that's where we left that. Going into this record,
Michael, we had talked about the idea of doing some other songs, including the Band tune, "Rag Mama Rag." In fact, we are working on a documentary about our band, and the influ- ences that have gone back and forth over the years. And one of the influences that we have picked up on is from The Band, and specifically Levon Helm. I just thought it was a great tune, and I could just hear Paul singing it. Upon recording it, it just felt so great. In fact, Levon heard it the other day and gave it the thumbs up. I think the common denominator for peo- ple that have heard this has been a big smile coming across their face. It's like diving into a warm pool. It's very comfortable. Shaun Murphy, about a year before,
had brought in the Dylan tune, "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry." So we al- ready had that in the works. Quite honestly, the idea of recording that many covers, be- cause there are four of them on there, we were just looking for good material. We have seven of our own on there too. A lot of people know, but a lot of people
don't know, that we have collectively played with everyone from Eric Clapton to James Cotton Blues Band, to Freddie King, to Willie Dixon, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, Taj Mahal. And then there were Karla Bonoff, Emmylou Har- ris, Linda Ronstadt.
Don't forget Meatloaf. (Laughs) Yeah. Meatloaf, and Barbi Ben- ton.We've played on hundreds of records, covering about every genre of music. I've played on some stuff with Beck. But the beauty of working up a Phish song is that it shows how the influences can go both ways. That's really the beauty of being a musician,
apart from an industry that is very pop- minded for the most part.
Haven't you played some with Phil Lesh & Friends? Yes. Paul and I were out with him last Octo- ber. We're going to be working with him this summer. He and Bob Dylan are doing a tour.
Gosh, I wish that would come around here. Of course, we never get things like that where I live. We do get Britany Spears, if that's any consolation. (Laughing) Well there you go.
Oops! I did it again! I want to ask you about one of my real heroes, and that's Lowell George. Tell us a little about Lowell. When I met him, he had just been studying with Ravi Shankar on the sitar. He had just been asked by Frank Zappa to start his own band. He played with with Frank's group on a couple of records, including Uncle Meat, which drove me to Los Angeles to meet Frank, and therefore I was introduced to Lowell George. He played on another one called Weasels Ripped My Flesh, which fea- tured one of the first Neon Park album cov- ers.
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