Jefferson Airplane

Editorial Reviews
Album Details
Double Compilation from Jefferson Airplane. 16 Songs Including White Rabbit, Today, Plastc Fantastic Lover and Others. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Tracks:

Volunteers
Good Shepherd
Plastic Fantastic Lover
Uncle Sam Blues
3/5 Of a Mile In 10 Seconds
You Wear Your Dresses Too Short
Come Back Baby
Medley: Won't You Try/Saturday Afternoon
The Ballad Of You & Me & Pooneil
White Rabbit
Crown Of Creation
The Other Side Of This Life

Amazon.com

Sweeping Up the Spotlight: Live at the Fillmore East 1969 features the definitive edition of Jefferson Airplane, icons of 1960s psychedelic rock and political agitation. Jack Casady and Spencer Dryden hold down the free-floating rhythms on bass and drums, Jorma Kaukonen launches feedback-laced guitar solos, and Paul Kantner adds rhythm guitar and backing vocals. Topping it all are the voices of Marty Balin and the '60s acid queen, Grace Slick. In concert, the Airplane were always more rough and ready than on their acid-hued vinyl. Outside the studio, they were ramshackle and punky, which is why they were sometimes referenced when talking about punk bands like X, who also had male and female lead singers. Despite having six albums under their belt, mostly consisting of original material, the Airplane's live set has a lot of mediocre blues and folk filler. Some of their more characteristic repertoire is sacrificed to workman-like renditions of "Uncle Sam Blues" and "Come Back Baby," albeit with some ripping Kaukonen guitar solos. Balin's raucous rant on "You Wear Your Dresses too Short" is embarrassing in its soul-singer aspirations. Assuming this was their set sequence, it takes a while for the Airplane to congeal on stage. They ride roughshod over much of their materiel, but pull it together two-thirds of the way through on one of their most complex tunes, "The Ballad of You and Me and Pooneil." With its shifting time signatures and overlapping vocal lines and harmonies, it's a challenge to pull off live, but they do, with soaring vocals from Balin and Slick and a long instrumental jam with a fractured guitar solo from Kaukonen and a feature slot for bassist Casady, the most innovative and powerful bassist from that era. That paves the way for a darker version of "White Rabbit," the mock celebration of "Crown of Creation," and their show closer, a hyped rendition of Fred Neil's ballad "The Other Side of This Life." As they always did, the Jefferson Airplane land high. --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews:

I liked this one.......2007-07-12

There are some new previously unreleased live recordings of the Airplane on the market. This one is good, and from their best period. I loved the Airplane in that period, when I consumed illegal substances; crimes for which the statute of limitations has expired. This has material from early Airplane through Volunteers.

The Airplane's musical and technical genius is best reflected in their studio recordings. This is a very good live recording of an excellent sample of their music. If you think you don't have enough Jefferson Airplane records you can buy this one.

You know, it's possible to get better tunes for free, just look..........2007-07-11

"Casady, the most innovative and powerful bassist from that era"

Ha!

Hahaha!

You DO Know Jack.......2007-07-05

We can discuss whether or not this CD is as good as BIPLH or not. A couple things I'd like to mention from my perspective that make this CD different:
1) If you are a fan of Jack's, then you want this CD. He does a solo on Ballad of You and Me and Pooneil that is OFF THE FREAKING HOOK, my brothers and sisters. This solo--and Jack took way too few of them if you ask me-- feels like tectonic plates shifting. On the rest of the CD his playing absolutely ROARS as well. No one before or since has ever played bass like Jack. When Jorma joins in after the solo Jack even manages to feed on the energy and take it to still a higher level.

(Aside: To say the singing and harmonies are "uneven" is to be kind. Like so much of their live work, the vocal are just silly and indulgent.)

2) I really like how you can hear what Kantner was doing for a change. This must be a result of modern sound technology. It adds a dimension that we had to struggle to enjoy in the past and I am very glad they captured his work here.

Is it better than BIPLH? It's different. It's worth it if only for Jack's playing but there is so much more to enjoy too. Take care.

Yes, they were that good.......2007-06-29

I was born and raised in NYC and whenever the JA was at the Fillmore (Spring, August, and over Thanksgiving) I was there for both shows-- the early and late (the latter necessitating going back out after my parents went to bed)-- so I can say with certainty that I was at the performances that are on this disc.

Because of my experience at these shows, the JA was always THE band. Sometimes Mitch Mitchell of the JH Experience would sit in, often there was a free concert in the park on Sunday where the JA, the GD or Santana would blend together.

The creativity of the band, the depth and variety of its musicality, its emotional range, its intensity, its fearlesses (and sometimes they did crash!) and its passion all moved me greatly. And bass player Jack Casady , , , WOW.

The recorded output of the band, as brilliant as most of it is, never fully captured the Airplane live on a night when it was on-- not even "Bless its Pointed Little Head" fully got it-- not the best performance of Bear Melt or Rock Me Baby by a long shot and the other performances such as Its No Secret, 3/5ths of a Mile, Somebody to Love and Plastic Fantastic Lover are no where near the band's peak levels of creativity and intensity.

It is from this perspective that I say that this disc gets it TRUE.

This was the song of my youth (I'm now 54) and with this disc I touch the place in me that is always young.

That said, I teach martial arts for a living and I find that when I play this disc for a training session that my students often ask me "Who was that? That was really good, I want it get one, etc".

There is something here which resonates across time, , ,

The Adventure continues, , ,

Great live CD.......2007-06-27

This is a lot more entertaining than the hit and miss "Live at Filmore East" CD put out a few years ago. The band seems a lot more energetic and up for giving the audience a great performance. The sound quality is still not on par with "Bless It's Pointed Little Head", but far superior than the dismal sound of "Last Flight". The only song they could've left off was "You wear your dresses too short", which goes on far longer than needed. I could think of a dozen other JA songs they could've put in there that would've brought this up to a 5 star release.

Average customer rating:

Warning New CDs Severely Volume Compressed
"How Does It Feel" to own one of the best ever?
grace?
uneven and overrated; not as great as the debut
The beginning of the psychedelic era

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

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Similar Items:

Volunteers
Crown of Creation
After Bathing at Baxter's
Jefferson Airplane Takes Off
Disraeli Gears

ASIN: B0000A0DRY
Release Date: 2003-08-19

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:

Not their best live
One More Time
This is not the complete show! No No No and no!!
Sinking Ship
Not exactly the last flight . . .

Last Flight
Jefferson Airplane
Manufacturer: Charly UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Sweeping Up the Spotlight: Jefferson Airplane Live at the Fillmore East 1969
At the Kabuki Theatre
At Golden Gate Park
Take Me to a Circus Tent: The Jefferson Airplane Flight Manual
High Flying Bird: Live at the Monterey Festival

ASIN: B000MGBRMC
Release Date: 2007-02-26

Tracks:

Introduction by Bill Graham - Bill Graham
Somebody to Love
Twilight Double Leader
Wooden Ships
Milk Train
Blind John
Come Back Baby
Son of Jesus
Long John Silver
When the Earth Moves Again
Papa John's Down Home Blues
Eat Starch Mom

Tracks:

John's Other
Trial by Fire
Law Man
Have You Seen the Saucers?
Aerie (Gang of Eagles)
Feel So Good
Crown of Creation
Walking the Tou Tou
Medley: Diana/Volunteers [Medley]

Album Description

2007 digitally remastered two CD release of Jefferson Airplane's complete final show recorded at the Winterland in San Francisco in September of 1972. 21 tracks in all mainly taken from their final two studio albums. Includes: 'Wooden Ships', 'Have You Seen The Saucers?', 'Crown of Creation', 'Somebody To Love', 'Papa John's Down Home Blues' and more. Charly.

