Customer Reviews

Manhole

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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Grace Slick was a quirky artist (I say "was" on the assumption that her retirement is indeed permanent), and I don't know that she really comprehended that this release was not at all commercially viable. RCA had been pushing her to do a solo album for years, and Grace was actually a little reluctant to do so. Unlike most of her contemporary female singers (Janis, Linda Ronstadt, maybe Nico) she was not particularly eager to make the transition from band member to solo star. She didn't mind participating in splinter projects with other Airplane members, but she had little or no interest in flying solo at this junction of her career.

So in a way, she didn't. The album she turned in reportedly infuriated some of the bigs at RCA--only six tracks, one of them a truly solo magnum opus entitled "Theme From the Movie 'Manhole'"--more like a complete soundtrack actually. Two of the other tracks, "It's Only Music" and "Epic #38" did not even feature Grace on lead vocal. In fact, as Boston was quick to point out, Grace does not even appear at all on the former track!

But that was typical of Grace in a way. After that 17 minute Meisterstueck and two other Grace tracks, well, "that's enough of me. Give 'em something else." This was the same Grace who would yield to the Airplane instrumentalists on tracks like "Bear Melt" and "Hey, Frederick" and come back only for the slightest return at the end of the song--or not at all, as the case may be. It was a star move, simultaneously arrogant and humble ("OK, boys, I've done my bit, now you take over.")

Of course, that's still a risky strategy and runs the risk of alienating some fans who may have actually been looking forward to an all-Grace album. But reading the comments below, I'd have to say that it does not appear to have been a problem for the real devotees. Those are the folks who did indeed get swept up in the lush Romanticism (and, no, I don't mean lovey-doveyness) of the title track, who appreciate the sly sexy frankness of the barrelhouse "Better Lying Down" and the patented, snakey vocal of "Come Again? Toucan."

There seems to be a common perception out there that this record was universally panned when it came out. Actually, I recall reading a number of reviews on it that were very positive. Interestingly enough, these were penned by women critics. Could it be that they understood more readily what Grace was up to. Women's ways of knowing and all that. One thing that many in the rock-crit establishment seemed to miss was the cinematic feel of this imaginary soundtrack. The Spanish feel is evocative of classic Bunuel and Dali. By the way, the Spanish lyrics are hardly indecipherable, although she could have doubtless used a bit of help with the translations. But where I disagree most with Boston, and what I think is key here, is that after years of vocal problems, we found Grace singing with renewed enthusiasm and commitment on this album. And that alone is worth the price of admission.

Grace Slick will go down in Rock history as one of the most influential vocalists. You can her her influence in many female vocalists from the 70's on. Concrete Blond's Johnette Napolatano in particular. Sadly, her solo work didn't quite cut it compared to her work with Jefferson Airplane and her co-work with Paul Kantner. What makes this album really worth the purchase is the 15 minute plus title track, which features some incredible vocal gymnastics. Better Lying Down is great pornographic Blues. Eat your heart out Alannis, Liz Phair and Madonna. To be fair to Alannis, she pretty much dropped the potty mouth after her first release. Come Again Toucan is nice, but what really weakens this effort are two songs. It's Only Music, which she not only didn't write, but doesn't even sing on. David Frieberg handles that one. Then there's Epic 38, where she's only singing harmony. Good song, but why put it on a Grace solo effort?... She really wanted to work more in the context of a contributing band member as opposed to solo work. In closing, buy this for no other reason than the title track and Better Lying Down. That voice will send shivers up the back of your neck

Manhole is another of the must-have Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship releases if you are a fan of the JA/JS sound. Produced by Grace, Paul Kantner, and David Freiberg, this original 1973 release continues with the sound that makes this group unique. Epic(#38) and It's Only Music are two of my all-time favorite JA/JS songs and help make this album great. Better Lying Down and Manhole show Grace at her best. And the ultimate message in the song Manhole is one that every person should hear as it is as true today as it was yesterday and will be tomorrow. Thanks to all for making this music available on CD!

The music here is sometimes draggy and repetitive. The arrangements are overwrought in high prog-rock style. The lyrics don't quite make sense. And none of that matters one bit.

This is Grace Slick at the peak of her vocal achievement. She has reached the vocal power that her Jefferson Airplane work only hinted at, and she is not the sad shell of her former self that is heard on the later Starship albums. Her singing ranks up with the great female forces of nature. That's enough to make this album a must-have.

First off I love this album. I've always been a sucker for non commercial artistically satisfying music. This one takes several listenings to get it. That said, it's hard to consider this a "solo" album. Sure it has Grace's name on the cover but it has a lot more in common with Baron Von Tollbooth & Sunfighter than say, Dreams. It is a bridge between the Jefferson Airplane & the Jefferson Starship that is well worth having.

