HAL'S DEATH BY JEFFERSON AIRPLANE BOOTLEGS COMPILATION
5 CDs of Jefferson Airplane and related music
compiled by Hal Broome, December 2004 - January 2005
To understand the nature of this compilation I have to bore you with
a little background first. In the late 1980s to mid-90s I was living
in the San Francisco Bay area where I took the opportunity to hear
as many of my favorite old bands of my childhood from the 60s as I could.
Happenstance decreed that one day I wound up backstage with Bill Graham,
Grace Slick, Paul Kantner, John Cipollina, Carlos Santana, Country Joe
McDonald, J.G., and the usual suspects of a free concert in Golden Gate Park.
Loving to write, I posted a review (that, sadly, I didn't keep) that
sparked enough interest to keep me writing about the concerts I attended.
It rather snowballed into a fulltime hobby of posting to the only
outlet for Jefferson Airplane fans at the time (rec.music.gdead), and
led to my eventually meeting my musical heroes and even interviewing
them backstage.
Along the way I had a lot of support from people who liked reading
my reviews, and who treated me very kindly to copies of their personal
favorite bootlegs, or, in some instances, soundboards of the shows
I reviewed. This compilation is dedicated to them: its audience,
however, is the novice JA fan who wants to hear more about what
makes this rather irregular band such a devotion to others.
The main reason I put this together was that, after 3 years in
Central America, I had returned to the States and found my old
collection of analog tapes sadly neglected under the bed along
with the dust bunnies. Enough time had elapsed for me to
realize the value of some of it -- after all, I had transcribed
some of the interviews, but had never released them, and then
there was all that great music. So, with a copy of JAbase,
I went through the steep learning curve of how to digitize, and
then wet my feet in a bootleg trading hub, gathering some more
JA I did not have. There I received an email from a person in
Holland who very much wanted an "introduction" to JA, and would
be glad to send me five CDs of rare Sandy Denny if I complied.
Sure! So I made this compilation specifically for him, knowing
his other tastes: Fairport Convention, and CSN & Y. The latter
was easy enough to fit in; as for the former, well, you'll see 8').
So CDs 1 - 4 are an aural history of the Jefferson Airplane, starting
in a period where Spencer Dryden had joined the band and Signe was
preparing to leave. I have put in, as chronogically as possible
(just read JAbase to know how problematic that is!), what I think
are the classic songs of each JA period, showing the good along
with -- and fans will admit this -- the bad. Along the way I
picked a few favorite tunes ("Good Shepherd," for instance) and
deliberately chose variations to show how it developed live in
concert (from Grace as the main singer to Jorma and then to a
duo of them both). Some choices are just me being quirky. Others
are because it is the first live appearance of the song. Then
others are due to my trading friend's tastes: he asked for me
to put in "Eskimo Blue Day," so ok, two different versions coming
up! After doing the CD 1 - 4 chronology, I then took a different
tack for 5: here I slip in some snippets of my interviews and show
some of the later stages of what, to me, is one of the most
puzzling, maddening, irritatingly brilliant bands to have come
out of San Francisco.
Having mailed off the compilation to Holland, I later took a
listen to what I had done. I was surprised how well it flowed;
perhaps due to the analog sources, it was fairly well normalized
without treatment (these are all lossless sources, btw; my only
treatment is dc-offset correction). I then tweaked it a bit;
added a song here, took one away there, and then, for its release
here, cut out a Hot Tuna number (but was able to leave in my
interview with that band as the mods/admins at EZT have given
their nod to my sole rights on the interviews; thank you!).
So, for the novice, with a tidbit or two for the serious collector,
I pay tribute to my favorite band and the idiosyncratic fans
that follow them. -- Hal Broome, January 28, 2005.
Jefferson Airplane Compilation Disk 1 of 5
1. Other Side of this Life (Sept. 23, 1966, Winterland Aud.)
2. It's No Secret (ditto) --
The sound of a plane taking off that opens this set was used for several
songs, and is most likely the progenitor of the starship taking off in Paul's
BLOWS AGAINST THE EMPIRE (put together by Graham Nash).
3. Come Up the Years (Oct. 2, 1966, Fillmore Aud.)
4. Fly Trans Love Airways (Oct. 2, 1966) -- first appearance of Donovan's
"Fat Angel," a.k.a. "Fly Trans Love Airways." The original fat angel was
Mama Cass Elliot of the Mamas and the Papas, and of course the
airplane was an additional allusion to the West Coast sound.
5. Don't Slip Away (Oct. 7, 1966, Winterland Aud.)
6. High Flying Bird (Oct. 7, 1966) -- Signe is about a week away from leaving.
These songs originally appeared with Signe as vocalist, although early-recorded
Grace versions do exist.
