Their only other hit from that era, the surreal "White Rabbit," is their masterpiece. A perfect vehicle for Grace Slick's powerful voice and a haunting take on trippy 1967.
@@tonydagostino6158 Great song but not a hit single. Mostly an "album rock" favorite. They actually didn't have another hit until "Miracles" in '75 as Jefferson Starship.
@@walterpanovs Sorry. I was referring to White Rabbit. Looking at the thread here, I apparently thought you were responding to your own comment. Too many trips of me to Wonderland. To get back on track here, I agree with you. "White Rabbit," is their masterpiece.
@@michele-33 She’s aged, well, let’s say you’d not recognize her. And she sings no longer (not in any formal or structured manner), but instead does visual arts, mostly painting of some sort if memory serves. One of my personal all-time favorites. She speaks my language (fine, I speak hers is more appropriate I guess). A true pro-human anti-oppression radical.
@@michele-33 Grace is 83 and looks like most people who are 83 and haven't spent their life savings on plastic surgery. she retired from the rock scene before she hit 50, a smart lady who knew when to bow out 'gracefully' (sorry)
@@haintedhouse2990 I haven't seen her recently but I agree..More females should stop trying to act & look like they're in their 20's, for example..Madonna!
@@michele-33 agree. poor Madge looks frightening - glad Grace didn't go down that route, much rather see someone accept that they're hair is now white and they're passing on facial reconstruction - some of these gals look like freaks.
Their lead guitarist Jorma Kaukonen was a creative innovator of the psychedelic sound, with lots of classic riffs sometimes made up on the fly. He and his old pal (JA bassist) Jack Casady split off and formed Hot Tuna, which lasted through the present day. Saw them live a few times and really love em’ ! Jorma’s skills on acoustic guitar are next level.
@@Spo-Dee-O-Dee Thanks for the interesting info ! I didn’t know a thing about that split. Saw both bands in 75’ and noticed Grace was already past her prime, while Hot Tuna was in the sweet spot ( outdoors at Tanglewood was cool ) !
@@dscotthoward7467 Thanks for the heads up ! I checked their tour dates yesterday and realized I could potentially see them in Fall River, MA. So much respect for those guys, especially after watching the Fur Peace gigs during pandemic.
Grace Slick and Janis Joplin really defined the sound of powerful women in their era (and they were friends). I can never tire of their stuff... such an infusion of passion and soul into the California rock scene!
I agree, Airplane was awesome.. Starship not so much. Maybe they thought too much about MTV music videos and not enough on the music? Justst a thought.
The bass and vocals are so awesome... Jorma Kaukonen (guitar) and Jack Casady (bass) went on to form Hot Tuna... an AMAZING band. For Jefferson Airplane (the name has an interesting origin(!)) a MUST hear song is White Rabbit... Grace Slick is amazing on it.
Saw them 3 times ‘67-69. Exceptional. Bass playerJack Casady, well known for the White Rabbit track, is one of the best and still plays with guitarist Jorma Kaukonen as a duo called Hot Tuna.
Grace was with a band called Great Society. Airplane's lead singer Signe Toly Anderson had a child and quit to care for it. Airplane knew Grace and asked her to join. THAT VOICE still rings down the decades. Grace is still with us at my last knowledge. There is another YT video that features her isolated voice track from this session and also from White Rabbit. It's a must to really feel the quality of her voice.
Knew you would like this one. It has all the bells and whistles of Bay Area 60s. There's a song on this album - "Today" - which is so beautiful, legions of people have got married to it. Grace's voice is much purer on this. It's a song dripping with love whilst still being a total vibe.
They are one of the originals and catalyst for the Summer of Love. The have some great tunes, try White Rabbit, Volunteers and their version of Wooden Ships, they are all time greats! Enjoy. 🎵🎸🎤🎸🎶
Really dug the Airplane growing up; this song does sound of its time, all drenched in reverb, that kind of trippy psychedelic guitar sound. And Grace had one of the best voices around, whether singing lead or singing back up vocals. They were all talented and Grace was very direct and funny, whether she meant to be or not. I really like Grace's song "Mexico".
Grace Slick went to a small liberal arts college, called Finch College for two years. One of her classmates was Tricia Nixon, daughter of then Vice President and future President Nixon. I heard Grace tell a story about being invited to a 10th year reunion that Tricia hosted in the White House. Apparently, the Secret Service didn't realize that the "Grace Wing" on the invitation list was the psychedelic rock star. She invited infamous political radical. Abby Hoffman to be her date and the two of them planned to spike the punch with some LSD. They thought it would be fun to see President Nixon tripping out and that our might do him some good. For better or worse, the Secret Service did recognize Hoffman and barred the two of them from the party.
This is considered one of the definitive tunes of the ‘60s psychedelic, peace, and love era. Legendary band that developed later, with changing members, into Jefferson Starship, and then just Starship!
