Jefferson Airplane

[don vito of fitzroy]

They came from San Francisco and they were formed in the 60s. Part of the psychedelic rock scene, they released an album called "Surrealistic Pillow" in 1967. They had two songs from that album called "Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit", which are a part of the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame's list for 500 Songs that Shaped Rock N Roll. Boogie Pimps did a remix of "Somebody to Love" a few years ago but I don't like either version. Maybe it's because I like the Queen song, which is an entirely different song. "White Rabbit" is a great song though, even though it's about "Alice in Wonderland", one of my least favourite Disney movies. After the early 70s and numerous line-up changes, they became Jefferson Starship and then Starship, famous (or infamous) for "We Built This City".

What's your opinion of them? Was there more to them than "Surrealistic Pillow" in your view? I haven't heard their songs on Gold FM but they seemed to have decent commercial success and they played at Woodstock.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_Airplane

 

[Eddie Dingle]

Jim Carrey doing a karaoke "Somebody to Love" in The Cable Guy is awesome.

I have nothing else constructive to offer.

 

[omit]

Alice in wonderland is a book

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Not sure they had commercial success........like the Grateful Dead they were too wierd and druggy for mainstream conservative 1960's radio.

Didnt really have a hit until the 80's with the dreadful "We Built This City".

White Rabbit however is a cracking song.....the film clip (from a Smothers Brothers show, probably the only show wild enough to show them) is a blinder.

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[Timmy from Thomastown]

Alice in wonderland is a book

No apparently is a Disney movie

 

[CURVE]

"Surrealistic Pillow" is their best album and does contain their two best known songs (Somebody to Love and White Rabbit) both of which were originally recorded by the Great Society (Grace Slick's earlier band) a year or two before, but they did release a couple of other very good albums, "After Bathing At Baxter's" and "Crown Of Creation", but the quality did begin to fall away quite markedly after that. They also released an album "Takes Off" in 1966 with Signe Toly Anderson as the female vocalist which isn't too bad either.

The Great Society version of White Rabbit is a 6 minute hippie epic and is one of my favourite songs from that era, the rest of their stuff is not very good.

Stay away from anything by Jefferson Starship or Starship, because they are total garbage.

 

[Cthublhu]

As everyone seems to agree "White Rabbit" is easily their best song, but "Volunteers" is probably better known. It gets more airplay and has been in various movie soundtracks over the years; Forrest Gump for example.

You should check out the Altamont Speedway concert footage. JA's Marty Balin was knocked out by security and the Grateful Dead refused to play because of it. Things went downhill from there.

 

[Mr_Bojangles]

Grace Slick, one beautiful woman when she was in Jefferson Airplane. Even some of the Jefferson Starship stuff was good in the 70s.

 

[krusden]

Quality band, probably under appreciated by many.

 

[sherrinorburley]

Not sure if Donnie Darko reference's this band or not, probably in my own head....really wish they gave up on the city and went back to the plane.

 

[CURVE]

White Rabbit by The Great Society




Jefferson Airplane were also known, but not as well known as the Beatles, for their performance of 'House at Pooneil Corners' on a Manhattan apartment rooftop in 1968, filmed by French Director Jean-Luc Godard.

 

[nicky]

Not sure they had commercial success........like the Grateful Dead they were too wierd and druggy for mainstream conservative 1960's radio.

Didnt really have a hit until the 80's with the dreadful "We Built This City".

Wasn't that starship? (or something like that). If it was them i'm shocked as i had no idea.

 

[nicky]

LOL what a shit song Hilarious

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It's like upbeat bubblegum yacht rock.

 

[Cthublhu]

LOL what a shit song Hilarious

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It's like upbeat bubblegum yacht rock.

What do you expect from a song written by Bernie Taupin?

Wasn't that starship? (or something like that). If it was them i'm shocked as i had no idea.

Starship. IIRC Grace Slick was the only bandmember left over from Jefferson Airplane.

 

[Eddie Dingle]

We Built This City was 1985's My Happiness.

Boring made for radio shit.

 

[CURVE]

Not sure they had commercial success........like the Grateful Dead they were too wierd and druggy for mainstream conservative 1960's radio.

Their first six albums with Grace Slick as the female vocalist (Surrealistic Pillow, After Bathing at Baxter's, Crown Of Creation, Volunteers, Bark & Long John Silver) all made the top 20 in the USA charts, with Surrealistic Pillow making it to #3 and Crown of Creation #6. All the albums reached Gold status except After Bathing at Baxter's, but I don't know if that was pre-1975 when Gold status meant selling 1,000,000 albums.

White Rabbit and Somebody To Love were their only Top 10 singles, all their others failed to make the top 40.

 

[wmvaux]

I'm a fan from all the changes, I liked Jefferson Airplane through to Starship and then when Grace Slick left to reform Jefferson Airplane, while Paul Kantner formed Jefferson Starship with members from both bands.

I probably enjoyed Starship the best with Craig Chaquico, Micky Thomas and Grace Slick.

I know the song "We Built This City" they tried to sell off to other artists at the time, but no-one wanted it, so they did it and it became a number 1 hit.

 

[Mr Eagle]

As everyone seems to agree "White Rabbit" is easily their best song, but "Volunteers" is probably better known.

Nah, 'White Rabbit' is basically the go-to soundtrack for drug trip montages. Even The Simpsons and Futurama have used or referenced it.

 

[Mr_Bojangles]

I think the best song they did was as Jefferson Starship.

'Interstellar Overdrive'. Epic track.

 

[revo333]

Grace Slick, one beautiful woman when she was in Jefferson Airplane. Even some of the Jefferson Starship stuff was good in the 70s.

I listened to a best of 'Jefferson Starship' a few days ago and was quite shocked to find out it had some really good songs on it.

 

[Halloween Jack]

Jefferson Airplane are an amazing band. As others have said, White Rabbit and somebody to Love are their most well known songs. For others if you are interested I recommend you listen too:

• Volunteers
• Embryonic Journey
• it's no secret
• High Flying Bird
• Have you seen the saucers

And many others

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]