Disco de Jefferson Airplane: “Jefferson Airplane Loves You [Box]”

Back in early 1967 when AM radio {KYA & KFRC} started adding: "Somebody To Love" to their playlists. The whole San Francisco scene {"Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair"},exploded in full-force. Well, it did for the rest of the planet, BUT the real "Summer's of Love" were 65-66, when the city still belonged to the local kid's. Hipsters, and even some of the Beats, that were still around. If you wanted to find out about the music-happenings, you had to read Ralph's column in The Chronicle (this was still: pre-"Rolling Stone.")

Well, Marty Balin had started a band in 1965 called: "The Jefferson Airplane", and his band was gaining popularity over the months that followed and by January 67, with Grace Slick, Paul Kantner, Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady & Spencer Dryden, the time was now and The Jefferson Airplane was IT!

Over the course of three compact discs, this wonderful box set tells the story of San Francisco's biggest rock band cf the 1960's. Starting in 1962 with the obscure single: "I Specialize in Love" by Marty, thro to the encore at the final Winterland show of: "You wear your dresses too short", in September 72, It was a long ten years and it was a short life span for this band.

The first CD covers the folk-rock of: "Takes Off" through to the free-form freak-out of: "Baxters." By the end of this first CD, the group had taken quite a journey from hometown hopefuls to the cosmic messengers of the mind-altering magic mushrooms. By mid-67, times had changed and The Jefferson Airplane was a BIG reason for this change. Songs like: "Today" "White Rabbit" and "Let's Get Together" set the tone and started a movement where a lot of music {good & bad} followed.

Disc number two...This is the: "Cruising Altitude" period, for this band. During these years, The Airplane was really flying high, in more ways than one! The music became more experimental and free-form. The great songs: "Lather" "Pooneil Corners" "Martha" "Crown of Creation" and "Plastic Fantastic Lover" are featured here and it's quite a flyte, most of this music is essential, some of it was indeed strange. But, if you keep your seat-belt fastened you will enjoy some real,{or, are they?} colors.

Disc three: The final years of The Airplane, had "Highs" {Woodstock} and "Lows" [Altamont}. The loss of Marty Balin in The Early 70's changed things greatly. Jorma & Jack, were bringing "Hot Tuna" to life and Papa John and his amazing fiddle were needed to spark some life back into band. By September 1972 after two so-so albums, The Airplane was ready to close-up shop at Winterland.

The San Francisco explosion of 1967 COULD have happened without The Jefferson Airplane, maybe...But this is the proof that it DID happen BECAUSE of The Jefferson Airplane. This is their story, in words & music, and it's a great place to find out just what the fuss was all about.

FOUR STARS!!!

The prospect of a three-CD overview of Jefferson Airplane's brief, erratic though at times inspired career was long overdue as a single CD compilation ("The Worst of Jefferson Airplane") is inadequate for showcasing a band that only had two real hit songs but made strong, commercially-uncompromising full-length albums. Unfortunately, "Jefferson Airplane Loves You" seems to have been compiled with Airplane fans only in mind. Sure, the original versions of essential recordings such as "White Rabbit", "Somebody To Love", "Crown of Creation" and "We Can Be Together" are all here, but so are far too many inferior live versions and alternate takes of Airplane classics (an edited version of "Pretty As You Feel" !) intended to represent what are defining performances and arrangements in their canon. It is nice, however, to see worthy but usually neglected songs such as "Watch Her Ride", "In Time", "Turn My Life Down" and "Feel So Good" included with their more famous signature songs. As for the bonus material, always a fan's wet-dream, this is a veritable treasure chest: unreleased studio tracks and experiments (with Frank Zappa on two cuts!), a complete live show from 1967, and remixes of classic "Volunteers" tracks, etc. Unfortunately, the extended blues jams, such as "Uncle Sam's Blues" and "You Wear Your Dresses Too Short" (at 12 long minutes!) are tiresome and uninspired. The packaging is lovely and includes a terrific book of photographs and interviews, and the sound is excellent throughout. For those seeking a good introduction to Jefferson Airplane, check out the two-CD set "2400 Fulton Street" which collects all the essential tracks. Now if that collection could be expanded with bonus material you'd have something special.

An absolute must-have 3-CD box set that covers the Airplane's period before they had become Jefferson Starship.Total of 51 tracks that EVEN the 'deep album cuts' that I vaguely happen to remember is just as good if not better than the more familiar.Face it,so few bands can actually match up to these San Francisco psychedelic merchants.Tunes that I enjoyed more than I had expected were "Great Society","White Rabbit","Tobacco Road","Let's Get Together","Crown Of Creation","3/5 Mile In 10 Seconds","Volunteers","We Can Be Together","When The Earth Moves Again" and JUST too many to list here.Comes with an oblong full color booklet.Most highly recommended.

I think the best CD is #1, with the early Signe Anderson stuff sounding a bit better than the Grace Slick stuff. But half of Disc 1 is horrible live tracks that were deservedly previously unreleased! Some bright spots are "Let's Get Together" and "Won't You Try/Saturday Afternoon". Disc #2 delves deeper into depression, which can be good or bad. CROWN OF CREATION is very well represented, with some excellent live tracks from BLESS ITS POINTED LITTLE HEAD and Woodstock. Disc #3 goes from great VOLUNTEERS to mediocre/crappy 30 SECONDS OVER WINTERLAND. No better compilation, so save your money for this one.

THIS BOX SET ROCKS!! Some of the stuff on disc one is garage band quality. But the beauty and artistry of this choatic band is well demonstrated here. The soulful harmonies blended with Jorma smashing the harsh tremolo tones upside your head is a true joy. If you like the impromptu, and the unpredictable, you will love this. If you were to only buy one album by this band, this would be a wise choice!