The Jefferson Airplane were part of the psychedelic wave of music that came out of San Francisco from 1965 to 1967. Grace Slick originally sang with The Great Society then was recruited by The Jefferson Airplane when their original singer, Signe Anderson, got pregnant and dropped out of the group. This is a classic song from The Summer of Love. Grace's vocals were extraordinary. She was incredible.
This album is really great. White Rabbit etc. their other albums are also really really good. Maybe try the song “Greasy Heart” Grace sings that one. Or “ You, Me and Pooneil”
Nice to see you mention the drumming. Spencer Dryden was the Airplane's drummer from 1966 to '70 and was a very musical drummer with a lot of interesting beats and fills. For some reason, he's always the least-mentioned Airplane member. He had a very colourful career and life, starting out as a jazz drummer, switching to rock & roll by playing with Roy Buchanan, then joining the LA folk-rock band The Ashes (which morphed into The Peanut Butter Conspiracy after he left) before being asked to join the Airplane. He came up with a lot of great drum parts while in the Airplane: the bolero snare drum beat in White Rabbit, the Gene Krupa/Bo Diddley tom-tom intro to She Has Funny Cars, the dynamic build-up on his floor tom on Today, etc. After leaving the Airplane, he did another musical shift and joined the country-rock band New Riders Of The Purple Sage, and later on was part of a Bay Area supergroup called The Dinosaurs. Unfortunately, the rock & roll lifestyle took its toll on him, and he died at age 66 in 2005. One really fascinating bit of trivia is that he was Charlie Chaplin's nephew, a fact he kept hidden even from his fellow Airplane members until shortly before his death - he wanted to make it on his own merits, not on his family connections.
One of the early great American bands. They gave a memorable performance at Woodstock. Jorma Kaukonen on lead guitar & Jack Cassidy on bass also recorded as Hot Tuna. Check out Volunteers & Psychedelic Pillow LPs. They later morphed into Jefferson Starship. But in between, Paul Kantner and other members of Airplane, the Grateful Dead & CSN recorded an album called Blows Against the Empire, a concept LP that was the only album ever to be nominated for a Hugo Award for Science Fiction. Love this group.✌️❤️🎶
Grace Slick, what a voice! I will never tire hearing it. As mentioned by others, do not miss their other great song off their Surrealistic pillow album, «White Rabbit». At the time, looking back at the end of 1967, critics and reviewers decreed three landmark albums for the year: the Beatles' Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, the Doors self titled first album and this Jefferson Airplane's album. Not a bad company to be in...
That bass line was just so dope. And you've really got to hear the iconic White Rabbit, really their only other big hit from this early era, although they had tons of great stuff.
One of the most underrated bands ever. Don’t listen to airplane purists who claim they sold out . Grace Slicks magnificent voice and the amazing guitar playing runs through nearly all of their work. “Awakening “ from freedom at point zero.
I was a big fan of Airplane/Starship up until Micky Thomas joined as lead singer. I particularly liked the Dragonfly album. I even bought the satirical Baron von Tollbooth and the Chrome Nun. The names were a band send-up of Paul Kantner and Grace.
Grace Slick was a beautiful and powerful singer. One of my friends saw this band in concert in the late 60s and said that she got down on her knees and sang the last stanza. They were big LSD proponents and Grace was known as the Face that Launched a Thousand Trips.
The song was written by Darby Slick while in the band "The Great Society", its name taken from a Lyndon B. Johnson policy program. Grace married Darby's brother Jerry who was the drummer, hence the last name. Darby still performs on a fretless guitar.
Please look further into Jefferson Airplane! "Today," "White Rabbit," and "She has Funny Cars" are great tracks from that album, but consider also "Blues From an Airplane," a song recorded before Grace Slick joined the band.
She should have taken the million instead creating a bunch of crappy paintings. Her art is awful, I remember seeing it at an Expo priced at thousands of dollars because it was painted by 'Grace'.
I'm so glad that you did Jefferson Airplane! But you should do some of their deep tracks-- they intentionally avoided writing 'hit singles' after the success of "Somebody To Love" and "White Rabbit" from their 'Surrealistic Pillow' album. The band was more interested in doing improvisational live music and didn't want to have to reproduce the exact studio sound of a hit single when they were jamming experimentally on the festival circuit. They were also more interested in playing big festivals year-round than touring to support album sales, so they concentrated on writing for 60s festival audiences instead of making radio-friendly pop. I think their work on their next three albums ('After Bathing At Baxter's,' 'Crown of Creation,' and 'Volunteers') was as fine as anything that anyone else was doing in counter-cultural psychedelic rock in the late 1960s. Jefferson Airplane definitely deserves more credit! :)
I didn't know you are a musician or pianist!!!! wow......that's why your reactions are so accurate. Anyways.....Grace Slick is the lead singer and Front woman of Jefferson Airplane who later in the 70's became Jefferson Starship changes....some band members left and some new band member came.....but Heart with lead singer Nancy Wilson was influenced by Grace Slick's vocals and stage presentation. Great Reaction!!!
