This is the most interesting channel on RUclips. Your musical knowledge and captivating perspective on the music you review is absolutely wonderful! Hands down my favorite. Thank you and Keep up the awesome work!
That's true, but let's not forget to give props to Vlad, who has lots of historical information and/or does great research before each video. Together they make a very good channel.
This song, and WHITE RABBIT both came from Grace Slick's previous band The Great Society. Surrealistic Pillow has a nice instrumental called EMBRYONIC JOURNEY.
LIked what she said about Grace Slick and her singing, but wished she also commented on the musical composition and the instrumental breaks. She usually does a great job with that, but she seemed to be in a hurry to make this a short reaction. Particularly love the coda of the song with Jorma's guitar solo.
With their respective bands, Grace Slick and Jim Morrison toured Europe together in 1968. There were notorious incidents, with Grace politely describing Jim as "gorgeous" but "screwy".
I believe Janis Joplin was on that tour as well - as I understand it, Janis did not like Morrison at all. From what I've heard about that tour Morrison was pretty out of control.
I had a Doors video (lost it when VHS went out of fashion for good) featuring interviews with Grace Slick and Paul Cantner about the tour. And a clip of Ray Manzarek singing, which he did frequently when Jim was out of order. P.S.: There's nothing you can't find on RUclips: ruclips.net/video/KFj6BVmYmEo/видео.html
@@PortCharmers Thanks for posting that! I will watch it later. (A friend introduced me to The Doors in the mid-80s in my senior year of high school. I fell in love. We would rent every video we could find related to The Doors. I'm sure I haven't seen this interview. They are one of only two bands from the late 60s and early 70s that I still play. I LOVE, love, love Pink Floyd, but don't listen to them routinely. But The Doors is still on my main Spotify playlist. Thanks to oopswrongplanet4964 for posting about the tour. Never knew the toured together (or had forgotten).
Yeah, I think Grace Slick could have sung opera if she cared to, she was that good. I imagine there would have been a lot less in the way of sex and drugs, though.
i've also loved her song "Mexico", her piano work on it and how she ended that song. I also really liked her background vocals for "My Best Friend", backing up Marty Balin.
@@gbsk12 right. all the songs are really good and quite different from each other but the whole thing has a certain sound and feeling, gets better with age.
Your whimsical approach to music appreciation is inspiring again. In many ways Gracie's voice is a perfect complement to Kaukonen's jazz-humbucker timbre, a combination which sort of defined the San Francisco sound.
@@CopyKatnj Grace does some breathtaking songs on After Bathing at Baxter's; I love Rejoyce, Two Heads and Martha. A lot of that album was so heavily LSD infused it can be a little cringe to listen to in some places, but it's always entertaining.
Great channel. I am old enough to (fortunately) seen Jefferson Airplane in the early 70’s. White Rabbit is my favorite rock song of all time. And Surrealistic Pillow is my favorite album. Your next JA reaction should be "Triad".
To me her voice is like a club, it just smashes onto you. The blunt force trauma topples you, leaving you seeing stars and unable to articulate a cigerent thought. Its a weapon, unleashed with absolute ferocity on the listener. Really this is a high compliment. It just disarms you, breaking your skull open to get the full brunt of their artistic expression. Absolutely incredible. A true gift of nature! Such raw, unmitigated talent and passion is a very rare and wonderful phenomenon that commands appreciation, not merely invites it So glad she was born in an age where this could be put to record and was for us to appreciate so many years later.
Hi, I'm from Austria. I come from a country where classical music is at home. I can understand your approach to modern rock-pop music very well. I love your channel. I find it fascinating to listen to someone like you. Of course I know the rock-pop music of my time. I was born in 1962. And, that's the fascinating thing, I'm getting to know the music of my time in a new way. Where I used to only listen to so-so, I suddenly hear pieces of music, song lyrics with completely new ears. For me, this is a wonderful journey into my past, to my youth as a teenager. Thank you for this experience, for this journey. It's just refreshing to listen to you. Many thanks Michael from Innsbruck - Austria
Energetic, vibrant, a simple rock/pop tune that screams for radio play. Such an easy song to get into. Not having listened to it for a long time I forgot how good it is.
This is one of my favorite songs. Grace once performed this at a festival in Europe that was being rained out- she tore off her top and shouted the lyrics at the rainclouds in a German accent. She was awesome.
Thank you for sharing your experience! I'll ask the question; is Grace Slick sharing her 'take' on life, by using her ability as a musical artist? Seems to be a lot of emotion there and I mean the real kind.
I am glad you continued to enjoy Grace Slick's singing on this one, as you said in a completely different mood and style than "White Rabbit." I think your Jim Morrison comparison is good one. Similar psychedelic rock era and essence. A great song from this era and a great Reaction! I'm really glad you enjoyed Grace Slick's singing and vocal approach so much. I really enjoyed this Special Weekend look into Jefferson Airplane.
