Search - Jefferson Airplane :: Cleared for Take Off

Please let the plane get off the ground

Craig Fenton | Airplaneville, New Jersey | 05/23/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Hi Airplaners:



As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" I put together this information for you and hope it gives you the best source of making a judgement about the recording. If you don't already have the music, please don't be turned off by the change of sound quality. Many times in order to acquire previously unreleased music you can't always have it sound like George Martin was part of the project.



"Cleared For Take Off " Acrobat (U.K.) ACMCD 4001 CD released 11/6/03 (Taken from the Winterland, San Francisco, California performances of 3/10-3/12/67). The sound quality changes throughout the CD and the pops come at no extra charge. Although the CD wasn't put together with the greatest respect to the band or fan (Some songs fade-out and have wrong titles), those that don't own the material will be interested. There should have been one version of everything played during the three nights. The CD doesn't include "And I Like It", "Let Me In", "Fat Angel", or the jam. No information was given in the liner notes about the dates used for the songs so I have included that for you. "3/5 Of A Mile In To Seconds" 3/11/67, "Don't Let Me Down" 3/10/67, "Don't Slip Away" 3/10/67, "She Has Funny Cars" 3/12/67, "Let's Get Together" (Fades-out) 3/11/67, "High Flying Bird" 3/12/67, "It's No Secret" 3/12/67, "Come Back Baby" (Listed as "Jorma's Blues") 3/12/67, "Plastic Fantastic Lover"(Intro cut) 3/11/67, "Runnin' Round This World"(Listed as "Running Round The World") 3/11/67, "Somebody To Love" (W/"Leave You Alone" which was not listed) 3/10/67, "The Other Side Of This Life" 3/11/67, "Thing" (Fades-out) 3/11/67, "Tobacco Road" 3/10/67, "Today" 3/11/67, "White Rabbit" 3/12/67, "Bringing Me Down" (Listed as "You're Bring Me Down") 3/11/67, and "My Best Friend" (Listed as "You're My Best Friend").



Thanks and be well,

Craig Fenton

Author "Take Me To A Circus Tent""

Jefferson Airplane Live At Winterland 1967

Johnny Boy | Hockessin, DE | 10/27/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Over the past several years, Jefferson Airplane bootlegs of concerts have begun to turn up everywhere. Shows from Monterey Pop, Fillmore East and countless others have started to turn up.



But, this one, from 1967, at the Winterland in San Francisco, is really interesting. It features three great shows from the Airplane, with the crew in full swing as the rip through classics like 'Somebody To Love' and 'White Rabbit,' and one of my personal favorites, 'She Has Funny Cars.'



Collectors already know that this is a bootleg, and therefore the sound quality isn't live album great, but it's still really good. For newcomers of JA stumbling upon this, it's a great show, but if you want a live album with exceptional sound quality that is digitally remastered, I advise you to go buy 1969's 'Bless It's Pointed Little Head.'



Back on track here. 'Cleared For Take Off' has been released several times since 2003, when it first hit the public audience. This edition, as far as I'm concerned, is no different from any other edition. It's a fine example of the record companies trying to milk the Jefferson Airplane name.



But either way, it's a great show, with Jorma, Jack, Grace, Marty, Paul and Spencer in top form.



Other great tracks you'll find here are '3/5 Of A Mile In 10 Seconds,' which is considered to be an Airplane classic, with the group just jamming here. Clearly they are having a great time. Balin's vocals on 'Tobacco Road' are awesome.



Overall, I highly recommend this to anybody who appreciates great San Francisco 1960s psychedelic rock or to any JA fan who's collecting their bootlegs. But don't freak out over this release, because odds are, if you collect their bootlegs, you already have it! But, if you don't have it, you are really missing out. This is Airplane in top form here.



Highly recommended for any JA fan that likes their bootlegs. An awesome show.



ENJOY!!!"

Great document /very good sound

Barry P. Saranchuk | Moosic, PA United States | 01/20/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"My two cents worth on this CD are that this is a great set of songs from when Jefferson Airplane were very energetic and more Marty Balin led,and also that the sound really isn't bad at all(just check out the samples here...they are very representative).



I found this to be one of the better "import" live JA releases. Just get this and "Last Flight" and you've got all the good ones!"