Customer Reviews

Jefferson Airplane: The Woodstock Experience

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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I had often heard critics - a uniformly scurrilous lot - state that Woodstock was a relatively poor performance by the Airplane. Judging by the few available songs that had been released, I suspected that this opinion was nonsense. Having listened to this release (which would have required two discs anyway) twice, I feel utterly vindicated by their performance. Ending the set with the apocalyptic "House at Pooneil Corners" was absolutely perfect. I spoke to Chris, my son and a 26 year old guitarist in NC, yesterday. We discussed much of the garbage music/musicians from that era that is/are held in such high esteem today, while the Airplane is ignored or worse. He mentioned that many of his friends think of Jefferson Airplane as essentially "folk" music. I told him to have them listen to these discs. "Eskimo Blue Day", "Wooden Ships", "Volunteers" and the "Pooneils" are simply incredible both musically and conceptually. The whole set may well be the apex of the Airplane's performing career. Although I had to wait until I was 60 to hear this performance, I am absolutely thrilled to have these discs. The Airplane was great when I last saw them live in November of 1970 but this show represents the Airplane at its artistic peak.

I'm sure most of you already own the Volunteers CD, and are holding off on this purchase because of that. I say, don't let that sway your decision. This live performance is what we JA fans have been waiting all these years for. The complete show! And, what a show it is. I have most of the other live concert performances, and this one is the one to own (this and Bless It's Pointed Little Head)! Sit back, and let the Airplane take you for a ride. You won't be disapointed. Morning maniac music, indeed. Everything was definitely vibrating by the end of the second CD. Plenty of jams, and lots of high octane rock. Grace sounds fantastic, as well as all the rest of the band.

I've waited at least 37 years to hear this, ever since I heard (and fell in love with) the Woodstock 2 performances. This blows me away. The ragged edges just add to the stellar fury the Airplane played with that ecstatic morning in 1969. What a way to wake up! Bonus? The sketch for Hijack they play at the end of The Ballad of You & Me & Pooneil. This is a very moving performance. Get it! So you get another copy of Volunteers -the price is right! Carry the fire!

"Morning maniac music" is best played really, really loud. The Airplane is rocking with wild abandon, loose as a goose, and I mean that in a good way.

"The Other Side of This Life" gets the set off to a ripping start. It may be "the regular guys and Nicky Hopkins" but you'll have to have ears like a dog to hear Nicky tickling the ivories. He's there but the Airplane are going full tilt. Listen like thieves for his keyboard wizardry, especially here.

"Somebody to Love" is propelled by Spencer Dryden's drumming, a nice change up from basically the same arrangement as BLIPH. In fact, several of the best known songs like "3/5th Of Mile..." and "Plastic Fantastic Lover" are BLIPH-refitted but at Ramones-like speed. The first three songs are an adreneline rush. Maybe the sight of a half million people can do that to a band?

Things slow down for "Won't You Try/Saturday Afternoon". It may seem like a naive throwback to the acid-drenched days of the summer of love but at Woodstock it seemed like the culmination of everything everybody believed would be the future. We know now that it was really the end, but nobody knew it at the time.

It's a natural segway into "Eskimo Blue Day," Grace's still spot-on ecological cautionary tale. One of her best songs, and a riveting vocal performance.

"Wooden Ships" is stretched out to points unfathomable clocking in at 21 minutes. Poor C,S,N. Did they ever do this song? After the Airplane's version it should've been retired from their act. The 'Plane are pulling out the stops - musically, vocally, improvising, inspired. Go ride the music indeed.

"Ballad of You & Me & Pooneil" stretches out extra long, but that's just a set up for the showstopper of "House of Pooneil Corners". Rarely performed. Barely remembered. But as the encore, it thunders with a sustained bludgeoning sludgy ominous riff worthy of Black Sabbath. It bubbles with a terrorizing vision of the end of the world. Marty and Grace own this song. Their performances will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. This song, alone, justifies the price of the purchase. Crank this sucker up to 11. Unbelievable!

