Artistic and Ground-Breaking

I remember the first time I saw the title of this album, soon after it was released in 1970. I was puzzled as to what was meant by a collection of "worst of," not understanding the intentional and unintentional irony of the title. Overcoming the title, this collection was nominally the best of the first six Jefferson Airplane albums. I say nominally because there are many who feel that the album short-changed the group's scope.



Jefferson Airplane's first album was released in September of 1966. Grace Slick had yet to add her considerable vocal talents. The group had yet to achieve the cutting-edge heights they would soon reach. Fortunately, Jefferson Airplane was in the right place at the right time. Music was undergoing a revolution. American society was undergoing a revolution, and the artists, musical and otherwise, located in Haight-Ashbury were at the forefront of that revolution. Consistent with artists who have great talent but maintain perspective, some members of the group have always taken their fame and the adulation conferred upon them with a good deal of tongue-in-cheek humor. Jefferson Airplane has all the hallmarks of a great group, and this collection is a perfect introduction to the group.



The album kicks off with the peppy and, at that time, hard rock song "It's no Secret." Consistent with the AM standards of the time the song is under three minutes in length. You can hear folk elements in this song, which is understandable given that folk music was still quite popular when these songs were recorded in 1966. The second song, "Blues from an Airplane," also is folk influenced rock. Both songs have a different style from the subsequent songs. "Martha" is another song that has folk influence while retaining a rock flavor.



The third song is one of the iconic songs from the 60s. "Somebody to Love" is now one song that has been used numerous times, along with "White Rabbit," to indicate the psychedelic 60s. The song sandwiched between these two songs it "Today," a gorgeous love song using all the technical tricks known in the mid-60s. The song is highly contrasted by the much faster songs on either side of it. "White Rabbit" is probably the most famous song relating to the psychedelic era. The highly evocative lyrics, the music and powerful vocal style of Grace Slick combined to make this song an instant classic.



Proving that Jefferson Airplane had breadth is "Embryonic Journey." Purposefully or otherwise this solo guitar instrumental fits into the other songs related to psychedelia. This guitar solo presages the later efforts of Yes, who would create similar works.



"The Ballad of You & Me & Pooneil" is fully psychedelic. The lingering folk influences are gone and the music contains more free-form elements. Even with my eclectic musical tastes I find this song difficult to like. However, the construction of this song pushed the limits of what rock music could be and may have been a formative part of progressive rock. Another bizarre track is "Cushingura." This relatively short, experimental track makes me think of some of the early works of King Crimson, especially "Moonchild" from the 1969 release "In the Court of the Crimson King."



The rock album "Crown of Creation" released in September 1968 was supposed to be counter-culture. However, the song "Crown of Creation" is more accessible than Jefferson Airplane's psychedelic music. The structure of the music is somewhat dated, and yet that complexity is mirrored in some music created today.



"Lather" is a beautiful song that is just way too short. The song asks the inevitable question as to when someone is too old. The magical age in the 60s seemed to be 30. After that age it was generally considered that you could no longer be free spirited; you were caught up in the system, never to be released. This song is quiet and mellow, with Grace Slick's vocals well highlighted as the music remains largely acoustic and in the background, along with abundant sound effects.



"Plastic Fantastic Lover" is a live version of a heavier rock track from the ground-breaking album "Surrealistic Pillow." The music is heavy and sounds similar to some of Jimi Hendrix's music from the same era. This track is early acid rock exploiting the fun of electric guitars. Jefferson Airplane was no slave to style. "Good Shepherd" contains folk, blues and gospel elements, but the rock guitar is an element used also in "Plastic Fantastic Lover." This song is wonderful to reminisce about the flower children era.



"We Can Be Together" is the longest song on the CD at nearly six minutes. As the 60s moved on there was a movement toward understanding and love, and this song targets those philosophies directly. Music like this was a result of a combination of events, including the Viet Nam War and the continued social upheaval in the United States. This song could have been the coda for the 60s.



The last song in this collection is "Volunteers." This song was the grass roots appeal to everyone to be a force for change. Power to the people was the word of the day and the words to this song exemplify that desire. Yet another of the songs from Jefferson Airplane, along with "White Rabbit" and "Somebody to Love" that are used to indicate the 60s.



The 60s yielded a variety of unusual musical combinations. "Sugar, Sugar" by the fictional group the Archie's was playing on pop radio while other groups were making music that would ultimately be regarded as classic rock in its dozens of incarnations. Jefferson Airplane was one of the most influential groups of its era, experimenting with styles that would help steer the course of music even until today, while singing music that was then a social indicator and now a historical artifact.

Soaring Forever...

This is the best offering of all of the band's early hits. They exploded on the music scene from San Francisco along with The Doors, Janice Joplin, The Greatful Dead and many others from the Haite Ashbury crowd. When they first started, Grace Slick was little more than "stage candy" doing back up vocals and looking good. Once the public heard her haunting voice, the world bought everything the band released.



This CD is arguably the "best of the best" that the Airplane or Starship ever gave to the public and is a must for any "flower child" to make room for, in their collection.

Jefferson Airplane is good

It's hard to rate a greatest hits collection. But I'd just say I'd give either 4 or 5 stars to all the songs on this album. Best songs are "White Rabbit" and "Volunteers."