Favorite Airplane Album?

[brumus]

The 89 JA album's main motive for happening was obviously monetary IMO. But it did have its moments. For one, I really like Jorma's lead break on PK's The Wheel. Very fiery!

But to get back to ABAB, my description of it being a dark pool of the subconscious was a bit too much heaviousity perhaps but it was an album that had stuff on it that was just below the surface, subliminal. Little percussive sounds that Spencer put on here and there or strange voices and effects. Ralph Gleason first noted this about Baxters, that the listener would discover new sounds the more one played it.

And those first five songs, Pooneil/Package/YoungGirl/Martha/WildThyme are beautifully woven together. Perfection. My only complaint is that Rejoyce should have followed them instead of Jorma's LastWall. His fine song just doesn't flow well following the others, an assault as rock critic Paul Williams called it. But I guess they wanted Rejoyce to finish out side one of the vinyl. Anyway, thanks to modern technology, I can now program the CD to play in the desired order.

I hope to continue more to this thread and respond to others posts soon.

AND BTW, HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY PAUL KANTER! 72 yrs old last Sunday.

KEEP RIDING THE MUSIC PAUL.

[psychy]

AND BTW, HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY PAUL KANTER! 72 yrs old last Sunday

yeah:)!!!

[redrabid]

That's what professional musicians do, making money by releasing albums.
The reunion album failed because it wasn't a Jefferson Airplane album. Marty Balin didn't want the Airplane musicians to play on his songs and used members of Toto instead. The producer didn't like Kaukonen's guitarplaying (it didn't help that Kaukonen was a heroine addict at the time) and lots of other guitarists were hired to play on certain songs. Are you sure that it is Kaukonen you hear playing?
Dryden wasn't invited. But without the jazzy influence of his drumming no album sounded like Jefferson Airplane: Not Bark, not LJS, not the reunion album.
Too many cocaine decisions, I'm afraid.

[psychy]

I see yer point there:)...sometimes I'd prefer Starship to that JA line-up you mentioned:)

[brumus]

That's what professional musicians do, making money by releasing albums.
The reunion album failed because it wasn't a Jefferson Airplane album. Marty Balin didn't want the Airplane musicians to play on his songs and used members of Toto instead. The producer didn't like Kaukonen's guitarplaying (it didn't help that Kaukonen was a heroine addict at the time) and lots of other guitarists were hired to play on certain songs. Are you sure that it is Kaukonen you hear playing?
Dryden wasn't invited. But without the jazzy influence of his drumming no album sounded like Jefferson Airplane: Not Bark, not LJS, not the reunion album.
Too many cocaine decisions, I'm afraid.

But my point was that the MAIN motivation for getting together again was money and the points that you make prove that. Of course Airplane never had an aversion to making money back in the day, but that was more like icing on the cake, not the prime motivator. Reunion tours for older bands were just starting to make it big at end of 80's and the guys knew they could make a killing. Jack even said as much in an interview back then.

I've been following Jefferson Airplane since 1966. Jorma was a huge influence on my playing, and I can guarantee you that's Jorma playing on Paul's The Wheel. Those first 3 single notes are classic Kaukonen. That's the way he would start a lot of his lead breaks with JA and HT.

I agree Dryden was a key component to JA diversity and when he left, they became a different band. All other drummers since just became backup musicians. But I heard he had health issues at the time of 89 reunion. Besides, it was more than just about reuniting the original members and sound. Much more.

[psychy]

THis makes me think I like JA much better than I do HT:):)

[redrabid]

But we all do, Psychy, we all do.
JA was based on Casady's bass, HT on Kaukonen's guitar.
And because Casady is the better instrumentalist, JA was the better band.
Oohhh, what am I saying?
"Hide boy hide,
the true fans come to burn thee..."

[brumus]

But we all do, Psychy, we all do.
JA was based on Casady's bass, HT on Kaukonen's guitar.
And because Casady is the better instrumentalist, JA was the better band.
Oohhh, what am I saying?
"Hide boy hide,
the true fans come to burn thee..."

No problem with having an opinion. Imagine if members of JA had all agreed on everything. BORING.

Grace has been the most popular in many ways but Casady was/is perhaps the most universally admired as a musician. I've heard players from traditional jazz to hardcore punk express this.

As far as JA being the better band, I heard HT/Jorma back in the day when he was astonishingly good and other times mediocre to down right poor. SAME WITH JA. Apple and oranges to me.

It's like when Cream first played SF. Micky Hart reportedly said to Garcia; "Wow! These guys must be the best band ever!" Garcia replies; "Tonight they are the best band. TONIGHT!"