Jefferson Starship on the PBS

[Ray O'Hara]

I'm watching one of those PBS beg for money nostaligia music shows.
the band just played two Airplane shongs, Somebody to Love and White Rabbit.
the "Original band" as the announcer claimed had Kantner, Balin and David
Freiberg.
some blond chick singer who was okay, but not Grace in the pipes dept. an
unknown guitar player, an unknown drummer and unknowwn bass player.
the three real members really didn't do anything during the songs and if
they hadn't been on stage it would have made no difference.

[frndthdevl]

Craig Chaquico on guitar was a "real" member.

[Ray O'Hara]

"frndthdevl" <frndt...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:2dcf07ec-7fe2-43d0...@n1g2000yqk.googlegroups.com...

==============================================================

I wondered if that was him, but the pix I googled were all old and didn't
really look like him.
Who was the chick singing.

Balin looked good. trim and healthy, Frieberg hasn't missed too many meals.
the times I saw the Starship Pete Sears was on bass, they didn't really show
the bass player.
and once I saw Kantner and Jack Casady playing at the small original house
of blues in Cambridge billed as the Jefferson Starship.

[frndthdevl]

On Dec 5, 9:15 pm, "Ray O'Hara" <raymond-oh...@hotmail.com> wrote:
Pete Sears was on bass, they didn't really show
> the bass player.
> and once I saw Kantner and Jack Casady playing at the small original house
> of blues in Cambridge billed as the Jefferson Starship.

The first 4 Starship records were hot. Baron Von Tollbooth and The
Chrome Nun
still one of my faves. The number and quality of guest artists on
that release was amazing. Jerrry playing lead,peddle and banjo. On one
song all 3(walkin)


http://www.deaddisc.com/ot/Baron_Von_Tollbooth.htm

and this from Blows Against The Empire has one of my favorite jerry
solos ever

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sl1PkH2D9EI


Man, I remember the first time discovering this, the window pane was
so damn clean and the whole album shimmered.
Thanks for this thread,I have never seen this youtube,not bad . man
when the Starship took off while the McIntosh and Bose was at 11 and
the window pane at 12,made up for a wild start to the evening, Jerry
comes in at 5:25 and just simply KICKS ASS! All too brief,but simply
Jerry near his peak.

"hydroponic gardens and forrests"

[frndthdevl]

Have you seen the stars tonight?
At first
I was irridescent
Then
I became transparent
Finally
I was absent

[frndthdevl]

On Dec 5, 9:15 pm, "Ray O'Hara" <raymond-oh...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> "frndthdevl" <frndthd...@aol.com> wrote in message

I didn't see it, so I am not sure if it was Chaquico or not. I was
just saying he was a "real" member. Did he not sound like himself? Of
course he became so real he stayed around too long. PBS here is
bringing in the bucks with Streisand and Victor Borge. How old was the
clip?

[Ray O'Hara]

"frndthdevl" <frndt...@aol.com> wrote in message

news:fba47c65-c896-4294...@4g2000yqu.googlegroups.com...

Blows is one of my top 5 fave albums of all time.
but tonight was a recent video with all sorts of old acts, on .
Chad and Jeremy Mitch Ryder, Percy Sledge,
I think the JS was just something that Kantner threw together real quick.
so it was the three "originals" although Blows Against the Empire was really
Paul Kantner and friends,
when Garcia, Casady, Kreutzman come wailing out after the vacum cleaner solo
and into Starship is some of the best recorded rock music ever.

[Edwin Hurwitz]

In article <jbkdd9$rb0$1...@dont-email.me>,

I'm going to have to give it a listen. I got turned off Starship when I
was 14 and bought Red Octopus. Loved the Airplane, but it looks like I
missed some good stuff.

[Mike Healy]

Nowadays Craig Chaquico is doing acoustic new agey music, or at least
he was when he was interviewed by Guitar Player magazine a while back.