I'm really loving your JA reviews so far, Amy! ❤ I found your comment about her voice being used like an instrument to be interesting. She was also an instrumentalist, so she understood music itself. I could really see it carrying over to her vocals. When I think of Grace, I also think of James Douglas Morrison, such a great observation. They were both dramatic vocalists who were masters at how to build and convey a song's mood and tone. Did you know that Grace became an artistic painter who has painted Alice In Wonderland type images and other images? She's a good painter too! 👍👍👍 Now that I've heard two very fine JA song reviews from you and how impressed you are with Grace's singing, I can imagine you walking around with a JA T-Shirt or maybe a Grace Slick T-Shirt. I very much look forward to your next JA review and the revelations it'll bring to our greater understanding of their music. 🎤🎸
Jefferson Airplane played on the roof of the Schuyler Hotel, near Times Square, on November 19, 1968, over 2 months before The Beatles rooftop concert in January, 1969. You have to wonder if John Lennon had that performance in mind when he said "F**k it - let's just do it [on the roof]!"
The listening experience that can't be done simply, is appreciating this material from its own time, and what went immediately before (which was comparatively little in terms of 'modern' music). Even as a 63yo, I know I'm re-listening to this with knowledge since of decades of musical change. Yet it still stands up ! In a small way, Amy is, at least, travelling through rock/pop musical time in the correct way, with her treatment of Beatles 150. Really enjoying these journeys
I was fourteen when Somebody to Love hit the charts. For me, the guitar solo at the end is the sound if the sixties. For another iconic sixties song, check out Quicksilver Messenger Service's song Fresh Air.
Again, I really enjoyed your analysis of this band and artist. Your comparison of the vocal athleticism of Grace to Jim Morrison was intriguing, and apt, IMHO. Nice reaction!
Great song by a fantastic band. If you want to hear a purer version of Grace Slick's voice, listen to some of the songs she performed with her previous band The Great Society.
Not a direct comparison, but when I was thinking of other female vocalists while listening to Grace Slick's performance, I was reminded of Siouxsie Sioux of Siouxie and the Banshees. There is something in the vocal performance of Siouxsie's that is reminiscent of Grace''s, especially when I think of the songs Cities in Dust and Spellbound. As an aside, Goth music of the 80's is more a curiosity to me at this point, whereas "classic rock" from the 60's that laid the foundations, such as this song and While Rabbit have stood the test of time. I don't know if anyone will agree with me about the comparison. I do, however, think that Amy would enjoy listening to Siouxsie at some point as she is interested in female rock singers.
Very good comparison. I feel like Siouxsie Sioux has a "painterly" quality to her vocals in a similar way as Amy described Grace Slick in the previous video.
@@Johnny_Socko Thanks! It just suddenly came to me because I was really concentrating on Grace's singing and songs more than I would have, and now from an analytical standpoint thanks to Amy! I hope she does get to listen to Siouxsie someday. P.s. maybe Siouxsie's cover of "Dear Prudence" could be compared to the Beatles when Amy gets there in the series,
One of the great underrated musicians from the at era is bassist Jack Casady- just listen to what is going on under the surface of this song- the interplay between Jack and Jorma on guitar is astounding. Jack is all over the place- and was known for his eyebrows as much as his bass playing- watch a video with him it.
My daughter sings amazing versions of White Rabbit AND Somebody To Love...we actually stood on the Fillmore West Stage in San Francisco, that inspired her!!!
They are mostly known for the two songs you've reacted to but having recently gone through their albums for the first time they definitely have some hidden gems.
I was in high school when the “Airplane” arrived. That music made us want to DANCE! I’m paraphrasing but Glacé said she could only sing a few notes, but she could sing them very loud!
Jon Anderson interview, by Lorraine Kay. Lorraine : You also surprised us with a tune on the harp entitled Harping. Jon : Yes, I love playing harp. I play harp at least two or three times a month. I sit down and just start playing. I have two harps. I just do it more for meditation. Just to relax.
Jefferson Airplane was one of my favorite bands growing up (and still is). My dad saw them quite a few times when he was a kid (including at Woodstock) so I picked them up from him. I myself saw their reunion tour at Radio City in New York in 1989 or so (I was sixteen). I'm so glad you're appreciating them but please, allow me to plead that you listen to the albums "After Bathing at Baxter's" and "Crown of Creation." "White Rabbit" and "Somebody to Love" are of course great songs, but I think you can really appreciate wht the band was about from the albums. Probably my favorite track of theirs is "The House at Pooneil Corners" off of "Crown of Creation." It showcases the full band vocally and is perhaps the best apocalyptic tune I've ever heard. Anyway, I'm excited for you, and thanks for all your work and enthusiasm and expertise and good vibes! :) Oh, and since you invoke "sparks and fireworks" (and I love your Jim Morrison idea!), you actually do get a lot of that in the vocal interactions and tensions between Grace and (other lead singer) Marty Balin. Especially in their live performances. I'd recommend checking out their 1968 NYC rooftop gig for a good showcase of the band firing on all cylinders: ruclips.net/video/rx_08cambjA/видео.html
I missed them on their reunion tour, another big regret of mine! Glad to see the younger generation diggin' them. It's awesome when kids start going thru their parents record collection and discovering some great stuff!
