Jefferson Airplane (album)
Encyclopedia
Jefferson Airplane is the reunion album of San Francisco rock band Jefferson Airplane
, released on Epic Records
in 1989.
, Paul Kantner
, Grace Slick
, Jorma Kaukonen
, and Jack Casady
, who had played together on Surrealistic Pillow
, After Bathing at Baxters, Crown of Creation
and Volunteers
, all returned for the album and a supporting tour, but Spencer Dryden
was not asked to participate because Kantner still held a grudge since Dryden had a hand in firing Bill Graham
as manager in 1968. Kenny Aronoff joined the band as drummer for the tour and in the studio.
Previous to the reunion, Paul Kantner, Marty Balin, and Jack Casady had toured in the KBC Band
and recorded the album KBC Band
in 1986. Grace Slick had recently left Starship after performing lead vocals on their album, No Protection in 1987, and planned to retire from music. Jorma Kaukonen had been performing solo work and performing live with Jack Casady as Hot Tuna
. Kanter left KBC Band in 1987 but joined Hot Tuna
on stage for the 1987 - 1988 tour. Kaukonen invited Slick to play a concert at The Fillmore
with Hot Tuna in 1988 where she performed harmony vocals on "Third Week in the Chelsea" and performed lead vocals along with Kantner for "Wooden Ships". In 1989, Slick was convinced to join the band again and the five members finally got together to discuss a reunion tour and album. Joining Jefferson Airplane for the tour along with Aronoff on drums were Tim Gorman
on keyboards (who had also played with KBC Band), Randy Jackson
on guitar, and Jorma's brother Peter Kaukonen also on guitar. Gorman and Jackson did not participate on the album.
The album was produced by Ron Nevison
, who had previously produced the Jefferson Starship
albums Freedom at Point Zero
, Modern Times
, and Nuclear Furniture
. Kantner contributed the song "Planes" which had previously been performed live by KBC Band, and the first studio version was made for this album.
The first music video made to promote the album was for "Planes" and was in heavy rotation on MTV
well into 1990. The music video helped the single rise to #24 on the Billboard
charts for mainstream rock, although the album itself only rose to #85 on the Billboard 200. The Balin-penned song "Summer of Love" had also been performed live with KBC Band, and was first recorded in the studio for this album. The song did not have a music video but rose to #15 on the adult contemporary charts. Steve Porcaro
and David Paich
of Toto
wrote the final single, "True Love", and also appeared on the song along with bandmate Mike Porcaro
. The music video for "True Love" saw less airtime than the video for "Planes". The Kaukonen compositions "Ice Age" and "Too Many Years" had previously been recorded in acoustic versions for the Kaukonen solo album Too Hot to Handle
, and received a multi-instrumental treatment here. Kaukonen wrote one more song for the album, the instrumental "Upfront Blues."
After the album was released, Hot Tuna was also signed to Epic and released the studio album Pair a Dice Found
.
Singles
Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965. A pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement, Jefferson Airplane was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve mainstream commercial and critical success....
, released on Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
in 1989.
Overview
Marty BalinMarty Balin
Marty Balin is an American musician. He is best known as the founder and one of the lead singers of the psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane.-Early life:Martyn Buchwald was born in Cincinnati, Ohio...
, Paul Kantner
Paul Kantner
Paul Lorin Kantner is an American rock musician, known for co-founding the psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane and its spin-off band Jefferson Starship.- Overview :...
, Grace Slick
Grace Slick
Grace Slick is an American singer and songwriter, who was one of the lead singers of the rock groups The Great Society, Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship, and Starship, and was a solo artist, for nearly three decades, from the mid-1960s to the mid-1990s...
, Jorma Kaukonen
Jorma Kaukonen
Jorma Ludwik Kaukonen Jr. is an American blues, folk, and rock guitarist, best known for his work with Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna.-Biography:...
, and Jack Casady
Jack Casady
Jack Casady , is an American musician considered one of the foremost bass guitarists of the rock music era and best known as a member of Jefferson Airplane. First playing as a lead guitarist with the Washington D.C...
, who had played together on Surrealistic Pillow
Surrealistic Pillow
Surrealistic Pillow is the second album by American psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane, released in February 1967.Original drummer Alexander 'Skip' Spence had left the band in mid-1966, replaced by a jazz drummer from Los Angeles, Spencer Dryden, a nephew of Charlie Chaplin. New lead vocalist...