Mike

[Ray O'Hara]

"Edwin Hurwitz" <ed...@indra.com> wrote in message
news:edwin-45EDC1....@news.indra.com...

Red Octopus was a commercial pop effort, too much Marty Balin romanticism.
but their live shows still were good.

Blows Against the Empire , the first J.S. album has imo stood the test of
time.
Kantner got a great lineup , Garcia, Casady, Nicky Hopkins, of course Grace
Slick, Billy Kreutzman and some others.
it is his masterpiece.

[bmo...@nyx.net]

On Dec 5, 9:15 pm, "Ray O'Hara" <raymond-oh...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> "frndthdevl" <frndthd...@aol.com> wrote in message

Probably Slick Aguilar on lead guitar - he has been playing with
"Jefferson Starship - the Next Generation" for a long time now. "The
chick singer" has been a revolving door but according to Wiki is
currently Cathy Richardson.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_Starship#The_Next_Generation

"As of 2010, Jefferson Starship continues to tour with a lineup of
Paul Kantner (vocals, guitar), David Freiberg (vocals, guitar), Cathy
Richardson (vocals), Slick Aguilar (lead guitar), Chris Smith
(keyboards) and Donny Baldwin (drums). The band sometimes features
guest musicians such as Balin, Gould, Gorman."

[frndthdevl]

On Dec 5, 11:13 pm, Edwin Hurwitz <ed...@indra.com> wrote:
> I'm going to have to give it a listen. I got turned off Starship when I
> was 14 and bought Red Octopus. Loved the Airplane, but it looks like I

> missed some good stuff.-

Wow! Not missed pleasure,just delayed.
You indeed have some nice surprises waiting for you. Blows and BVTATCN
some of the best 70's stuff out there(for me). Blows one of the finest
produced albums ever,should sound good on your old school tubes. Red
Octopuss the last great(good) Jefferson Starship. But it pales big
time compared to the first 2.



Paul Kantner – vocals on all tracks except "Across the Board" and
"Fishman", rhythm guitar on all tracks except "Across the Board" and
"Fishman", glass harmonica on "Harp Tree Lament" and "White Boy"
Grace Slick – vocals, piano on all tracks except "Ballad of the Chrome
Nun", "Flowers of the Night", and "Harp Tree Lament"
David Freiberg – vocals on all tracks except "Across the Board" and
"Fishman", piano on "Ballad of the Chrome Nun", "Harp Tree Lament",
keyboards on all other tracks except "Walkin'" and "Fishman"
John Barbata – drums, percussion
Chris Ethridge – bass on all tracks except "Your Mind Has Left Your
Body", "White Boy", and "Fishman"
Jerry Garcia – guitar on all tracks except "Flowers of the Night",
"Your Mind Has Left Your Body", and "Harp Tree Lament", steel guitar
on "Ballad of the Chrome Nun" and "Your Mind Has Left Your Body",
banjo on "Walkin'"
Craig Chaquico – lead guitar on "Ballad of the Chrome Nun", "Flowers
of the Night", and "Fishman"
David Crosby – vocals on "The Ballad of the Chrome Nun"
Jack Traylor – acoustic guitar on "Flowers of the Night", vocals on
"Flowers of the Night", "White Boy", and "Sketches of China"
Jack Casady – bass on "Your Mind Has Left Your Body", "White Boy", and
"Fishman"
The Pointer Sisters – vocals on "Fat"
Papa John Creach – electric violin on "Walkin'"
Mickey Hart – gongs on "Your Mind Has Left Your Body" and "Sketches of
China", water phones on "Your Mind Has Left Your Body"
Jorma Kaukonen – lead guitar on "Your Mind Has Left Your Body"

[Ray O'Hara]

<bmo...@nyx.net> wrote in message
news:77a1e35e-42bf-411d...@q9g2000yqe.googlegroups.com...