Grace is indeed one of a kind. I keep harping but...The Byrds, 8 Miles High. Truly strange piece consisting of no refrain, several bizarre but masterful instrumental interludes...credited by many as the first psychedelic rock song...a real "mind blower, man", lol.
@@babylonian.captivity Yeah, one of those pieces I was not sure I liked, but HAD to listen to it over and over...which always means I end up loving it, lol. Love it when it...clicks, you know?
Absolutely. Same. It’s actually got a similar vibe to a lot of Pink Floyd that way, I think. You hand l hand l have to kind of let go and let it wash over you until it clicks.
Now you know the power and vitality you have to sample the beauty. On the first album there's a 3- minute track titled "Today" and it is a stunner, find a really good studio recording of it because I think you might love it, it's emotionally involved in a way the ones thus far are not, it's sumptuous like a cross between the comfiest bed and the nicest sweet but with a big hint of the possibility of loss and impermanence, it's one of my favourite places to go it's so darn beautiful ❤️
There will come a time when you finally get around to The Dark Side of the Moon and listen to "The Great Gig In the Sky" where you will finally understand that we've always understood what you meant by a singer using their voice as an instrument.
I always think of Grace Slick as a Vocal Artist vs Vocalist, There is Something Extra Brought to the Table when Needed. Great Critique with Your Music Experience Perseptive. Thank You.
Wow, what a recording, just a great feel for the band, tone, reverb, odd stereo, sounds like a garage, not much of a song, but this thing is manages to exude art, just sounds transcendental from the get.
One thing you will discover is that the band had three lead singers: Paul Kantner (rhythm guitarist), Marty Balin (group founder), and Grace Slick. Usually the songwriter sang the lead, and often there would be harmonies between the three. An excellent song to hear that, a simple shorter song, is "In Time" written by and lead singing by Paul Kantner. A more extended song showing all of the bands talents with each singer taking turns on verses plus harmonies on the choruses, is "The House At Pooneil Corners." In my comment on "White Rabbit" I also mentioned "Wooden Ships" as one where they take turns. Love your thoughts on these songs, I hear them in a whole new way! They were "just singles" but I hear the proficiency and musicality of them now, and how they could be "Top 40" yet interesting!
This is the best opening line of any song: "When the truth is found to be lies." You are listening to the "dripping in reverb" stereo album mix. I suggest listening to the mono mix which was played on the radio back in the day. Often, the producers of the day put their main effort into the mono mix. Stereo was still seen as a gimmick, and the stereo mix was often made by a flunky engineer without the producer even present.
It's interesting to hear you refer to the "way she handles the music with her voice", and that it's as if she's using her voice :as an instrument". Grace herself said that she tried to make her voice sound like a guitar! I often find it reminiscent of guitar phrases with wide string bends and with vibrato added to certain notes to emphasise them.
I think it is great that you are discovering the Jefferson Airplane. Some context, from my perspective (however incomplete it is). JA, and many of the San Francisco bands were a product of the electric Dylan movement. (The Beatles meet the 60's folk movement.) Many of the Airplanes songs are declarative social or political statements. Or, in the case of this song, Somebody to Love, a relationship revenge song, couched in the terms of the hippie/love movement. Anyway, I'll get off my soapbox now and just enjoy the vibes from yesteryear.
Slick's power doesn't just "take me along", it's like a grappling hook that grabs me up and pulls without permission or negotiation. I feel that if I didn't run with it, I'd be dragged, and I'm forever grateful it was recorded.
To understand what happened to music in that time. listen to the Jaynetts "Sally go Round the Roses" from about 1963. t's really a pretty solid, even Mod song. Then Grace Slick and the Great Society covered that song in about 1966. Like night and day. Must listen to; Pretty as you Feel, Today, Lather, Coming Back to Me. Wooden Ships, Blues From an Airplane. Keep Tissues handy, some of these will break your heart. They were a lot more than a psychedelic curiosity.
A very similar intriguing voice has the singer of the 60ties/70ties band "Shocking Blue" Mariska Veres. As I heard their song "Send me a postcard" (released in 1968) the very first time I thought I´m listening to Grace Slick also because that song itself sounds musically very similar in style like a Jefferson Airplane song. But their by far most successful song was their song titeled "Venus".
I would recommend listening to some hot tuna. Post airplane band for jorma koukonan and jack cassidy. A more jazzy sound and very good. They still perform today
If you want to hear Grace Slick at her absolute best, you should listen to "rejoyce" from Jefferson Airplane's third album, "After Bathing at Baxter's" Based on the writing of James Joyce. It's spectacular.
Grace Slick and Marty Balin (the other lead singer in Jefferson Airplane) had some great musical chemistry. The somewhat infamous rooftop performance of "House at Pooneil Corners" is a good example. If you can get past the bad sound quality.
I was 12 or so when this was first released ... I was mesmerized by her voice and Gracie was my first musical celebrity crush. 😏 It was that warbling flutter her voice did wen holding a note. A couple of her later songs that hilight her range & styles : Silver Spoon, China, Face To The Wind, Dreams, Just a Little Love, and Wrecking Ball.
Lather and Crown of Creation are a couple other songs that are great. Volunteers is also a good one, Grace is mostly background vocals to the male singer in the band on that one though. I agree with most folks here id go with Lather next, especially the TV video of her performance on Smothers brothers show.