It wasn't just critics who lambasted the Airplane at Woodstock. Grace remembers it poorly as well. (Maybe it was because she was slung over from the night before drinkin' & dancin' with Janis?) Her memory is playing tricks on her. She, in particular, is amazing. Easily the best live singing she's ever done. And the band, before the splintering and in-fighting, was Godzilla at Woodstock.

PS - So you get the studio version of "Volunteers" too. So what? Why are people making a big deal about that? Did it occur to anybody that many people who didn't experience this group the first time out may not know any other songs other than "Somebody to Love" or "White Rabbit" (which, fyi, also tears up the stage live at Woodstock.)

Enjoy!

Finally, we can here the entire set as performed by the jefferson airplane. I'm excited about the recent live recordings that are being released of this incredible group, especially for those of us who werent there. They wrote some amazing songs. The final track is called "House at pooneil corners" and it is a mindblower. Sadly, still relevent after all these years. The line in the song "someone stood at the window and cried one tear, I thought that would stop the war", just kills me. The band sounds great considering they had been up all night and given the time they went on. Good recording quality and packaging. Thanks, Love the poster. "Wish I could have been there".

I'll keep this simple -- The live, Woodstock version of "Volunteers" completely blows the studio version out of the water. And that's typical of the Woodstock performances.

Whatever past opinions of this performance, for my ears this is the JA at their peak. The performance is unbelievable from start to finish. For any JA lover this is a must own and for anyone wondering about them this release justifies their reputation. They are firing on all cylinders. It is a little sloppy here and there(Eskimo Blue Day for example) but for me this just makes it more authentic; and the key words are here and there. Given the delay in performing (they came on in the wee hours of the morning) maybe they could not time their, ahem, vitamins right? Overall a very rock solid performance.

The mix is pretty good. Paul is a little down in it and at times Nicki is lost (mostly have to try hard to find him). Spencer is up front in the mix and maybe that is why his drumming here just sounds awesome - really solid, nicely manic. Jack, Grace, Marty all mixed fine. Jorma is on fire throughout, and his guitar just explodes from the speakers.

As for the tracks, a fairly standard set with a few surprises. Grace's now classic intro (morning maniac music, the regular guys...) kicks it off. The group really nails the 1st 3 songs (other side of life (Nicki very clear on this one), somebody to love, 3/5 mile) at breakneck speed; intense opening. Somebody to Love is pretty much reworked and Spencer even takes a solo in it. I always liked Eskimo Blue Day, very good here though a bit sloppy; OK by me. First peak is a titanic 23 minute Wooden Ships. Second peak a killer You-Me-Pooneil stretched to 15 minutes, and as noted in other reviews around the 9 minute mark they launch into Hijack. Very cool. Finale of House at Pooneil Corners another nice surprise, and a perfect closer.

I agree with many others, not sure of the value of the original studio discs as I own any of them I care about. So I get an extra Volunteers; this has always been my favorite release of theirs anyway. The Woodstock performance is worth every penny of the price and then some. If like me you are fairly picky of what you buy from classic bands, as so much stuff is being re-released, do buy this! You will be very glad you did.

ps - if the tapes exist, my wish list to expand this series: Canned Heat, Ten Years After, Country Joe and the Fish, Joe Cocker, The Who.

If you're like me, and have been hemming and hawing over buying this release because it means buying a copy of Volunteers for, like, the 9ooth time, well, rest assured, it's worth it! The complete Woodstock set is primal, tribal Airplane at their finest. Songs are long, but there isn't a wasted note (no pun intended), and the energy surges from beginning to end, often at an almost punk-like breakneck speed. The sound quality is good, but not great, not as good as the "official" Woodstock releases. This is the best live Airplane that I have ever heard, and a must-own for any of their fans!

We have long been led to believe that Airplane didn't play a very good set at Woodstock. This CD settles that debate once and forever. Yes, there are a few boo-boos here and there during the performance, lapses in timing and a few stumbles with the new material mostly, but considering how tired the band must have been, and how obviously stoned on acid they were (directly referenced by Grace between songs), it's a solid set here. Airplane churn out one ferocious song after another, high-lighted by the best free-form work I have ever heard from their official catalogue. Included is a superb black and white poster of the band performing.