Grace often sang "but in your bed, baby, I'm afraid you don't know where it is". This was their 2nd LP, the first w/Grace. The LP is folk-rock and the LP is a must listen, perfectly catching the vibe of the time. All their trademarks are here, great harmonies/vocals, tight bass, rhythm and lead guitar with absolutely solid drumming. The next LP is pure LSD and a completely different sound, but much stronger in a lot of ways. If you want more Grace listen to the song Two Heads. Jefferson Airplane were the closing act on Saturday night at Woodstock, following The Who. They finally got on stage Sunday morning and still put out a great performance.
The "Surrealistic Pillow" album is a classic. Good from beginning to end. Unfortunately, I really didn't enjoy much of anything else they ever did. Grace Slick did have a great voice though!
I saw Grace and the Airplane a number of times and the shows were great. I was lucky to meet and talk with Jorma a couple of times in the 1980's and he was cool as cool can be. Thanks for the reaction, Syed. This record was a smash hit in its day and was one of the first real signals that something big was going on in California. Check out 'Omaha' by Moby Grape. You'll be glad you did. (Maybe you already checked that out.)
What a great band. From 66-70 the classic line-up put out 5 weird & wonderful studio albums & a live album. These cats were leading the line & grooving their psychedelic-rock asses off. In the 70's & 80's they became a pop band & made a lot of money but were quite forgettable. Fun fact: The Airplane & The Who were the only two bands who got paid at Woodstock. Cash up front, Mister.
Glad you liked it! This is one of their 2 biggest hits. But I recommend We Can Be Together, Mexico, Won't You Try, Law Man, Eat Starch Mom, Lather, DCBA-25 and more
The first verse is about more than just heartbreak. In a few lines she sums up the human condition. Possibly the greatest lyrics in rock music. The Coen Brothers knew this: see A Serious Man.
The whole album is mesmerizing. The male lead singer Marty Balin was also great but his voice is lighter, providing a counterpoint to Grace. I think they all wrote songs. Sadly he passed a few years ago and so did Paul Kantner recently. Grace has been a miraculous survivor through her years of substance abuse. She has always been opinionated, outspoken and rebellious. I think that’s why she sounds so fierce!
Have you done Janis Joplin yet. If you love the rasp of Gracie Slick you will be blown away by Janis Joplin. She’s one of the members of the 27 club a group of great artists who died at 27. A Good start would be Piece of my Heart which she did with Big Brother and the Holding Company. She had a very hard life. Was bullied in school. She put 150% in every song
San Francisco Psychedelic Rock. I would have loved to have been there on the scene when these great west coast bands were playing music like this live at the clubs in the 60’s.
Great reaction and analysis of this song. This song was a big hit in the 60's, when psychodelic rock became popular. If you are interested, maybe try Jefferson Airplane's other hit called White Rabbit.
Jefferson Airplane became Jefferson Starship became Starship. You should listen to White Rabbit as you appreciate lyrics. Most people nowadays completely miss the references to Alice in Wonderland. Reactors talk about going "down a rabbit hole" not realizing where that expression comes from.
White Rabbit is their best song. Also a beautiful little track called Embryonic Journey ~ Jorma Kaukonen was a cool guitarist. Grace Slick fell into the bottle in the 70s and never climbed out until she left rock n roll behind.
Even though I love Grace Slick's vocals here, I absolutely love it when the male voices come in. There's just something about a dynamic female vocalist with strong male singers behind her. Not sure what that thing is yet, but someday it will dawn on me lol.
Grace Slick had the perfect rocker chick name and had the voice to match. Jefferson Airplane became Jefferson Starship and then just Starship, I think.
I've always loved this song. Orange County CA surf punk band "Agent Orange" did a pretty awesome version of this. You may have heard AO if you've played GTA or Tony Hawk skating games.
Should hear "We Built this City on ROck & Roll" (big hit) and I always liked "White Rabbit" (probably their biggest hit) & Miracles (off the Miracles album... (might be Jefferson Starship by then... they changed their name) & "Fast Buck Freddie" too
You need to Listen to "TODAY" by Jefferson Airplane And enjoy the Break ! which also spawned another break when someone called Scott covered it And name a Hip hop tune that used the breaks
If you like that haunting psychedelic style there is one other hit you should check out. It is Kenny Rodgers and the first edition. the name of the song is What Condition my Condition is In. Yes this is the same Kenny Rodgers who became a big country and western singer.
I'll join the chorus calling for White Rabbit. It should be an interesting reaction for me, as some reactors just don't get it. I dont get frustrated, after that first time. I accept it. I think a Brit may catch on to the literary origins faster, tho. Test yourself. Dont read about it beforehand..And I like that you aren't prejudiced against Grace's vibrato. But I'll tell you, that even though those last guys didn't groove on it, their reaction was an absolute hoot, so good luck entertaining me as much as they did, lol. That song is part of our DNA, and it must just be related to how much we heard the song, how much we love it? Not sure why some younger people truly don't get its appeal. I love the Spanish guitar; the marching-drum cadence. The other song I suggest is Jane, with their male vocalist going up into the stratosphere. The vocal coach reactors are always impressed! They were called Jefferson Starship then.
