BLESS ITS POINTED LITTLE HEAD

3.5 stars really!!

Between Creation and Volunteers came out this live album, recorded in autumn of 68 in both the Fillmore East and West. This weirdly-titled (you don't want to know how this came about ;-) live album came with an equally weird artwork depicting a drunken French-bereted Casady in a ballroom. This album is interesting in a few ways as it shows the different live facet of the Airplane that might not have been so obvious in their studio recordings. Indeed the blues facet was not shunned in studio, in concert it became more present and the backbone of the group (the three virtuosos, Kaukonen, Casady and Dryden) took on a lengthy and improvisational turn as much as was tolerable for the "singers" of the group. So much so, that this would lead to the trio actually creating their own unit (first called Hot Shit, then Hot Tuna) and started opening the JA concert or doing aftershows as the trio was sometimes playing up to six hours a night.

Another first in JA concerts came the pre-recorded intros (here the track called Clergy), something to would be commonplace for some of the "prog" giants (Yes and RB's Rainbow among others). Of course are present a good deal of the shorter and better known tracks, but there are plenty of other ones that were first released including the longer more jam-oriented tracks. Some covers such as the standard Rock Me Baby, the lengthy Bear Melt, Donovan's Fat Angel (in which the Scott troubadour sang JA's praises) and Fred Neil's Other Side Of This Life. One of the striking thing is that most of the band's shorter tracks (the "hits" if you wish) are all speeded-up, something rather usual and hardly noticeable in concert, but disturbing while sitting at home. Disappointingly, there are no tracks from their masterpiece Crown Of Creation and no preview of the album to come, Volunteers. The three bonus tracks on the remastered version of the album are well in the line of the album, exploring more the Baxter and Pillow albums.

So this album is not essential to progheads (the jams are fairly straightforward and do not go in uncharted or difficult terrain), but those confirmed JA fans will find it indispensable, especially those wishing to see the genesis of Hot Tuna.

As I have already said, I prefer the Airplane live than in a studio. This album was recorded at The Fillmore West between 24 and 26 October 68, and at The Fillmore East between 28 and 30 November 68. The band is almost at its peak (this one will be reached at Woodstock, in August 1969).

The track list of their fabulous Woodstock concert looks as follows : 1. Volunteers, 2.Somebody To Love, 3. The Other Side of This Life, 4. Plastic Fantastic Lover, 5. Saturday Afternoon/Won't You Try, 6. Eskimo Blue Day, 7. Uncle Sam's Blues, 8. White Rabbit. IMO, it will be the best concert ever played by the Airplane. In comparison, this one will sound rather pale, I must say.

What do we get on this one ?

Not very much, I'm afraid. Some cover songs (probably the best numbers available) : "Fat Angel" of which the intro sounds like "The End" from The Doors and turns out to be a very good cover : psychedelic at its best. "The Other Side of This Life" had only been released as a B-side but was a classic in their live repertoire. It is a great song. The band is rocking like crazy here : furious guitars and great vocals. A very good live Airplane moment.

The full power of the band is nicely rendered in "3,5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds", "It's No Secret", "Plastic Fantastic Lover" (another highlight here, while the studio version was rather average) and "Somebody to Love" with a superb Slick on the command.

"Rock Me Baby" is a pure blues cover song and the weakest of the album. On each live album previously released, there was a long track available : "The Ballad of You and Me and Pooneil" on "Monterrey", "Thing" on "Live At The Fillmore East". On this one, we have "Bear Melt" which is the poorest of the three. It never really kicks off and is pretty much boring during its 11'22".

This live album contains too few classics to make it a memorable Airplane live souvenir (the remastered version features "Won't You Try" which might be worth. But I do not have this one). For die-hard fans only. Two stars.