====================================================================

I'd say that was the lineup on the special. I don't recall two extras gould
and Gorman, they could have been in the shadows.

[sweetbac]

"frndthdevl" <frndt...@aol.com> wrote in message

> Blows and BVTATCN some of the best 70's stuff out there

Don't forget the overlooked "Manhole" from '74...
Graces "solo" rekkid...all the usual suspects show...
always loved this gem....one of my fave Kantner epics...
"Epic No. 38" and a stone classic "Come Again Toucan"
check it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhole_(album)

[3jane.]

On Dec 6, 6:53 pm, "sweetbac" <sweet...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> "frndthdevl" <frndthd...@aol.com> wrote in message

Such a quaint name too.

[Edwin Hurwitz]

In article <jbm9tf$k8s$1...@dont-email.me>,

OK, I'm on it.

[MalcolmO]

> At first
> I was irridescent
> Then
> I became transparent
> Finally
> I was absent

One of the greatest lyrics ever. The evolution of the hippie in the
Blows Against The Empire scenario.

I remember at the time Kantner giving an interview and saying that they
should get Bear to work on a terraformed starship. Kantner also said
he'd seen Bear send his eggs back 3 times at Howard Johnson's. :D
--
Malcolm (~);}
"They should know they're the Grateful Dead now." -- Phil

[MalcolmO]

> Blows is one of my top 5 fave albums of all time.

Amen to that!

[MalcolmO]

> Blows and BVTATCN ... compared to the first 2

Actually, the Sunfighter album came between those two.

[frndthdevl]

On Dec 6, 9:24 pm, MalcolmO <Malco...@domain.invalid> wrote:
> > At first
> > I was irridescent
> > Then
> > I became transparent
> > Finally
> > I was absent
>
> One of the greatest lyrics ever. The evolution of the hippie in the
> Blows Against The Empire scenario.
>
>

Did Kantner say that,or is that your brilliance?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Etp9y7grC28

[SplinteredSunlight]

On Dec 6, 11:33 pm, MalcolmO <Malco...@domain.invalid> wrote:
> > Blows is one of my top 5 fave albums of all time.
>
> Amen to that!

Timely subject because I just listened to Blows for the first time
last nite. Great stuff, man!

[3jane.]

On Dec 7, 9:57 am, SplinteredSunlight

The Garcia outro on the last song (IIRC) is brilliant. Have You Seen
the Stars Tonight? is my favorite, what a great song. I'm kinda
surprised it never crossed your radar screen before, it was wildly
popular in my high school and college (among a certain set).

[SplinteredSunlight]

I've heard about it here over the years. It takes me awhile to get to
certain things I suppose...

[Ray O'Hara]

"frndthdevl" <frndt...@aol.com> wrote in message

news:8ffae8a6-74be-4604...@c18g2000yqj.googlegroups.com...

=====================================================================

a nice touch was at the very end Kantner says "Well?"and Grace replies
"well"
its Kantner asking if he got it and she answers "nailed it".

[frndthdevl]

On Dec 7, 1:35 pm, "Ray O'Hara" <raymond-oh...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> "frndthdevl" <frndthd...@aol.com> wrote in message

I was asking if Kanter had brought up the evolution of the hippie or
was it Malcom. At the time of course living it, the idea that we were
absent was not so clear at the time. At least for those not having
seen the end of the golden hippie era in the Bay Area as had Kanter
and the rest. But now 40 years later the prescience of that lyric is
amazing and rings even mroe true today.

[MalcolmO]

> I just listened to Blows for the first time
> last nite.

The first time?!?!? WOW! I did a project on it for English class 42
years ago. :)

> Great stuff, man!

Dat's da fact, Jack! Wall-to-wall fabulous!

[MalcolmO]

> I was asking if Kanter had brought up the evolution of the hippie or
> was it Malcom.

