Customer Reviews

Deep Space/Virgin Sky

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Jefferson Airplane/Starship always worked best when it could move beyond the personality dynamics within the band. It's when they on tight, powerful 3-part vocalizations (Paul Kantner-Marty Balin-and wheoever the female vocalist is at the time) and polished instrumentation that this band(s) can really shine. This live offering offers just a glimpse of what happens when things do work right. The first half of this disc are new offerings and covers of other songwriters. The strongests tunes are Shadowlands and The Light. The remaining cuts are culled from the best of the Airplane era and the first incarnation of Jefferson Starhip. Grace Slick guests on Lawman, Wooden Ships, Somebody to Love and White Rabbit and she sounds strong and fiesty as ever. My only major complaint is that the bass playing really doesn't come to the surface. A performer as important, influential and distinctive as Jack Cassidy should never be lost or buried in the sound mix!

I am glad to see that others enjoy this CD as much as I do. This effort to me is the crowning acheivement of a band that was under-rated in their time and whose music practically defined an entire generation (the late 60's and 1970's). Kantner - Slick vocals are as strong here as anytime in their career. I feel this CD was made with the relaxation that stemed from the knowledge this would be the last time this band would play such a venue, and the music flowed with energy. The guitar work is exceptional. I own most of the CD's that Airplane and Starship put out, and this is a definitive view of the power and vision that was......Jefferson Starship.

As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" and a former radio disc-jockey, I am often asked to write and or discuss various music supplies and recordings from the 60's and 70's.

Deeper Space/Extra Virgin Sky [LIVE] (Look for this on Amazon with all the extra tracks) Anytime a release can satisfy the old and please the new it has to possess unique attributes. The May 2002 intensified version of "Deep Space/Virgin Sky" is necessary for the Airplane and or Jefferson Starship collector.

From the Airplane camp four members of the band are on stage Marty, Jack, Paul, and Grace makes a cameo! In typical fashion she tells a story prior to "Lawman" that shows she hasn't mellowed with age. Ten tracks are from Jefferson Airplane records through the break-up of 1972. "The Other Side Of This Life (Wrongly called on the CD "Another Side Of This Life") is stretched to eleven minutes. Marty Balin's tribute to Papa John Creach titled "Papa John" is full of sincerity. I know that first hand from the interview I had with Marty for the Jefferson Airplane book.

For the Jefferson Starship fan, they can experience the fabulous and powerful voice of Darby Gould. The predecessor to the brilliant and superlative Diana Mangano, Darby could belt out Deep Purple or Jefferson Airplane with the same intensity and conviction. One of Paul Kantner's most underrated tunes (Especially by Paul) "I'm On Fire" packs a powerful punch. Marty does a stellar vocal on his friend Jesse Barish's tune "Count On Me." The version of "Gold" will have the walls shake.

The fidelity of the newer version gives you a first class seat. This isn't a dinosaur band going through the motions. To this day, (Summer 2007) Paul and the Jefferson Starship are out on the road making it cool to be old.

Get a ticket, relax, and engulf yourself in some of the best rock tunes ever penned.






Enjoy the music and be well,
Craig Fenton
Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"

Not included as a song but wrote in the lyrics right after Dark Ages is a poem called My Desire For You. If you have this cd don't forget to check out the lyric sheet.If you really like the Starship check out planetearthrockandroll.com