Black Kangaroo

Peter Kaukonen | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 13, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Wounded Bird Records
• ASIN: B000MGVCHC
• Also Available in: Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #184,780 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Up or Down

2. Postcard

3. What We All Know and Love

4. Billy's Tune

5. Barking Dog Blues

6. Dynamo Snackbar

7. Prisoner

8. That's a Good Question

9. Solid to the Ground [*]

10. Solitary Confinement [*]

11. Unsatisfactory Sex [*]

12. Up or Down [*]

13. Kangaroo Kommercial [*]

Editorial Reviews

First official release on CD for this 1971 album by guitarist Peter Kaukonen, brother of Jefferson Airplane’s Jorma, originally released on the Airplane’s own label, Grunt. Includes five bonus tracks. Features musical assistance from Joey Covington, Terry Adams, Nick Buck, Peter Marshall, Larry Weisberg and Shelley Silverman.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Listening, January 7, 2008

By 

WaxNostalgic (Nom De Plume) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black Kangaroo (Audio CD)

The legendary sdvertising campaign for this album featured a carichature of a pissed-off black kangaroo, standing on a pile of carnage whilst holding a smoking machine gun.

That's a pretty good visual approximation of what goes on musically in Peter Kaukonen's "Black Kangaroo."

But for every bit of balls-out, Harley-fueled riffage, there are equal parts of shimmering acoustic brilliance... Even a splash of heavy metal psychedelia.

In the 35 years or so since this album was first unleashed, its musical dexterity and variety has steadily grown a rabid cult following. And rightfully so. The meticulously crafted songs and production hold up remarkably well as this beautifully remastered, long overdue CD reissue will attest.

Prior reviews here make much of Peter's connection with the Airplane. But listeners will find this record has more in common with post-Hendrix hard rockers like Mountain, Johnny Winter or Robin Trower. (Jefferson Airplane did, in fact, cover "Up Or Down," but that version is as pale as, er well, an albino kangaroo next to this authoritative recording)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Peter Kaukonen-Black Kangaroo, July 21, 2007

By 

Paul S. Blakey "blacksoot" (Nelson U.K.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Black Kangaroo (Audio CD)

I hit on this album in 1972?? through reading a review. Loved it. Bought Artur Lee- Vindicator at same time. Unusual haunting (bluesy?)songs good (Hendrixy) style guitar. Peter is Jorma's (Jeff Airplane)brother. Worth a listen-Joey Covington on drums.Great artwork on sleeve!!
Has he done anything since?? let me know [e-mail]

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Jorma Kaukonen in a bad day, August 13, 2010

By 

Leonardo Mirenda "keoleomire" (Rome, Italy) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Black Kangaroo (Audio CD)

There is just one good song on this album: the song "THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION", the others are just an ugly copy of Jimi Hendrix stile of playing, and the voice sucks like the hell.
This album is not a very good one: Peter Kaukonen is known just because of his brother Jorma, not because of is talent.
He has no style, no rithm feel and his guitar sound is always dirty, both electric and acoustic.