Album Details

2007 Issue of the First Authorized Edition (As Opposed to the Dozens of Inferior Bootlegs that have Floated About the Market Over the Years) of Jefferson Airplane's Historic Final Show Performed on September 22, 1972 at San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom. The Double CD Set Includes the Complete Concert Performance by Grace Slick, Paul Kantner, Jack Casady, Jorma Kaukonen, Legendary Bay Area Blues Fiddler Papa John Creach, Drummer Johnny Barbata (Formerly with the Turtles and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young) and Multi-instrumentalist David Freiberg (Formerly of Quicksilver Messenger Service), who also Filled in the Male Lead Vocals in the Wake of Marty Balin's Departure.

Customer Reviews:

Not their best live.......2007-07-12

I am a huge fan of the Airplane, but they were more in their element in the studio. There has lately been released a number of recordings of concerts from different venues. Some of them are quite good. This was recorded at a point of transition and they had a new drummer. The performances are decent, but it's not the best sound design to carry the volume. Things get a little distorted. I guess the Grateful Dead set a live standard that is hard to match.

One More Time.......2007-06-02

Considering the dearth of live material from one of the most seminal bands of the 60's, this release is worthy of anyone's collection of essential Airplane discs. Unfairly forgotten, relative to the endless marketing machine of the Dead, the legacy of the Airplane languishes due to an apparent lack of releasable material, live or studio. This CD is a surprise to anyone who bought the toastery vinyl disappointment of "30 Seconds". No, it's not BIPLH, but it's 1972, not 1968 ( a lifetime for the average band), and it's very listenable. Besides a better mastering, it's got the fiery essence of a band that doesn't know the fight's over, they're not to come this way again, and the outlandish time in which they arose will only be a poignant and pointless memory. Buy this album, and god bless Papa John!

This is not the complete show! No No No and no!!.......2007-05-24

Hi there from airplane world:

As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" I had received so much email about this release that I hope I can share some information with you. The quality is real strong and the date is historic Winterland, San Francisco, September 22, 72. It was the last time the Airplane would fly until 1989 but...........

With plenty of room the CD leaves out the encore when Marty Balin returned! Dress Rap > You Wear Your Dresses Too Short is nowhere to be found! The most important tune of the night!

You can get the missing song on the Airplane Box Set "Loves You" but that isn't the point. You can not claim to have a complete show when you are overlooking a big part of the historic night.

If you don't own this previously you can enjoy the final time the plane takes off but you'll have to pretend you left before the encore to beat the traffic home.

Thanks and be well,
Craig Fenton
Author "Take Me To A Circus Tent"

Sinking Ship.......2007-05-22

This album is the sound of a sinking ship. But the sound they made going down!! When I went to this concert I was amazed but later upon hearing 30 Seconds I put my own judgement into question. It sounded mostly pretty uninspired. Could this really be the same concert I saw? True some of the songs were from a different concert but still. Now comes Last Flight and while not as great as I initially thought the show was, makes me see what I saw at the time. This is sort of the Airplane in a bad mood, with factions squaring off in each corner, but channeling those feelings into an imperfect but staggering show of raw emotion. It's almost more exhasting rather than enlightening but a worthwile trip nontheless. Just don't make this your first experiance with the Airplane

Not exactly the last flight . . ........2007-05-14

Being a cult follower of the Airplane/Starship, my appreciation for this disc is large. With that bias in mind, the next question you might have is why buy this instead of "Thirty Seconds Over Winterland", which is the roughly a truncated show from basically the same tour? The answer is as simple as it seems: 1. More music, and 2. A real feel of the status of the Airplane then - with insight to why the split apart.

The music is not as "perfect" as the tracks on Thirty Seconds Over. . .", but there are certain benefits. One is you can really hear Dave Frieberg belting it out like from the days of Quicksilver. He sounds great. The other is you get some serious Papa John features. The downside is ofcourse crazy vocals from Grace and poor mixing from time to time.

While not being my favorite JA recording, I am happy to add it to my collection. For me it replaces "Thirty Seconds . . ." and fills in a hole in the wall that is the legacy of this great SF band. Enjoy!

Average customer rating:

I'm Doin' Things That Haven't Got a Name Yet
here we go
A Marking Point
Unsung Hero
An indispensable example of psychedelia

After Bathing at Baxter's
Jefferson Airplane
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Crown of Creation
Volunteers
Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane Takes Off
Bless Its Pointed Little Head

ASIN: B0000A0DRX
Release Date: 2003-08-19

Tracks:

The Ballad Of You & Me & Pooneil
A Small Package Of Value Will Come To Yo, Shortly
Young Girl Sunday Blues
Martha
Wild Tyme (H)
The Last Wall Of The Castle
Rejoyce
Watch Her Ride
Spare Chaynge
Two Heads
Won't You Try/Saturday Afternoon
The Ballad Of You & Me & Pooneil (Live - Long Version)
Martha (Mono Single Version)
Two Heads (Alternate Version)
Things Are Better In The East

Album Description

Originally released in 1967 (same year but 10 months after Surrealistic Pillow), this RCA/BMG Heritage remastered reissue adds 4 bonus tracks 'The Ballad Of You Me and Pooneil' (live-long version previously unreleased), 'Martha' (single version-mono), 'Two Heads' (alternate version-previously unreleased) & 'Things Are Better In The East' (demo version-previously unreleased). Includes 12-page booklet with extensive liner notes, detailed track listing & rare photos. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

I'm Doin' Things That Haven't Got a Name Yet .......2007-06-16

Read the reviews below to get a sense of the emotional response this album evokes. It's not just a so-called psychedelic album, it's an album of great searching and yearning for an alternate path during times dark with the Vietnam war, the clunky Johnson administration (JKF was still a recent martyr, RFK not yet dead), and the very cold war (Nuclear annihilation anyone?). The baby boomers could not believe the cornucopia of new sounds and experiences available to them, as the radio got looser and everyone began to swap their monophonic record players for high end stereos. This album made no sense to people expecting a continuation of "Pillow", but true fans listened over and over to this record until the grooves were worn out. Something in this album, LSD influenced or not, resonated with a lot of music lovers, and it remains an iconoclastic "screw you" tip o' the hat to the music biz. The Airplane embodied the spirit of the antiestablishmentarianism of the times, a template of non-conformity during a very conformist time (next up, Richard Nixon). Grace Slick et al have become forgotten relics of a time of great passion and desire for a better reality, and god knows we could use a band as rebellious and expressive now. A great aural souvenir of a transitional time in Amerikan culture.

here we go.......2007-06-10

After Bathing At Baxter's isn't quite the outrageous trippy inspiration that many reviewers tend to make it sound. Surprisingly, much of the album is quite listenable and melodic. "Martha", "Wild Tyme", "Watch Her Role" and "Two Heads" are pretty normal songs. Nothing really outrageous about those ones.

The rest of the album is, however, pretty strange. It's also a pretty hard album to give a rating too, because all the experiments probably make it a tricky listen the first few times, but on the other hand, the songs that are melodic and memorable probably are some of Jefferson Airplane's best tunes.

An album worth hearing, and possibly owning. It would probably be wise to save this album for last in your Airplane journey. Just my opinion.

A Marking Point.......2007-06-06

This album was truly a marking point for the band. With the first album being a huge success under their belt, it sounds like they felt they could let the listener into their heads a bit. From start to finish this album is a friendly reminder that experience is what life is about.