7. Bringing Me Down (Oct. 14, 1966, Fillmore Aud.)
8. Jam (Oct. 14, 1966) -- Signe begins her last three-day run at the Fillmore.
Confusion exists over whether she finished the entire run, or whether Grace stepped in
on the last day, Nov. 16, so I have just put in the known Signe run of two days.
9.-10. Bill Graham intro > jam
3-5ths of a Mile in Ten Seconds (Oct. 15, 1966)
The first appearance of "3-5ths of a Mile" and with Signe
as vocalist. Grace's later version would of course open SURREALISTIC PILLOW
and be a staple of the band; not many have heard Signe singing with Marty on this.
10. My Best Friend (Nov. 2, 1966, venue unknown?)
11. Plastic Fantastic Lover (Nov. 2, 1966)
12. Today (Nov. 2, 1966)
13. White Rabbit (Nov. 2, 1966)
14. In the Midnight Hour (Nov. 2, 1966)
15. She Has Funny Cars (Nov. 2, 1966) -- Some have argued this is the third day of the
Oct. Fillmore run, or else another venue closer to that date. Given all the new songs from
the recording in progress (SP), I believe this really is Nov. 2, 1966. As such,
"White Rabbit" had just been recorded for that album three days earlier!
A historic concert, whatever the real date.
16. Somebody to Love (Nov. 25, 1966, Fillmore Aud.) -- Grace had performed this with her
original band, the Great Society, but this is an early Airplane appearance of the soon-to-be
hit song.
17. Go To Her (Nov. 26, 1966, Fillmore Aud.) -- Both Signe and Grace recorded versions;
this is Grace live.
Jefferson Airplane Compilation Disk 1 of 5
1. Other Side of this Life (Sept. 23 [30th is more likely], 1966, Winterland Aud.)
2. It's No Secret (ditto) --
The sound of a plane taking off that opens this set was used for several
songs, and is most likely the progenitor of the starship taking off in Paul's
BLOWS AGAINST THE EMPIRE (put together by Graham Nash).
3. Come Up the Years (Oct. 2, 1966, Fillmore Aud.)
4. Fly Trans Love Airways (Oct. 2, 1966) -- first appearance of Donovan's
"Fat Angel," a.k.a. "Fly Trans Love Airways." The original fat angel was
Mama Cass Elliot of the Mamas and the Papas, and of course the
airplane was an additional allusion to the West Coast sound.
5. Don't Slip Away (Oct. 7, 1966, Winterland Aud.)
6. High Flying Bird (Oct. 7, 1966) -- Signe is about a week away from leaving.
These songs originally appeared with Signe as vocalist, although early-recorded
Grace versions do exist.
7. Bringing Me Down (Oct. 14, 1966, Fillmore Aud.)
8. Jam (Oct. 14, 1966) -- Signe begins her last three-day run at the Fillmore.
Confusion exists over whether she finished the entire run, or whether Grace stepped in
on the last day, Nov. 16, so I have just put in the known Signe run of two days.
9.-10. Bill Graham intro > jam
3-5ths of a Mile in Ten Seconds (Oct. 15, 1966)
The first appearance of "3-5ths of a Mile" and with Signe
as vocalist. Grace's later version would of course open SURREALISTIC PILLOW
and be a staple of the band; not many have heard Signe singing with Marty on this.
10. My Best Friend (Nov. 6, 1966, venue unknown?)
11. Plastic Fantastic Lover (Nov. 6, 1966)
12. Today (Nov. 6, 1966)
13. White Rabbit (Nov. 6, 1966)
14. In the Midnight Hour (Nov. 6, 1966)
15. She Has Funny Cars (Nov. 6, 1966) -- Some have argued this is the third day of the
Oct. Fillmore run, or else another venue closer to that date. Given all the new songs from
the recording in progress (SP), I believe this really is Nov. 6, 1966. As such,
"White Rabbit" had just been recorded for that album three days earlier!
A historic concert, whatever the real date.
16. Somebody to Love (Nov. 25, 1966, Fillmore Aud.) -- Grace had performed this with her
original band, the Great Society, but this is an early Airplane appearance of the soon-to-be
hit song.
17. Go To Her (Nov. 26, 1966, Fillmore Aud.) -- Both Signe and Grace recorded versions;
this is Grace live.
*****
CD 2
Ronald Reagan's reaction to the new "scene"
Get Together
Feb. 4, 1967 (Fillmore) -- classic speech by a young governor as well as a classic
song by Dino Valenti. How could I improve upon the venerable "San
Franciscan Nights 1"? I did choose "Get Together" as appropriate
for following the -- in retrospect, very humuorous! -- RR's speech.
--
Come Back Baby
Leave Me Alone
March 10 and 12, 1967 (Winterland). A new booking agent had the hot
new band touring, and "Come Back Baby," if compared with the jams of 1966,
indicates the future emergence of Hot Tuna; "Leave Me Alone" shows how
Marty could have easily been a part of that.