"Well, you have seen the heavy groups(the Who),now you will hear morning maniac music!" Grace states confidently to start it all off. The set list is a combination of classic Airplane as defined by the band: The Other Side Of This Life, Somebody To Love, 3/5 Of A Mile In Ten Seconds, Saturday Afternoon/Won't You Try, Plastic Fantastic Lover, The Ballad Of You, Me & Pooneil, White Rabbit, and The House At Pooneil Corners are a perfect representation of classic Airplane. The new material, Wooden Ships, Eskimo Blue Day and Volunteers are from the soon to be released Volunteers album (oh, why not Hey Frederick? Bummer!). Uncle Sam Blues and Come Back Baby are inklings of Hot Tuna to come. There's something for everyone here.

Throughout the recording Jack Casady provides a stunning running symposium of his legendary prowess on the bass guitar. Of all the band members, he seems the most focused and inventive, and the savage growling roar of his Guild Hollowbody is a delight for true fans, and a sure-to-be startling revelation for those unfamiliar with Airplane's live sound. He's simply remarkable. Paul Kantner provides solid rhythm guitar work, and a grittier sound that fits well with the rest of the instruments. Spencer Dryden's confident drumming is inspired and forceful. Jorma Kaukonen has a few lapses in timing, but, despite this, is inventive and inspired for much of the time. His sound as well, reflects a growing emphasis of power that gradually increased as the band evolved. They're quite loud and heavy here, more distorted than usual, and it works just fine. It's just another weapon in their arsenal. Paul Kantner's vocals are solid, and Marty Balin and Grace Slick soar together as never before, particularly Grace. Animated and timely, she wails out one primitive acid-drenched call to arms after another, sending numerous chills down the listener's spine. In my opinion, her BEST live work on record. Sideman Nicky Hopkins' work on the piano is lost much of the time, but when heard is a fine complement to the band's sound. It's not so much the mix, but the fact that he is just drowned out much of the time.

Other Side, Wooden Ships, and Ballad of You, Me & Pooneil feature lengthy jams within, demonstrating the band's inventiveness and dedication of the free-form jamming of Acid Rock at its best. Incorporated into Pooneil is an inclusion of the song "Starship" from Blows Against The Empire, a nice bonus. Saturday Afternoon/Won't You Try? is stunning here, almost a religious statement of the sacramental use of LSD within the hippie movement. Pooneil and White Rabbit follow this theme in no uncertain terms, and the band firmly throw down the gauntlet as to where they stand on the drug culture. After several false starts (I think they just forgot the song for a few seconds!) they close with the dark and spooky, House At Pooneil Corners, almost seeming to provide a glimpse of the Altamont fiasco to come later that year.

Frequently lost in the perception of Jefferson Airplane is the fact that they were first and foremost a live band, a hard-driving and inventive concert act that ROCKED the crowd's asses off. There is no doubt about that after listening to this performance. Truly, this is a must-have for any serious Airplane fan. No collection of Jefferson Airplane will ever be complete without it. Buy it, put on a good pair of headphones and CRANK IT UP. You won't regret it.

This is equal to the greatest music I've ever heard. It really captures that trippy "one-mind" Woodstock ecstasy. Jorma's guitar, especially, (sorry for this cliche, but it's true:) is mind blowing. The 21 minute Wooden Ships... WOW. And it's fun to hear Grace Slick talk about the "whole lot of orange" the band took, how "everybody is vibrating" at the end of Eskimo Blue Day. I just wanted to say: there's no reason to complain that the first CD contains the studio album Volunteers. There's enough greatness on that CD to justify inclusion. If you, say, program for We Can Be Together, Good Shepherd, Hey Frederick...THEN go to the live tracks....you have a wonderful listening experience on CD 1, with no repeated titles. Volunteers is a super strong album when it comes to generating a feeling of "hippie patriotism." Up against the wall.....MFer!