Explosive--blows away Sweeping Up the Spotlight
Robert G. Daugherty | Los Angeles, CA | 12/28/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is the Volunteers/Woodstock era JA live album I hoped "Sweeping Up the Spotlight" would be. Marty Balin and Grace Slick give their best vocal performances to date on this disk--controlled, in-tune, and exciting. Kantner, too, is in very fine voice. Lots of vocal improvisation from all three on "Ballad of You and Me and Pooneil" including brief snippets of "Hijack" from "Blows Against the Empire(!)". Balin's voice soars on this release delivering a confident lead vocal on "Ballad" and "We Can Be Together", two songs in which his vocal was buried in the final studio mixes.
Five songs, "We Can Be Together", "Good Shepherd", "The Farm", "Wooden Ships", and "Volunteers" were brand-new and unheard at the time of this performance and their freshness is apparent. The Airplane recorded studio versions of all five songs in the same month (September, 1969) for their upcoming album "Volunteers" so the arrangements are very similar but the performances are rawer and far more exciting.
Grace Slick shines throughout, especially on "We Can Be Together" "Somebody to Love", "Wooden Ships" (VERY powerful), "The Farm" and "Volunteers"--I've never heard her singing this disciplined and explosively at the same time---it's an intoxicating combination...Balin's vocals complement hers very nicely...he too delivers a disciplined and expressive performance, a tough act to pull off.
Spencer Dryden kickstarts a spirited rendition of "Somebody to Love" with Slick in peak form, Balin improvising brilliantly underneath her.
Paul Kantner's rhythm guitar is very evident in the mix---delightfully so. His chord patterns are always interesting and often buried in the studio mixes---not so here. His singing is dead-on...a very good night for him indeed. "Crown of Creation" is exquisite...Balin and Slick again deliver standout vocal perfomances. The three-part harmony on the final bridge is to die for!
Jack Casady's extended bass solo on "Ballad of You and Me" (which I first heard on "Spotlight") is on this recording as well (Thank God!)...by the way, "Pooneil" is a full 15 minutes in length on "Family Dog", the longest version I've ever heard of this standout song.
Jorma is in fine form on "Ballad", "Crown of Creation" and on Hot Tuna's "Come Back Baby". He also delivers a very fine vocal on "Good Shepherd", better than on the studio version. His singing is so good here that I thought Paul was taking the lead vocal at times.
Finally, the coup de grace, a 25-minute jam with Jerry Garcia and Jorma Kaukonen improvising brilliantly with an unknown conga player (possibly from Santana?). Whoever he is, he's great--unfortunately, the liner notes do not elucidate. The congas are not coming from Spencer Dryden as you can clearly hear him banging away on his drum kit thoughout; in fact, Dryden opens the jam with a fantastic drum solo(!). By the way, Dryden's great drumming is right out in front in the mix. Kudos to the mixers and/or soundboard technician on this recording--all of the instruments are clear, present and evenly balanced on each selection.
All in all, a stunning release and not to be missed, by even the most casual JA fan."
Brilliant psychedelia
Bodhi Heeren | Copenhagen | 02/08/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This show from 6/9/69 is a marvelous release for all fans of Jefferson Airplane, one of the all-time greatest psychedelic bands, and for all fans of freeflowing, spontaneous 60s music. And deep, visonary music in general.
The band is certainly on fire this evening, driven by the thunderous basslines from the masterful Jack Casidy, playing a handful a songs from the then upcoming "Volunteers" album, as well as old classics like "Somebody To Love". Starting with a long, trippy "You and Me and Pooneil", which includes a snippet of "Starship", and ending with a great jam where Jerry Garcia spreads his unique guitar-magic. Great songwriting, the obligatory Jorma blues and all in all the Airplane heading for the stratosphere. There is also a percussionist added at the final jam, could it be Mickey Hart?
Considering the time the soundqaulity must be characterized as absolutely excellent, A- at least, though the vocals are a bit too upfront. But as both Marty Balin and Grace Slick, two of greatest rockvocalists ever, are in topform, it doesn't matter at all.
Won't you try?"
Former boot - now official
K. Mcveigh | Tucson | 09/03/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This was available as a boot titled "Airplane Farm," on the Deep Six label. Nice-quality soundboard for a boot, but I doubt if the sound is any better on the official release. "Airplane Farm" includes "Greasy Heart," which seems to be missing here."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1