The Phosphorescent Rat

Infobox Album
Name = The Phosphorescent Rat
Type = studio
Artist = Hot Tuna


Released = February, 1974
Recorded = May - October, 1973 at Wally Heider Studios, San Francisco
Genre = Rock
Length =
Label = Grunt Records
Producer = Mallory Earl
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:difexq85ldae link]
*Rolling Stone (not rated) [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/hottuna/albums/album/253009/review/5943690/phosphorescent_rat link]
Last album = "Burgers"
(1972)
This album = "The Phosphorescent Rat"
(1973)
Next album = "America's Choice"
(1975)

"The Phosphorescent Rat" is the fourth album by the rock group Hot Tuna. It was released in 1973.

"The Phosphorescent Rat" was a transitional album for Hot Tuna. Their blues-rock playing was moving away from the softer, more acoustic sound of their first three albums, and towards a more hard rock sound. Singer and guitarist Jorma Kaukonen's increasing focus on original composition and new musical direction is also evidenced by the first appearance of strings and woodwind orchestrations on a Hot Tuna LP.

This was the first Hot Tuna album recorded after Kaukonen and bass player Jack Casady had left Jefferson Airplane. They were joined as before by drummer Sammy Piazza. With the departure of Papa John Creach, who had left the band for Jefferson Starship, the stage was set for the power trio playing of their next four albums.

Track listing

All songs written by Jorma Kaukonen, except "Sally, Where'd You Get Your Liquor From?" by Reverend Gary Davis.

ide One

#"I See the Light" - 4:15
#"Letter to the North Star" - 2:31
#"Easy Now" - 5:10
#"Corners without Exits" - 3:37
#"Day to Day Out the Window Blues" - 3:26

ide Two

#"In the Kingdom" - 5:26
#"Seeweed Strut" - 3:25
#"Living Just for You" - 3:18
#"Soliloquy for 2" - 3:42
#"Sally, Where'd You Get Your Liquor From?" - 2:56

Credits

Musicians

*Jorma Kaukonen – guitars and vocals
*Jack Casady – electric bass and bass balalaika
*Sammy Piazza – drums, spoons, and other percussion

Production

*Production coordinator: Pat Ieraci
*Recording and mixing engineer: Mallory Earl
*Assistant engineer: Steve Mantoani
*Strings and woodwinds on "Corners without Exits" and "Soliloquy for 2" arranged and conducted by: Tom Salisbury
*Steel drums on "Living Just for You": Andrew Narell
*Recorded at Wally Heider's, San Francisco
*Mastered at The Lacquer Channel, Sausalito
*Cover design: Marek A. Majewski