The biggest change of all came at the end of their fall tour in 1970, when Marty Balin decided to quit the band he had pieced together, ceding control to the Slick/Kantner axis, although his resignation wasn't made public until April 1971.
These changes meant there was no Jefferson Airplane album for 1970, so RCA cut its losses and released the anthology, Worst of Jefferson Airplane. In subsequent years, the Airplane's material has been repackaged in many different configurations, but this album remains their best anthology, since it focuses on their 1966-1970 peak, and doesn't feature material from their weaker 1970's releases. Later releases, in an effort to be inclusive, would give too much space over to post-Balin material. A novice wanting an overview could do worse than begin with this collection.
Also at this time, Paul Kantner released a solo album, which he credited to Paul Kantner/Jefferson Starship, Blows Against The Empire. Establishing a pattern he would revisit on later albums he and Slick would release, the album featured a roster of seemingly any west-coast musican of note, including members of the Grateful Dead, the Quicksilver Messenger Service, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, and the Airplane itself. A science-fiction concept album that also seemed to concern itself with the birth of Kantner and Slick's baby, it is the first album from the Airplane family that wasn't first-rate; its muddled production and convoluted plotline buries some worthwhile songs, although "Have You Seen The Stars Tonight?" is lovely, and "The Baby Tree" a cute folk fable. The album peaked at #20.
As a deal-sweetener to re-sign the band, whose contract had expired, RCA offered them their own label imprint, Grunt records, which released the Jefferson Airplane's sixth album, Bark, in August 1971. Bark sold well, peaking at #11, but signs of rot were setting in. The hole left by Balin's departure is left unfilled, although Covington and Kaukonen contribute songs as do Slick and Kantner. What the album lacks is a sense of unity or purpose, other than self-preservation. There are some fine songs on the album; Slick's defiant "Lawman", featuring excellent fiddle from Creach, is a keeper and the Covington/Casady/Kantner number "Pretty As You Feel" was the band's final charting single, peaking at #60. "When The Earth Moves Again" is a stately number. But much of the album sounds like solo numbers more than group efforts; Kaukonen's "Feel So Good" is a blueprint for Hot Tuna's electric albums. As a whole, it is a tremendous comedown from their 60's output.
With Grunt records at their disposal, the band released a rash of solo recordings in the early 70's. Hot Tuna followed up their debut with another live album, First Pull Up, Then Pull Down in spring of 1971. Paul Kantner and Grace Slick released an album as a duo, again with a host of guest stars, Sunfighter, in December 1971. Sunfighter is actually a better album than Bark, featuring the excellent Kantner title track, an environmental song featuring horns and the Edwin Hawkins Singers, and the macabre "Silver Spoon", a Slick ode to cannibalism. Hot Tuna's first studio album, Burgers, was released in February 1972, featuring the excellent "True Religion" and "Water Song".
In April 1972, Covington left the band, and was replaced by John Barbata (ex-Turtles). With Barbata on board, the band recorded its seventh and final studio album, Long John Silver. This is the weakest offering from the Jefferson Airplane (until their 1989 reunion). The best song is a surprisingly rabid anti-health food song by Slick called "Eat Starch Mom" on which Kaukonen approaches heavy metal. But most of the remaining tracks are tuneless and meaningless; not only had the band run out of ideas, they had run out of ways of expressing them. Sales reflected this; the album peaked at #20, the lowest since their debut, and took sixth months to reach gold status.
Still, a tour was half-heartedly arranged. The band hired David Frieberg (ex-Quicksilver Messenger Service), an old pal of Kantner's from his pre-Airplane folkie days, to sing the Balin parts. The setlist for this tour drew mainly from Bark and Long John Silver, although some older favorites like "Crown Of Creation" were featured. The tour was nothing to rave about, and was marred by unruly patrons at a number of venues. The final show of the tour was performed at the Winterland ballroom on September 22, 1972. The only original Airplane members at this point were Kantner, Kaukonen, and Casady; the difference in sound from the bright eyed debut to the lackluster, murky recordings captured on the album from the tour, Thirty Seconds Over Winterland, is profound. The album is an unworthy swan song, although it is better than Long John Silver, with Kaukonen supplying the best moments, "Feel So Good" and "Trial By Fire". Slick, surprisingly, takes no leads on the record. The album peaked at a weak #52. Interestingly, Marty Balin appeared at their final show, and sang lead on the impromptu "Your Wear Your Dresses Too Short", which was released in the Jefferson Airplane Loves You box in 1992.
