The Jefferson Airplane was arguably the most prominent psychedelic band of the 1960s. Their sound was instrumental in shifting the focus of pop music from England to San Francisco, which eventually became the epicenter for the hippie movement. This cultural phenomena witnessed an integration of pop/rock music, psychedelics and social consciousness within a younger generation that was becoming disillusioned by American politics and foreign policy. This new mindset created a commonality or communal spirit which brought huge groups of younger people together for "happenings", where rock and roll bands commonly played, thus putting a new found emphasis on the live performance. The Airplane was equally adept in the studio as well as on stage which made them one of the most consistent and durable bands of the mid-late 1960s.
Band founder Marty Balin (vocals, keyboards, percussion) assembled a group of musicians to perform at the Matrix, a club in San Francisco that he had purchased an interest in. Other original members included Paul Kantner (rhythm guitar, vocals), Jorma Kaukonen (lead guitar), Signe Toly (vocals), Bob Harvey (bass) and Jerry Peloquin (drums). Kaukonen came up with the name Jefferson Airplane (his nickname was Blind Thomas Jefferson Airplane after blues pioneer Blind Lemon Jefferson) and before the end of the year, Harvey had been replaced by Jack Casady (bass), Peloquin by Alexander "Skip" Spence (drums) and Signe had married, changing her last name to Anderson. On a side note, Harvey would later go on to play with Paul Williams in the Holy Mackerel.
The Airplane quickly developed a reputation as one of the leading live acts around the area and became one of the first Bay Area bands to sign a national record deal. The LP 'Jefferson Airplane Takes Off' was released in the fall of 1966 on RCA Records, demonstrating a clear transition from folk-rock to psychedelia. This shift was achieved mainly by Kaukonen's lead guitar work, Casady's heavy bass sound, and Kantner's and Balin's suggestive lyrics. RCA didn't feel the public was ready for the Airplane's music however, as three songs had to be re-recorded due to sexual and drug inferences. An early cover of Dino Valenti's 'Let's Get Together' foreshadowed the sentiment shared by the counterculture while 'It's No Secret', Balin's signature song, brimmed with vitality and confidence. Despite the quality of the material, three singles from the album failed to chart.
Situations improved with the arrival of Grace Slick from rival band the Great Society who replaced Signe Anderson as female singer, while Spencer Dryden (drums) replaced Skip Spence, who left to join Moby Grape. Slick's songwriting ability, powerful voice and good looks completed a band that was already poised for greatness. Slick brought with her the tunes 'Somebody To Love' and 'White Rabbit', which became monster hits (#5 and #8 in the Billboard charts) off of their second LP 'Surrealistic Pillow'. 'White Rabbit', penned by Slick, used imagery from the children's story 'Alice In Wonderland' (the music was loosely based on Ravel's 'Bolero') and didn't bother hiding drug references when it came to taking pills and "feeding your head". It was the most outwardly drug-promoting song the public had ever heard and it swept the nation by storm. Less obvious drug references are found in Kantner's 'D.C.B.A.-25', who simply replaced the letters L.S.D. with the chords of the song for the title. Balin's versatility showed as he flipped effortlessly between mellow and hard rock tunes like 'Today' and 'Plastic Fantastic Lover'. Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead also had a significant role on this LP, having played on various tracks, he was credited in the albums liner notes as "Spiritual Advisor".
The success of 'Surrealistic Pillow' gave the Airplane the leverage to demand more artistic control in the studio and the result was their third LP, the flamboyant 'After Bathing At Baxter's', released in late 1967. Live shows had become their focus and with "Baxter's", the Airplane attempted to capture the feel of their psychedelic stage performances on record. It allowed Kaukonen to expand his sound with regular use of feedback and distortion while other band members were free to indulge in whatever direction they chose, including sound experimentation heavily influence by Frank Zappa and the Mothers Of Invention. Slick's sinister 'Two Heads' and Kantner's 'Martha' and 'Watch Her Ride' were the most accessible songs on the album, while other songs such as 'The Ballad Of You & Me & Pooneil' and 'Spare Chaynge' stretch out into mind bending sound experimentation as mentioned above. Marty Balin's excellent 'Things Are Better In The East' was so different in style and sound that, although recorded for the album, it ended up becoming an outtake.
After alienating some fans with the experimental "Baxter's", the Airplane returned to a slightly more conventional sound with their next LP, 'Crown Of Creation', an antiwar statement released in the fall of 1968. The albums cover art shows the band superimposed over an atomic mushroom cloud and the opening track 'Lather' creates a battlefield like atmosphere with war sound-effects. The hard-rocking title track displays Kantner's utopian vision of communal peace, which would be a recurring subject in much of his subsequent work.
