Alright, I just have to write a review for this one, as nobody else seems to have done so. Look, the Jefferson Airplane perhaps are THE band who represent 1967 and San Francisco and the Summer of Love better than anyone. They just had that sound, that mystique -- it was THEM. They were simply the Kings (and the Queen -- Grace Slick), of psychedelic rock. The Grateful Dead were there, yes -- but they didn't really catch ignition until a year later, in 1968 (with the great 'Anthem of the Sun' album, but that's another review altogether).
'Playlist: The Best of Jefferson Airplane' is the umpteenth Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship/Starship/Hot Tuna compilation released in the 21st century (maybe hundredth, who knows? You can't keep up -- Sony BMG churns these collections out so frequently it's almost like a day in the life). The funny part about it is, no one needs this. It's got the same old songs that are on every other Airplane collection ('Somebody to Love,' 'Volunteers,' 'White Rabbit,' etc.). Although I give this one credit for adding the marvelous 1971 post-Marty Balin track 'Pretty as You Feel' to this (it's rare to see this nugget on Airplane compilations), that still does not save this compilation.
Sure, the sound is great, as it seems to be in most of these 'Playlist' CDs. But that also can't save. The fact is, the Airplane didn't authorize this. This is Sony BMG being greedy; don't blame Paul, Jorma, Jack, Marty, and Grace: I'll bet you anything that the constant barrage of compilations is NOT their fault. Blame the big-wig record company executives, who will do anything to milk the Jefferson Airplane name for all its worth and successfully tarnish their outstanding legacy.
Oddly enough, the companion disc to this, 'Setlist: The Very Best of Jefferson Airplane LIVE' is a hundred times better. Yeah, you have all of the tracks already, but it is a new idea for a compilation, and it works. It collects the best stuff from the live albums, archival releases and box sets and puts it out at a great budget price. That one serves as a great intro for a Jefferson Airplane who wants to hear a different side of this group.
This collection, to put it bluntly, sucks. Stay far away from it. It's yet another attempt from Sony BMG to milk the Airplane for all they are worth and take your hard-earned dollar. Just buy the studio albums (and yes, I'm including 1971's 'Bark,' 1972's 'Long John Silver') and 'The Worst of Jefferson Airplane,' a few live albums, and you have 'The Very Best of Jefferson Airplane' right there.
Avoid this disc like the plague. Two stars for the Jefferson Airplane, -50 stars for the greed. Stay away from this disaster of a compilation.
