Surrealistic Pillow [Original recording remastered]

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Originally released in 1967, this RCA/BMG Heritage remastered reissue adds 6 bonus tracks 'In The Morning', 'J.P.P. Me Stop B. Blues', 'Go To Her', 'Come Back Baby', 'Somebody To Love' (mono single version) & 'White Rabbit' (mono single version). This groundbreaking piece of folk-rock-based psychedelia includes a 12-page booklet with extensive liner notes, detailed track listing & rare photos. Voted one of Rolling Stone's Essential 200 albums. 2003.

Tracks:

She Has Funny Cars
Somebody To Love
My Best Friend
Today
Comin' Back To Me
Of A Mile In 10 Seconds
D.C.B.A. - 25
How Do You Feel
Embryonic Journey
White Rabbit
Plastic Fantastic Lover
In The Morning
J.P.P. MeStep B. Blues
Go To Her
Come Back Baby
Somebody To Love (Mono Single Version)
White Rabbit (Mono Single Version)

Album Description

Originally released in 1967, this RCA/BMG Heritage remastered reissue adds 6 bonus tracks 'In The Morning', 'J.P.P. Me Stop B. Blues', 'Go To Her', 'Come Back Baby', 'Somebody To Love' (mono single version) & 'White Rabbit' (mono single version). This groundbreaking piece of folk-rock-based psychedelia includes a 12-page booklet with extensive liner notes, detailed track listing & rare photos. Voted one of Rolling Stone's Essential 200 albums. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

Warning New CDs Severely Volume Compressed.......2007-07-17

Buyer beware. Most CD companies today use digital hyper compression to make their remastered recordings sound as loud as possible. This results in very harsh sounding music. There are few music companies that still produce good sounding oldies rock.

The CD companies are completely clueless of the need to preserve the original hi-fi sound of the original LP recordings and have now affectively destroyed the rock oldies portion of the music business.

Anyone wanting original full range sound today is advised to purchase a CD recorder (such as Denon etc) and convert their LPs to CD.

"How Does It Feel" to own one of the best ever?.......2007-06-20

As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" and a former radio disc-jockey, I am often asked to write and or discuss various recordings from the 60's and 70's.

When the Rock & Roll Time Capsule is unearthed, somewhere after the time man has finally succeeded in destroying the planet proudly displayed will be Jefferson Airplane's "Surrealistic Pillow." Yes, Jerry Garcia will receive full credit for musical advisement, playing, and creative direction.

It seems a bit bizarre and without rational that the same people that grew up listening to eight track tapes, cassettes, and non-virgin vinyl recordings (Only Japan had used the technology of virgin vinyl in pressings LP's) woke up one day and have criticized the fidelity of every album being produced. A review should be about the contents of the songs. There is nothing wrong with the sound here and the addition of the bonus tracks are even further incentive for ownership.

The second flight of the Jefferson Airplane showed two changes in personnel. Signe Anderson the female vocalist on the first record had left to start a family and Grace Slick from the Great Society was the finest replacement possible. Drummer Spencer Dryden (Never got the credit he deserved for his tasty rhythmic patterns) was now part of the band (Skip Spence's next stop was "Moby Grape).
The album opens with one of the finest tunes the Airplane would construct. "She Has Funny Cars" with the perfect riff and strong vocals gets the listeners attention from the opening notes.

"Somebody To Love" one of two songs Grace brought with her from the "Great Society" is tremendous with the Airplane treatment. Make no mistake about it the "Great Society" performed a fine version. The J.A. fine-tuned things a bit and this version has been a stable of rock and roll Airplane for over 40 years. A great side note that Marty Balin told me for my Jefferson Airplane book. Grace also suggested a tune that the "Great Society" performed live "Sally Go Round The Roses." Their interpretation of the song is as good as any ever from a stage or studio. The Airplane would tell her two out of three isn't bad. Her next gem would be later on.

"My Best Friend" is light and on the poppy side. Some enjoy its place here and others feel it is not one of the stronger inclusions. I have to agree with the later. A good tune but when you are compared to Olympian efforts it can be overlooked.

"Today" is one of the finest songs ever penned. Marty Balin's vocal quality and pure emotion made time stop. All ears were glued to the speakers the first time the lyrics were heard. It is nothing short of spectacular.

"Comin Back To Me" is another example of Marty's captivating sound. Give him a ballad, rocker, or rhythm and blues standard and he can excel.