--
Saturday Afternoon / Won't You Try
May 19, 1967 -- Men's Gym, CA Polytechnic -- first live appearance of this song;
it would later be reworked in the studio sessions that follow.
--
Saturday Afternoon / Won't You Try
Martha
Oct. 2-5 (?), 1967 -- rehearsals for recording AFTER BATHING AT BAXTER'S. Very
haunting "Martha" jam with Grace on recorder and keyboards. Took place at
Pacific High Studios (or Winterland).
--
Young Girl Sunday Blues
Two Heads
Share a Little Joke
Feb. 1, 1968 -- a very powerful performance of BAXTER'S tunes. For once the
band returned to the Matrix as they had just fired Bill Graham as manager and
no doubt thought it politic not to show up at you-know-where for a while.
--
Star Track
Greasy Heart
Fat Angel
May 17-18, 1968. Rare live performance of Jorma's contribution to a new album in the
making, CROWN OF CREATION. Then Grace's classic "Greasy Heart" on the next day.
The "Fat Angel" on that same last day shows that the improvisatory nature of the band was
changing for the better, and is one of my favorite versions. . . .
May 17 is most likely Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, with the 18th the Santa Clara
Fairgrounds.
*****
CD 3
If You Feel (Like China Breaking) -- Sept. 10 '68 -- Musikhalle, Hamburg, Germany
Wooden Ships -- April 26, 1969 -- the Swing Auditorium, San Bernadino
Good Shepherd
We Can Be Together
May 7, 1969 -- free concert in Golden Gate Park, SF CA
Ballad of You, Me, & Pooneil -- June 9, 1969 "Family Dog @ Great Hwy"
Good Shepherd
Eskimo Blue Day -- June 13, 1969 "Family Dog @ Great Hwy"
Wild Thyme
Eskimo Blue Day
Oct. 26, 1969 -- Winterland Auditorium, SF CA
Greasy Heart -- Feb. 7, 1970 -- Anaheim Convention Center
Have You Seen the Saucers -- March 24, 1970 Capitol Theatre,
Port Chester NY
*****
CD 4
Crown of Creation -- May 1st, 1970 -- Stony Brook, NY
Mexico -- May 7, 1970 -- Fillmore East, NY
Eat Starch Mom -- Sept. 3, 1972 -- Hollywood Bowl, L.A. CA
Blind John
Long John Silver
Aerie -- Sept. 22, 1972 -- Winterland, SF CA
Love Don't Lie -- Sept. 10, 1984 -- Bandshell, GGP SF CA (solo Marty)
Planes -- Aug. 18, 1989 -- Riverside Theater, Milwaukee
Good Shepherd
Freedom
Sept. 22, 1989 -- Greek Theater, Berkeley CA
Summer of Love
True Love
Sept. 30, 1989 -- Polo Fields, GGP SF CA
She Has Funny Cars -- Oct. 7, 1989 -- Free Concert for the Homeless
Washington D.C.
Hal's "Death by Jefferson Airplane Bootlegs" (CD 5 of 5)
Some brief snippets of interviews (I'll try to bring them out
individually at some point; meanwhile, I haven't touched upon
those with Prairie Prince, Tim Gorman, and Slick Aguilar yet).
Five CDs was like writing a novel with a haiku poem!
Songs were chosen to either illustrate the interviewed person
or to capture a little of what happened post-Airplane.
*****
CD 5
Hal talks with Jorma (Santa Clara, April 24, 1992)
[I try to take him back to his student days]
Plastic Fantastic Lover -- Sept. 28, 1989 -- Fillmore Auditorium
[final Fillmore appearance ever -- Sept. 26th was the best!]
Hal talks with Papa John (Veteran's Benefit, San Jose, no date, '92)
[I ask him about one of his solo numbers; Gretchen is there too
but I'm saving the full treatment for Valentine's Day]
Somewhere Over the Rainbow -- Oct. 9, 1992 -- Catalyst, Santa Cruz
[The solo number: I have the SBD of the whole show]
Hal talks with Darby Gould (San Jose, no date, a month or so later)
[Talks about working for several bands at once; throat problems]
Genesis Hall -- Oct. 9, 1992 -- Catalyst, Santa Cruz
[A Richard Thompson cover: had to get in Fairport somehow!]
PERRO (proto-Mountain Song) -- Wally Heider's studio 1/2/71
[From Stephan Barncard's famous tapes; our Airplane heroes in the
studio with Jerry Garcia, David Crosby, and -- Phil Lesh, maybe?
