Widespread Panic Albums Ranked

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Widespread Panic is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The current lineup includes guitarist/singer John Bell, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Duane Trucks, percussionist Domingo “Sunny” Ortiz, keyboardist John “Jojo” Hermann, and guitarist Jimmy Herring. The band’s original guitarist and primary songwriter, Michael Houser, died of pancreatic cancer in 2002, and the original drummer, Todd Nance, left in 2016 and passed away in 2020. Widely renowned for their live performances, as of 2018, they hold the record for a number of sold-out performances at Red Rocks Amphitheatre (Morrison, Colorado) at 60 and State Farm Arena (Atlanta) at 20. Here are all Widespread Panic albums ranked.

Don’t miss out on the music of Widespread Panic Special below! Click to enjoy the evolution of their sound!

5. Ain’t Life Grand (1994)

“The variety of melodic acoustic-based and hard-jammed electric (not electronic) songs doesn’t get old, and the songwriting overall is fresh and interesting. The “low” points seem only so because the rest of the album is so “high.” In other words, relative to each other there are weaker songs and stronger songs, but relative to any other album this one is an objective masterpiece. The album flows successfully without overwhelming extended jams”

4. Live In The Classic City (2002)

“Live in the Classic City is a great album overall, however, similar to DMB live discs, there’s not much new live material on the disc (new not meaning brand new, but unheard live). If you have “Light Fuse, Get Away” the “Don’t Tell the Band Bonus” (which is the first 4 tracks from the first disc here) and “Live at Oak Mountain”, then you’ve heard much of this disc already. But remember… Widespread Panic is a jam band, so though you’ve heard the songs done before, they’re always done a bit different! Some of the songs are wonderfully done (Little Lilly, Bear Gone Fishin’, Climb to Safety).”

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3. Jackassolantern (2004)

“No recording can really capture the extreme joy of a Panic show. That being said, this disc is a superb compilation of those Panic covers that fans go crazy for at those shows. Sweet Leaf is a nuts opener. War’s Slipping Into Darkness is just plain sick. Many Panic bamas will already have these songs in bootleg form but John Keane’s production has made the recordings of superior quality to those bootlegs. This is a must have for any Panic fan.”

2. Space Wrangler (1988)

“This is the ultimate compliment for a band in this genre: the CD is as good or better than the band’s live performances. Even my favorite jam band, Phish, can’t make this claim about their studio discs. The spot-on production, the spacey overall atmosphere, the killer lyrics, the amazing tunes all make this the best of the best from a band that has never disappointed with any of their offerings from the studio. Driving Song is as close to perfection as a song gets for setting a mood and transporting a listener. Their lyrics overall are the best since Robert Hunter.”

1. Everyday (1993)

“`Everyday’ is an apt title as far as I am concerned. here are virtually no hooks, refrains or themes to identify these tracks. Nevertheless the songs are just fine, with spirited performances and plenty of musical variety to sustain interest.”