, After Bathing at Baxters, Crown of Creation
Crown of Creation
-Personnel:*Marty Balin – vocals, rhythm guitar*Grace Slick – vocals, piano, organ*Paul Kantner – rhythm guitar, vocals*Jorma Kaukonen – lead guitar, electric chicken, vocals*Spencer Dryden – drums, piano, organ, steel balls, vocals...
and Volunteers
Volunteers (Jefferson Airplane album)
-Personnel:*Grace Slick – vocals, piano on "The Farm", "Hey Fredrick", "Eskimo Blue Day", and "Volunteers", organ on "Meadowlands", recorder on "Eskimo Blue Day"*Paul Kantner – vocals, rhythm guitar*Marty Balin – vocals, percussion...
, all returned for the album and a supporting tour, but Spencer Dryden
Spencer Dryden
Spencer Dryden was an American musician best known as the longest-serving drummer for Jefferson Airplane. He also played with New Riders of the Purple Sage, The Dinosaurs, and The Peanut Butter Conspiracy.-Early life:...
was not asked to participate because Kantner still held a grudge since Dryden had a hand in firing Bill Graham
Bill Graham (promoter)
Bill Graham was an American impresario and rock concert promoter from the 1960s until his death.-Early life:...
as manager in 1968. Kenny Aronoff joined the band as drummer for the tour and in the studio.
Previous to the reunion, Paul Kantner, Marty Balin, and Jack Casady had toured in the KBC Band
KBC Band
The KBC Band was formed in 1985 by former Jefferson Airplane members Paul Kantner , Marty Balin and Jack Casady . Other members included Keith Crossan , Tim Gorman , Mark "Slick" Aguilar and Darrell Verdusco...
and recorded the album KBC Band
KBC Band (album)
KBC Band is KBC Band's only album, featuring Paul Kantner, Marty Balin, and Jack Casady from Jefferson Airplane. The single "It's Not You, It's Not Me" was released shortly before the album's release...
in 1986. Grace Slick had recently left Starship after performing lead vocals on their album, No Protection in 1987, and planned to retire from music. Jorma Kaukonen had been performing solo work and performing live with Jack Casady as Hot Tuna
Hot Tuna
Hot Tuna is an American blues-rock band formed by bassist Jack Casady and guitarist Jorma Kaukonen as a spin-off of Jefferson Airplane. It plays acoustic and electric versions of original and traditional blues songs.- Jefferson Airplane side project :...
. Kanter left KBC Band in 1987 but joined Hot Tuna
Hot Tuna
Hot Tuna is an American blues-rock band formed by bassist Jack Casady and guitarist Jorma Kaukonen as a spin-off of Jefferson Airplane. It plays acoustic and electric versions of original and traditional blues songs.- Jefferson Airplane side project :...
on stage for the 1987 - 1988 tour. Kaukonen invited Slick to play a concert at The Fillmore
The Fillmore
The Fillmore Auditorium is a historic music venue in San Francisco, California, made famous by Bill Graham. Named for its original location at the intersection of Fillmore Street and Geary Boulevard, it lies on the boundary of the Western Addition and the Pacific Heights neighborhoods.In 1968,...
with Hot Tuna in 1988 where she performed harmony vocals on "Third Week in the Chelsea" and performed lead vocals along with Kantner for "Wooden Ships". In 1989, Slick was convinced to join the band again and the five members finally got together to discuss a reunion tour and album. Joining Jefferson Airplane for the tour along with Aronoff on drums were Tim Gorman
Tim Gorman
Tim Gorman is a rock keyboardist born and based in San Francisco. He has worked as a session musician from the 1980s until the present, his most notable collaborations being with Duane Eddy, Paul Kantner and The Who....
on keyboards (who had also played with KBC Band), Randy Jackson
Randy Jackson (rock musician)
Randy Jackson is an American rock musician from New Orleans, Louisiana, best known for his role as frontman for the band Zebra.Jackson founded Zebra with bass player Felix Hanemann and drummer Guy Gelso in 1975. Jackson has cited his primary influences as Led Zeppelin, Moody Blues, Rush, and Yes,...
on guitar, and Jorma's brother Peter Kaukonen also on guitar. Gorman and Jackson did not participate on the album.
