Rift (album)
Rift is the fourth studio album by the American rock band Phish, released on February 2, 1993 by Elektra Records. The record is a concept album, detailing the experience of a man dreaming about the rift in his relationship with his girlfriend. It is the second time that the band had recorded an album with such a central concept, the first being the rock opera-styled "The Man Who Stepped into Yesterday" from 1987, which has never been officially released. "Rift" was recorded in September and October 1992 and produced by Muscle Shoals music veteran Barry Beckett. "Rift  was certified gold by the RIAA on October 15, 1997. Production. All songs were written by Trey Anastasio and Phish lyricist Tom Marshall except Mound" and "Weigh" by bass guitarist Mike Gordon and "Lengthwise" by drummer Jon Fishman. The instrumental, "All Things Reconsidered", is an intentional variation on the theme to the National Public Radio news show "All Things Considered", and has been featured on the show itself several times. An orchestral version of the song appears on Trey Anastasio's 2004 solo album "Seis De Mayo". Gordon stated that "Rift" was "more integrated", as the different styles of the  band were mixed together within each song, rather than between each song like on their previous album, "A Picture of Nectar". Gordon also stated that he thought the album was a "little bit mellower", and that the songwriting showed more maturity. Cover art. The cover art was created by New York-based painter David Welker, who worked closely with the band during winter 1993 in order to visually depict each of the album's tracks in a single image, with the notable exception of "The Horse". (For this reason, a horse intentionally appears on the cover of Phish's next  album, "Hoist".) "Relix" magazine listed "Rift" as one of the ten most iconic album covers of all time in 2007. Promotion. Elektra promoted "Rift" with a videotape sent to college radio stations and record stores that featured a six-minute promotional film about the album. Personnel. Phish Production