AT THE FAMILY DOG BALLROOM

4,5 stars

"At the Family Dog Ballroom" is a 1969 unreleased live in San Francisco. A good concert with decent sound quality, including a long version of the epic "Ballad of You and Me and Pooneil". But the piece which makes this record an absolute must is the fantastic "Jam", a 26 minutes jam featuring Jerry Garcia. This gem is a synthesis of the best Jefferson airplane and Grateful dead, combining JA energy and Garcia ethereal guitar flights. An absolute must for any lover of the american psychedelic scene.

A solid live album featuring excellent sound quality, 'Live At The Family Dog Ballroom' finds the Airplane rattling through the best bits from their classic albums 'Surrealistic Pillow', 'After Bathing At Baxter's', 'Crown Of Creation' and 'Volunteers'. Recorded in 1968 by the band's classic line-up, it's basically a slickly-performed veritable greatest hits set topped off by an epic, 26-minute acid-rock jam session(called, imaginatively 'Jam'), that perfectly encapsulates both sides of the Jefferson Airplane sound, with folksy- ballads such as 'We Can Be Together' interspersed with rough-edged rockers such as 'Somebody To Love'. The band's predilection for lysergic sounds is never far away however, and one of the album's (many) highlights is the appearance of Jerry Garcia(he of The Grateful Dead), who contributes some trademark country-psych guitar tones to the album's latter stages with earthy aplomb. All said then an impressive package, one that should delight fans of west coast rock and one that will positively delight Airplane afocianado's. Recommended listening. STEFAN TURNER, LONDON, 2010