Cleared For Take Off [LIVE]

Jefferson Airplane (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 21, 2008)
• Original Release Date: November 6, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Acrobat Music
• ASIN: B001EUPNMU
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #181,038 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Jefferson Airplane defined the San Francisco sound in the 1960s, scoring hit singles and looking out from the covers of national magazines. They epitomized the drug-taking hippie ethos as well as the left-wing, antiwar political movement of their time, and their history was one of controversy along with hit records.

Cleared for Take Off represents the Jefferson
Airplane as they were reaching their creative peak in 1967. Recorded at 3 concerts at the legendary Winterland in San Francisco in March 1967, the group performs songs contained on its essential first two albums, Jefferson Airplane Takes Off and Surrealistic Pillow, with a few rare selections. Cleared For Takeoff admirably illustrates why the Airplane were regarded as one of the best live acts at the vanguard of the movement, with the unmistakeable voice of the iconic Grace Slick intertwining with those of Marty Balin and Paul Kantner and the acid rock guitar of Jorma Kautonen in a typically energetic out-on-the-edge performance. The 18-track set includes versions of their first two big hits, an extended version of Somebody To Love, plus the classic White Rabbit. Don't Let Me Down, never featured on a studio release, is a nine-minute showcase for lead singer Marty Balin with some wild improvisation. Lead guitarist Jorma Kaukonen's Come Back Baby, is a song that wasn t released until Hot Tuna's second LP, First Pull Up, Then Pull Down, in 1971. Thing is an unreleased instrumental. This recording captures the unstructured and experimental nature of their events, and it's a fascinating snapshot of a band at the forefront of a new strand of creative expression, navigating occasionally uncharted musical territory during one of the most exciting eras in rock history.

Cleared for Take Off contains live and outtake
material from the band's most influential era,
including unreleased material and featuring the
classic 1966 line up. As such it is an essential historical release for any Jefferson Airplane fan as well as fans of the psychedelic rock era.

Please note: this recording is a snapshot of history, not a modern professional recording and may therefore exhibit some technical anomalies and the unavoidable effects of time.

Highly regarded UK label Acrobat Music is launching its US operations with this as well as other re-issues that offer high quality and excellent value on October 21st 2008. All of the Premier Collection titles are showcased in deluxe packages with unique, consistent packaging, which include o-cards, extensive liner notes and either a large number of tracks or lengthy play time. Acrobat will be establishing its presence as the premier independent re-issue label in the US through its distribution deal with TVT Distribution.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jefferson Airplane Live At Winterland 1967, October 27, 2008

By	Johnny Boy "The Record Collector" (Hockessin, DE) - See all my reviews

Over the past several years, Jefferson Airplane bootlegs of concerts have begun to turn up everywhere. Shows from Monterey Pop, Fillmore East and countless others have started to turn up.

But, this one, from 1967, at the Winterland in San Francisco, is really interesting. It features three great shows from the Airplane, with the crew in full swing as the rip through classics like 'Somebody To Love' and 'White Rabbit,' and one of my personal favorites, 'She Has Funny Cars.'

Collectors already know that this is a bootleg, and therefore the sound quality isn't live album great, but it's still really good. For newcomers of JA stumbling upon this, it's a great show, but if you want a live album with exceptional sound quality that is digitally remastered, I advise you to go buy 1969's 'Bless It's Pointed Little Head.'

Back on track here. 'Cleared For Take Off' has been released several times since 2003, when it first hit the public audience. This edition, as far as I'm concerned, is no different from any other edition. It's a fine example of the record companies trying to milk the Jefferson Airplane name.

But either way, it's a great show, with Jorma, Jack, Grace, Marty, Paul and Spencer in top form.

Other great tracks you'll find here are '3/5 Of A Mile In 10 Seconds,' which is considered to be an Airplane classic, with the group just jamming here. Clearly they are having a great time. Balin's vocals on 'Tobacco Road' are awesome.

Overall, I highly recommend this to anybody who appreciates great San Francisco 1960s psychedelic rock or to any JA fan who's collecting their bootlegs. But don't freak out over this release, because odds are, if you collect their bootlegs, you already have it! But, if you don't have it, you are really missing out. This is Airplane in top form here.

Highly recommended for any JA fan that likes their bootlegs. An awesome show.

ENJOY!!!