This Little Head is alive and kicking !!! If I recall correctly, it was September of 1989 I acquired this beast and it was bursting with so much energy, I still don't think I've recovered !! This showcases Jefferson Airplane at the top of their game IMHO. They are doing what they're good at - at least to my ears this album has moments of sheer power, and moments of drifting beauty. The tracks that appeared on previous studio albums are left for dead, annihilated by adrenalin, and has all members firing on all cylinders (excuse the cliches...). After the intro, a sound sample from King Kong (I think), Spencer Dryden starts off on his kit, he is then joined by Bassist extraordinaire Jack Casady, who takes to his instrument as if his life depended on it (it may well have, too) - this is 3/5's Of A Mile In Ten Seconds, and should be 3/5's of a mile in one second, a total break-neck version of this great song from the classic 'Surrealistic Pillow' album. The famous tune 'Somebody To Love' is performed in a much 'harder' way here, and dates back from Grace Slick's 'Great Society' days, as well as on S.P. The band then embark on a laid-back and mellow flight with a version of Donovan's 'Fat Angel'. This lasts for 7.29 and cruises at an altitude of 39,000 feet. Beautiful. Time for a bluesy blast from Lead Guitarist Jorma Kaukonen, along with the spectacular rhythm section with the rendition of a blues staple, 'Rock Me Baby', and perhaps sowed the seeds for the future Hot Tuna projects Jorma and Jack would integrate into future live sets of the Airplane (Jack being one of the most unique Bassist's). Not bad for a lengthy, jammy 12 Bar. Side 2 kicks off with Fred Neil's 'The Other Side Of This Life', a cool tune with Jack leading the way with his awesome Bass riffs. 'It's No Secret' and 'Plastic Fantastic Lover' are again thumping versions of earlier tracks. A brief bit of noodling about with 'Turn Out The Lights', where Paul Kantner announces the house to 'turn down the lights, or he'll send the infamous acid-meister Owlsley to get 'em...) funny, but it leads into an absolutely BRILLIANT, stream-of- conciousness extended piece, 'Bear Melt' (11.06), a track credited to the band, and is a totally out-there, dark and brooding piece with Grace spitting out her beautiful voice over some wonderful music, which drifts along steadily until the climax towards the end. Again, it's Casady who steals the show, musically. This is such a stunning live recording, and up there with other, all too seldom, memorable live recordings (Kraan, Guru Guru, Porcupine Tree......) It may not appeal to many Proggers (therefore, not a 5 star), but I've seen its value for a long time and it definately moves my world. 4.5 stars.

This album delivers some live recordings from the Fillmore stages of this group, which succeeded very well in both studio and concert environment, creating carefully constructed studio recordings and spontaneous, aggressive live jammings. The record introduced some totally new songs when the album was released in 1969.

The album starts with an intro sounding to be clipped from old movies. First song "3,5 of A Mile in 10 Seconds" kicks in the boogie powerfully, having fine guitar solos and being a great version of the song. Then follows a decent version of the hit song "Somebody to Love", not being the best version which I have heard (Woodstock is...). "Fat Angel", a long running Donovan cover starts quietly, a mantra gaining power and smoothening, rolling like a wave and building up great psychedelic anthem. "Rock Me Baby" is another nearly eight minutes long track, this one being a slow blues rocker with a trashy stoned guitar and singing. "The Other Side of This Life" starts from a loose jamming, and builds up to a fine version, having really powerful guitar solo and explorations of drum rhythms. Following versions of "It's No Secret" and "Plastic Fantastic Lover" are nice, but not the most best songs in the album. There's a small announcement and fooling around, whilst waiting to get the place darkened for the psychedelic visuals or such, which were projected over performance of "Bear Melt", over eleven minutes long album closer and best track of this fine live recording. Song starts slowly and quietly, power rising slowly. Jazzy middle section gives birth to a free improvisation session, finally ending to a beautiful quiet moment.

This recommendable live recording is not an obvious hit collection, but that doesn't matter, actually I consider it being a fine quality for a live document of this exceptional band. I did not have a remastered CD with some bonus tracks, maybe they would be interesting to be heard.