One of the quintessential rock vocals of all time. Grace was showing all the guys that she could hold her own or in this case top them. I'd like to see Taylor Swift try to cover this song. Great comparison you made to Morrison. Think of the Doors Light My Fire.
She had a good voice with an unusual vibrato. There are a lot of great songs that feature her voice, including "Lather" or "Crown of Creation". The thing about this song is, it's not as interesting a composition as "White Rabbit", but for 1967 this was pretty ballsy music. Even compared to bands like The Rolling Stones this stuff scared the crap out of parents across the country! Check out the interviews with Grace from this time period. She spoke her mind, plus she knew exactly how her physical charms were affecting the older crowd (especially men) around her, which she exploited to the max.
It'd be interesting to watch you listen to the originsl "White Rabbit" and "Somebody to Love" by the Great Society, and to compare them to the Jefferson Airplane versions. Grace Slick was the frontwoman of the Great Society, but she had doubts about that band's future. She thought that another very talented local band, the Jefferson Airplane, were not only better musicians, but could play her songs better than her own band could. So, she somehow, through the wily ways of women, maneuvered her way into their band, and history was made. Was it the right choice? I think history has made its judgement. 🙂
great suggestion. the original someone to love is much different. I prefer that version. also Nature Boy originaly performed by nat king cole is a fantastic song that the great society recorded.
I think the lyrics here really do matter here. If you could have heard it when it first came out in the 60s at the beginning of the psychedelic summer of love which was all happening there in San Francisco, that sound and the pleading/commanding lyrics sung in a way that it felt as if they were meant for each and every person who would hear it...man, it was a trip. And an indelible mark on the collective soul.
Grace Slick is a force of nature. What a talent.
She's an excellent artistic painter too. 👍👍👍
This is the most interesting channel on RUclips. Your musical knowledge and captivating perspective on the music you review is absolutely wonderful! Hands down my favorite. Thank you and Keep up the awesome work!
I agree - That is no garbage.👍
@@willasacco9898😂😂😂
That's true, but let's not forget to give props to Vlad, who has lots of historical information and/or does great research before each video. Together they make a very good channel.
Agreed. She is far superior to the Annoying Music Interrupter that has over one million followers.
I agree. Top tier reactions/analysis. A few others at this level, but not too many.
Amazingly enough she is still alive at the age of 84 in 2024.
Grace Slick and Janis Joplin are the voices that define the late sixties.
Joan Baez just said 'hold my pint' 🙂
@@grahamstubbs4962 Joan and Grace, proud alumni of palo Alto High
Grace and Janis paved the way for Ann Wilson in later years.
For female rock singers, YES!
In _my_ book, Janis Joplin screamed instead of singing properly - All other names mentioned in these comments here are far better singers.
This song, and WHITE RABBIT both came from Grace Slick's previous band The Great Society.
Surrealistic Pillow has a nice instrumental called EMBRYONIC JOURNEY.
Hopefully, she'll react to it.
Love Jorma and his solo career and with Hot Tuna! Embryonic Journey is great, right up there with his Water Song
LIked what she said about Grace Slick and her singing, but wished she also commented on the musical composition and the instrumental breaks. She usually does a great job with that, but she seemed to be in a hurry to make this a short reaction. Particularly love the coda of the song with Jorma's guitar solo.
Thank you for appreciating Grace Slick ---- she is The Goddess of rock 🤎👍
With their respective bands, Grace Slick and Jim Morrison toured Europe together in 1968. There were notorious incidents, with Grace politely describing Jim as "gorgeous" but "screwy".
I believe Janis Joplin was on that tour as well - as I understand it, Janis did not like Morrison at all. From what I've heard about that tour Morrison was pretty out of control.
I had a Doors video (lost it when VHS went out of fashion for good) featuring interviews with Grace Slick and Paul Cantner about the tour. And a clip of Ray Manzarek singing, which he did frequently when Jim was out of order.
P.S.: There's nothing you can't find on RUclips: ruclips.net/video/KFj6BVmYmEo/видео.html
@@PortCharmers Thanks for posting that! I will watch it later. (A friend introduced me to The Doors in the mid-80s in my senior year of high school. I fell in love. We would rent every video we could find related to The Doors. I'm sure I haven't seen this interview. They are one of only two bands from the late 60s and early 70s that I still play. I LOVE, love, love Pink Floyd, but don't listen to them routinely. But The Doors is still on my main Spotify playlist. Thanks to oopswrongplanet4964 for posting about the tour. Never knew the toured together (or had forgotten).
Yeah, I think Grace Slick could have sung opera if she cared to, she was that good. I imagine there would have been a lot less in the way of sex and drugs, though.
Embryonic journey is a great instrumental from Jefferson Airplane you should definitely give a listen to. Short but sweet!
Lather is a great grace slick song.
i've also loved her song "Mexico", her piano work on it and how she ended that song. I also really liked her background vocals for "My Best Friend", backing up Marty Balin.
I was thinking of Lather too especially as far as the way she uses her voice. Volunteers and Crown of Creative are also great Airplane songs
One of my favourites by Jefferson Airplane!