At the time I was not a big fan of "Jane" - way overplayed for me. We went to see Jefferson Starship and when the song started my friend and I went to go get drinks but stopped. The performance stunned us - Pete Sears took his bass solo (remember those?), ends up with his bass on the stage just p-p-pounding on it and lifting everything up another level.
I dont know why my first comment back to you went away. I agreed about not being as impressed until I saw it live on UA-cam. I had seen a Jefferson Starship coverband in Vegas that was sometimes booked at the hotel where my airline crew stayed, and I loved to go watch them. They were super.
D.C.B.A. on Surrealistic Pillow is one of my all time favorites. Also, the version you listened to here has been SERIOUSLY remixed along the way, and not in a good way. The original track (whole album actually) was DRENCHED in reverb. This sounds much drier, like the band is playing in a small room. The original mix had much more bleed between the parts making it sound like they were playing together in a giant auditorium.
I think their masterpiece is Miracles. By far. Grace? Awesome. But Marty Balin? King. Runaway, Count on Me. Airplane great. Balin at the helm of Starship is my favorite.
In the day this band ROCKED. Grace is just a natural beauty. I'll never forget seeing them on American Bandstand being interviewed by Dick Clark. He asked them if parents should be concerned about their influence on kids. The band laughed and said, "Yes." BTW this song is about someone that is not hip to the free love scene in those days. Just like Dylan's Mr. Jones. "Cause something is happening but you don't know what it is - do you, Mr. Jones"
This isn't about another girl or personal relationships. It is about the relationships between the people and the society. Lets face it, this is all about making music for people who are stoned.
Their only other hit from that era, the surreal "White Rabbit," is their masterpiece. A perfect vehicle for Grace Slick's powerful voice and a haunting take on trippy 1967.
Don't forget "Volunteers"
@@tonydagostino6158 Great song but not a hit single. Mostly an "album rock" favorite. They actually didn't have another hit until "Miracles" in '75 as Jefferson Starship.
@@walterpanovs It made the top ten on Billboard. 81 on the year-end chart.
@@debjorgo Huh? "Volunteers" only made it to #65. That's what we're talking about.
@@walterpanovs Sorry. I was referring to White Rabbit. Looking at the thread here, I apparently thought you were responding to your own comment. Too many trips of me to Wonderland. To get back on track here, I agree with you. "White Rabbit," is their masterpiece.
"Volunteers" is a fantastic Jefferson Airplane song, very hard-driving.
"Surrealistic Pillow" is an awesome album.
1 of the best female R & R vocals of all time. She's 1 of a kind.
Grace was a beautiful woman in her day, those hypnotic blue eyes and dark hair..haven't seen her recently, don't know how she's aged.
@@michele-33 She’s aged, well, let’s say you’d not recognize her. And she sings no longer (not in any formal or structured manner), but instead does visual arts, mostly painting of some sort if memory serves.
One of my personal all-time favorites. She speaks my language (fine, I speak hers is more appropriate I guess). A true pro-human anti-oppression radical.
@@michele-33 Grace is 83 and looks like most people who are 83 and haven't spent their life savings on plastic surgery. she retired from the rock scene before she hit 50, a smart lady who knew when to bow out 'gracefully' (sorry)
@@haintedhouse2990
I haven't seen her recently but I agree..More females should stop trying to act & look like they're in their 20's, for example..Madonna!
@@michele-33 agree. poor Madge looks frightening - glad Grace didn't go down that route, much rather see someone accept that they're hair is now white and they're passing on facial reconstruction - some of these gals look like freaks.
Their lead guitarist Jorma Kaukonen was a creative innovator of the psychedelic sound, with lots of classic riffs sometimes made up on the fly. He and his old pal (JA bassist) Jack Casady split off and formed Hot Tuna, which lasted through the present day. Saw them live a few times and really love em’ ! Jorma’s skills on acoustic guitar are next level.
It should be mentioned that Jorma and Jack really wanted to do blues, not pop rock, and that's why they spit off.
@@Spo-Dee-O-Dee Thanks for the interesting info ! I didn’t know a thing about that split. Saw both bands in 75’ and noticed Grace was already past her prime, while Hot Tuna was in the sweet spot ( outdoors at Tanglewood was cool ) !
Hot Tuna just announced their final "electric" show! What a run it's been!
@@dscotthoward7467 Thanks for the heads up ! I checked their tour dates yesterday and realized I could potentially see them in Fall River, MA. So much respect for those guys, especially after watching the Fur Peace gigs during pandemic.
Grace Slick and Janis Joplin really defined the sound of powerful women in their era (and they were friends). I can never tire of their stuff... such an infusion of passion and soul into the California rock scene!
