Like The Grateful Dead, The eternally jamming Phish are best judged by their concerts. Proof is on Slip Stitch and Pass, the group's second live outing in just two years. Recorded in Germany this past March, it has less wank and more groove than usual, with a chunky cover of Talking Heads' "Cities" and a wild ride through their own "Weekapaug Groove" and "Mike's Song." At one point during the latter, the group goofs on pretentious psychedelia with quotes from the Doors ("The End") and early Pink Floyd. It's pretty funny, but because Phish's trip soundtracks always lacked the heft and menace of their best models, it's also a telling moment — a reminder that their lightheartedness can be as much an Achilles' heel as it can be a saving grace.

“Oh Sherrie”

Steve Perry's girlfriend Sherrie Swafford was actually in the studio when Perry began writing this song--his lone Top Ten hit as a solo act--with two co-writers. The trio began at midnight one night with just "Oh, Sherrie!" and "hold on, hold on." Three hours later, they had a complete song. Swafford, however, had to wait until the next day to hear it. "Sherrie actually got tired and went to bed," Perry said. She also appeared in the video, but their relationship did not hold on for long.