"3/5 Of A Mile In 10 Seconds" is another rocker. If the following doesn't grab you by the neck nothing will "Do away with people." Jorma's guitar in conjunction with the lyrical content is superb.

"D.C.B.A. 25" is poetry in motion. Paul Kantner's choice of words is able to balance the fine line of incredible articulation but not over the head of the listener. He can phrase sentences repeatedly with such command of the language that our attention doesn't divert for a micro-second. Sadly this wonderful tune never made it to the J.A. stage.

"How Do You Feel" There are multi layers of superlative presentation. The words, the vocal delivery, and Grace's incredible nuances. Listen to the tune twice in a row. The first time will knock you off the chair for its beauty. The second you'll feel her amazing accompaniment with the perfect phrasing.

"Embryonic Journey" One of the best instrumentals ever devised. Jorma's fingers display magic. This would be the first tune he would pen entirely by himself. It seems unfathomable that the results could be this earth shaking. To this day it is requested at every Hot Tuna and solo gig he is a part of.

"White Rabbit" was the other tune the "Great Society" performed. People often debate is it better than "Somebody To Love"? Why not call it a tie.

"Plastic Fantastic Lover" ends the musical odyssey as it began, with an upbeat rocker and captivating sounds. If Marty Balin didn't take the vocal helm it wouldn't seem right.

This pressing has bonus tracks (Only one rare) but it gives even greater perspective to the musical output of the band. Two in particular to check out if you aren't an avid fan and not aware of Jorma's perfect vocal inflections when he is singing the blues or folk, are "In The Morning (His original) and "Come Back Baby" (Lightnin' Hopkins). I mentioned there is one rarity. A hidden track contains an instrumental "D.C.B.A. 25."

As the legendary rock and roll photographer, Don Aters often says, "It is what it is." That is one of the finest ever.

Enjoy the music and be well,
Craig Fenton
Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"

grace?.......2007-06-19

I think marty does the best job in the group, and is/was underappreciated by them, as far as the rest of the music it is druggie music all the way.

uneven and overrated; not as great as the debut.......2007-05-26

After all the hype, it's hard to not be considerably disappointed with Jefferson Airplane's second album, 1967's "Surrealistic Pillow". It doesn't have the cohesiveness of the first album, "Jefferson Airplane Takes Off", where even the covers of "Tobacco Road" and "Chauffeur Blues" had been rendered brilliantly and fit right in. With "Surrealistic Pillow", several of the tracks reek of lightweight filler, specifically Paul Kantner's jangly, Byrds-ish throwaway "D.C.B.A.-25", as well as a couple of sugary folk-rockers--"My Best Friend", written by Skip Spence (who played drums on the first album but was already out of the band), would have been right up the Mamas and the Papas' alley (no, that's not a compliment); and there's also the dippy ode to infatuation "How Do You Feel". Plus, Marty Balin's ultra-hazy ballad "Comin' Back To Me", despite some eloquent lyrics, feels like a strained attempt to pull the heartstrings, and it drags too, running on for over 5 minutes, and I also don't like having it positioned in the track listing directly before "3/5 of a Mile In 10 Seconds".

Now, don't get me wrong--despite everything I just said, many of the individual tracks are fantastic. "She Has Funny Cars" is a brilliantly-crafted and nicely rocking opener. Balin gets in a pair of stomping rockers with the roaring, edgy "3/5 of a Mile In 10 Seconds", and the ultra-witty, insinuating, Dylan-esque "Plastic Fantastic Lover". Jorma Kaukonen is spotlighted with his uplifting, solo acoustic guitar instrumental "Embryonic Journey". And of course, there are the two well-known hits, "Somebody To Love" and "White Rabbit", both of which feature Grace Slick on lead vocals. This was Grace's first album with the band, and both "Somebody To Love" (originally titled "Someone To Love") and "White Rabbit" had been part of the repertoire of her previous band, The Great Society, with the former having been written by her then brother-in-law Darby Slick, and the latter written by Grace herself.

The Balin/Kantner ballad "Today" is sort of a mixed bag, featuring a captivating electric guitar line, but again feeling melodramatic, albeit not as much as "Comin' Back To Me". It's kind of incredible that Balin wanted to get this song to Tony Bennett who was working in a nearby studio at the time.