Their next studio LP, 'Volunteers' was released in late 1969 and is considered by many to be the band's finest. Although it is largely a political statement focusing on the growing "war at home", it is a surprisingly bright and optimistic sounding album. For perhaps the first time, the Airplane took themselves a little less seriously and came up with rollicking songs like 'We Should Be Together', 'The Farm' and Balin's classic 'Volunteers'. Kaukonen chips in with the traditional 'Good Shepherd', his signature song, while Slick dazzles with the ecological 'Eskimo Blue Day' and the heavy psychedelic masterpiece 'Hey Frederick'.
At the close of the 60s, band members began focusing on side projects like Hot Tuna, a group formed by Casady and Kaukonen to hone in more on their blues-rock interest, a direction not fully granted in the Airplane. Kantner also broke away and assembled a barrage of familiar musicians for his 1970 LP 'Blows Against The Empire', loosely credited to Jefferson Starship.
Almost two years past before the release of Airplane's next LP titled 'Bark', in the fall of 1971. By this time the band had gone through several personnel changes with the departure of Marty Balin, replacement of Spencer Dryden with Joey Covington (drums) and the awesome addition of the middle aged "Papa" John Creach (violin). This album finds the Airplane holding firm to their psychedelic rock roots and strongly delivers with songs like Slick's 'Law Man', Kantner's 'War Movie' and Kaukonen's blistering 'Feels So Good'.
Almost another year passed before the release of their final studio LP, 'Long John Silver' in the summer of 1972. The band had again gone through more personnel changes with the addition of ex-Quicksilver Messenger Service member David Frieberg (vocals) and the replacement of Joey Convington with ex-Turtle John Barbata (drums). This is by far the weakest and least original of all the Airplane albums, but has its shining moments with tunes like 'Twilight Double Leader', 'Trial By Fire' and 'Long John Silver'.
By 1973, the Jefferson Airplane had finally split, having made their mark as one of the most successful of the San Francisco bands. Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, Marty Balin and "Papa" John Creach, went on to form the enormously successful Jefferson Starship in 1974. In 1989, the Airplane reunited for an LP and tour and continuous to play live to this day in various forms under the moniker Jefferson Starship.
Article researched and written by Matt Williamson & Paul Moews.
Jefferson Airplane Takes Off
Original LP/EP Label: RCA Victor LSP-3584
Released: September 1966
Songs from this album played on TWOS:
Jefferson Airplane -
And I Like It
Jefferson Airplane -
Blues From An Airplane
(Original 45 Label: RCA Victor 47-8848, B - May 1966)
Jefferson Airplane -
Bringing Me Down
(Original 45 Label: RCA Victor 47-8967, A - September 1966)
Jefferson Airplane -
Chauffer Blues
Jefferson Airplane -
Come Up The Years
(Original 45 Label: RCA Victor 47-8848, A - May 1966)
Jefferson Airplane -
Don't Slip Away
Jefferson Airplane -
It's No Secret
(Original 45 Label: RCA Victor 47-8679, A - February 1966)
Jefferson Airplane -
Let Me In
(Original 45 Label: RCA Victor 47-8967, B - September 1966)
Jefferson Airplane -
Let's Get Together
Jefferson Airplane -
Run Around
Jefferson Airplane -
Runnin' 'Round This World
(Original 45 Label: RCA Victor 47-8679, B - February 1966)
Jefferson Airplane -
Tobacco Road
Surrealistic Pillow
Original LP/EP Label: RCA Victor LSP-3766
Released: February 1967
Songs from this album played on TWOS:
Jefferson Airplane -
3/5 Of A Mile In 10 Seconds
Jefferson Airplane -
D.C.B.A.-25
Jefferson Airplane -
Embryonic Journey
Jefferson Airplane -
How Do You Feel
(Original 45 Label: RCA Victor 47-9063, B - December 1966)
Jefferson Airplane -
My Best Friend
(Original 45 Label: RCA Victor 47-9063, A - December 1966)
Jefferson Airplane -
Plastic Fantastic Lover
(Original 45 Label: RCA Victor 47-9248, B - June 1967)
Jefferson Airplane -
She Has Funny Cars
(Original 45 Label: RCA Victor 47-9140, B - February 1967)
Jefferson Airplane -
Somebody To Love
(Original 45 Label: RCA Victor 47-9140, A - February 1967)
Jefferson Airplane -
Today
Jefferson Airplane -
White Rabbit
(Original 45 Label: RCA Victor 47-9248, A - June 1967)
After Bathing At Baxter's
Original LP/EP Label: RCA Victor LSO-1511
Released: November 1967
Songs from this album played on TWOS:
Jefferson Airplane -
Martha