Unsung Hero.......2007-05-21

Baxter's is probably the Airplane's finest studio album. No, really! They were at the height of their creative powers, and they took a lot of time in producing this album. They had asked Frank Zappa to produce it, but he was quite busy with his own projects, so they did it themselves. Coming off of their highly successful Surrealistic Pillow, they were clearly working together and developing their music as a unit. With more tracks to work with in the studio, they made full use of them without sounding too cluttered. The songs are well crafted without taking away the sponaneity of what they did in live performances. The album is clearly psychedelic, and the songs are weird, but this is what they were about. This album captures their sound at its finest. There are no real "hits" on this album, which is what I like about it. They were allowed to create music without worrying about Jefferson "airplay."

An indispensable example of psychedelia.......2007-04-18

After Bathing at Baxter's is uncompromising, drug-induced psychedelic music. It could have been produced only on the West Coast and only during the heady experimental era that begun in 1967 and ended before the decade was out. The band's Surrealistic Pillow, released at the beginning of 1967, consisted primarily of radio friendly songs. Baxter's is a wholly different kettle of fish. Although the record sold very well, the last thing that you would call it is commercial. It was never an easy listen. I find that many albums that I thought "out there" when released now sound more or less conventional. Baxter's still sounds as imaginative and avant-garde as it did in 1967. Jorma Kaukonen's guitar and Grace Slick's voice are unique in rock and roll. Whether they are harmonizing or playing off each other Marty Balin and Grace Slick are a perfect paring. Jack Casady really gives his base a good workout. Spencer Dryden shows why a talented drummer is worth his weight in gold (rejoyce). On this record the band members are consistently on the same page. This music is not for everyone. But for those who appreciate the psychedelic genre it is one of the indispensable recordings.

Average customer rating:

Wrong Liner Notes!
Up against the wall motherf*****s.
memorable
You forget how good they sound
Airplane's finest

Volunteers
Jefferson Airplane
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Crown of Creation
Surrealistic Pillow
After Bathing at Baxter's
Bless Its Pointed Little Head
Jefferson Airplane Takes Off

ASIN: B00028U6B8
Release Date: 2004-06-22

Tracks:

We Can Be Together
Good Shepherd
Farm
Hey Fredrick
Turn My Life Down
Wooden Ships
Eskimo Blue Day
Song for All Seasons
Meadowlands
Volunteers
Good Shepherd [Live][#][*]
Somebody to Love [Live][#][*]
Plastic Fantastic Lover [Live][#][*]
Wooden Ships [Live][#][*]
Volunteers [Live][#][*]

Customer Reviews:

Wrong Liner Notes!.......2007-05-29

Ah the nostalgia for 1969--listening to Volunteers really takes me back (to when I was 3).

Opening the liner notes for some oral history about the making of Volunteers, gossip about Grace and the band, etc., I found that the notes for Surrealistic Pillow had been stapled inside the cover for Volunteers.

How on earth does that happen?

Now, it will cost me postage and time to return the CD. So, 1 star for the item I received.

Five stars for Volunteers with the *right* liner notes.

Up against the wall motherf*****s........2007-04-17

In the liner notes for this reissue Paul Kantner argues that the Airplane was not political. He suggests that the band "observed" rather than proselytized. Who are we to disagree? After all he did write or co-write We Can Be Together and Volunteers. However, whatever the band's intentions, it is inarguable that this record was, in 1969, de rigueur for those who considered themselves part of the counterculture. Kennedy had been murdered, Nixon was president and the war raged. To those who felt disenfranchised those two songs, together with Wooden Ships, certainly sounded political! This debate would, of course, be academic if the most important elements were absent. Fortunately, this record is loaded with stellar songs and superior musicianship.

Jorma Kaukonen features prominently on Wooden Ships, Hey Frederick, Volunteers, Good Shepherd and Eskimo Blue Day. This under-rated guitarist has never played better than he does here. The ubiquitous, brilliant and influential Nicky Hopkins makes his presence felt. What a busy session man he was! Grace Slick and Marty Balin share the vocals for the very last time - regrettably, Balin and drummer Spencer Dryden left the group after this record. Without Balin the band continued for several years before morphing into the lamentable Jefferson Starship.

The songs are uniformly strong, running the gamut from the hard-rocking Together and Volunteers to the balladic wizardry of Wooden Ships to the countrified The Farm. Hey Frederick is a fitting example of what had made the airplane so popular - uniquely Slick vocals, terrific guitar, more than a touch of psychedelia and slightly oblique lyrics. It is very San Francisco.

What of the five "bonus" tracks? I am always torn when confronted with classic LPs that have been tampered with. If the additional songs are of a high quality and would have been included on the original if space permitted then there is no problem. I'm not so struck on the idea of alternative versions of songs already included and live versions of songs from prior albums. I know that I can program my player or simply eject after the originals have had their turn. This is not the point. My memory of these great old albums is the sound of the arm of the turntable lifting after the last notes of the last song have been played. I feel satisfied. The addition of "unworthy" additional tracks shouldn't detract from my enjoyment. It isn't logical. But, for me at least, it's true!

memorable.......2007-04-05

I like Jefferson Airplane, even though many of their tunes may sound like a rambley mess the first time you hear them. This album is a good example of that- every song sounds identical to the next, and at first, it doesn't seem like ANY of them go anywhere. However, the more you hear them, the more the vocals and guitar playing seem to stand out, and you eventually conclude how good the music is.

It's 60's music, and that means the album has that very dated but distinct sound, though it's NOT a bad thing at all. I enjoy the album, though I think Crosby Stills and Nash had a better version of "wooden ships". Sorry, but they do. Some of the singing is quite good, though to be honest, the guitar playing is mostly what you should remember about this album. However, "good shepherd" is one of the most likable songs of all-time. I will stand by that forever. GREAT song.

It's too bad I've never been able to hear the first song in its entirety. My record has a big scratch right in the middle of the song, and I don't want to risk the life of my needle to find out that it obviously won't play.

You forget how good they sound.......2007-03-30

People tend to remember this classic as a collection of counterculture, anti-war anthems. And that's not altogether inaccurate--that description fits "We Can Be Together" and the title track pretty well. But some points about this need to be made. First, if you think this is just a hippie manifesto, you've missed the tongue-in-cheek irony, which is just below the surface in "We Can Be Together," and is the whole point of "The Farm." Just one example: think about the lines "We are forces of chaos and anarchy / Everything they say we are, we are / And we are very proud of ourselves." Doesn't that last line kind of mock the first two? With that there, can you really take the surface sentiment altogether seriously? Oh, and listen to how sweetly and off-handedly Grace sings the famous "up against the wall, [bleep]" line. You get the feeling that the band simultaneously believed in their causes, and also felt the need to point out the inconsistencies involved. Saddled-up toads and everything.

So now that the political moment is past, what's the point of listening to a half-ironic commentary on it? The point is that this was a great band at the height of their musicianship. Listen to "Wooden Ships" or, especially, "Hey Frederick," and you can't help but be amazed at how jaw-droppingly incredible they sound together. Jorma Kaukonen, as great as he is, never sounded better than here, and he gels perfectly with Jack Cassady and Paul Kantner. Spencer Dryden plays just as sharply. And Grace and Marty sing as amazingly as ever, both separately and together. And you can't underestimate the importance of session pianist Nicky Hopkins.

The first time I heard "Hey Frederick," with Grace Slick's magic followed by that long, let-it-never-end jam at the end (of course it's not actually a jam, but is carefully orchestrated), I wanted the second time I heard it to happen right then. (And so it did. And so did the third time, for that matter.) And then "Wooden Ships"--same thing, and it's even better in the context of the album. "Eskimo Blue Day"--same thing yet again. The point is, they sound fantastic, all the time, on all the tracks. And that--not the content of the lyrics--is why this is a classic.