No announcement was forthcoming on the status of Jefferson Airplane, but it was, in fact, finished. Kaukonen and Casady turned their attentions to Hot Tuna full time, and released The Phosphorescent Rat in 1973. Kantner, Slick, and Frieberg released an album together, also in 1973, Baron Von Tollbooth and the Chrome Nun. The album again features a raft of guest performers, including Airplane members, and has its moments; "Across the Board" is an excellent Slick tune, while Jack Traylor's "Flowers Of Night" isn't bad. But the formula was running dry, and the public was growing tired. The album peaked at #120.
1974 saw the release of Grace Slick's first "solo" album, Manhole, although it too contained many of the same Bay area names the Kantner albums had. It charted at a poor #127, but was noteworthy for a number of reasons. In some ways, it is the last experimental piece of work ever from the extended Airplane family; the title track is a 15-minute long underground rock workout with orchestra. Featured on that track was the young 19-year old guitarist Craig Chaquico, who would soon receive an invite to join Jefferson Starship. An odd inclusion is David Frieberg's "It's Only Music" which doesn't feature Slick as vocalist, songwriter, or instrumentalist. It's a weird album, in a good way, even if it isn't very consistent listening.
The last Jefferson Airplane album to be released until the reunion was Early Flight in 1974, a collection of leftover tracks, uncollected singles, and other extras that hadn't made it onto albums. Most notable was the first appearance of "High Flying Bird" on an album, featuring Signe Anderson on vocals. Kaukonen and Casady had left the Airplane fold for good, and were busy with their own albums; Kaukonen released his first solo album (with guitarist Tom Hobson), Quah, an excellent collection of acoustic numbers, including fan favorites as "Genesis" and Odetta's "Another Man Done Gone".
With the Airplane in shambles and their solo albums not selling, the band decided to tour again. Kaukonen and Casady passed up the invitation to rejoin them, so a new touring band was put together featuring Kantner, Slick, Frieberg, Barbata, Creach, plus Kaukonen's brother Peter on bass, and Craig Chaquico on lead guitar. Since the name "Jefferson Airplane" was co-owned by members no longer present, Kantner redubbed the new configuration Jefferson Starship. The band's first tour under this moniker opened March 19, 1974. Peter Kaukonen would be replaced within weeks by Englishman Pete Sears, who had appeared on Manhole.
A new album was recorded in July and released in October as Dragonfly, by Paul Kantner/Grace Slick/Jefferson Starship. At the time, the album was well-received, featuring some of the band's most muscular recording in years. Chaquico played like a streamlined Kaukonen, devoid of any blues or folk influence; Creach's fiddle added an agreeable exotic flavor. While time has greatly diminished the album's impact, it still is pretty good, even if it sounds like a band in transition. "Ride The Tiger" is a good hard rock opener, "That's For Sure" one of Kantner's best 70's songs, "Be Young You" a Slick tune that would've been welcome on Bark, and significantly, a power-ballad "Caroline" sung by none other than Marty Balin, who had patched up his differences with Kantner and Slick during the recording sessions. The album restored the band's commercial fortunes, reaching #11 on the charts. Balin appeared with the band at Winterland in October 1974, and agreed to rejoin on a permanent basis.
This set the stage for the band's real comeback album, Red Octopus, released in 1975. With Balin back in the fold, the band put together their most consistent album since Volunteers, and for the first time ever, captured the #1 album spot. The album was praised in many quarters when it appeared, although it too has been tarnished somewhat with passing time. Still, "Fast Buck Freddie" was one of Slick's best vocal performances in years, as was "Play On Love". Balin's "Miracles", a lush MOR tune, peaked at #3; his "Tumblin'" is one of his loveliest ballads, with Slick adding her most winsome vocals. Kantner's heavy metal "I Want To See Another World" is a good tune, and the rest ranges from OK to very good. Creach left after this album, reducing the octet to a septet.
Red Octopus, unfortunately, stands as the last good album from any incarnation of this band. From that point forward, internal turmoil and a quest to keep the hits coming essentially resulted in increasingly crass and uninspired product that jeapordized the Jefferson Airplane's good name. Spitfire, released in 1976, showed immediate and precipitous decline. Slick, who had developed a drinking problem, and Kantner seemed to have run out of songs; no less than 12 songwriters are used. The very last gasp of Airplane-like ambience comes on the extended suite "Song To The Sun: Ozymandius/Don't Let It Rain", credited to the entire band. The album yielded two syrupy MOR singles, "St. Charles" and "With Our Love", the latter reaching #12. The album peaked at #3, but the reviews were mediocre-to-poor.
