Jefferson Starship-'Greatest Hits:Live At The Fillmore(CMC)

I'll give it a 3 1/2 star rating.'Greatest...' may not be the best live CD ever,but it's decent.I saw the band awhile after the release of this disc,and TECHNICALLY,it was Jefferson Airplane.They just HAD to go with the 'Starship',for legal reasons.I met up with guitarist Paul Kantner,himself and he was telling me all about it.Also mentioned that he,himself was very dissapointed in the way this CD turned out.I couldn't tell you what he's talking about because the CD is a keeper.You know,one of the CD's in your collection that you plan to hang onto UNLESS you just HAD to part with it after being layed-off,fired or even bailing a friend or ex-girl friend out of jail.Anyway,'Greatest Hits:Live...' is a bit similar to the live concert I saw.Many Airplane gems are here for your listening pleasure.Tunes like "Plastic Fantasic Lover","Somebody To Love","Crown Of Creation","White Rabbit","Volunteers" and the Crosby,Still&Kantner tune "Wooden Ships".Wanted to also mention that it certainly wouldn't be Airplane without vocalist/frontman Marty Balin.Grace Slick's replacement does a very good job of carrying the Airplane into the 21st century.Old hippie music that's been fully revived,and well it should be.A should-have.

The sound quality sinks this one

This release was recorded by JS in November, 1998, on the tour supporting the "Windows of Heaven" album. If one was going strictly on performance, the album rates as OK. The performances aren't particularly stellar or innovative, but they are solid, with the sound basically the same as on the 1995 live release "Deep Space/Virgin Sky". Indeed, over half the selections included here can also be found there.

The repetoire spans the history of the Marty Balin/Paul Kantner led Airplane/Starship lineups. The male vocals are a bit rough as these two guys push 60, but they are certainly still spirited.
And while purists may balk at someone else singing Grace Slick's songs, her (third) replacement Diana Mangano has a beautiful, powerful voice. Her vocals on the classics "White Rabbit" and "Somebody to Love" certainly do justice to the songs.

However, all of this is seriously marred by the abysmal sound quality. It's a disaster - the audio sounds very muffled, with the highs and lows virtually missing and poor stereo separation.
There may be a reason for this. The video of the concert was released on cable on New Year's Day, 1999, and the sound may have been mixed for TV broadcast. Which means that it may have sounded fine when coming out of a mono TV speaker, but it's totally unacceptable as a CD. No producer is credited, and it shows. Since this is not an archive release, but a new 1990's recording, there is simply no excuse for this shoddiness. The recording should have been totally remixed prior to this release.

For this reason, this can really only be recommended for JA/JS completists. Anyone who wants an introduction to live Jefferson Starship would be better off seeking the new expanded "DS/VS" album, (featuring Mangano's predecessor, the wonderful Darby Gould, and Slick guesting), which now contains the complete show.
You'll get similarily strong performances as this CD, but you'll actually be able to HEAR them!

What a shame!

I can't believe Paul Kantner would put his name on this.