As for the bonus tracks on this 2003 reissue, the most significant addition, not counting the mono single mixes of "Somebody To Love" and "White Rabbit", is the pleading rocker "Go To Her" which also appears on the 2003 "...Takes Off" reissue in a version that was recorded with Signe Anderson (the female singer on their first album before Grace joined), but the version here with Grace is clearly more powerful, and perhaps the fact that the band HAD recorded the song with Signe has something to do with why it was left off the original album. Spence's "J.P.P. McStep B. Blues" is another insubstantial folk-rocker, although it would have made a better choice for the main album than "My Best Friend". Jorma's "In The Morning" is a dull, 6+ minute slow-blues, although his rocked-up arrangement of the traditional "Come Back Baby" is enjoyable.

There's been some controversy regarding Jerry Garcia's role in the making of the album. Garcia is credited on the album sleeve as "Musical and Spiritual Advisor", and Kantner, Balin, Slick, Kaukonen, Jack Casady, and Spencer Dryden all confirm that Garcia was prominently involved in the recording sessions. However, producer Rick Jarrard, along with longtime Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship associate Pat "Maurice" Ieraci, agree that Garcia played no guitar on the album and that he wasn't present at any of the album's recording sessions.

All in all, "Surrealistic Pillow" is uneven and overrated. If you're new to the Airplane, I recommend starting with the 2003 CD reissue of "Jefferson Airplane Takes Off", although you'll certainly want to move onto "...Pillow" before long.

(P.S. I've received two different copies of this 2003 reissue of "Surrealistic Pillow", and both of them feature botched liner notes. After the cover and first page of text, it bafflingly switches over to the liner notes for the 2004 "Volunteers" reissue, continuing all the way up to the track listing page which then goes back to "...Pillow".)

The beginning of the psychedelic era.......2007-05-11

When Pillow was released in 1966 it was in the vanguard of the West Coast psychedelic movement. Those of us who immediately seized upon the Airplane as unique and exciting have probably played this record hundreds of times. As I listen again tonight I wonder whether I can be at all objective. For instance, one fellow reviewer referred in his review to the two Marty Balin ballads, Today and Comin' Back to Me as "cheesy." I have always really loved these songs. However, were I hearing them today for the first time would I, too, dismiss them as lightweight pieces of fluff? Of course it is impossible to say. It is just a thought!

Jefferson Airplane was truly a collaborative effort. Of the band members Jack Casady alone has no writing credits. Only he and the drummer Skip Spence do not participate in the vocals. The scope of the music is very wide. The record features the aforementioned ballads, straight rockers and folk rockers along with the famous psychedelia of White Rabbit. One of the additional tracks, In the Morning, reveals that the band could do a very creditable job on a bluesy song.

Surrealistic Pillow was one of the great LPs of the sixties. It is most definitely a record of and for the times. It could only have been released between late '66 and early '68. It captures for me the genesis of one of my favourite periods of music - the fabulous West Coast psychedelic era - the heady days of Grateful Dead, Quicksilver, Moby Grape and The Doors. The music does, at times, sound a little dated. This is hardly surprising. After all, it was recorded over forty years ago. To put this in perspective one has only to realize that the first talking movie was released just thirty-nine years before Pillow!

Average customer rating:

Stereo and Mono versions quite different
Timeless Beauty
Unique splendor
Great Ensemble Work on One of Rock's Top Albums
This album was my introduction to the opposite sex

Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Harvest
Volunteers
Jefferson Airplane Takes Off
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ASIN: B00005RDCA
Release Date: 2001-11-06

Tracks:

She Has Funny Cars (stereo)
Somebody To Love (stereo)
My Best Friend (stereo)
Today (stereo)
Comin' Back To Me (stereo)
3/5 Of A Mile In 10 Seconds (stereo)
D.C.B.A.-25 (stereo)
How Do You Feel (stereo)
Embryonic Journey (stereo)
White Rabbit (stereo)
Plastic Fantastic Lover (stereo)
She Has Funny Cars (mono)
Somebody To Love (mono)
My Best Friend (mono)
Today (mono)
Comin' Back To Me (mono)
3/5 Of A Mile In 10 Seconds (mono)
.C.B.A.-25 (mono)
How Do You Feel (mono)
Embryonic Journey (mono)
White Rabbit (mono)
Plastic Fantastic Lover (mono)

Customer Reviews:

Stereo and Mono versions quite different.......2004-08-09

As all the reviews agree, this is a classic album and absolutely worth your money. I read a bunch of the reviews of this (double) album and no one mentioned the fact that you, basically, get two albums for the price of one, the stereo version and the mono version. At the time it was not uncommon for record companies to insist on two different mixes of songs, or whole albums. Stereo systems were not standard equipment in homes or cars. AM radio was (and still is) a mono medium and that's where hit records were played. Many people didn't realize there were significant differences in the two officially released versions of this fantastic album.