The album was produced by Ron Nevison
Ron Nevison
Multi-platinum record producer Ron Nevison, throughout his career, has operated much like a surgeon, brought in during a critical point in a band's career to bring them back to the top from the commercial brink...
, who had previously produced the Jefferson Starship
Jefferson Starship
Jefferson Starship is an American rock band formed in the early 1970s. The group is a spin-off from the iconic 1960s psychedelic/folk group Jefferson Airplane. The band has undergone several major changes in personnel and genres through the years while retaining the same Jefferson Starship name...
albums Freedom at Point Zero
Freedom at Point Zero
-Personnel:*Paul Kantner – vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards on "Things to Come"*Pete Sears – bass on "Things to Come", "Awakening", "Girl with the Hungry Eyes", "Rock Music", and "Freedom at Point Zero", keyboards on "Jane", "Lightning Rose", "Awakening", and "Just the Same", organ on "Fading Lady...
, Modern Times
Modern Times (Jefferson Starship album)
- Personnel :* Craig Chaquico – lead guitar, rhythm guitar, synthesizer on "Find Your Way Back", "Mary", and "Free", steel drums on "Mary"* Aynsley Dunbar – drums, percussion, marimba on "Mary", synthesizer on "Free"...
, and Nuclear Furniture
Nuclear Furniture
-Personnel:*Donny Baldwin – drums, percussion, vocals*Craig Chaquico – lead guitar, rhythm guitar*David Freiberg – vocals, keyboards*Paul Kantner – vocals, electric rhythm guitar, acoustic rhythm guitar, banjo*Pete Sears – bass, keyboards*Grace Slick – vocals...
. Kantner contributed the song "Planes" which had previously been performed live by KBC Band, and the first studio version was made for this album.
The first music video made to promote the album was for "Planes" and was in heavy rotation on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
well into 1990. The music video helped the single rise to #24 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
charts for mainstream rock, although the album itself only rose to #85 on the Billboard 200. The Balin-penned song "Summer of Love" had also been performed live with KBC Band, and was first recorded in the studio for this album. The song did not have a music video but rose to #15 on the adult contemporary charts. Steve Porcaro
Steve Porcaro
Steven Maxwell "Steve" Porcaro is an American keyboardist and composer, who was an original member of the rock/pop band Toto....
and David Paich
David Paich
David Frank Paich is a session musician, keyboard player, recording producer, arranger, vocalist and main composer of the Los Angeles-based rock/pop band Toto. David is the son of the late jazz composer, musician, and arranger Marty Paich...
of Toto
Toto (band)
Toto is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1977. The group currently consists of Joseph Williams , David Paich , Steve Porcaro , Steve Lukather , Mike Porcaro , and Simon Phillips . Toto is known for a musical style that combines elements of pop, rock, soul, funk, progressive rock, hard...
wrote the final single, "True Love", and also appeared on the song along with bandmate Mike Porcaro
Mike Porcaro
Mike Porcaro is best noted as the bass player in the Grammy Award winning band, Toto.He is the middle brother of Toto members Jeff Porcaro and Steve Porcaro...
. The music video for "True Love" saw less airtime than the video for "Planes". The Kaukonen compositions "Ice Age" and "Too Many Years" had previously been recorded in acoustic versions for the Kaukonen solo album Too Hot to Handle
Too Hot to Handle (Jorma Kaukonen album)
Too Hot to Handle is a Jorma Kaukonen acoustic solo album released on Relix Records. "Too Many Years" and "Ice Age" were later re-recorded with Jefferson Airplane using electric instruments and appeared on the Jefferson Airplane reunion album...
, and received a multi-instrumental treatment here. Kaukonen wrote one more song for the album, the instrumental "Upfront Blues."
After the album was released, Hot Tuna was also signed to Epic and released the studio album Pair a Dice Found
Pair a Dice Found
Pair a Dice Found was the first studio album since 1976 by the American blues rock band Hot Tuna. It was their only album recorded with Epic Records...
.
Track listing
Singles/music videos
- "Summer of Love" (1989) (single only, no video)
- "Planes" (1989)
- "True Love" (1989)
Personnel
- Grace SlickGrace SlickGrace Slick is an American singer and songwriter, who was one of the lead singers of the rock groups The Great Society, Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship, and Starship, and was a solo artist, for nearly three decades, from the mid-1960s to the mid-1990s...