Earth, released in February 1978, was even weaker. Balin had another MOR hit, "Count On Me", a fairly pretty piano ballad with a country flavor, but the rest of the album is undistinguished pop/AOR. Kantner is largely silent; Slick sounds strained and strident, Balin seems disinterested. Once again, most of the songs are written by various songwriters, only a few of whom were actually in the band. The album peaked at #5, and went platinum; four singles were harvested. "Count On Me" peaked at #8, "Runaway" at #12. The coolest thing about the album was its title, which revealed a previously unnoticed pattern. Dragonfly represented air, Red Octopus water, Spitfire fire, and finally Earth. If only the albums had lived up to the concept.
Article comments
1 - Lono
sweet mother of god, that was a long ass post. I am a huge fan of the Airplane, and have both 'box' sets (2400 Fulton St, and Jefferson Airplane Loves You).
I have seen them in a few incarnations in the last 10 years. Lesse, there was Paul Kanter solo, then Paul Kantner with Jack Cassady (both played a great bar in Flagstaff that hosted B list national acts). Also saw Paul Kanter, Jack Cassidy, and Marty Balin.
It's a sad story about Marty. It was his band. He started it, he wrote the songs... the whole deal. However, Grace came in with a couple of huge aces that her brother had written (Somebody to Love and White Rabbit) and the rest is history. The band went to Grace.
As for the whole Starship era, no I will not discuss that.
2 - Victor Plenty
Long, yes, but great work untangling the twisty history of this band, with its many spinoffs and spin-back-ons over the years.
One rather minor change I would suggest concerning a couple of abbreviations I don't immediately recognize. Perhaps "AOR" and "MOR" have obvious meanings for people who read a lot of music criticism, but I lack knowledge of their meaning and did not see them defined anywhere in the article.
Aside from that very minor quibble, all I can say is: rock on, uao.
3 - Jake Brake
It's kind of misleading and unfair to novices and the uninformed to split hairs and say the Jefferson Airplane was the only band to play Monterey, Woodstock and Altamont.
While this is literally true - the Dead did not "play" .. .ltamont - Altamont remains a painful and important part of the Dead's history.
The Airplane is a terrific band. It adds nothing to their extraordinary legacy except confusion to position them as the only band to "play" those three events.
4 - uao
Thanks for the thoughts on this. I realize this is an insanely long post for Blogcritics, but their history is so long and convoluted I wanted to try to fit it all into one piece.
As for the abbreviations, AOR means "Album Oriented Rock" which was a 70's-80's term that refers to commercial classic rock, and MOR means "Middle of the Road" which can also be called pop-rock; it is somewhere between pop and rock.
Regarding the three festivals, I mentioned it only because it seemed an interesting trivia point, and because it is a gauge of the band's indispensibility in the late 60's. I realize the Dead doesn't like to remember Altamont (they were the ones who suggested to the Stones that Hell's Angels would make good security guards), but it is a significant piece of rock history, and Altamont had a direct impact on the Airplane's subsequent biography.
But yes, the Dead was also present at all three festivals. The only real rivals (in a friendly sense) the Airplane had were the Dead.
As for Jefferson Starship, many Airplane fans can't stand them. I confess a fondness for their first two albums, but even a fanatic like me can't defend the Mickey Thomas ones; it's a completely different band. I include them here mainly to provide the complete story; if I ever need to edit this piece, I'll probably cut off the story with the Airplane's last show.
At any rate, thanks for the feedback; it's always appreciated.
5 - uao
Jake-- I did add a parenthetical clarification to that line; re-reading it, I realize how it might have mislead. Thanks!
6 - uao
One other thought:
I really could have made a long post, if I had included some arcana I left out as being of no interest to anyone but maniacal fanatics. To wit:
Hot Tuna albums, Jorma albums, Slick's solo albums, Balin's solo albums, Creach's solo albums, Grunt records by extended "family" members. Many of these albums featured various Airplane members.
There was The Planet Earth Rock And Roll Orchestra, a lousy 1984 sequel to Blows Against The Empire recorded by then-current JS with guest musicians, like the first one.
Kantner, Kaukonen, Balin, and Casady appeared at the 1991 Hall of Fame induction; Slick and Dryden were absent.