Everyday this played on the radio...I remember distinctly.
Grace Slick was an incredibly powerful singer. Driving beat as well makes the track.
I loved this album when it was released and still do. The “evolution” into Jefferson Starship was tragic.
I agree, Airplane was awesome.. Starship not so much.
Maybe they thought too much about MTV music videos and not enough on the music?
Justst a thought.
the evolution into Jefferson Starship in the 70's with Marty Balin returning was not tragic - when Mickey Thomas joined I was out.
The bass and vocals are so awesome... Jorma Kaukonen (guitar) and Jack Casady (bass) went on to form Hot Tuna... an AMAZING band. For Jefferson Airplane (the name has an interesting origin(!)) a MUST hear song is White Rabbit... Grace Slick is amazing on it.
When she says "your head is full of red," I believe she is referring to 'reds," a downer drug.
Y'all got that right! I remember them referred to as Red Devils.
It was a big hit even in Sweden and I still love it. The singer Grace Slick had a great voice and she did know how to use it.
Saw them 3 times ‘67-69. Exceptional. Bass playerJack Casady, well known for the White Rabbit track, is one of the best and still plays with guitarist Jorma Kaukonen as a duo called Hot Tuna.
Grace was with a band called Great Society. Airplane's lead singer Signe Toly Anderson had a child and quit to care for it. Airplane knew Grace and asked her to join. THAT VOICE still rings down the decades. Grace is still with us at my last knowledge. There is another YT video that features her isolated voice track from this session and also from White Rabbit. It's a must to really feel the quality of her voice.
Her Great Society stuff does not seem to be well known but I love all of it (originally had it on an 8-track).
@@Spo-Dee-O-Dee I know and I prefer GS's version of Somebody To Love over JA
Knew you would like this one. It has all the bells and whistles of Bay Area 60s.
There's a song on this album - "Today" - which is so beautiful, legions of people have got married to it. Grace's voice is much purer on this. It's a song dripping with love whilst still being a total vibe.
Also the beautifully haunting " Comin' Back to Me."
@@dannygriffith6185 Marty Balin sings lead on both these beautiful songs.
They are one of the originals and catalyst for the Summer of Love. The have some great tunes, try White Rabbit, Volunteers and their version of Wooden Ships, they are all time greats! Enjoy. 🎵🎸🎤🎸🎶
Ahhh yes one of my favorites from the late 60s🔥🔥🔥🙌🏻
Unusual in that the guitar break is at the end and closes out the song -- but it works.
"Volunteers" performance from Woodstock is a must see.
Thanks for the flashback ❗🎵 Yes that was a great performance.
Grace Slick has powerhouse vocals.
Great band, with Jack and Jorma,, a great Bass and Guitar duo...still touring. (Hot Tuna)
yes! Hot F'ing Tuna!!! Love those guys!
Really dug the Airplane growing up; this song does sound of its time, all drenched in reverb, that kind of trippy psychedelic guitar sound. And Grace had one of the best voices around, whether singing lead or singing back up vocals. They were all talented and Grace was very direct and funny, whether she meant to be or not. I really like Grace's song "Mexico".
Gotta listen to "White Rabbit" next. Whadda classic.
Grace Slick went to a small liberal arts college, called Finch College for two years. One of her classmates was Tricia Nixon, daughter of then Vice President and future President Nixon. I heard Grace tell a story about being invited to a 10th year reunion that Tricia hosted in the White House. Apparently, the Secret Service didn't realize that the "Grace Wing" on the invitation list was the psychedelic rock star. She invited infamous political radical. Abby Hoffman to be her date and the two of them planned to spike the punch with some LSD. They thought it would be fun to see President Nixon tripping out and that our might do him some good.
For better or worse, the Secret Service did recognize Hoffman and barred the two of them from the party.
This is considered one of the definitive tunes of the ‘60s psychedelic, peace, and love era. Legendary band that developed later, with changing members, into Jefferson Starship, and then just Starship!
White Rabbit is a classic Airplane track 🐰🐇🐰
the 60's we exceptional, endlessly original and exciting
forgot just how good this song is, love Grace's voice. You should check out Today from the same band
You would be hard pressed to find during those days a stronger female voice than Grace Slick.
The Jefferson Airplane were part of the psychedelic wave of music that came out of San Francisco from 1965 to 1967. Grace Slick originally sang with The Great Society then was recruited by The Jefferson Airplane when their original singer, Signe Anderson, got pregnant and dropped out of the group. This is a classic song from The Summer of Love. Grace's vocals were extraordinary. She was incredible.
This album is really great. White Rabbit etc. their other albums are also really really good. Maybe try the song “Greasy Heart” Grace sings that one. Or “ You, Me and Pooneil”
This one of my favorite bands. I saw them twice in concert. In one concert I was about 5 feet from the band. We did this song in my college rock band.
“Today” is a beautiful song
♥ great vocals! Now you MUST do their song White Rabbit. Please do the studio version!