IMO, it's in the music, in the album. The whole album is like a story.
IINM, the album was nominated for Hugo and Nebula awards and was the
first audio so honoured. Kantner was way into SF at the time (and
probably still). :)

It starts with Mau Mau, the iridescent dissent and transformation, a
reflection of the hippie movement in the real world. Even at that early
stage of the story, it uses foreshadowing with "Tyrannosaurus Rex was
destroyed before by a furry little ball that crawled along the primeval
jungle floor. It stole the eggs of the dinosaur." So, to that T. Rex,
the furry little ball was effectively transparent.

Then later, we have "People with a clever plan can assume the role of
the mighty. Hijack the starship." So that, presumably would also involve
stealth, effective transparency.

Finally, at the end, he's on the starship "Have you seen the stars
tonight. Would you like to go up on A deck and look at them with me?"

And then that brilliant line is used, iridescent/transparent/absent.

The iridescence is the initial mind-blown, big media splash,
hippie/youth/counterculture movement.

The transparency is (in the story) the covert plan to hijack the
starship and (in the world) the quasi acceptance of hippies that brought
about a sort of detente between the sides (while really it was _they_
who just continued with covertness).

The absence is (in the story) the success of the hijack plan. The hippie
hijackers are gone from the earth that produced them and (in the world;
i.e., earth) many are gone. Not on starships, just rolled into a more
conventional lifestyle, or just gone. :/

That's the impression I got *at the time the record was made, because of
what's on the record.* The last 'gone' bit is just what's seen of the
slipstream of the last 42 years departing.

This is kind of like a precis of my English class project from high
school. :)

[MalcolmO]

> a nice touch was at the very end Kantner says "Well?"and Grace replies
> "well"
> its Kantner asking if he got it and she answers "nailed it".

Not how _I_ took it AT ALL. IMO, they both say "well?" as if to say,
"Well, are you in? Gonna go to the stars or stay here and smoke Tricky
Dick's paraquat-laced pot?" or "Well, what are we/you waiting for?"

It was really just art, but it had Tricky Dick shaking in his boots
about the 'threat.' He considered it a real (if incipient) revolution.

[Ray O'Hara]

"MalcolmO" <Malc...@domain.invalid> wrote in message
news:jbrpbd$aj4$1...@dont-email.me...

the album worked on every level. killer music, killer lyrics and a killer
story line.
and the one cover tune Rosalie Sorrells Baby Tree was a perfect fit and a
nice interlude after Mau Mau.

[MalcolmO]

> the album worked on every level. killer music, killer lyrics and a killer
> story line.

You left out the killer Foley effects. :D

[sweetbac]

I never got too much outta "Sunfighter"...
"Blows" and "Tollbooth" have the better tunes....
I'll cue it up after I listen to the new Roadtrips
Boston '76 "Stephen>Eyes of The World".....
this just hits it on all levels...the jam in the middle is
pure X-Factor Grateful Dead music.

[James Pablos]

On Dec 8, 8:05 pm, MalcolmO <Malco...@domain.invalid> wrote:

> The first time?!?!? WOW! I did a project on it for English class 42
> years ago. :)

I watched some of that PBS special tonight... There was something was
pathetic about the whole thing. Everybody is dyed and botoxed and
desperate to look as they did in the 60s. These boomers need to let it
go... Your day has passed. You're old. Quit trying to fuck and sing
and dance like you're still in you're 20s.

I fucking hope I die before I get old.

[frndthdevl]

It is nice to see that 76 is getting its just due the last year or 2.
Though I think you were always on the plus ledger.
I dig the swirling magic of those few shows that year. Seems to say
California all over it to me.

[3jane.]

They've been a lousy band for the last 25-30 years, no reason to
expect it to get any better now. I have no doubt they entered into
the realm of patheticness (patheticity?) quite awhile ago.

[frndthdevl]

Yeah,have to chase these Torpedos and football down with a full
playing and not just cuts

close your eyes and create the sounds
open your hands and rebuild the ground
we are egg snatchers

[Just Kidding]

So do we.