Let me quote from the liner notes:
"The mono mix can be described as punchier, wheras the steeo mix is fuller, allowing the instruments more breathing room. The stereo mix also adds a few extra dollops of reverb, which alienated some fans and group members but met the approval of others. Grace, for one, liked it. 'This is farily complicated material and on a couple of Marty's ballads a flat, dry sound wouldn't have worked,' she says"

"Dyrden disagrees" It didn't sound like the band did onstage. The two guys that mentinoed that to me were Frank Zappa and paul Simon. They both said,' You sure got a lot of echo on that record.' I said, 'man, that's not our doing. We palyed it, they took it away and did what they did with it.'"

That's verbatim from the liner notes and pretty much covers it. The mono version sounds more like the band would sound live. The stereo is fat, reverby, and sounds "produced". The differences are NOT gigantic, but it is an interesting take on the same material.

I actually prefer the mono version. But, that's just a personal preference. I must agree with Grace, some of the ballads do sound better with a thicker sound.

Hope that helps.
Enjoy

Timeless Beauty.......2004-03-13

A divine presence must have been at hand when this album was recorded. If ever there was an American supergroup this was it. The vocals of Marty Balin and Grace Slick are heartybreakingly beautiful. Jorma Kaukonen's Embryonic Journey is a tremendous piece of acoustic guitar work. Think of this album as a perfect blend of folk and psychedelia.I have never heard a rock group sound as tight and creative. This would be one of my picks for the top five best albums of all time.Perhaps only one filler song. The rest is perfection.

Unique splendor.......2003-07-26

SURREALISTIC PILLOW (1967) is Jefferson Airplane's second album, and the first with Grace Slick and Spencer Dryden. It is a masterpiece--an ideal blend of the group's prior folksiness and the wild psychedelia that would eventually dominate their live shows. Marty Balin was still a force here, but Grace immediately made her presence known with two stellar songs that became virtual anthems of the late 60s: "Somebody To Love" and "White Rabbit" (as if I needed to mention the titles).

"She Has Funny Cars," "3/5 Of A Mile In 10 Seconds," "D.C.B.A.-25" and "Plastic Fantastic Lover" generate plenty of excitement without being bombastic. There's a certain (excuse the expression) "groovy" factor that permeates the songs. They are lively, mystical, sophisticated and genial--filled with discovery and the group's subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) arrogant swagger. "Today," "Comin' Back To Me" and "How Do You Feel" are three of the most beautifully atmospheric songs you are likely to hear, practically bordering on impressionism. All three will mesmerize and stick with you long afterward. Intellectualism and childlike innocence, pomposity and humility, exhilaration and sadness, assertive animation and repose--yes, it's all here, actualized to seamless perfection. This album remains my favorite by the group, though BAXTER'S and BARK follow not far behind.

What is progressive? The word "progressive" infers change. Many think of progressive as a certain style of rock music. Groups like King Crimson and Yes were given that label in the early 70s because they were different at the time--they entered new territory. But once they themselves, and other groups, started to copy the sound, that sound became pigeonholed. How can we continue to call a style that is not progressing progressive? To use progressive merely to define a style or sound is really a misuse of the word. The Airplane was progressive in that they had a new thing going on--and that "thing" had depth. What sounded like this prior? During the mid 60s, Jefferson Airplane, The Byrds, The Mamas and Papas, Bob Dylan, Donovan--even Peter, Paul and Mary!--all crossed folk with rock and got pleasingly diverse results. At the time, even the other bands from San Francisco, like The Grateful Dead and Moby Grape (and they had Skip Spence, formerly of the Airplane), did not all sound the same. These musicians were indeed progressive in a real sense, just as Crimson and Yes were in 1969 and the early 70s.

Why do critics often imply that the music from the 60s is immature? It is not. Not immature, but youthful--producing that which is colorful and imaginative. To those of us who love colorful and imaginative music, "dated" is not a quality we associate with the 60s. Albums like SURREALISTIC PILLOW sound as fresh as ever. Music from the 60s had soul. It had life and passion. Truly great chefs (and there seems to be fewer and fewer of them) have an understanding of why something tastes better than a previous attempt at the same thing. They refine a dish to taste as splendid as possible, rather than settle for the notion that "it's good enough" after a meager and highly imitative effort. In the 60s, rock musicians (and many a producer!) had that drive, that passion to produce something of unique splendor--and we hear it throughout this still-glorious, even monumental record. Consider the fact that records from the late 60s like SURREALISTIC PILLOW, DISRAELI GEARS (Cream), MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR (The Beatles), BALL (Iron Butterfly), THEIR SATANIC MAJESTIES REQUEST (The Rolling Stones), BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD AGAIN (Buffalo Springfield) and A GATHERING OF PROMISES (Bubble Puppy) all fall into the general category called psychedelia--but all of them sound staggeringly different! These musicians were in fact inspired, not immature, not simply imitating what came before, but producing a creative and spirited output--that which has lasting artistic value. There was once a saying: "Variety is the spice of life."