Nice to see you mention the drumming. Spencer Dryden was the Airplane's drummer from 1966 to '70 and was a very musical drummer with a lot of interesting beats and fills. For some reason, he's always the least-mentioned Airplane member. He had a very colourful career and life, starting out as a jazz drummer, switching to rock & roll by playing with Roy Buchanan, then joining the LA folk-rock band The Ashes (which morphed into The Peanut Butter Conspiracy after he left) before being asked to join the Airplane. He came up with a lot of great drum parts while in the Airplane: the bolero snare drum beat in White Rabbit, the Gene Krupa/Bo Diddley tom-tom intro to She Has Funny Cars, the dynamic build-up on his floor tom on Today, etc. After leaving the Airplane, he did another musical shift and joined the country-rock band New Riders Of The Purple Sage, and later on was part of a Bay Area supergroup called The Dinosaurs. Unfortunately, the rock & roll lifestyle took its toll on him, and he died at age 66 in 2005. One really fascinating bit of trivia is that he was Charlie Chaplin's nephew, a fact he kept hidden even from his fellow Airplane members until shortly before his death - he wanted to make it on his own merits, not on his family connections.
Another killer song of theirs which also shows off Grace Slick's voice is White Rabbit.
One of the early great American bands. They gave a memorable performance at Woodstock. Jorma Kaukonen on lead guitar & Jack Cassidy on bass also recorded as Hot Tuna. Check out Volunteers & Psychedelic Pillow LPs. They later morphed into Jefferson Starship. But in between, Paul Kantner and other members of Airplane, the Grateful Dead & CSN recorded an album called Blows Against the Empire, a concept LP that was the only album ever to be nominated for a Hugo Award for Science Fiction. Love this group.✌️❤️🎶
I owned Blows Against at one time. Didn't ring a bell with me, but the others definitely did.
@@jamessweet5341 The jams with Jerry Garcia & Jorma are awesome, and I never heard Grace play keyboards with Airplane like she does on that LP. ✌️❤️🎶
Grace Slick, what a voice! I will never tire hearing it. As mentioned by others, do not miss their other great song off their Surrealistic
pillow album, «White Rabbit». At the time, looking back at the end of 1967, critics and reviewers decreed three landmark albums for the
year: the Beatles' Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, the Doors self titled first album and this Jefferson Airplane's album.
Not a bad company to be in...
There are amazing videos out there of footage from Jefferson Airplanes performance at Woodstock well worth a watch.
They had several members who did lead vocals, but some great ones that feature Grace are White Rabbit, Lather, and Rejoyce... all really cool songs!
agree. also Lawman, Greasy Heart, Eskimo Blue Day... love Grace.
That bass line was just so dope. And you've really got to hear the iconic White Rabbit, really their only other big hit from this early era, although they had tons of great stuff.
One of the most underrated bands ever. Don’t listen to airplane purists who claim they sold out . Grace Slicks magnificent voice and the amazing guitar playing runs through nearly all of their work. “Awakening “ from freedom at point zero.
I was a big fan of Airplane/Starship up until Micky Thomas joined as lead singer. I particularly liked the Dragonfly album. I even bought the satirical Baron von Tollbooth and the Chrome Nun. The names were a band send-up of Paul Kantner and Grace.
Grace Slick was a beautiful and powerful singer. One of my friends saw this band in concert in the late 60s and said that she got down on her knees and sang the last stanza. They were big LSD proponents and Grace was known as the Face that Launched a Thousand Trips.
60's San Francisco where psychedelic music and this band started. ✌🌸
The song was written by Darby Slick while in the band "The Great Society", its name taken from a Lyndon B. Johnson policy program. Grace married Darby's brother Jerry who was the drummer, hence the last name. Darby still performs on a fretless guitar.
Please look further into Jefferson Airplane! "Today," "White Rabbit," and "She has Funny Cars" are great tracks from that album, but consider also "Blues From an Airplane," a song recorded before Grace Slick joined the band.
She could sing like that and she famously rejected a $1 million offer in the 60's to pose for Playboy. She had it going on.
She should have taken the million instead creating a bunch of crappy paintings. Her art is awful, I remember seeing it at an Expo priced at thousands of dollars because it was painted by 'Grace'.
I'm so glad that you did Jefferson Airplane! But you should do some of their deep tracks-- they intentionally avoided writing 'hit singles' after the success of "Somebody To Love" and "White Rabbit" from their 'Surrealistic Pillow' album. The band was more interested in doing improvisational live music and didn't want to have to reproduce the exact studio sound of a hit single when they were jamming experimentally on the festival circuit. They were also more interested in playing big festivals year-round than touring to support album sales, so they concentrated on writing for 60s festival audiences instead of making radio-friendly pop. I think their work on their next three albums ('After Bathing At Baxter's,' 'Crown of Creation,' and 'Volunteers') was as fine as anything that anyone else was doing in counter-cultural psychedelic rock in the late 1960s. Jefferson Airplane definitely deserves more credit! :)
I didn't know you are a musician or pianist!!!! wow......that's why your reactions are so accurate. Anyways.....Grace Slick is the lead singer and Front woman of Jefferson Airplane who later in the 70's became Jefferson Starship changes....some band members left and some new band member came.....but Heart with lead singer Nancy Wilson was influenced by Grace Slick's vocals and stage presentation. Great Reaction!!!