Airplane's finest.......2006-10-04

For the whole album concept, this is Airplane's finest work. There's a number of distinguished guests helping out (greats Nicky Hopkins, Stephen Stills, and Jerry Garcia to name a few), and every track is a gem.

There's country, folk, and good old rock 'n' roll. Something for everyone.

Essential listening for fans of 60's american rock.

Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship/Starship - Hits

Average customer rating:

One-Stop Shopping
Satisfying, but a boxed set would be great!
Lives up to its title perfectly
An Exhaustive Collection of Jeffersonýs multiple transitions
Comprehensive collection of the band in all its incarnations

Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship/Starship - Hits
Jefferson Airplane , Jefferson Starship , and Starship
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac
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Foreigner - Complete Greatest Hits

ASIN: B00000BKJ8
Release Date: 1998-09-29

Tracks:

It's No Secret
Somebody To Love
White Rabbit
Embryonic Journey
Plastic Fantastic Lover
Comin' Back To Me
The Ballad Of You And Me And Pooneil
Greasy Heart
Lather
Crown Of Creation
Wooden Ships
Volunteers
Good Shepard
Have You Seen The Saucers
Pretty As You Feel
Third Week In Chelsea
Long John Silver
Caroline
Ride The Tiger

Tracks:

Miracles
With Your Love
Count On Me
Runaway
Jane
Find Your Way Back
Stranger
Be My Lady
No Way Out
Layin' It On The Line
We Built This City
Sara
Tomorrow Doesn't Matter Tonight
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now
It's Not Over (Til It's Over)
It's Not Enough

Customer Reviews:

One-Stop Shopping.......2006-07-19

Although no greatest hits compilation will have EVERY song you might want on it, this one comes close, including several I didn't even realize WERE by this amazing group of artists. Even though it does have a song I must regretfully admit to loathing ("We Built This City"), I give this item the HIGHEST marks!

Satisfying, but a boxed set would be great!.......2004-10-31

It's a little hard to believe that the trippy Jefferson Airplane became the rocking Jefferson Starship only to disintegrate into the sappy Starship, but the transformation is right here on these two CDs. The songs you'd expect to find on a hits collection of these three bands are here -- Somebody to Love, White Rabbit, Miracles, Caroline, Jane and We Built This City, to name a few. For me, this compilation is worth having for the full version of Miracles, which was edited for radio play back in the 70s but is more passionate and amazing at its full length! While this set is satisfying, I'd like to see a boxed set someday...

Lives up to its title perfectly.......2004-09-05

I've been reading the reviews on this collection, and quite frankly, the name of this package is HITS...not what some people regard as their favorites maybe, but all the hits are there from all three incarnations of this band between 1967 and 1990. I've always been of the train of thought that band members come and go for reasons, and they chose the ones they thought would serve them the best. I don't see any of the changes this band made as any kind of sellout at all...hey, no one held a gun to their heads and said "You will make THIS type of music..." they wrote and performed the songs that were on these albums, and the ones they didn't write were ones they liked enough to record. Grace Slick and Marty Balin sounded great together...and when I had the chance to see the band in 1985, she sounded great together with Mickey Thomas...and in 2002 when I caught Mickey Thomas's Starship on tour with Eddie Money, he still sounded great doing all the Starship tunes associated with him. Every song is someone's favorite, and a lot of mine are on this collection. If you don't want to spend tons of money to get all their hits in one place, buy this collection. If, on the other hand, you prefer one period of this band's varied history over another...then go buy the best of collection from that period, or collect the albums they put out during that period. Hits collections seem to take it on the chin for not including one person's favorites or inevitably another person has to ask "how could they NOT include...?" (like the track "Winds of Change", but I already have that on another CD, it's not like I can't listen to it). All in all, great collection, comprehensive...
and affordable.

An Exhaustive Collection of Jeffersonýs multiple transitions.......2004-06-14

Jefferson Airplane - "Hits" (Rock & Roll, Hard Rock, Psychedelic, Folk-Rock, Arena Rock) : Firstly it should be mentioned that this extensive compilation compiles the vast majority of the best / Most popular tracks from the 3 incarnations of Jefferson Airplane.....so that includes the bands transitions from "Jefferson Airplane" to "Jefferson Starship" through to just "Starship" (Which contained none of the founder members, and thus explains the radically different sound in the bands transitions).

Seeing as this is a "Hits" album, the vast majority of their most popular & critically applauded songs throughout the various transitions of the band are complied here. From the Jefferson Airplane side, the 60's rock and psychedelic rock & Folk-rock that they made their name on, is faithfully represented here, with the excellent inclusions of "Somebody to Love / White Rabbit / Plastic Fantastic Lover".....which (for me) are amongst some of the strongest tracks featured here on this 35 track double album. Jefferson Starship gradual shift away from 60's/Psychedelic rock, to a more Area based rock, and Album oriented rock, lists their best achievements in "Caroline / Miracles / Count on me / With your love", and yet again prove themselves to be fantastic songs in their own right. The transition of their sound was complete with the move to "Starship", which had a completely different line-up of musicians and saw them embrace 80's rock/ Soft rock (not to dissimilar to 'Fleetwood Mac'), and Pop/Rock crossover....with "Sara / Nothings gonna stop us now / It not over (Til it's over)", and the anthemic "We Built this City".

Seeing as the band went through three personality changes since it's inception, its not hard to audibly hear the transition of sound, where the band change direction musically. And herein lies the problem.....if you only like one or indeed two, of the bands incarnations, then you're going to have difficulty sitting through the tracks of the period of the band that you don't like.......and because it's one of the only albums to give a complete overview of the band, this is really only aimed at people that liked all three incarnations (irrespective of the wildly different sound), so if you are one of those people, than you'd be far better served, picking up a individual collection album of the period of the band that you like.

For those of us, that do appreciate Jefferson's multiple musical & line-up changes, this is as exhaustive & thorough a compilation as you could possibly hope for, and serves to be an illuminating overview of the band, and a balanced portrayal of their wildly varying music. And if you can handle listening to '60's Folk-rock', through to 'Arena / Album oriented rock'....culminating in 80's soft rock (although undeniably catchy), this is the finest catalogue of a band with over 20 years of hits......and highly recommended.

Comprehensive collection of the band in all its incarnations.......2004-04-20

I was somewhat amused by another reviewers description of this collection as being "bizarre". I would concur that this is an apt description as this is one group that changed personnel and musical directions so frequently that it would make your head spin. But in the final analysis, this outfit left us with a pretty impressive body of work. This two CD set released in 1998 is no doubt the best collection that has ever been offered. RCA/BMG has included a generous 35 tracks beginning with the best work of Jefferson Airplane from the late 60's. Aside from the obligatory "Somebody To Love" and "White Rabbit", selections include "Ballad of You & Me & Pooneil" as well as the title cuts from two of their popular albums of the day "Crown of Creation" and "Volunteers".
For me, the group did it finest work in the mid to late 70's when they were known as Jefferson Starship. All of the hit singles are here including "Miracles", "With Your Love", Count On Me" and one of my personal favorites "Runaway" from 1978. Another terrific tune, 1984's "No Way Out" is also included.
The group had another metamorphisis in 1985 when they emerged as simply Starship. And much to my amazement, the group scored with several of its biggest hits ever including "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now", "Sara" and of course "We Built This City". All three of those tunes reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
While I enjoyed the music, Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship/Starship was never among my very favorite bands. There are really more tracks here that I required. But as a practical matter this package remains the best collection available. The remastering job is excellent and the 12 page booklet that is included is OK. All in all, a pretty good deal.

