This album made the Airplane's relations with the then ultra-conservative RCA a little tense. The label knew they had potentially one of America's biggest bands on their hands, and were compelled to let them use the "F" word--unprecedented on a major-label release at the time-- on "We Can Be Together." A more substantive sticking point, though, was the group's left-of-center political stance at that time, as expressed on the exhilarating call-to-arms title tune. VOLUNTEERS found the airplane at the vanguard of the burgeoning protest movement as realized in music, and "We Can Be Together" is more of a rallying cry than an invitation to a love-in. Even the Crosby-Stills-Kantner science fiction fantasy "Wooden Ships" is post-apocalyptic rather than dreamily fanciful. "Eskimo Blue Day" and "Good Shepherd" are additional high points, as is the blatant sexuality of "Hey Frederick" where Grace Slick sings "either go away or go all the way in."
We Can Be Together; Hey Frederick; Eskimo Blue Day , and the rest of this 1969 classic are joined by five unreleased live tracks from the Airplane's Nov.28-29, 1969 gigs at the Fillmore East, including Good Shepherd; Somebody to Love; Plastic Fantastic Lover; Wooden Ships , and Volunteers . Up against the wall!
Liner Note Author: Jeff Tamarkin.
Recording information: Fillmore East, New York, NY (03/28/1969-11/29/1969).
Unknown Contributor Role: Jorma Kaukonen.
Arranger: Paul Kantner.
Jefferson Airplane: Paul Kantner (vocals, guitar); Marty Balin, Grace Slick (vocals); Jorma Kaukonen (guitar); Jack Casady (bass guitar); Spencer Dryden (drums).
Additional personnel: Jerry Garcia (steel guitar); Nicky Hopkins (piano); Stephen Stills (organ); Joey Covington (percussion); David Crosby, Mary Gannon, Denise Jewkes, Diane Hursh, Marilyn Hunt (background vocals).
Rolling Stone (2/21/70, p.46) - "...the best cut on the album is their version of 'Wooden Ships': an epic performance, and one of the best the Airplane has ever done....another major song...is 'Hey Fredrick', which contains some really inspired instrumental work..." Rolling Stone (12/7/00, p.114) - 4.5 stars out of 5 - "...The Airplane's last great blast of psychedelic magic...and an honest document of its time, sometimes painfully so....a thrilling testament to the power and beauty of despiar..." Uncut (p.114) - "[A] truly great album and an insurrectionary rallying cry for the Woodstock generation that captured both the defiant hope and the righteous, if confused, anger of the times." Uncut (p.128) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[I]t still creates inspirational heat."
JA's Best From the opening chords of "We Can Be Together", one gets the feeling that this could be the Jefferson Airplane at their best. And it is. This collection, originally released in late 1969, has some of the best music the band ever recorded including Grace Slick's "Eskimo Blue Day", Jorma Kaukonen's interpretation of "Good Shepherd", and of course the title cut. Although the remastered version offers five additional previously unreleased live tracks of various songs including "Somebody to Love", the music on all of these is uneven and largely forgettable. Submitted by Chuck K (Essex, IA, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 1 found this helpful.
GREAT! I remember this album from when it was new and I just had to have it. Grace Slick has her usual strong voice and the CD really hits the spot! Submitted by robinlukenbaughus (La Porte, TX USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
sound quality sucks I owned this album 30 years ago and was looking forward to having it again on cd. The music is excellent, vintage Airplane. I am extremely dissapointed at the "remastering" of this recording. It sounds muddy at best. I do not recommend unless you are interested in hearing the alternate takes. Submitted by a reviewer (las vegas, nevada) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo This review is for a different format.
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Buy Volunteers CD
Buy Jefferson Airplane - Volunteers Posters From Allposters.com
JA's Best
sound quality sucks
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