I concur
The surrealistic pillow album is very enjoyable and brilliant, it still sounds fresh today.
Not a bad song on the whole album which is rare
@@gbsk12 right. all the songs are really good and quite different from each other but the whole thing has a certain sound and feeling, gets better with age.
Grace is still with us where so many from that era are not. 84 according to Google
Drugs taken when they were younger often took a few years off at the back end of life - for those whom drugs didn't kill them earlier
Your whimsical approach to music appreciation is inspiring again. In many ways Gracie's voice is a perfect complement to Kaukonen's jazz-humbucker timbre, a combination which sort of defined the San Francisco sound.
Am loving this channel!!! Great !
The "Surrealistic Pillow" album and "Volunteers" album remain my favorite of this period of Jefferson.
After Bathing At Baxters, Crown of Creation.
@@CopyKatnj Grace does some breathtaking songs on After Bathing at Baxter's; I love Rejoyce, Two Heads and Martha. A lot of that album was so heavily LSD infused it can be a little cringe to listen to in some places, but it's always entertaining.
@@CopyKatnj They are my two favourites!
Great channel. I am old enough to (fortunately) seen Jefferson Airplane in the early 70’s. White Rabbit is my favorite rock song of all time. And Surrealistic Pillow is my favorite album. Your next JA reaction should be "Triad".
To me her voice is like a club, it just smashes onto you. The blunt force trauma topples you, leaving you seeing stars and unable to articulate a cigerent thought. Its a weapon, unleashed with absolute ferocity on the listener.
Really this is a high compliment. It just disarms you, breaking your skull open to get the full brunt of their artistic expression. Absolutely incredible. A true gift of nature!
Such raw, unmitigated talent and passion is a very rare and wonderful phenomenon that commands appreciation, not merely invites it So glad she was born in an age where this could be put to record and was for us to appreciate so many years later.
When you suggested Jim and Grace singing together I immediately imagined them singing The crystal ship by th e Doors.
Hi, I'm from Austria. I come from a country where classical music is at home. I can understand your approach to modern rock-pop music very well. I love your channel. I find it fascinating to listen to someone like you. Of course I know the rock-pop music of my time. I was born in 1962. And, that's the fascinating thing, I'm getting to know the music of my time in a new way. Where I used to only listen to so-so, I suddenly hear pieces of music, song lyrics with completely new ears. For me, this is a wonderful journey into my past, to my youth as a teenager. Thank you for this experience, for this journey. It's just refreshing to listen to you. Many thanks Michael from Innsbruck - Austria
Same thing happened to me - a wonderful journey and new ears!
Energetic, vibrant, a simple rock/pop tune that screams for radio play. Such an easy song to get into. Not having listened to it for a long time I forgot how good it is.
In concert Grace would often sing "and in your bed, baby, I'm afraid you don't know where it's at".
Jefferson Airplane had two lead singers, Marty Balin and Grace Slick. Maybe sometime you'll hear Marty Balin take the lead.
The way the two of them worked together was special.
Paul Kantner sang lead on several of their songs as well. The triad of their 3 voices was part of the magic of the group.
“Young Girl Sunday Blues.”
"Today" is an absolutely beautiful song.
Marty Balin, Miracles, Jefferson Starship
This is one of my favorite songs. Grace once performed this at a festival in Europe that was being rained out- she tore off her top and shouted the lyrics at the rainclouds in a German accent. She was awesome.
Thank you for sharing your experience! I'll ask the question; is Grace Slick sharing her 'take' on life, by using her ability as a musical artist? Seems to be a lot of emotion there and I mean the real kind.
Jack Cassidy played the defining 1960s acid rock bass lines throughout this entire song
Casady, though 😉
@@mightyV444 thanks for the correction. : )
@@johnc.mitchelljr.2716 - You're welcome, John 😊
Grace Slick really makes this song come to life she had such fantastic singing voice and was iconic in the 60s
I am glad you continued to enjoy Grace Slick's singing on this one, as you said in a completely different mood and style than "White Rabbit." I think your Jim Morrison comparison is good one. Similar psychedelic rock era and essence. A great song from this era and a great Reaction! I'm really glad you enjoyed Grace Slick's singing and vocal approach so much. I really enjoyed this Special Weekend look into Jefferson Airplane.
Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady on Guitar and Bass - still performing almost 60 years later as Hot Tuna.
I'm really loving your JA reviews so far, Amy! ❤ I found your comment about her voice being used like an instrument to be interesting. She was also an instrumentalist, so she understood music itself. I could really see it carrying over to her vocals. When I think of Grace, I also think of James Douglas Morrison, such a great observation. They were both dramatic vocalists who were masters at how to build and convey a song's mood and tone. Did you know that Grace became an artistic painter who has painted Alice In Wonderland type images and other images? She's a good painter too! 👍👍👍 Now that I've heard two very fine JA song reviews from you and how impressed you are with Grace's singing, I can imagine you walking around with a JA T-Shirt or maybe a Grace Slick T-Shirt. I very much look forward to your next JA review and the revelations it'll bring to our greater understanding of their music. 🎤🎸
Jefferson Airplane played on the roof of the Schuyler Hotel, near Times Square, on November 19, 1968, over 2 months before The Beatles rooftop concert in January, 1969. You have to wonder if John Lennon had that performance in mind when he said "F**k it - let's just do it [on the roof]!"