Average customer rating:

DON'T BE FOOLED BY THE 'TITLE'
Worst Of Jefferson Airplane
Artistic and Ground-Breaking
Jefferson Airplane Loved You--'Cept Maybe Grace Who Would Just As Soon Kick Your Teeth In
Worst Is Best - But Could Have Been Better

The Worst of Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Volunteers
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Keep on Truckin': The Very Best of Hot Tuna
The Essential Jefferson Airplane
Sweeping Up the Spotlight: Jefferson Airplane Live at the Fillmore East 1969

ASIN: B000FDFS5E
Release Date: 2006-06-06

Tracks:

It's No Secret
Blues From An Airplane
Somebody To Love
Today
White Rabbit
Embryonic Journey
Martha
The Ballad Of You & Me & Pooneil
Watch Her Ride
Greasy Heart
Crown Of Creation
Chuchingura
Lather
Plastic Fantastic Lover
Good Shepherd
We Can Be Together
Volunteers

Customer Reviews:

DON'T BE FOOLED BY THE 'TITLE'.......2007-01-10

This is a "keeper"!! Especially if your interested in one of the most popular groups of the 60's!! ( And it's a "hard to find" CD, too ) Actually - it the BEST OF JEFFERSON AIRPLANE!! Remastered & with 2 Bonus Tracks!! Some of Grace Slick's best work!! & Paul Kantner, Marty Balin on lead vocals.... & 17 memoriable HITS!! GREAT CD!! Another KEEPER to add to your 60's collection!! Includes: White Rabbit, Somebody to Love, and Volunteers. Along with: Embryonic Journey & (of course) Plastic Fantastic Lover!!

Worst Of Jefferson Airplane.......2006-11-04

Easily one of the best greatest hits recordings ever compiled. If you are a fan of the "Airplane", you can't go wrong with this one.

Artistic and Ground-Breaking.......2006-10-14

I remember seeing this album in 1970. I was puzzled as to what was meant by a collection of "worst of," not understanding the intentional and unintentional irony of the title. Overcoming the title, this collection was nominally the best of the first six Jefferson Airplane albums. I say nominally because there are many who feel that this album short-changes the group's scope.

Jefferson Airplane's first album was released September, 1966. Grace Slick had yet to add her considerable vocal talents. The group had yet to achieve the cutting-edge heights they would soon reach. Fortunately, Jefferson Airplane was in the right place at the right time. Music and society were undergoing a revolution and the artists, musical and otherwise, located in Haight-Ashbury were at the forefront of that revolution. Consistent with artists that have great talent but maintain perspective, some members of the group have always taken their fame and the adulation conferred upon them with a good deal of tongue-in-cheek humor. Jefferson Airplane has all the hallmarks of a great group, and this collection is a perfect introduction to the group.

The album kicks off with the peppy and, at that time, hard rock song "It's no Secret." You can hear folk elements in this short song, which is understandable given that folk music was still quite popular when these songs were recorded in 1966. The second song, "Blues from an Airplane," is also folk influenced rock. Both songs have a different style from the subsequent songs, excluding "Martha," which retains a folk influence.

The third song is one of the iconic songs from the 60s. "Somebody to Love" has been used numerous times, along with "White Rabbit," to indicate the psychedelic 60s. The song sandwiched between these two songs is "Today," a gorgeous love song using all the technical tricks known in the mid-60s. The song is highly contrasted by the much faster songs on either side of it. "White Rabbit" is probably the most famous song relating to the psychedelic era. The highly evocative lyrics, the music and powerful vocal style of Grace Slick combined to make this song an instant classic.

Proving that Jefferson Airplane had breadth is "Embryonic Journey." Purposefully or otherwise this solo guitar instrumental fits into the other songs related to psychedelia. This guitar solo presages the later efforts of Yes, who would create similar works.

"The Ballad of You & Me & Pooneil" is fully psychedelic. The lingering folk influences are gone and the music contains more free-form elements. Even with my eclectic musical tastes I find this song difficult to like. However, the construction of this song pushed the limits of what rock music could be and may have been a formative part of progressive rock. Another bizarre track is "Cushingura." This relatively short, experimental track makes me think of some of the early works of King Crimson, especially "Moonchild" from the 1969 release "In the Court of the Crimson King."

This remastered CD includes two songs not in the previous versions: "Watch Her Ride" and "Greasy Heart." Both songs are nice additions, but there are a couple of minor complaints I have. The first complaint is why did they monkey with the order of the songs? If they were going to change the order, then (second complaint) why not add even more songs to fully use the 80 minutes available on a CD? Then they could have re-titled the CD indicate the expanded nature of the CD.

The rock album "Crown of Creation" released in September 1968 was supposed to be counter-culture. However, the song "Crown of Creation" is more accessible than Jefferson Airplane's psychedelic music. The structure of the music is somewhat dated, and yet the songs complexity is mirrored in some music created today.

"Lather" is a beautiful song that is too short. The song asks the question "when someone is too old?" The magical age in the 60s seemed to be 30. After that age it was generally considered that you could no longer be free spirited; you were caught up in the system, never to be released. This song is quiet and mellow, with Grace Slick's vocals well highlighted as the music remains largely acoustic and in the background, along with abundant sound effects.

"Plastic Fantastic Lover" is a live version of a heavier rock track from the ground-breaking album "Surrealistic Pillow." The music is heavy and sounds similar to some of Jimi Hendrix's music from the same era. This track is early acid rock exploiting the fun of electric guitars. Jefferson Airplane was no slave to style. "Good Shepherd" contains folk, blues and gospel elements, but the rock guitar is an element used also in "Plastic Fantastic Lover." This song is wonderful to reminisce about the flower children era.

"We Can Be Together" is the longest song on the CD at nearly six minutes. As the 60s moved on there was a movement toward understanding and love, and this song targets those philosophies directly. Music like this was a result of a combination of events, including the Viet Nam War and the continued social upheaval in the United States. This song could have been the coda for the 60s.

The last song in this collection is "Volunteers." This song was the grass roots appeal to everyone to be a force for change. Power to the people was the word of the day and the words to this song exemplify that desire. Yet another of the songs from Jefferson Airplane, along with "White Rabbit" and "Somebody to Love" that are used to indicate the 60s.

The 60s yielded a variety of unusual musical combinations. Jefferson Airplane was one of the most influential groups of its era, experimenting with styles that would help steer the course of music even until today, while singing music that was then a social indicator and now a historical artifact.

Enjoy!

Jefferson Airplane Loved You--'Cept Maybe Grace Who Would Just As Soon Kick Your Teeth In.......2006-08-05

There are so many re-packagings of Jefferson Airplane/Starship material out these days that any newcomer to their music must feel a little overwhelmed. If it helps, most of these compilations were way after the fact, "Worst of..." was the original "best of," released first on vinyl in the early 70s. I didn't buy it then because I had everything on it on other records (this being a bit before anybody thought to entice fans with "bonus tracks"). To me all the early Airplane albums were essential, and this package was at best, a good intro for the uninitiated.
But now since I haven't replaced every single vinyl LP with the CD version (have some, not all), this collection makes sense. In fact, it makes damn good sense. In terms of providing an overview of the Airplane's most creative period, this 15 track sampling is hard to beat. Two of the best tracks from the neo-folkie, pre-Grace "Jefferson Airplane Takes Off" open the album on a sweetly melancholic note, a little stiff and unformed yet. Then suddenly you're caught up in the aural whoosh of "Somebody to Love," that sharp almost genderless voice coming out of nowhere. Grace Slick makes a ferocious entry, into the song, into the band and into music history.