When one loves someones voice, almost anything that comes from them vocally, will be loved.
Case in point: myself and Grace Slicks voice.

Her voice never seems (seemed) to mystify, intrigue, turn me on, and make me feel very interested in the fact that she and her voice are unpredicable, interesting and not boring as compared to any other female voice in music.
But if you are in love with art, you arent too unbiased.

Now to this album.
I only like the songs Grace is the center of. Thats the case in all my interest in JA/JS/Starship and when I saw them live.
If I didnt see or hear Grace at a concert or on an album, I wasnt intersted.
I told her once about this and she wrote me in an autograph: "Come down from there". Classic, brilliant Grace but remember this review is very biased by me.

Someone mentioned the Spanish is indecipherable. As Spanish is my second language, it is not indecipherable at all.
Firstly, Grace got the translations from a Spanish janitor at the recording studio as she was penning the song.
The translations are pure poetic and of course make no sense and cant be translated to English just as English poetry cant be perfectly translated back to Spanish. Besides the English lyrics of the Spanish here is translated into English in "Theme".
"Quatro pedazos de metal con punta, corte el aire, corte el suelo"..........man must fly.
Basically saying is describing a spaceship taking off into space, cutting into the air.

Her voice here is just incredible. From the Spanish intonnations of the Rs....in the word "carne" to the rest of the range of loud, soft, vibrato, etc. Just awesome.

In "Better Lying Down", I love the power of her voice and love the Central Park tape of this song, live, from 5-12-75 which gave her less control but was less predictable which is a Grace trademark.

"Toucan" is my least fav from here but still love the range of voice and Im still wondering what she said low at the end of the song, which to me, was....."wish it were Spanish".
There is a live version of this too that I have but prefer the studio one.

As for the other songs here, YES, Grace wasnt on them cause she was partying a lot and didnt make the studio so the rest of the musicians recorded it. I dont think it was her choice to have them do this, it had to be done without her presence.

Thanx Grace to the happiness you have given and I still havent "Come down from there".
LOL......Like shes really reading this.

g.

Grace Slick is arguably the best vocalist in the history of the universe. She could have dominated any type of music if she wished. Give her a hat and boots and she'd set the standard for weepy Country ladies. Put 100 pounds, a breastplate and a helm with ox horns on her and she be the best fat lady ever to sing.

No one holds and varies a note better than Slick. As proof, listen to "Theme From The Movie Manhole." One of her many talents is to slide into a vocal and take it over, bending it to her will -- suddenly the song is Grace, yet she never steps on her fellow musicians (Listen to "Knock Me Out" on Linda Perry's excellent album "In Flight"). Of course, on "Theme From The Movie Manhole," Grace is almost by herself in front of a rock band composed of luminaries of the San Francisco Sound, plus David Crosby, and a string-and-horn orchestra. It's a tour de force.

"Sunrise." "Hey Frederick." "Eskimo Blue Day." "Wooden Ships." "Lather." "Triad."

If you like the Airplane, buy this. If you liked the original, first Starship, buy this. You like Kantner, buy this. If you like the pop Starship, buy this anyway. If you like great female vocals, buy this. If you are happy China Slick was on MTV, buy this.

Can you tell I like Grace? (We've had two dogs named Lather.) Filter my remarks accordingly. And buy this. Grace will appreciate the retirement income.

A friend of mine has been talking about this album forever and I was happy to see it is still available and as he said, it is one of Grace Slick's best efforts. Thanks. You made him and me real happy.

This was the last in a series of solo projects Paul Kantner and Grace Slick did during the 1970's. I've only seen bad reviews of this, and never any that review the songs, so I'm here to let you know what you'll get. One track, "It's Only Music" features David Friedberg singing, not Grace. This is the only thing that stopped me from giving this a five star rating. It brings down the quality of the album somewhat. Otherwise though, I find this a very enjoyable album. The title track is not for everyone. Its a 15 minute epic. Myself, I think its excellent. "Jay" is a very dark piece, sung in Spanish. "Epic" is a massivley produced song featuring bagpipes that has words that try and defy people who think the 60's ideals failed. "Come Again..." is a poppy number with interesting lyrics and sounds a bit like Santana. "Better Lying Down" is Grace alone at the piano and the title pretty much explains itself. Overall, I'd say this is a very unique album, which deserves a little more respect that it got.

This a wonderful album. Grace has never sounded better or more inspired. The supporting players are the cream of the San Francsico music scene.

Sit back, light the Hooka and journey to another place and time.