Kantner had an acoustic band called Wooden Ships, which sometimes featured Balin, in the wilderness years between the '89 Airplane reunion and the launch of Jefferson Starship: The Next Generation (as Kantner dubs it); they never recorded.
Marty Balin took part in two very strange albums: B.F. Bodacious, released in the early 70's, a one-shot of assorted musicians. I've seldom seen it and never heard it; it has the reputation of being awful. He also took part in a multi-artist concept album/rock opera/planned stage extravaganza Rock Justice, which vanished without a trace in 1979.
A tip of the hat also should go out to Diana Mangano, who has filled Grace Slick's slot in Jefferson Starship: TNG for over a decade, and does a tough job well.
*okay, I'll stop now. When obsessives become fans...
:-D
7 - Eric Olsen
great great job and it couldn't have been done as well at any shorter length. I basically agree with your conclusions, forgot how many good tunes on Red Octopus. I like the later Airplane best, other than the two Slick hits: more rocking and Jorma pushing his agenda a little harder. Their songwriting was variable, but whose isn't?
8 - Eric Olsen
here were some quick thoughts on Volunteers, with a quote or two from producer Al Schmitt
9 - godoggo
I used to see Papa John pretty much every year at the Watts Towers Music festival (which isn't so great anymore since they moved it out of the park into that crappy little concrete ampitheater that was built, it's been superceded by the Central Avenue Festival as the area's big event, but I seem to be digressing) and the old man always put on a great show. I didn't know about the Airplane connection at the time, and still haven't heard anything he did with them. I'm a little curious.
10 - godoggo
Meaning Creach of course. Not the pizza guy, or the other one.
11 - Hazy Dave
Not that it matters, but that group Balin participated in after the Airplane was called "Bodacious DF". I haven't listened to that LP in 20 years, and, yeah, as I recall, you'e not missing anything. I remember reading that the "DF" stands for "dopey fuck", but I don't know if Marty said that or if it was just a Lester Bangs extrapolation.
12 - Bob Harvey
Folk,Psychedelia,Bluegrass,Rock!
Original JEFFERSON AIRPLANE/HOLY MACKERAL bassist Bob Harvey and SPACESEED/SUPERCZAR/JONES AVE. Guitarist,bassist,mandolinist Brian Fowler collide to form SAN FRANCISCO BLUE. This album Hurting For People is a eclectic mix or newgrass and Psychedelic folk music released by the band in April 2005. Pick one up while available sure to be a collectors item.
San Francisco/Georgia Blue discography
1. Idiots Vision 2000
2. Live Cartersville 2004
3. Hurting For People 2005
4. Seeds of Revolution 2005
Pick these cd's up while available.
San Francisco Blue: The 9 studio song album "Hurting For People" clocks in at 43 minutes and has a myriad of instruments mandolin,gtr,auto-harp, Acoustic bass,violin. This album's title cut written by Bob Harvey,Skip Spence and Brian Fowler.This album will be available in April 2005 so make sure you get a copy. The first Pressing is 200 copies.The cd has Spaceseed/Superczar drummer Hank Tart, and Jones Ave.'s Dr. David Wisdo.
HURTING FOR PEOPLE (3:52) performed by Bob Harvey & Brian Fowler
Bob Harvey : Vocals, acoustic guitar
Brian Fowler : Mandolin, electric bass
Bob Harvey:
In August of 1965, Matthew Katz, the manager, took Jefferson Airplane to Los Angeles to audition for several labels. He got us rooms at the Palms, a secluded lodge in the Hollywood hills. Skip Spence and I had a room together. We spent that first night getting high and writing a song called "Hurting For People".
I wrote the lyrics in my journal, and have hung on to them for 39 years, but the melody was never recorded and was lost in the mists of time, so when I decided to use it for the latest Moby Grape tribute album, I got together with Brian Fowler and we put new music to the lyrics. the one part of Skip's melody that I could remember was to the line, "love is just reaching out while someone else is reaching in". It fit perfectly with the new chord structure.
13 - Wolfmoon
Interesting tidbit, if you look at Airplaines preformance on the Ed Sull. show when they did "Somebody to love", if you look close, Grace is singing into a powercord, you can actually see the two prongs. Kinda funny.