[frndthdevl]

On Dec 8, 8:12 pm, Just Kidding <justkidd...@comcast.net> wrote:
> On Thu, 8 Dec 2011 18:12:32 -0800 (PST), James Pablos
>

Cal is that you?

if you don't have time for the great hart stuff at the begining just
go to 2;20
Chaquico or jerry, well .........not bad for being young, say Craig
who was an influence

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Etp9y7grC28&feature=related

[Ray O'Hara]

"MalcolmO" <Malc...@domain.invalid> wrote in message

news:jbrr39$gl5$1...@dont-email.me...

>> the album worked on every level. killer music, killer lyrics and a killer
>> story line.
>
> You left out the killer Foley effects. :D

I mentioned the vacum cleaner solo upthread.

[MalcolmO]

> I fucking hope I die before I get old.

Bro, you will be old before you know it. So fast it will make your head
spin. And you will find your hopes have changed dramatically.

So I invite you: Learn to be charitable today!

[James Pablos]

On Dec 10, 5:02 pm, MalcolmO <Malco...@domain.invalid> wrote:
> > I fucking hope I die before I get old.
>
> Bro, you will be old before you know it. So fast it will make your head
> spin. And you will find your hopes have changed dramatically.

That's sadly true, Malcolm. I ran this afternoon with the neighbor kid
(18yrs. old) and it made me feel as old as dirt. I kept up, but while
I'll be crippled up for the next two days, he didn't seem to feel it
at all.

[mcc...@gmail.com]

[mcc...@gmail.com]

If you liked Airplane the you should be listening to Hot Tuna. Jack C and Jorma K all ways was the band anyway. Grace too of course.

[Rick Fisher]

On Wednesday, December 7, 2011 1:35:33 PM UTC-8, Ray O'Hara wrote:
> "frndthdevl" wrote in message

>
>
> On Dec 6, 9:24 pm, MalcolmO wrote:
>
> > > At first
>
> > > I was irridescent
>
> > > Then
>
> > > I became transparent
>
> > > Finally
>
> > > I was absent
>
> >
>
> > One of the greatest lyrics ever. The evolution of the hippie in the
>
> > Blows Against The Empire scenario.
>
> >
>
> >
>
>
>
> Did Kantner say that,or is that your brilliance?
>
>
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Etp9y7grC28
>
>
>
>
>
> =====================================================================
>
>
>
> a nice touch was at the very end Kantner says "Well?"and Grace replies
>
> "well"
>
> its Kantner asking if he got it and she answers "nailed it".

I always loved that little exchange at the end. I've listened to Blows so many times since it first came out. Cassady's bass playing is otherworldly. Crosby and Garcia contribute greatly throughout. Blows is among many other things, dated, sloppy as hell, and an absolute sublime masterpiece.

[Band Beyond Desu]

Rick Fisher <rickf...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Wednesday, December 7, 2011 1:35:33 PM UTC-8, Ray O'Hara wrote:
>> "frndthdevl" wrote in message
>>
>>
>> On Dec 6, 9:24 pm, MalcolmO wrote:
>>
>>>> At first
>>
>>>> I was irridescent
>>
>>>> Then
>>
>>>> I became transparent
>>
>>>> Finally
>>
>>>> I was absent
>>
>>>
>>
>>> One of the greatest lyrics ever. The evolution of the hippie in the
>>
>>> Blows Against The Empire scenario.
>>
>>>
>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Did Kantner say that,or is that your brilliance?
>>
>>
>>
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Etp9y7grC28
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ====================================================================>
>>
>>

>> a nice touch was at the very end Kantner says "Well?"and Grace replies
>>
>> "well"
>>
>> its Kantner asking if he got it and she answers "nailed it".
>
> I always loved that little exchange at the end. I've listened to Blows so
> many times since it first came out. Cassady's bass playing is
> otherworldly. Crosby and Garcia contribute greatly throughout. Blows is
> among many other things, dated, sloppy as hell, and an absolute sublime masterpiece.

