Watch Children Help Phish Record ‘Contact’ For ‘Junta’ In 1987

In 1988, the members of Phish recorded their debut studio album, Junta, at Euphoria Sound Studio in Revere, Massachusetts. The band had schoolchildren contribute vocals to “Contact,” one of 11 songs featured on the first official release of Junta in 1989. An incredibly cute video of a purported “soundcheck” for the session surfaced earlier this year and can be viewed below.

Howard Cook, who owned the studio, documented some of the recording on video, including this bit of “Contact.” Cook also was responsible for recruiting the youngsters as per a note accompanying the clip, a portion of which was featured in a montage screened during setbreak of Phish’s 20th Anniversary Concert in Boston on December 2, 2003.

Kids of varying ages sang the chorus of “Contact” and their voices were used in the final minute of the studio version. The two-minute-and-30-second clip includes footage of the children rehearsing the song. Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio conducted the youngsters with a huge grin on his face. Keyboardist Page McConnell, bassist Mike Gordon and drummer Jon Fishman come briefly into view around the 0:24 mark and then join the kids and what are likely their chaperones to sing “Contact.”

Watch video from Phish’s Junta sessions shared by Lee Cooper:

Hear the studio version of “Contact” below: