: 1

2013-09-20 2:45 am, comment by B_Dub

Sorry about not quoting first part above from FluffyheadFluffyhead.

Score: 0

2013-09-20 3:08 am, comment by Dressed_In_Gray

When I read the list, I knew the comments would be fun.

Bike is it for me. When I think of a Fishman tune, that means Syd Barrett, but I call him Gerald

Score: 3

2013-09-20 5:00 am, comment by B_Dub

I DIDN'T KNOW???

Score: 1

2013-09-20 6:52 am, comment by vtspeedy

PARTY TIME! Timeless lyrics highlight Fishman's mastery of imagery and metaphor. There's your next Robert Hunter, ladies and gentlemen.

Score: 0

2013-09-20 7:37 am, comment by pistilstamen

@Jayem said:

How is Bye Bye Foot not on this list. Its a great song and he wrote it!!!

I'm going HAM on the thumbs up. I love this song.

Score: 0

2013-09-20 9:25 am, comment by mikh2wg

@Just_Ivy said:

An exception to the rule, perhaps?

HYHU > "Lively Up Yourself" > "Cold As Ice"

@ 1992-04-21

I don't think this one counts as it would appear to be a Mike Gag and not a Fish gag. Gotta check this out when I get home.

Score: 0

2013-09-20 9:26 am, comment by mikh2wg

But I'm surprised there's not more support for Touch Me. That one takes the cake for me.

Score: 1

2013-09-20 9:36 am, comment by MiguelSanchez

How the hell is "I Wanna Be Like You" so low?!?!?! It's great!! Please, don't tell me we have people down voting that haven't heard it!!

Score: 1

2013-09-20 12:52 pm, comment by HopeDayPlayFoam

Getting Jiggy Wit it with the Viking helmet on was a hot performance in Hampton 98 accompanied with a filthy Page offering

Suspicious Minds with the light-up cape at the Fox in 95 also was also a favorite personal Showboat Gertrude moment

Score: 2

2013-09-20 1:22 pm, comment by parrott56

I want to say that Cracklin' Rosie also gets top honors with me. However...

Gettin' Jiggy Wit It should be waaay higher.

Score: 0

2013-09-20 2:25 pm, comment by solsun

Boo, no Baby Lemonade.

Score: 1

2013-09-20 3:24 pm, comment by johnnyd

@drshaws said:

C'mon - where's the love for I Kissed a Girl. A great bit of Harpua/Trey banter - "It didn't work on so many levels - When your spirt guide is a middle-aged man in a dress singing about kissing a girl and liking it..."

I was at Coventry. I was at Melkweg. I Kissed A Girl was the worst phish I have ever witnessed live, by a long shot.

I literally cringe just thinking about it. And usually I have a huge soft spot for cheesy pop and cheese in general.

Score: 2

2013-09-20 3:57 pm, comment by ericwyman

@solsun said:

Boo, no Baby Lemonade.

You sir, win the prize. I forgot to include all "Cold As Ice" instances. I suck at Phish. You do not.

http://phish.net/song/baby-lemonade/chart

Score: 1

2013-09-20 7:26 pm, comment by EdwardGRobinson

Bike is the type of song that fits in with my world.
I'll give you any-song, every-song if you want songs.

Go Bike!

Score: 6

2013-09-20 9:08 pm, comment by solsun

The author has removed all of the text from their comment

Score: 1

2013-09-20 9:11 pm, comment by solsun

Nah, just a big Floyd fan and have that show on my computer. Baby Lemonade comes up in the shuffle, couldn't remember if it was after HYHU though. Cold as Ice/HYHU, same difference, ya, all songs Fish hated, haha. Wasn't trying to be a know it all, I am far from that, haha.

Score: 2

2013-09-21 2:50 am, comment by braindeadr

I really like Terrapin and Suspicious Minds. I know that in Vegas 12/6/96 they didn t play HYHU but that SM was one for the ages. I was lucky enough to be there that night. Last minute miracle from a friend. Impossible ticket! That show was so fun and good... ...and after all that--the encore! Jimmy beat The Elvii "at their own game." Haha. Listen to that show. Trey told us all to bet on 17 at the roulette wheel. So since '96, any time I go to a casino, I throw 5 bucks on 17 for kicks. A couple months ago I finally won. $175 on a $5 bet. Thanks Trey! Sorry for the tangent there...

Score: 1

2013-09-21 2:57 am, comment by dwizard

Minute by Minute has not been seen in 1199 Phish shows.
It was played at 0.19% of live shows.
There have been 1271 shows since the live debut.
Minute by Minute has been played, on average, once every 536 shows.
Since its debut, Minute by Minute has been played, on average, every 424 shows.

nuff said...

Score: 0

2013-09-21 9:05 am, comment by FACTSAREUSELESS

@MiguelSanchez said:

How the hell is "I Wanna Be Like You" so low?!?!?! It's great!! Please, don't tell me we have people down voting that haven't heard it!!

Truth be told....people are always down on what they're not up on.

Score: 3

2013-09-22 4:39 am, comment by ReeYees

Rock A William

Score: -1

2013-09-22 9:10 am, comment by BurningShoreProphet

crosseyed and moma not even on the list? crazy talk

Score: 0

2013-09-22 11:21 pm, comment by nichobert

Lonesome Cowboy Bill is not a song where Fishman takes the front of the stage andTrey takes the drums and they play hyhu.

It has an unfair advantage because it has a real band playing it and a sick jam from 10/31/98

Score: 0

2013-09-22 11:23 pm, comment by nichobert

Agree with touch me.

That and crackling Rosie definitely work the best

Score: 0

2013-09-23 10:06 am, comment by PIEGUY

True story - met Fish in a bar one night and he confided that he pretty much hates all the songs they make him sing... that they make him do it because they know he hates it... just like he hates HYHU and that's why it's his intro.

Then he said, the only ones he ever liked singing were the Syd Barret tunes: Bike, Love You, Terrapin.

So, while I think Purple Rain should be at the top of this list, I know for a fact that Fish would disagree. I abstained from voting.

Score: 1

2013-09-23 12:14 pm, comment by Fluffyfluffyhead

GO BIKE, GO!

Score: 0

2013-09-23 1:09 pm, comment by Phireonthemountain

ghost?

Score: 0

2013-09-23 6:22 pm, comment by walkinwill

Saw the Wind Beaneath Your Wings, laughed my ass off!

Score: 1

2013-09-24 10:22 pm, comment by bertoletdown

I am absolutely amazed that Lengthwise came in second. I would have predicted it would be near the very bottom.

I love it. But it's not even a song.

Score: 2

2013-09-25 4:30 am, comment by FACTSAREUSELESS

@bertoletdown said:

I am absolutely amazed that Lengthwise came in second. I would have predicted it would be near the very bottom.

I love it. But it's not even a song.

LOL....Alas, it got air time this summer, therefore....

Score: 1

2013-09-26 2:27 am, comment by kipmat

Great list, just wanted to mention "It's No Good Tryin'", one of my favorite Henrietta moments, specifically 12/28/90 in a duet with John Popper. No, really!

Score: 0

2013-09-26 1:13 pm, comment by mr_esquandolas

why isn't the list an actual playlist that I could be listening to at work right now??

Score: 0