As far as I know Crosby dropped the song but Paul took it up on
his album PLANET EARTH ROCK N' ROLL ORCHESTRA]
Mountain Song
Have You Seen the Stars Tonight -- Feb. 13, 1994 -- Seva Benefit, Masonic Hall SF CA
[From Wavy's wonderful 25th anniversary tribute to Woodstock; too bad
I can't use the Hot Tuna section! I have the whole concert, though.
Here Paul not only plays the completed song but invites Crosby to
to join him on another song they wrote together: a gorgeous one!]
Transcaucasian White Boy -- no date, '73?, Wally Heider Studio
[From the outtakes/working tapes of BARON VON TOLLBOOTH: Dave Tamarkin's
excellent Ultimate JA Collection #1 used "Your Mind Has Left Your Body" so
I used another, equally atmospheric tune from one of my favorite albums]
Silver Spoon -- no date, Wally Heider Studio
[From Dave Tamarkin's Ultimate JA Collection #2; a very powerful Grace moment]
BLOWS AGAINST THE EMPIRE -- Oct. 19th, 1974 -- Radio City Music Hall
[A quirky choice: this album turned me from an Airplane fan into a full-
fledged fanatic. Here it is live with Freiberg, Pete Sears -- who would
later jump ship for Hot Tuna (I have some interview material with him),
Johnny Barbata (another CSN&Y tie-in), and the one and only Papa John Creach]
HAL'S DEATH BY JEFFERSON AIRPLANE BOOTLEGS COMPILATION
5 CDs of Jefferson Airplane and related music
compiled by Hal Broome, December 2004 - January 2005
To understand the nature of this compilation I have to bore you with a little background first. In the late 1980s to mid-90s I was living in the San Francisco Bay area where I took the opportunity to hear as many of my favorite old bands of my childhood from the 60s as I could. Happenstance decreed that one day I wound up backstage with Bill Graham, Grace Slick, Paul Kantner, John Cipollina, Carlos Santana, Country Joe McDonald, J.G., and the usual suspects of a free concert in Golden Gate Park. Loving to write, I posted a review (that, sadly, I didn't keep) that sparked enough interest to keep me writing about the concerts I attended. It rather snowballed into a fulltime hobby of posting to the only outlet for Jefferson Airplane fans at the time (rec.music.gdead), and led to my eventually meeting my musical heroes and even interviewing them backstage.
Along the way I had a lot of support from people who liked reading my reviews, and who treated me very kindly to copies of their personal favorite bootlegs, or, in some instances, soundboards of the shows I reviewed. This compilation is dedicated to them: its audience, however, is the novice JA fan who wants to hear more about what makes this rather irregular band such a devotion to others.
The main reason I put this together was that, after 3 years in Central America, I had returned to the States and found my old collection of analog tapes sadly neglected under the bed along with the dust bunnies. Enough time had elapsed for me to realize the value of some of it -- after all, I had transcribed some of the interviews, but had never released them, and then there was all that great music. So, with a copy of JAbase, I went through the steep learning curve of how to digitize, and then wet my feet in a bootleg trading hub, gathering some more JA I did not have. There I received an email from a person in Holland who very much wanted an "introduction" to JA, and would be glad to send me five CDs of rare Sandy Denny if I complied.
Sure! So I made this compilation specifically for him, knowing his other tastes: Fairport Convention, and CSN & Y. The latter was easy enough to fit in; as for the former, well, you'll see 8').
So CDs 1 - 4 are an aural history of the Jefferson Airplane, starting in a period where Spencer Dryden had joined the band and Signe was preparing to leave. I have put in, as chronologically as possible (just read JAbase to know how problematic that is!), what I think are the classic songs of each JA period, showing the good along with -- and fans will admit this -- the bad. Along the way I picked a few favorite tunes ("Good Shepherd," for instance) and deliberately chose variations to show how it developed live in concert (from Grace as the main singer to Jorma and then to a duo of them both). Some choices are just me being quirky. Others are because it is the first live appearance of the song. Then others are due to my trading friend's tastes: he asked for me to put in "Eskimo Blue Day," so ok, two different versions coming up! After doing the CD 1 - 4 chronology, I then took a different tack for 5: here I slip in some snippets of my interviews and show some of the later stages of what, to me, is one of the most puzzling, maddening, irritatingly brilliant bands to have come out of San Francisco.
Having mailed off the compilation to Holland, I later took a listen to what I had done. I was surprised how well it flowed; perhaps due to the analog sources, it was fairly well normalized without treatment (these are all lossless sources, btw; my only treatment is dc-offset correction). I then tweaked it a bit; added a song here, took one away there, and then, for its release here, cut out a Hot Tuna number (but was able to leave in my interview with that band as the mods/admins at EZT have given their nod to my sole rights on the interviews; thank you!).
So, for the novice, with a tidbit or two for the serious collector, I pay tribute to my favorite band and the idiosyncratic fans that follow them. -- Hal Broome, January 28, 2005.