– vocals, keyboards - Paul KantnerPaul KantnerPaul Lorin Kantner is an American rock musician, known for co-founding the psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane and its spin-off band Jefferson Starship.- Overview :...
– vocals, guitars - Marty BalinMarty BalinMarty Balin is an American musician. He is best known as the founder and one of the lead singers of the psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane.-Early life:Martyn Buchwald was born in Cincinnati, Ohio...
– vocals - Jack CasadyJack CasadyJack Casady , is an American musician considered one of the foremost bass guitarists of the rock music era and best known as a member of Jefferson Airplane. First playing as a lead guitarist with the Washington D.C...
– bass - Jorma KaukonenJorma KaukonenJorma Ludwik Kaukonen Jr. is an American blues, folk, and rock guitarist, best known for his work with Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna.-Biography:...
– vocals, guitars
Additional personnel
- Kenny AronoffKenny AronoffKenny Aronoff is an American drummer. He has played drums for many musicians, including John Mellencamp, Bob Seger, Belinda Carlisle, Elton John, John Fogerty, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Meat Loaf, The BoDeans, Gregg Alexander, The Smashing Pumpkins, Tony Iommi, Jon Bon Jovi, Vasco Rossi, Cinderella and...
– drums, percussion - David PaichDavid PaichDavid Frank Paich is a session musician, keyboard player, recording producer, arranger, vocalist and main composer of the Los Angeles-based rock/pop band Toto. David is the son of the late jazz composer, musician, and arranger Marty Paich...
– keyboards - Michael LandauMichael LandauMichael Landau is a prolific session musician and guitarist who has played on a large number of albums since the early 1980s with artists as varied as Seal, James Taylor, Helen Watson, Richard Marx, Steve Perry, Pink Floyd and Miles Davis...
– guitars - Nicky HopkinsNicky HopkinsNicholas Christian "Nicky" Hopkins was an English pianist and organist.He recorded and performed on noted British and American popular music recordings of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s as a session musician....
– keyboards - Flo & EddieFlo & EddieFlo & Eddie are a comedic musical duo.The two were the original founding members of the Top 40 rock group the Turtles. After the Turtles dissolved, Volman and Kaylan first joined the Mothers of Invention as "Phlorescent Leech & Eddie"...
– background vocals - Charles Judge – keyboards
- Efrain ToroEfrain ToroEfrain Toro is a Puerto Rican percussionist and music educator. He has written numerous books on rhythm.His main argument is that the Western form of musical notation of rhythm is a misunderstanding of the nature of music; he believes that western music's use of fixed spaces between notes does not...
– percussion - Peter KaukonenPeter KaukonenPeter Kaukonen is a San Francisco bay area guitarist/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter. He is the younger brother of Jorma Kaukonen from Jefferson Airplane/Hot Tuna...
– guitars - Mike PorcaroMike PorcaroMike Porcaro is best noted as the bass player in the Grammy Award winning band, Toto.He is the middle brother of Toto members Jeff Porcaro and Steve Porcaro...
– bass - Steve PorcaroSteve PorcaroSteven Maxwell "Steve" Porcaro is an American keyboardist and composer, who was an original member of the rock/pop band Toto....
– keyboard programming
Production
- Ron NevisonRon NevisonMulti-platinum record producer Ron Nevison, throughout his career, has operated much like a surgeon, brought in during a critical point in a band's career to bring them back to the top from the commercial brink...
– producer, engineer, mixer - Greg Edward – producer, engineer, mixer
- Jefferson Airplane – producer
- Recorded at The Record Plant, Los Angeles
- Jim Mitchell & Rumbo Recorders, Los Angeles – assistant engineer
- Gina Immel – assistant engineer
- Mixed at Can-Am Recorders, Los Angeles
- Toby Wright – assistant mixer
- Trudy Green – management
- Lynda Lou Bouch – production coordinator
- Paul Jamieson – drum technician
- Don Barlow – guitar technician
- Pre-Production: The Power Plant
- Carl Studna – photography
Charts
Album| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | The Billboard 200 | 85 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | "Summer of Love" | Adult Contemporary | 15 |
| 1989 | "Planes" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 24 |