For me, and for people like me who don't want their music all to sound the same, the Airplane offers lasting enjoyment--great riches, actually. Most who know and love this band own this already. SURREALISTIC PILLOW is essential listening for anyone who is even remotely interested in the 60s. This album still gives me thrills and chills--it is a magnificent work, worthy of all the praise fans can muster!

Cheers,
Murray

Great Ensemble Work on One of Rock's Top Albums.......2003-06-27

This is a great rock record that has stunning individual talent everywhere in evidence, harnessed together to the Haight-Ashbury communal ethos of the mid-Sixties. Great songwriting, and Jorma Kaukonen writing whole stories with each guitar solo, perhaps the real standout in this group. The digital remix is crisp and exciting, with excellent separation that enhances the important contributions of each member - and blows your head off, too. What I love about this record is the group singing, the ensemble playing, the everybody-on-stage commune atmosphere. Sly and the Family Stone rocked out with the communal San Francisco sound, and invented Funk while they were doing it. What band wouldn't love to have just Grace Slick singing for them, or Marty Balin, or Paul Kantner - but here they're all together in peak form singing together, bringing the San Francisco Summer of Love spirit to the airwaves. This one record, released in Feb. 1967, probably did as much to sell the hippie ideal to the world as any other. They didn't just talk about it, they played it live. The love, peace and freedom and Don't Trust the Establishment lyric themes, sold by Grace, Marty or Paul over crashing drum, bass and guitar attacks, are timely now and again. Like good punk, the rockers are fast, funny, upbeat and slam you around too. Then there are the ballads, full of the dreamy, paisley-patterned poetry of the West Coast folk-rocker. It's all here, and it's beautiful, man.

This album was my introduction to the opposite sex.......2003-06-16

I have been familiar with this album for as long as I can remember. I was born the same year that this album came out, and I remember as a child hearing this album and thinking that Grace Slick had an incredibly sexy voice. Her singing was my introduction to the opposite sex.

I have heard comparisons of this album to any Beatles album, and the comparisons are correct. This album matches anything that the Beatles put out during the same period. The unfortunate thing about this album is that only two of the songs, "Somebody To Love" and "White Rabbit" are the only two songs that get airplay on the radio. There is so much more on this album that is very contemporary, and I am positive that radio listeners would love the other 9 songs on the album if they heard them.

The first song on the album, "She Has Funny Cars", is probably the BEST song on the whole album. The others are very close runner ups, but "She Has Funny Cars" really rocks. Other great songs are written and performed by Marty Balin, like "Today", "Comin' Back To Me" and "3/5 Of A Mile In 10 Seconds". The second side of the album has Embryonic Journey, a great instrumental, and I'm surprised that this has never found its way into a movie. Another song that I love is "How Do You Feel?". The lyrics of this song are wonderful.

Tracks:

She Has Funny Cars
Somebody To Love
My Best Friend
Today
Comin' Back To Me
3/5 Of A Mile In 10 Seconds
D.C.B.A.-25
How Do You Feel
Embryonic Journey
White Rabbit
Plastic Fantastic Lover

Amazon.com

When she joined the Jefferson Airplane in 1966 as replacement for original vocalist Signe Anderson, Grace Slick brought with her two songs she'd performed in her previous band, the Great Society: "Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit." Featured on this classic 1967 album, they became Top 10 hits, and helped establish both the San Francisco and the emerging counterculture they celebrated. With Jorma Kaukonen's sinewy guitar, Jack Casady's probing bass, and Spencer Dryden's inventive drumming swirling around Slick and co-vocalists Marty Balin and Paul Kantner on songs like "She Has Funny Cars" and "3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds," Surrealistic Pillow virtually defined the communal spirit of Summer of Love hippiedom. --Billy Altman

Customer Reviews:

A Work of Art.......2007-06-06

Surrealistic Pillow, is of course, one of the best albums ever. While, yes, it is somewhat inspired by nasty drugs, by now (40 years later), it remains as a cultural icon, time having healed the former taboo status. I believe that more than any other band, the Airplane captured the essence of at least the counterculture movement of the 1960s. Also, they had tremendous endurance as a band, and great commercial success.