I love how much you're loving Grace Slick. If you want to hear another very different facet of her voice, try the song "Lather."
@coolgareth101 Absolutely one of the best!
Or her recordings with her previous band, The Great Society.
Epic Song and look how it merits this analysis so many years after its impact on an entire generation of music!
I saw Jeff Air 3 times. Unforgettable.
Listen "Lather"
The listening experience that can't be done simply, is appreciating this material from its own time, and what went immediately before (which was comparatively little in terms of 'modern' music).
Even as a 63yo, I know I'm re-listening to this with knowledge since of decades of musical change. Yet it still stands up !
In a small way, Amy is, at least, travelling through rock/pop musical time in the correct way, with her treatment of Beatles 150. Really enjoying these journeys
I was fourteen when Somebody to Love hit the charts. For me, the guitar solo at the end is the sound if the sixties.
For another iconic sixties song, check out Quicksilver Messenger Service's song Fresh Air.
Yes both slick and Morrison have hypnotic intensity 😊
Again, I really enjoyed your analysis of this band and artist. Your comparison of the vocal athleticism of Grace to Jim Morrison was intriguing, and apt, IMHO. Nice reaction!
Grace Slick's voice is a great example of what the rock genre brings for those new to the genre. Emotion, freedom, creativity.
Her voice truly is an instrument
Great song by a fantastic band. If you want to hear a purer version of Grace Slick's voice, listen to some of the songs she performed with her previous band The Great Society.
I always thoroughly enjoy your impressions of the music I grew up with and love.
Not a direct comparison, but when I was thinking of other female vocalists while listening to Grace Slick's performance, I was reminded of Siouxsie Sioux of Siouxie and the Banshees. There is something in the vocal performance of Siouxsie's that is reminiscent of Grace''s, especially when I think of the songs Cities in Dust and Spellbound. As an aside, Goth music of the 80's is more a curiosity to me at this point, whereas "classic rock" from the 60's that laid the foundations, such as this song and While Rabbit have stood the test of time. I don't know if anyone will agree with me about the comparison. I do, however, think that Amy would enjoy listening to Siouxsie at some point as she is interested in female rock singers.
Very good comparison. I feel like Siouxsie Sioux has a "painterly" quality to her vocals in a similar way as Amy described Grace Slick in the previous video.
@@Johnny_Socko Thanks! It just suddenly came to me because I was really concentrating on Grace's singing and songs more than I would have, and now from an analytical standpoint thanks to Amy! I hope she does get to listen to Siouxsie someday. P.s. maybe Siouxsie's cover of "Dear Prudence" could be compared to the Beatles when Amy gets there in the series,
Passionate... the joy of living.
One of the great underrated musicians from the at era is bassist Jack Casady- just listen to what is going on under the surface of this song- the interplay between Jack and Jorma on guitar is astounding. Jack is all over the place- and was known for his eyebrows as much as his bass playing- watch a video with him it.
My daughter sings amazing versions of White Rabbit AND Somebody To Love...we actually stood on the Fillmore West Stage in San Francisco, that inspired her!!!
I can hear this song echoing through the halls of the Winterland Ballroom. Those were the days
My favorite song from them--and from Grace. Love her voice. What a career..and now an acclaimed artist.
Her words don’t seem separated from the music but submerged into the music🎶🎶🎶
They are mostly known for the two songs you've reacted to but having recently gone through their albums for the first time they definitely have some hidden gems.
I think they are mostly known for morphing into Jefferson Starship and the 80s tastic We Built This City
... the latter as just 'Starship'.
@@mightyV444 yes of course
The music is like a bed of shards. Her voice is a grand dominating vocal instrument soaring above it all. Her singing wins the prize.
A really intriguing idea - Grace Slick duetting with Jim Morrison, I am sure some computer whizz could make it happen!
It's probably quite easy to do with A.I. actually.
I was in high school when the “Airplane” arrived. That music made us want to DANCE! I’m paraphrasing but Glacé said she could only sing a few notes, but she could sing them very loud!
Also from Grace: "I was in it for the parties". Indeed.
Jon Anderson interview, by Lorraine Kay.
Lorraine : You also surprised us with a tune on the harp entitled Harping.
Jon : Yes, I love playing harp. I play harp at least two or three times a month. I sit down and just start playing. I have two harps. I just do it more for meditation. Just to relax.
I saw the Jefferson Airplane perform this song in concert in 1969 and 1970. They were my favorite live band- next to The Who.
I'd listen to "High flying Bird" live at Monterey Pop Festival
Nice pfp 👌🍋
Jefferson Airplane was one of my favorite bands growing up (and still is). My dad saw them quite a few times when he was a kid (including at Woodstock) so I picked them up from him. I myself saw their reunion tour at Radio City in New York in 1989 or so (I was sixteen).