You must immediately listen to their other iconic hit, White Rabbit. (Which might then inspire you to go down yet another, ahem, rabbit hole…)
Definitely has that west coast counterculture sound. Haven't heard this one in a few years - thanks for bringing it back. 👍🏼
Grace often sang "but in your bed, baby, I'm afraid you don't know where it is". This was their 2nd LP, the first w/Grace. The LP is folk-rock and the LP is a must listen, perfectly catching the vibe of the time. All their trademarks are here, great harmonies/vocals, tight bass, rhythm and lead guitar with absolutely solid drumming. The next LP is pure LSD and a completely different sound, but much stronger in a lot of ways. If you want more Grace listen to the song Two Heads. Jefferson Airplane were the closing act on Saturday night at Woodstock, following The Who. They finally got on stage Sunday morning and still put out a great performance.
I love Marty Balin's hauntingly beautiful song, Comin' Back to Me, also from this album.
The "Surrealistic Pillow" album is a classic. Good from beginning to end. Unfortunately, I really didn't enjoy much of anything else they ever did. Grace Slick did have a great voice though!
I saw Grace and the Airplane a number of times and the shows were great. I was lucky to meet and talk with Jorma a couple of times in the 1980's and he was cool as cool can be.
Thanks for the reaction, Syed. This record was a smash hit in its day and was one of the first real signals that something big was going on in California.
Check out 'Omaha' by Moby Grape. You'll be glad you did. (Maybe you already checked that out.)
What a great band. From 66-70 the classic line-up put out 5 weird & wonderful studio albums & a live album. These cats were leading the line & grooving their psychedelic-rock asses off. In the 70's & 80's they became a pop band & made a lot of money but were quite forgettable. Fun fact: The Airplane & The Who were the only two bands who got paid at Woodstock. Cash up front, Mister.
Glad you liked it! This is one of their 2 biggest hits. But I recommend We Can Be Together, Mexico, Won't You Try, Law Man, Eat Starch Mom, Lather, DCBA-25 and more
The first verse is about more than just heartbreak. In a few lines she sums up the human condition. Possibly the greatest lyrics in rock music.
The Coen Brothers knew this: see A Serious Man.
The whole album is mesmerizing. The male lead singer Marty Balin was also great but his voice is lighter, providing a counterpoint to Grace. I think they all wrote songs. Sadly he passed a few years ago and so did Paul Kantner recently. Grace has been a miraculous survivor through her years of substance abuse. She has always been opinionated, outspoken and rebellious. I think that’s why she sounds so fierce!
The bass player Jack Casady also played bass on the long version of Jimi Hendrix's voodoo child on the electric ladyland album
"Greasy Heart'" wasn't released on any radio stations I listened to, but GREAT singing by Grace and one of my favorites.
This was the time of free love, and I think it meant just find somebody for the night, with no long term connections so you can't get hurt again. JMO.
I thought it meant love like for real. The song doesn’t really specify.
An original EMO tune. Love Grace! We all loved her back in the day!
Have you done Janis Joplin yet. If you love the rasp of Gracie Slick you will be blown away by Janis Joplin. She’s one of the members of the 27 club a group of great artists who died at 27. A Good start would be Piece of my Heart which she did with Big Brother and the Holding Company. She had a very hard life. Was bullied in school. She put 150% in every song
2 words. White Rabbit 🐇
San Francisco Psychedelic Rock. I would have loved to have been there on the scene when these great west coast bands were playing music like this live at the clubs in the 60’s.
Awesome voice. You're spot on.
Great reaction and analysis of this song. This song was a big hit in the 60's, when psychodelic rock became popular. If you are interested, maybe try Jefferson Airplane's other hit called White Rabbit.
Jefferson Airplane became Jefferson Starship became Starship. You should listen to White Rabbit as you appreciate lyrics. Most people nowadays completely miss the references to Alice in Wonderland. Reactors talk about going "down a rabbit hole" not realizing where that expression comes from.
Their whole Woodstock live is so good, Grace is mesmerizing!
Grace Slick and Janice Joplin owned the San Francisco rock scene in the day. Maybe throw in The Grateful Dead.
White Rabbit is their best song. Also a beautiful little track called Embryonic Journey ~ Jorma Kaukonen was a cool guitarist. Grace Slick fell into the bottle in the 70s and never climbed out until she left rock n roll behind.