My favorite song, by far, is D.C.B.A. 25. I finally learned what it stands for: the chord progression of the song, and the 25, well that is probably a reference to LSD.

This has to be their best album, although Takes Off is close. I believe that the Airplane became more dark, moody, and certainly in the realm of protest-oriented from 1968-1970 or so, thus becoming dated somewhat, whereas the first two albums were rich with ballads and happy songs.

In my opinion, there was not a finer era for popular music than the second half of the 1960s. I cannot even begin to listen to any of today's sounds.

Finally, while the Airplane personnel were not quite in the category of being moral, at least they and virtually all bands of this era, were usually courteous and gracious people, at least to media and in public.

Bueno, pero lejos de ser un clásico.......2003-08-07

En casi todas las listas de los mejores discos de los 60's Surrealistic Pillow aparece al lado de Sgt. Pepper, Are you Experienced, Astral Weeks, Pet Sounds, Forever Changes o el debut de los Doors, pero en mi opinión ni siquiera es el mejor trabajo de los Airplane (After Bathing... lo supera con creces y Crown of Creation por poco. Aún asi seguirá siendo la obra maestra del grupo y contra eso poco se puede hacer. Ahora mis razones.

Pocas canciones de la época me parecen tan sobrevaloradas como Somebody to Love, un tema sin fuerza y mejor logrado en el original de Great Society. Al contrario, White Rabbit es lo mejor del disco y donde Grace Slick demuestra que aparte de ser apta para estar al frente cantando también puede componer. Los pastorales My Best Friend y How do you Feel no resisten repetidas escuchas, aunque en el mismo contexto Comin' Back to Me y Today son dos puntos altos. Lo cierto es que con contadas excepciones el disco no logra sonar sicodélico, la instrumentacion es demasiado ortodoxa para una de las bandaras líderes de San Francisco y en ese sentido parece más cercano al folk y no al revolucionario estilo que ese mismo año con distintos matices mostraban entre otros Moby Grape o Country Joe & The Fish. A lo mejor no pretendían sonar aventureros y ácidos, y el probema es que no siendo compositores muy dotados tienen que echar mano a otros recursos, algo que en Surrealistic evitaron, pero cuando quisieron hacerlo en sus siguientes entregas los resultados mejoraron ostensiblemente, aunque al respecto las opiniones seguirán estando divididas.

One masterpiece made for the Summer Of Love..........2003-06-20

It's an album that gave a generation some amazing music to listen to. It's an amazing album, with those 2 big hits from the Airplane; "Somebody To Love", and "White Rabbit", which were probably two of the many tunes being played on radios in San Francisco during the Summer Of Love (1967, for those who don't know their history). But it gave people something to think about, a rock and roll band incorporating so much different types of music into their sound, like folk, pop, jazz, and psychedelic influences. It's an amazing mix, folk musicians Marty Balin and Paul Kantner, rock vocalist Grace Slick, Blues enthusiasts Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady, and jazz-influenced drummer Spencer Dryden, add a little drugs, some long hair, and a little peace, and you get The Airplane.

This album is an alluring bouquet of early psychedelic folk-rock that will make love to your ears. I recommend to anybody who just likes music.

Good Tunes But The Psychedlic Tone Could Vary A Little.......2001-12-03

Don't get me wrong. There are some very strong tracks on this release. The Grace Slick sung Somebody To Love and White Rabbitt are excellent mesmerizing tunes with some awesome instrumentation. She Has Funny Cars and Your My Best Friend are fairly catchy as well. And the instrumental Embryonic Journey is certainly quite ear pleasing with some nice guitar effects.

However ther psychedelic tone could vary a little. The arrangements sound fairly similar and the drums don't kick hard in any one song. Whereas there are some very good guitar solos, there are some moments when the guitars don't do anything special for me. And tracks like Commin' Back To Me, Today, and How Do You Feel are really quite dull. There is very little tune to any of them. I prefer the live version of Plastic Fantastic Lover to the one included on Surrealistic Pillow(although this version is certainly not bad).

Diehard fans of the Airplane should pick this one up, but moderate fans should consider a compilation such as Worst Of which really has all the essential songs.