I'm so glad you're appreciating them but please, allow me to plead that you listen to the albums "After Bathing at Baxter's" and "Crown of Creation."
"White Rabbit" and "Somebody to Love" are of course great songs, but I think you can really appreciate wht the band was about from the albums.
Probably my favorite track of theirs is "The House at Pooneil Corners" off of "Crown of Creation." It showcases the full band vocally and is perhaps the best apocalyptic tune I've ever heard.
Anyway, I'm excited for you, and thanks for all your work and enthusiasm and expertise and good vibes! :)
Oh, and since you invoke "sparks and fireworks" (and I love your Jim Morrison idea!), you actually do get a lot of that in the vocal interactions and tensions between Grace and (other lead singer) Marty Balin. Especially in their live performances.
I'd recommend checking out their 1968 NYC rooftop gig for a good showcase of the band firing on all cylinders:
ruclips.net/video/rx_08cambjA/видео.html
I missed them on their reunion tour, another big regret of mine! Glad to see the younger generation diggin' them. It's awesome when kids start going thru their parents record collection and discovering some great stuff!
I love your thoughts on Grace Slick and Jim Morrison singing together. You have a great RUclips channel.
I have not listened to Surrealistic Pillow (album) in a good long while. I am ready for any song you want to hear next.
I really think you'll love "Won't You Try/Saturday Afternoon". Great 3-part harmonies.
Grace is indeed one of a kind.
I keep harping but...The Byrds, 8 Miles High. Truly strange piece consisting of no refrain, several bizarre but masterful instrumental interludes...credited by many as the first psychedelic rock song...a real "mind blower, man", lol.
Really haunting, unsettling chord progression too.
@@babylonian.captivity Yeah, one of those pieces I was not sure I liked, but HAD to listen to it over and over...which always means I end up loving it, lol. Love it when it...clicks, you know?
Absolutely. Same. It’s actually got a similar vibe to a lot of Pink Floyd that way, I think. You hand l hand l have to kind of let go and let it wash over you until it clicks.
At age 63 I have been listening to her since the beginning and still her voice sends a chill down my spine and gives me the shivers.Extremely powerful
Those guitar riffs!
Grace has an amazing natural vibrato. There is a clip you can find that has her vocals from White Rabbit isolated without music. It is HAUNTING.
Now you know the power and vitality you have to sample the beauty. On the first album there's a 3- minute track titled "Today" and it is a stunner, find a really good studio recording of it because I think you might love it, it's emotionally involved in a way the ones thus far are not, it's sumptuous like a cross between the comfiest bed and the nicest sweet but with a big hint of the possibility of loss and impermanence, it's one of my favourite places to go it's so darn beautiful ❤️
It's on Surrealistic Pillow
This was groundbreaking new (San Francisco lead guitar) sound. I remember, I was there
Grace probably is the best female rock singer ever.
Love your channel since discovering it:) One different Airplane tune you might enjoy is "Triad". It's quite different.
There will come a time when you finally get around to The Dark Side of the Moon and listen to "The Great Gig In the Sky" where you will finally understand that we've always understood what you meant by a singer using their voice as an instrument.
I always think of Grace Slick as a Vocal Artist vs Vocalist, There is Something Extra Brought to the Table when Needed. Great Critique with Your Music Experience Perseptive. Thank You.
I know that I love the band Heart and always want to thnk of them, but I am starting to think of them when I hear this song.
Wow, what a recording, just a great feel for the band, tone, reverb, odd stereo, sounds like a garage, not much of a song, but this thing is manages to exude art, just sounds transcendental from the get.
Gracie!
One thing you will discover is that the band had three lead singers: Paul Kantner (rhythm guitarist), Marty Balin (group founder), and Grace Slick. Usually the songwriter sang the lead, and often there would be harmonies between the three. An excellent song to hear that, a simple shorter song, is "In Time" written by and lead singing by Paul Kantner. A more extended song showing all of the bands talents with each singer taking turns on verses plus harmonies on the choruses, is "The House At Pooneil Corners." In my comment on "White Rabbit" I also mentioned "Wooden Ships" as one where they take turns. Love your thoughts on these songs, I hear them in a whole new way! They were "just singles" but I hear the proficiency and musicality of them now, and how they could be "Top 40" yet interesting!
Jorma also sang lead too!
Jack Cassidy's bass line in this song is fantastic as in many other JA songs.
I think she's singing what is happening.... like she said it, she shouted it, it was her feeling, it came out and it was music
This is the best opening line of any song: "When the truth is found to be lies." You are listening to the "dripping in reverb" stereo album mix. I suggest listening to the mono mix which was played on the radio back in the day. Often, the producers of the day put their main effort into the mono mix. Stereo was still seen as a gimmick, and the stereo mix was often made by a flunky engineer without the producer even present.
It's interesting to hear you refer to the "way she handles the music with her voice", and that it's as if she's using her voice :as an instrument". Grace herself said that she tried to make her voice sound like a guitar! I often find it reminiscent of guitar phrases with wide string bends and with vibrato added to certain notes to emphasise them.
I think it is great that you are discovering the Jefferson Airplane.