Jefferson Airplane were originally ment to be THE headliners at Woodstock Grace Slick always knocks people dead with her singing
Even though I love Grace Slick's vocals here, I absolutely love it when the male voices come in. There's just something about a dynamic female vocalist with strong male singers behind her. Not sure what that thing is yet, but someday it will dawn on me lol.
agree. one of the reason's i loved Jefferson Airplane was the combination of male and female vocals - one of the best bands from the 60's.
grace had a very unique voice, full of vibrato
Grace Slick had balls and her voice could be heard all over the SF bay area in the 60s.
Pre dated the Summer of Love. Listen to their albums The Jefferson Airplane Take Off, Surrealistic Pillow, and Volunteers
I can't believe you haven't already reacted to White Rabbit. It is a must listen!
Grace Slick had the perfect rocker chick name and had the voice to match. Jefferson Airplane became Jefferson Starship and then just Starship, I think.
Yes Ditto ,WHITE RABBIT a must do next !by Jefferson Airplane.
Went to Knebworth , end of the seventies I think, to see Jefferson Airplane but Grace had got paralytically drunk in Berlin and couldn't appear
Highly recommend White Rabbit and Volunteers. Grace Slick was the second best rock/blues vocalist of the period.
You got to listen to White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane.
I've always loved this song. Orange County CA surf punk band "Agent Orange" did a pretty awesome version of this. You may have heard AO if you've played GTA or Tony Hawk skating games.
Should hear "We Built this City on ROck & Roll" (big hit) and I always liked "White Rabbit" (probably their biggest hit) & Miracles (off the Miracles album... (might be Jefferson Starship by then... they changed their name) & "Fast Buck Freddie" too
full of grace
You need to Listen to "TODAY" by Jefferson Airplane
And enjoy the Break ! which also spawned another break when someone called Scott covered it
And name a Hip hop tune that used the breaks
If you like that haunting psychedelic style there is one other hit you should check out. It is Kenny Rodgers and the first edition. the name of the song is What Condition my Condition is In. Yes this is the same Kenny Rodgers who became a big country and western singer.
I'll join the chorus calling for White Rabbit. It should be an interesting reaction for me, as some reactors just don't get it. I dont get frustrated, after that first time. I accept it. I think a Brit may catch on to the literary origins faster, tho. Test yourself. Dont read about it beforehand..And I like that you aren't prejudiced against Grace's vibrato. But I'll tell you, that even though those last guys didn't groove on it, their reaction was an absolute hoot, so good luck entertaining me as much as they did, lol. That song is part of our DNA, and it must just be related to how much we heard the song, how much we love it? Not sure why some younger people truly don't get its appeal. I love the Spanish guitar; the marching-drum cadence.
The other song I suggest is Jane, with their male vocalist going up into the stratosphere. The vocal coach reactors are always impressed! They were called Jefferson Starship then.
At the time I was not a big fan of "Jane" - way overplayed for me. We went to see Jefferson Starship and when the song started my friend and I went to go get drinks but stopped. The performance stunned us - Pete Sears took his bass solo (remember those?), ends up with his bass on the stage just p-p-pounding on it and lifting everything up another level.
This one is the live one she watched.
ua-cam.com/video/0PwG69620WA/v-deo.html
@@AjaxCaper The clip from the TV show Fridays is another fun one.
@@jeffmartin1026 I'll have to check it out!
I dont know why my first comment back to you went away. I agreed about not being as impressed until I saw it live on UA-cam. I had seen a Jefferson Starship coverband in Vegas that was sometimes booked at the hotel where my airline crew stayed, and I loved to go watch them. They were super.
I still love Grace
3/5 Of A Mile, She Has Funny Cars are so good- My Best Friend is my guilty pleasure 😊
All of Jefferson airplane best music from the album surrealist pillow in my opinion
D.C.B.A. on Surrealistic Pillow is one of my all time favorites. Also, the version you listened to here has been SERIOUSLY remixed along the way, and not in a good way. The original track (whole album actually) was DRENCHED in reverb. This sounds much drier, like the band is playing in a small room. The original mix had much more bleed between the parts making it sound like they were playing together in a giant auditorium.
I think their masterpiece is Miracles. By far. Grace? Awesome. But Marty Balin? King. Runaway, Count on Me. Airplane great. Balin at the helm of Starship is my favorite.
You need to do White Rabbit. Grace Slick was a badass. This song is more about righteous anger than heartache.
In the day this band ROCKED. Grace is just a natural beauty. I'll never forget seeing them on American Bandstand being interviewed by Dick Clark. He asked them if parents should be concerned about their influence on kids. The band laughed and said, "Yes." BTW this song is about someone that is not hip to the free love scene in those days. Just like Dylan's Mr. Jones. "Cause something is happening but you don't know what it is - do you, Mr. Jones"
This isn't about another girl or personal relationships. It is about the relationships between the people and the society. Lets face it, this is all about making music for people who are stoned.
watch them do White Rabbit at Woodstock
they played at woodstock .
I've read that she kinda wrote this about her friend JIM MORRISON
she didn't write it, that credit goes to her brother-in-law Darby Slick