Great Material...So-So Sound.......2001-10-22

"Surrealistic Pillow" is one of the 1960's albums that never seems to grow tired. With each listening, there seems to be a verse or a sound that resonates with current events. The Grace Slick classic "Somebody to Love" ignites the album and still sounds fresh and fiery. The hypnotic "Today" is one of the lesser-known tracks but Marty Balin's lead vocal is perfectly suited to the psychedelic music. The instrumental "Embryonic Journey" does'nt hold up as well but the next track, "White Rabbit" is the highlight of the album. Grace Slick's powerful, relentless vocal builds atop the bass and guitar chords to a screaming climax. The only flaw of this album - and it is major - ithe sound quality. There is notable suppression and hiss. A Remaster is sorely needed.

Average customer rating:

Surrealistic Pillow

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000J10E24
Release Date: 2006-12-12

Average customer rating:

Remastered Surrealistic Pillow?
So What About the Sound Quality?
Regarding the import JA CD Bonus Editions...
Classic!
Still sounds bad.

Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane
Manufacturer: Rca FS Imports
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

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General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

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Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00005B74V
Release Date: 2001-04-12

Tracks:

She Has Funny Cars
Somebody to Love
My Best Friend
Today
Comin' Back to Me
3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds
D.C.B.A. -25
How Do You Feel
Embryonic Journey
White Rabbit
Plastic Fantastic Lover

Album Description

French reissue of their 1967 album now features 4 bonus tracks 'Come Back Baby', 'In The Morning', 'J.P.P. Mc Step B. Blues' and 'Go To Her'. Standard jewel case. 2001 release.

Album Details

2001 Digitally Remastered Edition of their 1967 Album that Introduced the Vocals of Grace Slick to a Wider Audience. Includes Four Bonus Tracks: 'come Back Baby', 'in the Morning', J.p.p. Mcstep B Blues' and 'go to Her'.

Customer Reviews:

Remastered Surrealistic Pillow?.......2002-03-16

I purchased both the "remastered" import versions of Surrealistic Pillow and Crown of Creation. Both CDs have bonus tracks and it has been claimed that each has been digitally remastered. However, if you study both the CD and the accompanying insert, there is no statement whatever to suggest that these CDs are remastered. Though listening tests are subjective, neither of these CDs sounded superior in audio quality. The widely available recent U.S. reissue of Surrealistic Pillow--including stereo and mono versions of both songs but no bonus tracks--actually claims to be remastered (e.g., note info on audio restoration & digital transfers) and sounds superior to the European import w/ bonus tracks.

So What About the Sound Quality?.......2002-02-06

We all know that Surrealistic Pillow is a landmark album. The question is where can I find a decent sounding CD of this essential album? We suffered for more than ten years with the first generation CD - a notoriously bad CD plagued by hiss and crummy mastering. No surprise, RCA showed the same disregard for the Elvis CDs for years until his estate finally stepped in and said enough is enough - suddenly the original masters started showing up and now remastered Elvis sounds great. Will the same good fortune happen to Surrealistic Pillow? Well, there was the [pricey] Gold disc a few years ago. It sounded better, and even included the mono along with the stereo mixes (22 tracks), but virtually anything would have been an improvement! The problem was that the Gold disc lacked any depth whatsoever, it sounded very flat - and on top of that it had an edgy, harsh treble quality whenever the music got louder. Oh, well... Then a box set came out that included a slightly less harsh sounding Surrealistic Pillow that also had both stereo and mono versions. But again, the basic problems remained - a one-dimensional soundstage, a still too-harsh high-end, and muddied vocals, not to mention that, like the Gold disc, it was going to cost you some major bucks to buy the whole box to get this one disc. And remember, throughout this whole time RCA had continued to mass produce that first generation CD without remastering it - forcing you to either buy the Gold disc or the box to get better sound. Are you starting to get the picture here? Frustrating! Anyway, FINALLY last year (2001) a new single CD was issued domestically and it turns out to be exactly the same as the remastered one in the box set (includes both stereo and mono tracks). Same sound problems, but at least now you can get it without having to buy the whole box. But, that's not all folks! There is more to the story. There was also a new European import CD issued in 2001 with 4 bonus tracks (no mono tracks) that actually sounds ALMOST as good as my LP copy from the 70's, which of course isn't saying much. In any case, for what it is worth, this is by far the best re-issue CD I have heard. My advice is that if you need to get the best sound, then get the import. I can listen to this import CD without cringing and actually enjoy the experience. The remastering on the import is very faithful to the original LP mix (unlike the domestic issue) and on some songs it has some of that warm three-dimensional presence that all the other domestic CDs lack. Now I am not saying this is a fantastic CD, only that it finally begins to approach the minimal quality that you might expect from this great album. Be forewarned that even this import CD still is harsh at times, but it is far, far less annoying than the domestic versions. Let's just say Surrealistic Pillow needs to be totally remixed from top to bottom from the first generation four-track master instead of the worn out two-track Stereo mix-down master to do it justice. Until that happens, get the import CD and skip all domestic issues or better yet dig out that old LP and give it a spin.