Hey, Ray-Ray's not allowed on the Internet anymore! ###

[B]

<mcc...@gmail.com> wrote:
> If you liked Airplane the you should be listening to Hot Tuna. Jack C and
> Jorma K all ways was the band anyway. Grace too of course.

Who wrote the lyrics to White Rabbit. It really is a very well crafted
piece sung powerfully. Today, I find some of the JA tunes dated but a few
still hold up today as masterpieces, White Rabbit being one.

[gratefuljoe]

On Sunday, March 16, 2014 7:23:22 PM UTC-4, mcc...@gmail.com wrote:
> If you liked Airplane the you should be listening to Hot Tuna. Jack C and Jorma K all ways was the band anyway. Grace too of course.

Thats not true. While I agree Jorma and Jack are immense talents, Marty, Kantner, Grace, and even Spencer Dryden were all very talented and contributed to the sound.

-I think Grace's first husband or Grace herself wrote White Rabbit, it was a song which she took from her band at the time, Great Society.

[Michael Black]

YOu should get the Great Society album. Not the studio one released about
a 15 years ago, but the live one, originally released as 2 records.

It has "White Rabbit" and "Someone to Love" but the rest is even better,
since most of it isn't familiar, and they are't presented as 3 minute
songs for the radio.

Michael

[Edwin Hurwitz]

Interestingly, I find that song pretty dated. Baxter's is pretty much my favorite album. Pooneil, Martha, Rejoyce, all great songs. Casady tears it up throughout.

[Michael Black]

Both White Rabbit and Someone to Love have been overplayed. So they
suffer as a result.

I actually like the first album, the one before Grace, and Volunteers.
Both keep up the level of quality in the songs besides the ones that
everyone knows.

Michael

[Just Kidding]

On Tue, 18 Mar 2014 13:10:25 -0400, Michael Black <et...@ncf.ca>
wrote:

>On Mon, 17 Mar 2014, Edwin Hurwitz wrote:
>
>> In article <lg5r82$tet$1...@dont-email.me>, B <bg9...@bigYell.com> wrote:
>>
>>> <mcc...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> If you liked Airplane the you should be listening to Hot Tuna. Jack C and
>>>> Jorma K all ways was the band anyway. Grace too of course.
>>>
>>> Who wrote the lyrics to White Rabbit. It really is a very well crafted
>>> piece sung powerfully. Today, I find some of the JA tunes dated but a few
>>> still hold up today as masterpieces, White Rabbit being one.
>>
>> Interestingly, I find that song pretty dated. Baxter's is pretty much my
>> favorite album. Pooneil, Martha, Rejoyce, all great songs. Casady tears
>> it up throughout.
>>
>Both White Rabbit and Someone to Love have been overplayed. So they
>suffer as a result.
>

Well, they have been around for for over 40 years so it's no surprise
they've been played a lot.

[Tarp Skidoo]

In article <alpine.LNX.2.02.1...@darkstar.example.org>,

Crown of Creation is my favorite Airplane record.

[MalcolmO]

In article
<tarpalin-97BB0B...@NEWS.NEWSGROUP-BINARIES.COM>,

Tarp Skidoo <tarp...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Crown of Creation is my favorite Airplane record.

Gimme Ice Cream Phoenix! WOW! What a groove! :D
--
Malcolm

[bzl...@aaool.com]

On Tue, 18 Mar 2014 19:35:20 -0600, Tarp Skidoo <tarp...@gmail.com>
wrote:

+1. I've worn out the vinyl a long time ago. Had to buy a CD.

[MalcolmO]

In article <lg5r82$tet$1...@dont-email.me>, B <bg9...@bigYell.com> wrote:

I love Ice Cream Phoenix.
--
Malcolm