It scarcely lets up from there. I've often maintained that the great thing about the Airplane is that the sweetly sappy one was the guy (Marty Balin) and the edgy, neurotic one was the, uh, girl (and even in '67, "chick" scarcely applied to Grace Slick). "Worst of..." balances this odd yin and yang nicely. The shortest and most effective of Marty's "Surrealistic Pillow" ballads, "Today" is strategically placed between the two big Slick numbers (and of course, that would be "Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit"). "Embryonic Journey," the celebrated acoustic instrumental from "Pillow" segues into Paul Kantner's lyrical "Martha," one of "After Bathing at Baxter's" gentler tracks.

And then we're off into the era of Kantner's ascendency. Kantner, who was in many ways the glue that held the Airplane/Starship together, was also the object of increasing critical abuse as the 60s wore into the 70s. Truth to tell, he did write a few clunkers in his day, but what's represented here is Kantner at his visionary best. The joyous "Pooneil" is childlike without being mawkish, and "Crown of Creation" made just the right political statement for late '68 (more mournful than didactic, actually, which may be why it holds up today--[other] concerns aside). Then Grace does a brooding slow tempo number ("Lather"), and Marty demonstrates his ability to rock out with the bouncy live version of "Plastic Fantastic Lover." Every band member gets his or her chance to shine, including guitarist Jorma Kaukonen's stately "Good Shepherd," which is lovely, a bit rootsy and prefigures his Hot Tuna and solo work nicely.

And it ends with "We Can Be Together" AND "Volunteers"--two songs that were meant to be played back to back (and often were in concert). If that doesn't close the record on a high note, and if you're not spazz-dancing in the aisles or in your living room by that point, well, I'll eat my bandana.

Worst Is Best - But Could Have Been Better.......2006-07-22

Re-mastered and expanded, 'The Worst Of Jefferson Airplane' has been re-released to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Jefferson Airplane's first album release. To the original 15 tracks (allegedly selected by the band themselves in 1970) Bob Irwin has added "Watch Her Ride" and "Greasy Heart", chronologically half way through the record. With various 'Best Of' and 'Essential' JA collections out now I just wonder why they chose to mess with the original format - and having decided to do so, why they didn't add more tracks to make best use of the CD running time. For a longer review check out 'HOLDING TOGETHER' (my Airplane/Starship fanzine). The addition of "Let's Get Together", "Share A Little Joke", "Hey Fredrick" etc could have made this even 'worse' and the quite definitive single CD set!

Average customer rating:

Totally Phycadelic and Totally Groovy!!!
Some non-album tracks

The Essential Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0007YP17G
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Tracks:

Blues From An Airplane
It's No Secret
Come Up The Years
She Has Funny Cars
Somebody To Love
Comin' Back to Me
Embryonic Journey
White Rabbit
Ballad Of You And Me And Pooneil, The
Martha - (single version)
Last Wall Of The Castle, The
Watch Her Ride
Lather
Crown Of Creation
Greasy Heart
Share A Little Joke - (single version)

Tracks:

3/5 Of A Mile In Ten Seconds
Plastic Fantastic Lover
We Can Be Together
Good Shepherd
Wooden Ships
Eskimo Bllue Day
Volunteers
Have You Seen The Saucers - (single version)
Mexico - (single version)
When The Earth Moves Again
Pretty As You Feel
Third Week In Chelsea
Long John Silver
Twilight Double Leader
Feel So Good
Milk Train

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Filling the double-disc void left by the excellent but sonically inferior and out-of-print 2400 Fulton Street: An Anthology, The Essential Jefferson Airplane digs deeper into the San Francisco band's catalog than the many single disc collections available. Less expansive, but with better sound than the three disc box set, Jefferson Airplane Loves You, this 32 track compilation covers the band's seven albums and two live offerings, giving nearly equal time to all. Not held in as high esteem as their Bay Area compatriots the Grateful Dead, the Airplane successfully combined Marty Balin's expressive voice on such lovely folk-tinged love songs as "Comin' Back to Me," the apocalyptic visions of "Wooden Ships" (co-written by the Airplane's Paul Kantner with David Crosby and Stephen Stills), the edgy, psychedelia of "The Ballad of You and Me and Pooneil" and the politically charged rallying cry of "Volunteers." Singer Grace Slick provided a photogenic focal point and dynamic interplay that meshed perfectly with the band's three male vocalists.

Disc one clocks in at a relatively anemic 50 minutes, leaving nearly an unused half hour that could have included such influential album tracks as the band's version of Donovan's "The Fat Angel," "Won't You Try/Saturday Afternoon," "Triad," and "Wild Thyme." Regardless, this is a well-chosen selection (with first-rate liner notes from J.A. historian Jeff Tamarkin) that highlights the Airplane's diverse influences as it echoed and exemplified the turbulent end of the '60s/beginning of the '70s. --Hal Horowitz

Recommended Jefferson Airplane Discography

Surrealistic Pillow
After Bathing at Baxter's
Crown of Creation

Volunteers
Live at the Fillmore East
Jefferson Airplane Takes Off

Customer Reviews:

Totally Phycadelic and Totally Groovy!!!.......2006-08-10

I bought this album and Alice answered. Don't you want sombody to love? Yes, and it's this album! If you want to go back in time, Go Ask Alice!!! Bravo to Jefforson Airplane!

Some non-album tracks.......2005-11-23

This may be the most inexpensive way to acquire their non-album single Have You Seen The Saucers?/Mexico, released during a transitional period between Volunteers and Bark. The mono single mixes of Martha and Share A Little Joke are also included, though these are also to be found as bonus tracks on their parent albums, After Bathing At Baxter's and Crown Of Creation. Unfortunately for collectors the opportunity to include the mono single version of The Ballad Of You And Me And Pooneil has again been passed over.
The rest of the two discs is taken up with a fairly sensibly chosen selection from their albums Jefferson Airplane Takes Off, Surrealistic Pillow, After Bathing At Baxter's, Crown Of Creation, Bless It's Pointed Little Head, Volunteers, Bark, Long John Silver, and finally two live tracks from 1972 that appeared on 30 Seconds Over Winterland, including the eleven minute Jorma Kaukonen epic Feel So Good. Tracks that were also A-sides or B-sides have been favoured and We Can Be Together, from Volunteers, is the edited B-side version.

Average customer rating:

Another turning point
My favourite Airplane album
I Don't Really See-Why Can't We Go On As Free?
Doesn't Hold Up In the 2000's
Thank God for Digital Re-Mastering

Crown of Creation
Jefferson Airplane
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

After Bathing at Baxter's
Volunteers
Surrealistic Pillow
Bless Its Pointed Little Head
Jefferson Airplane Takes Off

ASIN: B0000A0DRZ
Release Date: 2003-08-19

Tracks:

Lather
In Time
Triad
Star Track
Share A Little Joke
Chushingura
If You Feel
Crown Of Creation
Ice Cream Phoenix
Greasy Heart
The House At Pooneil Corners
Bonus Tracks: Ribump Ba Bap Dum Dum
Bonus Tracks: Would You Like A Snack
Bonus Tracks: Share A Little Joke (Mono Single Version)
Bonus Tracks: The Saga Of Sydney Spacepig (Previously Unreleased)

Album Description

Originally released in 1968, this RCA/BMG Heritage remastered reissue adds 4 bonus tracks 'Ribump Ba Bap Dum Dum', 'Would You like A Snack', 'Share A Little Joke' (single version-mono) & 'The Saga Of Sydney Spacepig' (previously unreleased). Includes 12-page booklet with extensive liner notes, detailed track listing & rare photos. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

Another turning point.......2007-05-29

Another of the albums that became a turning point in my life. The other reviews state everything about the album I could say. Let me just second the reviewer Pearl Drummer and say that Jack Casady is absolutely the BEST BASSIST ever, before or since (and completely underrated). His playing on the title track is so dense and complex that I never tire of hearing it. I wish I knew enough about engineering to separate it out so I could listen to it alone.