14 - Geoff Dean
Great article, uao! Thanks! I've always been and still am a pretty huge Airplane fan. But not a Kantner fan (more on why later), and I've always been saddened by the media hype that grew from Grace, leaving Marty underservedly in the shadows, to which he seems to have retreated entirely over the last thirty-six years or so. Great talent, mostly lost, dammit! As to Kantner, he's a thief. He stole lyrics. I well remember, at college in the late '60s, reading John Wyndham's Re-Birth (or The Chrysalids) while listening to Crown of Creation - and falling out of my chair when the lines I was reading were also being sung by Kantner. The whole song is taken from a page or two of this great SF book, but no credit was ever given. Ditto The Ballad of You, Me and Pooneil and The House at Pooneil Corners, from AA Milne of course - here the plagiarism is a little more obvious and upfront, but again no recognition given to the original author. I wouldn't be surprised if much of Kantner's other work was similarly stolen; I haven't done a plagiarism search on his lyrics, but I bet it could be done. If in fact JA did have a competition for worst songwriter in the band, no doubt Kantner should have won that title. It saddens me that so many other great musicians and songwriters in the Bay Area have worked and played with him over the years. And having said all that, JA (at least Marty's end of it) is still among the greatest.
15 - uao
Hey thanks for the kind words and fascinating post, Geoff.
Balin really was a great talent. It's kind of sad that he's mostly remembered (if at all) by non Airplane fanatics for "Hearts". "Folkie" and "Soul" are two words that never go together. But Balin was one of the rarest of species: a folkie with soul.
As for the Kantner info...
I certainly don't know the man, and wouldn't want to say anything bad about him myself; although the Airplane was Balin's bird, it wouldn't have been the Airplane without Kantner.
As for stealing lyrics; I don't like it when I see it, but in the 1960's it happened a lot. Some thefts were outrageous, robbing songs from living musicians, like "Whole Lotta Love". Some were more subtle, like the Beatles using the Tebetian Book of the Dead for "Tomorrow Never Knows".
"Crown of Creation" is a great little sci-fi tune, and hearing that it had its roots in an uncredited sci-fi book disappoints me, but doesn't surprise me.
Certainly in the later days of the first-generation Jefferson Starship, it became apparant that writing original material wasn't Kantner's strong suit.
I agree with your assessment of Kantner ranking 4th among the songwriters in the band.
But I don't want to be too hard on the guy; the Airplane means too much to me. And I was on his side when he fueded with Mickey Thomas...
At any rate, thanks for the fascinating post, I really appreciate it.
16 - cri
Jefferson Airplane....is my life!!!thank you to axist!!!
17 - scotty
blows against the empire was stellar, that's where we blew through the atmosphere and made it out here into the colonies. too bad you missed the exit.
18 - Bill Danford
There were "three" albums that took me to the first initial actual glimpses of what "psychedic rock" meant as the summer of 1967 unfolded. "The Doors", "Electric Music for the Mind and Body", by Country Joe and the Fish, and foremost, Jefferson Airplane's "Surrealistic Pillow". So much passion; so much raw vocal power....Kaukonen's leads; Balin/Slick fearlessly vocally in love throughout....the album was "dripping" with acid...nothing touched it. It WAS and ALWAYS WILL BE...California, 1966/1967, coming straight out of that small moment in time like a flash of bright silver light. Sure...."Seargent Pepper's" then took what was left of my brain, and transported it to the other side of the universe; and it still might be there, for all I know...but that's a whole nother trip. Of course, the Byrds did mind damage as well, as did many other bands that year. Hendrix. (Phew!) Big Brother. Too many to name. But the Airplane's "Pillow" injected love into my soul that summer; a very strong love, that I like to think has lasted....and I haven't gotten over it since. It's still a classic monster of an LP, straight from the Haight. Geezers like me who toked and tripped to it on the sun-soaked beaches of Southern California back in the day, will always hear those harmonies and guitar notes resonate....forever. B.D.
19 - uao
For the Fourth of July, I'll bum my favorite band just once. I always thought that in some ways, JA epitomized the 4th of July...
Best wishes to those who might remember me; I've just had to do other things than blog for awhile.
I'll be a better blogger when I get back to it ;-)
...oh, and god bless bitttorrent; I finally got a replacement for Planet Earth Rock 'n' Roll Orchestra, which I think has been out of print since 1984...
20 - uao
"bump" not "bum" Always was a lousy typist; where's Kaukonen's ex when you need her?
21 - JC Mosquito
Hi, uao - I most certainly do remember you - I always enjoyed your articles and wondered where you'd got off to. Do what you need to do - just like my old friend Vern Halen - he went into what's likely a long retirement and left me this job as his parting gift. He says Hello and best wishes, and he wouldn't at all be surprised if you're back reviewing and writing on BC soon.
Skeeter.