Disco de Jefferson Airplane: “Bark/Long John Silver”

Given that both Bark and Long John Silver are out of print in the U.S. (as I write this)and being offered only at inflated prices, this reasonably priced "two-fer" from U.K.'s Evangeline label is most welcome. There are plenty of reviews of the two albums on the individual album sites; what you probably want to know is the source of the master for this version. Unfortunately, the budget packaging offers not a clue, other than that it was licensed from Sony BMG. I could only compare selected cuts on these albums with the same cuts mastered by Bill Lacey on "Jefferson Airplane Loves You" (1992) and can report that the new discs are notably less muddy and offer a much enhanced high end. They sound like they could be 2000-era masters, but whether they will please hard core audiophiles, I can't say. I no longer owned these discs on either LP or CD, so, for the price, I'm satisfied, unless and until Sony BMG comes up with reasonably priced new releases that reproduce the original brown bag and cigar box packaging. Let me add that listening to the entire Long John Silver album after a gap of perhaps 34 years was a revelation. An album I recalled as being mediocre suddenly came alive with a vocal and instrumental ferocity that (double tracking aside) seemed almost like JA at their "live" best. If only "Feel So Good" on Bark were replaced with the extended version found on "JA Loves You!" I would give this compilation 5 stars if it wasn't for the lack of mastering info and the budget packaging.

It was brilliant to combine these two breakthrough albums. Together, they represent as good an example as any of what made Jefferson Airplane the most unique of American bands of the sixties.

the last Airplane albums, and still not a good recording quality,but if you're an Airplane fan they have certain cuts which I love, such as " Trial By Fire" among others,which are good to hear once in a while. Nice to have.