My favourite Airplane album.......2007-04-19

After the more experimental and overtly psychedelic After Bathing at Baxter's Crown of Creation marks a return to the shorter songs and more "commercial" (remember, everything is relative) sound of Surrealistic Pillow. It is my favourite Airplane record.

This LP is a perfect mix of eccentric slower-paced songs (Lather, Triad), plaintive Marty Balin (In Time, Shared a Little Joke), inspired Kaukonen (Star Track) and classic Airplane (Crown of Creation, Pooneil Corners). The only throwaway is the irritating Chushingura. And it is only1:16 in length. The remixed sound is a revelation. The newfound clarity and crispness really does enable us to fully appreciate the individual musical talents of the band. The bonus tracks on this re-release are eminently forgettable. No, they are more than that - they are positively annoying! However, on the basis of the songs from the original LP this is a five star effort.

I Don't Really See-Why Can't We Go On As Free?.......2007-01-15

Yes. I saw the review that Guido wrote and, needless to say, I was metamortified! Let me say people, it is very difficult having a guide that is a party animal. When we did talk, he admitted that he was very drunk at the time and that since my reviews had achieved a certain fame, he felt very left out. He apologized (which was feigned), promised never to do it again (an excuse designed to make me leave), and offered vast amounts of help in the future (never once moving from his comfortable barstool). I suggested counseling for him. He was not happy with that. But since I could do no more, I just let things be. Eventually I learned from my other guides that he blames me totally for ALL of his problems! We are talking about a serious case of denial here people! However, I have decided to let his review stand and be a testimony to my good heart and fair-minded forgiveness. The faithful will certainly appreciate and be awed by my irreverent behavior and follow all my reviews forthwith. Yes. And I have learned to lock my laptop when I'm away!
But, let's get to this fine psychedelic classic that beloved Airplane offered many Seer moons ago.
Well- it certainly seems like the Airplane wanted to make a huge IMPACT on us with this album. Why else put them in the atom bomb? (By and by-one of Metamorpho's favorite covers of all time!). But it seems that-with "Crown of Creation" they reeled in more control after the uncontrollable "Baxters". However, they moved the creativity forward and, in this, achieved a great mix of songs. And what is so moving in that is the fact that each composition is a totally unique entity. Never one sounding the same as another-they achieved artistic integrity. And that is due to the immense talent of all the individuals.
We begin with "Lather"- Grace Slick's ode to getting older. Not a rocker-it moves on insistently with a lullaby. How appropriate! But what totally makes this song are the "extras". The little effects they throw in to make the song so rich. The typewriter in the background; the cannon shot from a tank; the seagulls circling on a beach, the sound of Lather's hand; Jorma's "child crying", and Hari Kari as a game to play. This song is so classic and satisfying that they needn't have done more. But they did.
"In Time" is a psychedelic sexual fantasy. And Kantner does a good job on this. But here, and elsewhere, begins Grace's extended background vocal "glue" that binds the whole thing together. She is most noted for the Marty and Grace yin and yang, push and pull, of vocals. And, herein, lies alot of the reason that their sound was most alluring.
Ah. Then they do David Crosby's amazing "Triad". Grace's "come to me" vocals are exactly right for the message. Crosby, more or less, got kicked out of The Byrds for this. In Airplane's hands, they "fly" with it. Rebels will try "something new-if you're crazy too". And they do it so well.
Jorma's writing shines on "Star Track". And his lead is amazing. Ultimately, it is about not taking the world so seriously. "Push the world on by with your hand", or else you'll be like a rat in a cage-running to please the "establishment" and ruining yourself in the process. We then get to Marty's excellent "Share a Little Joke". This is a favorite of Metamorpho's. It is the exhubance of moving towards happiness. "The world around you, never catches up with you". But the joke is one from within. Pay close attention to Marty's vocals, especially the rise to the break-then the lead-and the drum beat back to the vocals again. Intense and wonderful, it provides the exclamation point to the song. (!!!!!!!!)
After Spencer's psychedelic aural auditory assault of "Chushingura" we then settle back to the tunes. And, just as a note here. In many groups of the time, I think it unusual that the drummer would have been given his own time to create. But, with the Airplane, they were willing to try it and with sometimes, amazing effect. That's creativity folks!
"If You Feel" is a Marty excursion of sorts. Again, it is about the freedom to do as you feel. Whatever brings you joy. But to overanalyze it is a mistake. The words don't have to make sense if the feeling is what you're after-and this holds true for this song.
"Crown of Creation" is the cornerstone and namesake of this album, and in it,makes a clear cut line into the generation gap. It is not one of my favorites-but one of Airplane's essential tunes for their legacy. But, interestingly enough, we become exposed to their concept of "change" in this song and how it "changes" with outlook and perspective. (I will get into this with Grace's "Greasy Heart). But, for now, it relates that if their is no change-within yourself-you will become a "fossil of our time". Meaning the older generation. Life is change. How very true.
"Ice Cream Phoenix" seems like a drug trip and one designed around many questions. But the major one is that if the world is apocalyptic-how we still go on-love-and leave-and not feel sad about it. An ode-again- of moving towards happiness.
Ah. We then get to Slick's tease of "Greasy Heart". A jaunty tune for sure. Nitty and gritty and real life- Grace's lyrics here are out in left field. Mechanical but moving. But now the "don't ever change people" comes into play. Interestingly enough-she says change in "Crown of Creation" but "don't change" here. But, in a strange way-it does make sense. Compared to an older generation one must change-or rather-not to follow in the same footsteps. But here she is saying that once you decide to change, do not decide to change-especially for the ones who are important to you. It is confusing-but perhaps- that when you do change decide not to change back. Now that I've confused you (and myself) in the process, I'll just move along.
In "House at Pooneil Corners" we have the apocalpse Airplane style. Listen to the music. It's disjointed-downright disturbing-set in a meter to grate on you. But, it is totally consistent with the theme. Again, an Airplane genius that shines through.
The extra tracks are interesting. And some from other releases and out-takes. But, the main body of work stands on the sheer, intriguing talent of this band.
In closing- I would be remiss if I didn't mention the incredible contribution of Jack Cassidy. Innovative and fresh bass lines that, when you listen, are all over the fret board. At first you may think his bass riffs make no sense- but they all do! Again- he uses the bass as part AND apart from what is going on elsewhere. And this, people, is years before Chris Squire from Yes. Jack Cassidy created it. Chris Squire ran with it. But that is the chain of influences so prevailent in music. Always happens-always will.
In closing- I did this review because: A) I love the music and B) I wanted to show Guido that there is still a spark of life in this old Seer. Now that it's all over- I may saunter over to The Fishnet to share a beer with that wayward guide. Don't worry-I'll leave early. Metamorpho needs his sleep in order to proffer his well-heralded reflections!
To all- A good night and a great life. Keep moving on!
Your own-----Metamorpho

Doesn't Hold Up In the 2000's.......2006-07-15

I start out by saying I was a huge Jefferson Airplane fan and saw them live twice. One of the better Bay Area's bands, and one of the best live shows ever.

Regretably, this album does not hold up well to modern standards. "Lather" is a wierd drug induced anti-war child becomes man theme without a melody or discernable beat. "Triad" is a nice song, better sampled by the Byrds in one of their outtake CD's currently available.

"If You Feel" is a nice Marty Balin song, which is throwback to the 1st two Jefferson Airplane albums, and a precursor to his excellent singing and songwriting career.

"Greasy Heart" is an excellent example of Grace Slick and Paul Kanter singing duets.

Other than these two tracks, which are five star songs, the album simply doesn't translate well into this milenium.

