Welcome to the WSP Alyrical Miracles File!

Things you should know about this file:

This document originally appeared (in paper form) in the WSP Newsletter, the Panicle, in the July 1992 (Volume 1, Number 5) edition. It is reprinted here without permission (although I'm hoping they won't care!).
The pieces listed below don't seem to be in any order. Don't blame me, though, because I didn't write the document!
This page now contains three big sound clips. People seem to STILL have trouble with distinguishing some of the instrumentals, so now you can download clips of A of D, B of D, and Disco.

"Gomero Blanco" First recorded during the May 1987 sessions at John Keene's Studio in Athens for the initial release of "Space Wrangler". While this song is not played live, several shows at the Uptown Lounge featured similar sounding jams.

"Puppet Song" This was a very early version of "Pigeons" that was played in the summer of 1987. When JB added lyrics that August, the song obviously became "Pigeons".

"Eliza's Apartment" This sexy, melodic tune also debuted in the summer of 1987. At the time it was commonly heard as a lead into "Pigeons" and, to a lesser extent, "Conrad". ["Eliza's Apartment" appears on Ain't Life Grand. It is called "L.a." there.]

"The Take Out" Usually heard directly before "The Porch Song", this can be found on the "Space Wrangler" CD. Debuted in late 1987.

"The Machine" The hardest driving of all the Panic instramentals, this song is often heard as a lead into "Barstools". This favorite debuted in the fall of 1988. "The Machine" was the last song to be cut off the "Widespread Panic" CD, allowing the band to add the three minute jam that turned "Mercy" into a classic.

The following three songs, all written about the same time, are the ones that cause people the most confusion. They are all commonly mistaken for one another, and also referred to by totally different names. The original source for many of the different title's is Larry's Code. Larry, the drumming roadie, has his own titles for many of the songs, some of them caught on among the fans.

"Disco" The first of these three debuted in January 1989. "Disco" is the funkiest of the Panic instramentals and has kind of a Mother's Finest groove to it. This tune returned to the play list on 5-19-92 in Memphis after an absence of about two years. "Disco" is very often mistaken for "B of D" and is also called "Storm Watch" (Larry's Code). Usually heard in the middle of "Driving Song". Disco sound clip 414K
"A of D" This also debuted in early 1989 and was first called "Eat the Beet", a title Mike came up with after completing a Tim Robbins novel in which beets were the key ingredient in a perfume needed to save the world. "A of D" was the first of two instramentals recorded during the March 1989 Keene sessions that is played in the key of D -- thus the title "A of D". Larry's code for this one is "Morning Daydream".A of D sound clip 432K
"B of D" The second of the two "D" instramentals also debuted early in 1989. This was often heard during "Driving Song" while "Disco" was off the playlist. ("A of D" could be heard there also, but less frequently). Larry's Code-- "Giving".B of D sound clip 755K

"Walkin'" Debuted as an instrumental at one of the acoustic shows done by JB and Mike in the spring of 1989. Lyrics were soon added and this went on to become the initial release on Panic's first major release. The instrumental jam between the second and third verses is sometimes called "Boogie in your Nose" by band members.

"The Earth Will Swallow You" The mellowest (yet probably the most intense) of the instramentals debuted on April 13, 1990, in Athens. It is extremely rare to hear this amazingly picturesque tune. Appropriately, Panic used this song to open the second set on June 7, 1990, in Dahlonega, GA, as 5000+ fans attempted to jam back into "The Cave", creating the illusion of the Earth swallowing the mass of people.

"Untitled Instrumental" Written in the summer of 1990 at the same time as "Fishwater" and "Dog Song", this song debuted July 25 at the Post Office in Augusta, Ga. It was played again two nights later at the Cotton Club in Atlanta but it was hardly ever played following that night. The song was used as a lead into "Travelin' Light" both nights. At the time, JB was working on lyrics for the tune, but that never materialized.

"Astronomy Domine": An obscure Pink Floyd song, this is the only instrumental cover by Panic. This rarity is a treat and is usually only heard during a truly raging set.

This page is (supposedly) maintained by Ben Tanen.

This page was last revised on 12 November 1995.