Regarding the import JA CD Bonus Editions..........2001-11-25

...these CDs are from SPAIN, not France, as most reviews state, nor from Holland, as the stickers on the package suggest: RCA Spain Srl... BMG Especail Productos...is someone embarrassed to be selling discs from Spain? Is the quality subpar?

Also, as I search international Mail order sites I find that ALL of these albums have the same list price, yet here in the US, retailers insist on charging MORE for than all the others: probably because they feel they can get away with it.
So much for 'blows against the empire'
as such, besides the extra tracks, there is nothing in the way of documentation or notes...

Classic!.......2001-11-09

This remastered edition of the first Grace Slick-era Jefferson Airplane CD has great sound and a generous supply of additional non-LP tracks that make it a better buy than the domestic version. Snap it up!

Still sounds bad........2001-10-16

There is no way this is a digitaly remaster as it still sucks for sound quality. The four additional tracks are remastered but the original songs from the album - no way. Save your dollars and skip this one. There is another remaster with oodles of additional tracks, perhaps it sounds better.

Average customer rating:

Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane
Manufacturer: RCA Fs Imports
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00005LITE
Release Date: 2004-11-16

Tracks:

She Has Funny Cars
Somebody to Love
My Best Friend
Today
Comin' Back to Me
3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds
D.C.B.A. -25
How Do You Feel
Embryonic Journey
White Rabbit
Plastic Fantastic Lover

Average customer rating:

Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane
Manufacturer: Phantom Sound & Vision
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000BRIBIU
Release Date: 2001-11-20

Average customer rating:

Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane
Manufacturer: Magic
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

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Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005Y2DR
Release Date: 2005-02-21

Tracks:

My Best Friend
Somebody To Love
How Do You Feel
White Rabbit

Album Description

French 24-Bit remastered reissue of 60s EP with original sleeve & tracklisting, 'My Best Friend', 'Somebody To Love', 'How Do You Feel' & 'White Rabbit'. 2002.

Average customer rating:

Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane
Manufacturer: Bmg Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

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Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0009XFMYW
Release Date: 2005-08-30

Tracks:

She Has Funny Cars
Somebody to Love
My Best Friend
Today
Comin' Back to Me
3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds
D.C.B.A. -25
How Do You Feel
Embryonic Journey
White Rabbit
Plastic Fantastic Lover
In the Morning [*]
J.P.P. McStep B. Blues [*]
Go to Her [Version 2][*]
Come Back Baby [*]
Somebody to Love [Mono Version][*][Version]
White Rabbit [Mono Version][*][Version]

Album Description

Vinyl Classics reissue of the 1967 album comes as a vinyl look-a-like CD that's packaged in a die-cut see-through slipcase. BMG. 2005.

Album Details

Limited Edition Reissue of this Classic Album Presented in a Special Package featuring a CD with a Top Side that Resembles an Original LP Vinyl Album, but Don't Let the Looks Deceive You...it's A Fully Playable CD.

Average customer rating:

A Work of Art
Bueno, pero lejos de ser un clásico
One masterpiece made for the Summer Of Love...
Good Tunes But The Psychedlic Tone Could Vary A Little
Great Material...So-So Sound

Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Volunteers
Crown of Creation
Fragile
Bringing It All Back Home
The Worst of Jefferson Airplane

ASIN: B000002WTI
Release Date: 1995-07-18

Tracks:

She Has Funny Cars
Somebody to Love
My Best Friend
Today
Comin' Back to Me
3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds
D.C.B.A. -25
How Do You Feel
Embryonic Journey
White Rabbit
Plastic Fantastic Lover

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

A Work of Art.......2007-06-06

Bueno, pero lejos de ser un clásico.......2003-08-07

One masterpiece made for the Summer Of Love..........2003-06-20

Good Tunes But The Psychedlic Tone Could Vary A Little.......2001-12-03

Diehard fans of the Airplane should pick this one up, but moderate fans should consider a compilation such as Worst Of which really has all the essential songs.

Great Material...So-So Sound.......2001-10-22

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