Thank God for Digital Re-Mastering.......2006-01-23

I was lucky enough to see the Jefferson Airplane at the Filmore East several times (I'm 56) during their heyday. Since I'm an accomplished drummer, I was eager to see/listen to what I thought was one of the best rhythm sections I had ever listened to in populer music. I was never let down. For, even to this day, Jack Casady remains one of the finest electric bass players that ever lived. Period. Just listen to his bass lines on "After Bathing at Baxter's" many inspired tracks. He was doing things with feedback, harmonics and counterpoint that were way ahead of the time. Why do you think Jimi Hendrix wanted him as his bassist? Now listen to "Crown of Creation". Jack's bass lines in "Lather" are magnificent! His tone is so subtle. For me, the absolute essence of the electric bass sound (and remember, this is BEFORE Jaco) is his playing on "Triad". His execution and fingering are perfect. His timing is sooooo in the pocket, and his overall "sound" is distinctive and unusual. But, always clean. Jack Casady spoiled me because as a drummer, I always wanted to gig with bass players that were that fluid and tonal. So, buy this CD and listen to some of the best rock music (60's or otherwise) that you'll ever hear.

Average customer rating:

Totally worth it!
The other side of the flight
Horrible Sound! Skip this.
... this is imperfect, but for Airplane fans, it's a gift nonetheless...
Play this on your headphones as you stroll through Haight-Ashbury

At Golden Gate Park
Jefferson Airplane
Manufacturer: Charly
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Last Flight
Sweeping Up the Spotlight: Jefferson Airplane Live at the Fillmore East 1969
High Flying Bird: Live at the Monterey Festival
At the Kabuki Theatre
Cleared for Take Off

ASIN: B000IHY1EQ
Release Date: 2007-04-09

Tracks:

Other Side Of This Life
Somebody To Love
Farm
Greasy Heart
Good Shepherd
Plastic Fantastic Lover
Uncle Sam's Blues
Volunteers
White Rabbit
Won't You Try/Saturday Afternoon
Jam (Bonus Track)
We Can Be Together (Bonus Track)
Mexico (Bonus Track)

Album Description

Rare recording capturing the Psychedelic legends live at the Golden Gate Park on July 5th, 1969 (when they shared the bill with The Grateful Dead). Features tracks from the then-current album Volunteers alongside live favorites from the Airplane's earlier days including their two biggest hit singles, 'White Rabbit' and 'Somebody To Love'. Also includes three bonus tracks: 'Jam', one of their trademark improvised jams which showcased their brilliant musicianship, plus two rare non-album cuts: 'Mexico' and 'Uncle Sam Blues', Comes packaged in a beautiful Psychedelic digipak. Charly. 2006.

Album Details

Jefferson Airplane Defined the Sound of San Francisco in the Late 60's. The City's Golden Gate Park, Scene of Numerous Concerts at the Time, was the Place this Recording was Made on May 7, 1969. Although this Memorable Performance Has Appeared on Inferior Bootlegs, this CD is Its First Authorised Release, Using the Very Best Available Audio Source, Meticulously Restored and it Has Never Sounded Better. The Concert Captured the Group at the Height of their Popularity. The Song List features Tracks from the Recently Released "Volunteers" Album plus their Biggest Hit Singles, "White Rabbit" and "Somebody to Love". It also Includes Rarities in the Form of One of their Trademark Improvised Jams which Showcased their Brilliant Musicianship, plus Two Non-album and Rarely-heard Numbers, "Mexico" and "Uncle Sam Blues".

Customer Reviews:

Totally worth it!.......2007-06-01

I love this release! This is not the Airplane on tour, they're stretching out in front of the home crowd, in the park for free, and as Paul's banter with Grace indicates, the good vibrations were flowing. An outdoor show has anomalies naturally, and I agree that Jack's bass is low in the mix until "Greasy Heart" when they hit their stride. However, Jack is also not playing a lead line as he usually does, really just relaxing and establishing the groove. The band is loose and not as aggressive, except for Jorma, of course, who is SHREDDING throughout. This all makes for a different sounding show, and that's a cool thing. "The Farm" is a fantastic highlight, with Paul and Grace really giving it a lazy country feel. "Good Shepherd" with Grace on vocals, yes! These two tunes are worth the purchase alone. It's not fair to compare this to shows back East, because this is the band experimenting with new tunes and new arrangements in a comfortable environment and having a lot of fun. It's an intimate side of the Airplane that I hadn't heard before. What fan wouldn't want that?!

The other side of the flight.......2007-05-24

Hi there Airplane fans:

As an author of a Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" and a collector of their music for a zillion years it is rather unfair that it hasn't been pointed out sometimes in order to get something you have to give. The quality of the recording from San Francisco, May 7, 69 Golden Gate Park changes throughout the disc but.............

Did you know this was the first time "Good Shepherd" was performed live by the Airplane and Jorma did not sing one word! For that alone it is a great find if you didn't previously have a copy.

Even if your first choice is another live Airplane disc, please keep this in mind for another day.

Be well,
Craig Fenton
Author of "Take Me To A Circus Tent"

Horrible Sound! Skip this........2007-05-16

It's not worth listening to. I was really disappointed by the sound quality. Any store carrying this should be ashamed of themselves. It really should contain a warning clearly stating that the sound quality is bad.

... this is imperfect, but for Airplane fans, it's a gift nonetheless..........2007-05-07

Yes - the sound is incomplete and unbalanced. But I never got to see all these folks together on stage at the same time. In various lesser combinations, yes, such as Tuna, various Starships ('70-80's and the last 10 years), Spencer with NRPS.
But this is Paul and Grace and Marty, with Jack and Jorma and Spencer! (at 51, I am too young... I missed out on being there).
There has been relatively so little live Airplane out there - "...Pointed Little Head", the nineties Fillmore CD, Monterey, the excerpts from Woodstock and Altamont.
So I welcome all the recent live Airplane re-issues. I recently also got "Cleared for Take Off". Like this one, it is flawed, and, yes, it didn't have to be that way, the tools/expertise are available to deliver much better sounding CDs.
And I am waiting to receive Last Flight, the full '30 Seconds of Winterland' Winterland show. And I have preordered 'Sweeping the Spotlight.' I expect both may sound much better than these.
But this show captures a special time for a special band. Early public playings of the Volunteers material. Yes it sounds like a bootleg. And I wouldn't suggest it to anyone who wasn't already a fan. But I have enjoyed it throughout...

Play this on your headphones as you stroll through Haight-Ashbury.......2007-04-27

This is by my reckoning, the fourth officially available live performance by the classic line-up of the Airplane. We've had from RCA 'Pointed Head' and 'Fillmore East'(both 1968 concerts). From Thunderbolt there has been 'Monterey' (1967 - uneven sound quality but wonderfully inspired playing from a fresh, innovative band). And now we have our heroes performing a few hundred yards from their newly acquired home on Fulton Street in early 1969. 'Volunteers' was in the making at the time and the band were taking the opportunity as they so often did to preview material they were working on in the studio. The sound quality is very reasonable and both Slick and Balin are in fine form vocally - in fact unusually, Grace provides the vocals for 'Good Shepherd'.The instrumental passages are extended in keeping with the vogue at the time and of course no two Airplane live interpretations of the same song were ever quite the same. One word of warning however - although 'Mexico' (recorded as a single a year later) is announced by Kantner there seems to to be some delay and indecisiveness - and having been tantalised for a the best part of a minute by the expectation that we are going to hear a very early version of this gem, we then have our hopes dashed. Instead we are treated to an absolutely stunning version of an uncredited '3/5 Of A Mile In IO Seconds' This little anomaly really should have been sorted out by the record company. But please do not be deterred - if you love the Airplane and their fascinating history, then you will love this.

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