THIRTY SECONDS OVER WINTERLAND

This is the Airplane swan song although several live albums will still be released after this one. The latest to date (as far as I know) has been released in 2006; it is the very good : "Live At The Golden Gate Park", recorded in May 69, just fourth months before their great Woodstock appearence. But unfortunately it is not yet availbable for reviewing.

This album was recorded in 1972 both in Chicago (24th-25th August) and Frisco (21st- 22nd September). Released in April 73, it will chart to the 52nd position (in the US of course).

It's a pity that we won't have more music available here. A mere thirty-six minutes is not very long. They could have taken advantage of the remastering in 89 onto the CD format to offer more to their fans; but nothing as such will happen, unfortunately.

Airplane has selected five songs out of their two last albums : "Bark" is represented by "Feel So Good". It is over-extended into a long jam session as the Airplane was used to do. Almost each of their live recordings will contain such "reworked" song. The other number from this album is "When the Earth Moves Again" which does not really belong to the best of their repertoire.

The very good opening number : "Have You Seen the Saucers" was a single released in 70 and the song never made an album entry. It is one of the best of this live set. The title track from "Crown" is also available.

The last three songs come from their excellent "Long John Silver". It was probably their most rock-oriented album. Unfortunately the track selection coming out this album is not the best possible. The bluesy "Trial By Fire" was the poorest of this record. The title track or "Aerie" would have made a far much better choice; but we'll have to live with this one.

But both "Milk Train" and "Twilight Double Leader" (including a great guitar solo) will compensate this. If you are looking for JA standards, this album is not for you. You should concentrate more on live albums released much, much later to get these ("Live At Monterrey", "Live at the Fillmore East" or as I have said in my introduction "Live At The Golden Gate Park").

This effort is for die-hard fans. Two stars.