12. The Great Society: Sally Go 'Round The Roses
While Grace Slick's name is forever linked to Jefferson Airplane, some might not realize that she wasn't a founding member; she was drafted from the Great Society by Paul Kantner (via emissary Jack Casady) when original Airplane singer Signe Anderson elected to leave following their 1966 debut album. The Great Society had been Slick's first band, a semi-popular outfit on the Haight she had formed in 1965 with her husband Jerry Slick on drums, brother-in-law Darby Slick on guitar and David Minor on guitar/vocals. The band wasn't a tight unit; Sly Stone, attempting to produce an early recording, walked out after 50 straight blown takes of the same song. However, their preserved live recordings, first released in 1968 after Slick had become a big name, show an atmospheric and colorful raga-rock outfit that had Slick's voice as a drawing card, a couple of excellent originals (Slick's own "White Rabbit" and Darby's "Somebody To Love"), and a naive charm that sounds good as a period piece. "Sally Go 'Round The Roses" is their best moment; a long raga-rock treatment of the Jaynettes' mysterious, quasi-lesbian anthem, it benefits mightily from Slick's keening voice and Darby Slick's guitar (the solo, accompanied by droning organ, sounds closest to a real raga than any other raga rock excursions). The band opened for the Airplane at the Matrix and other venues; when Slick joined the Airplane, the band folded. Jerry and Grace separated in 1967; she and Kantner would have a child in 1971.
13. Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks: Canned Music
Dan Hicks' musical odyssey is an odd one, and his oddball musical direction has sustained him for decades, as he continues to play for a small but fervent cult. Originally a drummer, he switched to guitar and grew up playing folk in the Bay area. His first group, the Charlatans got a lot of notice for their musical eclecticism and image, but for a number of reasons were unable to get an album together and released. In 1968, Hicks formed Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, a sextet, to open for the Charlatans, who were past their peak, and eventually won more interest than the mothership. He cut the Charlatans adrift shortly after and focused on his new band, adding the Lickettes as backing vocalists (vocalists Sherry Snow and Christina Viola Gancher). Their debut album, Original Recordings, from 1969 is quite unlike anything else. The band sounds like the stoned hippie amalgamation they were; somewhat out of tune, somewhat out of synch, although in retrospect, this adds to the charm. It's Hick's strange visions that make the album interesting, among which is a strings-aided acoustic Western swing that sounds old and organic even as it fakes it; the wispy Lickettes make eerie sidekicks. "Canned Music" is a prime example of this style; Hicks refined this style over the years and multitudes of albums (Hicks ended His Hot Licks at the end of the 70's, but has released solo albums consistently in the 90's and 00's).
Article comments
1 - Don
Does anyone know what's going on with Sly? The last I heard is his showing up in costume (bikers helmet) at his sisters concert there in Cali.
2 - uao
No idea; the last two decades are pretty fuzzy. He recorded a flop single in 1987, "Eek-a-Bo-Static", but was jailed for drug possession that year.
He also managed a duet with Martha Davis (of the Motels) "Love & Affection" at about the same time.
He showed up at the Hall of Fame induction in 1993, by all accounts to the surprise of his bandmates.
In 2003, the original Family Stone (without Sly) entered the studio; I don't know if the session amounted to anything.
Freddie Stone is a minister with a website.
Here's the article about Sly showing up at his sister's concert in August 2005, the only news I could find for him for the last decade. He came by 4-wheel Harley wearing a motorcycle helmet, which he kept on all night, and wasn't recognized in the VIP room because most of the VIP's were blind (!)
Al Barger posted this article on Sly's 60th birthday; I was moved by the very personal nature of the comments from fans, friends, and well-wishers that appeared on the thread.
3 - Steve
Visit the John Cipollina website here
4 - uao
That's a beautiful website, Steve. A fine tribute that really gets into all aspects of his career and musicianship. I know you've done him proud.
I'm still preachin' the Quicksilver and San Fran word to the young squirts. Cipollina is a name worthy of remembrance and discovery.
5 - Joanie
Thankfully, we have some great realitvely unknown bands who are carrying on the tradition established during the big Haight era.
6 - Tom Weller
Nice reminiscense on the San Francisco sound. Actually, Country Joe has put out half a dozen albums since 1996. Check out his site (I'm the webmaster).
7 - uao
My apologies for the error, Tom. I've corrected the sentence; I was looking at an outdated discography. Joe deserves his due.
Nice website too!
8 - Dave
FYI, "Loosen Up Naturally" (1968) was the first release from the Sons of Champlin. "The Sons" (1969) is their second release. In addition, they've reformed and have been performing and recording since 1997, with a new release, "Hip L'il Dreams", on August 23rd of this year.
Check out their website at www.sonsofchamplin.com for more info...
9 - uao
Doh!
Sorry Dave. Should have looked for your website first. I can't fix the error here anymore, it has been archived. But I'll fix it on the original blog entry at my blog.
I very much appreciate the webmasters checking in here, though. You've alerted me to the fact you guys are out there, which will help me keep better informed of these musicians (for whom latter-day info is sometimes hard to find or cross-reference for facts). As penance, I think for future playlists of this nature, I'll post links to official websites, when I can find them.
I'm kind of expecting to hear from Joy of Cooking or Dan Hicks next...
It's all meant in loving tribute, though, as well as an introduction for listeners who have never even heard of some of these names.
10 - Hammond Guthrie
Dave - These are excellent album reviews and commentaries. If by chance you also review 60s memoirs please contact me and I would be pleased to send you a copy of my book "AsEverWas" released in 2002 by SAF publishing in London. If you visit their website you can find the pr blip for my book near the bottom of the book index page. In the listing I think you will find books about some of your favored musicians as well - Thanks for taking the time - best of the moment to you and your readers.... Hammond Guthrie
11 - Hammond Guthrie
Sorry for the inadvertant omission - here is the SAF publishing url
http://www.safpublishing.com/
asever - Hammond
12 - uao
I don't review memoirs as a rule, but I do read them on occasion; memoirs of a "Beat Survivor" is germaine as San Fran was beat city before it was psychedelicized. Thanks for the comment Hammond.
13 - Dennis Newhall
The Sons of Champlin's Loosen Up Naturally was their first album. THEN, The Sons (The Sons of Champlin Have Changed Their Name to The Sons)
14 - Temple A. Stark
We can fix the link if you ask uao. Just e-mail the link that gors with this comment.
15 - Temple A. Stark
Late notice but,
This post was chosen by the section editor as a BC pick of the week. Go HERE (link) to find out why.
And thank you
- Temple
16 - Hammond Guthrie
Thanks for your reply - SF takes up a rather small part of the tale - and largely set in Europe late 60s vs. SF. Best to you and your projects.
17 - Blake
great album reviews. I wish i could have lived during the rock/blues and psychedelic era. I agree that blue cheer's lesser known album OutsideInside is better than their debut album, although i love both albums, especially the songs out of focus and babylon.. I also agree with that one guy that the guitarist of quicksilver is amazing and should be remembered next to hendrix, page, clapton... oh man actually there were so many amazing got guitarists that never got the recognition they deserved... like guitarist from tons of garage rock/ garage punk bands.. also from old psychedelic bands.
Mick Abrahms from Bloodwyn Pig and Jethro Tull was great for example.
18 - GoHah
good to hear Dan Hicks, with or without the Hot Licks, still kicking around. I had their LP--might've been called "Stikin' It Rich" or to that effect. All pretty much good-timey music like "The Laughing Song" and I believe "Canned Music was on there too. Then there was the exception--an extended scary number with wigged-out violin titled, appropriately, " I Scare Myself." Truth in advertising, indeed.