(Original 45 Label: RCA Victor 47-9389, B - November 1967)
Jefferson Airplane -
Rejoyce
Jefferson Airplane -
The Ballad Of You & Me & Pooneil
(Original 45 Label: RCA Victor 47-9297, A - August 1967)
Jefferson Airplane -
The Last Wall Of The Castle
Jefferson Airplane -
Two Heads
(Original 45 Label: RCA Victor 47-9297, B - August 1967)
Jefferson Airplane -
Watch Her Ride
(Original 45 Label: RCA Victor 47-9389, A - November 1967)
Jefferson Airplane -
Wild Tyme (H)
Jefferson Airplane -
Won't You Try/Saturday Afternoon
Jefferson Airplane -
Young Girl Sunday Blues
Crown Of Creation
Original LP/EP Label: RCA Victor LSP-4058
Released: September 1968
Songs from this album played on TWOS:
Jefferson Airplane -
Crown Of Creation
(Original 45 Label: RCA Victor 47-9644, A - October 1968)
Jefferson Airplane -
Greasy Heart
(Original 45 Label: RCA Victor 47-9496, A - March 1968)
Jefferson Airplane -
Ice Cream Phoenix
Jefferson Airplane -
If You Feel
(Original 45 Label: RCA Victor 47-15074, A - September 1968)
Jefferson Airplane -
In Time
Jefferson Airplane -
Lather
(Original 45 Label: RCA Victor 47-9644, B - October 1968)
Jefferson Airplane -
Share A Little Joke
(Original 45 Label: RCA Victor 47-9496, B - March 1968)
Jefferson Airplane -
Star Track
Jefferson Airplane -
The House At Pooneil Corners
Volunteers
Original LP/EP Label: RCA Victor LSP-4238
Released: November 1969
Songs from this album played on TWOS:
Jefferson Airplane -
A Song For All Seasons
Jefferson Airplane -
Eskimo Blue Day
Jefferson Airplane -
Good Shepherd
Jefferson Airplane -
Hey Fredrick
Jefferson Airplane -
Meadowlands
Jefferson Airplane -
The Farm
Jefferson Airplane -
Turn My Life Down
Jefferson Airplane -
Volunteers
(Original 45 Label: RCA Victor 74-0245, A - September 1969)
Jefferson Airplane -
We Can Be Together
(Original 45 Label: RCA Victor 74-0245, B - September 1969)
Jefferson Airplane -
Wooden Ships
Bark
Original LP/EP Label: Grunt FTR-1001
Released: September 1971
Songs from this album played on TWOS:
Jefferson Airplane -
Crazy Miranda
Jefferson Airplane -
Feel So Good
Jefferson Airplane -
Law Man
Jefferson Airplane -
Pretty As You Feel
(Original 45 Label: Grunt 65-0500, A - October 1971)
Jefferson Airplane -
Rock And Roll Island
Jefferson Airplane -
Third Week In The Chelsea
Jefferson Airplane -
War Movie
Jefferson Airplane -
When The Earth Moves Again
Jefferson Airplane -
Wild Turkey
(Original 45 Label: Grunt 65-0500, B - October 1971)
Long John Silver
Original LP/EP Label: Grunt FTR-1007
Released: July 1972
Songs from this album played on TWOS:
Jefferson Airplane -
Long John Silver
(Original 45 Label: Grunt 65-0506, A - September 1972)
Jefferson Airplane -
Trial By Fire
(Original 45 Label: Grunt 65-0511, B - December 1972)
Jefferson Airplane -
Twilight Double Leader
(Original 45 Label: Grunt 65-0511, A - December 1972)
Early Flight
CD Label: RCA 67419
Songs from this album played on TWOS:
Jefferson Airplane -
Go To Her
(Originally Unreleased - 1967)
Jefferson Airplane -
Have You Seen The Saucers
(Original 45 Label: RCA Victor 74-0343, B - August 1970)
Jefferson Airplane -
J.P.P. McStep B. Blues
(Originally Unreleased - 1967)
Jefferson Airplane -
Mexico
(Original 45 Label: RCA Victor 74-0343, A - August 1970)
Jefferson Airplane Loves You [3 CD Box Set]
CD Label: RCA 61110
Songs from this album played on TWOS:
Jefferson Airplane -
3/5 Of A Mile In 10 Seconds [Live 10/68]
(Originally Unreleased - October 1968)
Jefferson Airplane -
High Flyin' Bird [Live 5/67]
(Originally Unreleased - May 1967)
Jefferson Airplane -
Let's Get Together [Live 5/67]
(Originally Unreleased - May 1967)
Jefferson Airplane -
Other Side Of This Life [Live 5/67]
(Originally Unreleased - May 1967)
The Jefferson Airplane was arguably the most prominent psychedelic band of the 1960s. Their sound was instrumental in shifting the focus of pop music from England to San Francisco, which eventually became the epicenter for the hippie movement. This cultural phenomena witnessed an integration of pop/rock music, psychedelics and social consciousness within a younger generation that was becoming disillusioned by American politics and foreign policy. This new mindset created a commonality or communal spirit which brought huge groups of younger people together for "happenings", where rock and roll bands commonly played, thus putting a new found emphasis on the live performance. The Airplane was equally adept in the studio as well as on stage which made them one of the most consistent and durable bands of the mid-late 1960s.