Some context, from my perspective (however incomplete it is). JA, and many of the San Francisco bands were a product of the electric Dylan movement. (The Beatles meet the 60's folk movement.) Many of the Airplanes songs are declarative social or political statements. Or, in the case of this song, Somebody to Love, a relationship revenge song, couched in the terms of the hippie/love movement.
Anyway, I'll get off my soapbox now and just enjoy the vibes from yesteryear.
Slick's power doesn't just "take me along", it's like a grappling hook that grabs me up and pulls without permission or negotiation. I feel that if I didn't run with it, I'd be dragged, and I'm forever grateful it was recorded.
To understand what happened to music in that time. listen to the Jaynetts "Sally go Round the Roses" from about 1963. t's really a pretty solid, even Mod song. Then Grace Slick and the Great Society covered that song in about 1966. Like night and day.
Must listen to; Pretty as you Feel, Today, Lather, Coming Back to Me. Wooden Ships, Blues From an Airplane. Keep Tissues handy, some of these will break your heart. They were a lot more than a psychedelic curiosity.
Acid rock at it's best..!
A very similar intriguing voice has the singer of the 60ties/70ties band "Shocking Blue" Mariska Veres.
As I heard their song "Send me a postcard" (released in 1968) the very first time I thought I´m listening to Grace Slick also because that song itself sounds musically very similar in style like a Jefferson Airplane song.
But their by far most successful song was their song titeled "Venus".
I would recommend listening to some hot tuna. Post airplane band for jorma koukonan and jack cassidy. A more jazzy sound and very good. They still perform today
If you want to hear Grace Slick at her absolute best, you should listen to "rejoyce" from Jefferson Airplane's third album, "After Bathing at Baxter's" Based on the writing of James Joyce. It's spectacular.
To be thrown for a bit of a loop, you should also check out "Volunteers" by Jefferson Airplane. My favorite of theirs besides White Rabbit.
For anyone who likes the Coen brothers, the movie, A Serious Man revolves around this song. I would highly recommend it if you have never watched it.
Grace Slick and Marty Balin (the other lead singer in Jefferson Airplane) had some great musical chemistry. The somewhat infamous rooftop performance of "House at Pooneil Corners" is a good example. If you can get past the bad sound quality.
At 5:00, perhaps you are thinking about "Shocking Blue"? Venus, Never Marry a Railroad Man, etc.
I dont know if they ever perforned together, but The Doors and Jefferson Airplane did tour together.
I was 12 or so when this was first released ... I was mesmerized by her voice and Gracie was my first musical celebrity crush. 😏 It was that warbling flutter her voice did wen holding a note.
A couple of her later songs that hilight her range & styles : Silver Spoon, China, Face To The Wind, Dreams, Just a Little Love, and Wrecking Ball.
So much brilliance in this band. I suggest a song I have never seen reacted to from them, Lather. It is yet another face of the band and her voice.
Grace Slick and the Airplane; Rejoyce, Two Heads, Lather, Greasy Hearts, and more….
All great songs with excellent Grace performances!
Volunteers is another great one from JA. It is basically a call to action for young people to rally against the (VietNam) war.
One generation got old!
Lather and Crown of Creation are a couple other songs that are great. Volunteers is also a good one, Grace is mostly background vocals to the male singer in the band on that one though. I agree with most folks here id go with Lather next, especially the TV video of her performance on Smothers brothers show.
One of the quintessential rock vocals of all time. Grace was showing all the guys that she could hold her own or in this case top them. I'd like to see Taylor Swift try to cover this song. Great comparison you made to Morrison. Think of the Doors Light My Fire.
She had a good voice with an unusual vibrato. There are a lot of great songs that feature her voice, including "Lather" or "Crown of Creation". The thing about this song is, it's not as interesting a composition as "White Rabbit", but for 1967 this was pretty ballsy music. Even compared to bands like The Rolling Stones this stuff scared the crap out of parents across the country! Check out the interviews with Grace from this time period. She spoke her mind, plus she knew exactly how her physical charms were affecting the older crowd (especially men) around her, which she exploited to the max.
It'd be interesting to watch you listen to the originsl "White Rabbit" and "Somebody to Love" by the Great Society, and to compare them to the Jefferson Airplane versions.
Grace Slick was the frontwoman of the Great Society, but she had doubts about that band's future.
She thought that another very talented local band, the Jefferson Airplane, were not only better musicians, but could play her songs better than her own band could.
So, she somehow, through the wily ways of women, maneuvered her way into their band, and history was made.
Was it the right choice? I think history has made its judgement. 🙂
great suggestion. the original someone to love is much different. I prefer that version. also Nature Boy originaly performed by nat king cole is a fantastic song that the great society recorded.
Thank you, Amy. Nice that these now obscured 1960's icons receive their due at the end of frequently turbulent lives.
Give Buffy St. Marie a listen you will enjoy her also . Very unike sound.
I think the lyrics here really do matter here. If you could have heard it when it first came out in the 60s at the beginning of the psychedelic summer of love which was all happening there in San Francisco, that sound and the pleading/commanding lyrics sung in a way that it felt as if they were meant for each and every person who would hear it...man, it was a trip. And an indelible mark on the collective soul.