I was/have been a major J-A fan, from "Pillow" at least through the first couple of Starship albums. There was a lot to like - that great wall of hypnotic tribal harmonies, the honestly-jangling pop-turning-psychedelic guitars, Casady's none-bigger-balls bass tone and lines, Jorma's intricacies and Kantner's electric folkie tone and approach, of course Grace's knifey (and sometimes honied) voice, and - in the day - all the hippie philosophizin' and politickin'.
That stuff now make most of the later albums unlistenable. Still, if I make the effort to ignore that and ride the melodies and textures, the stuff stands up OK. Not as "good" a band as Moby Grape, probably, but J-A was arguably more inventive and original, and had more lasting impact.
"Surrealistic Pillow," "After Bathing at Baxters," "Crown of Creation," and "Blows Against the Empire" remain beloved in my collection. "Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit" are indeed iconic; it's hard to take away from or add to the J-A versions.
The clean, honest guitar tones and the direct recording methods of the day are a big part of that, but the band arrangements are skillful and distinctive too.
I've always been aware of The Great Society, but had never heard any - good link, Shuie, and thanks. I also listened to the other cuts, and watched some of the live Airplane vids. Takesya back, donit?
Jorma Kaukonen now runs a "music ranch" in the backyard of my old southeastern Ohio stomping ground...what Kantner, Casady, and Balin are doing I've lost track.
Grace remains an interesting character. Do we see her as a rich, privileged society girl who played hippie and feigned revolutionary values to make a buck, and for the self-indulgent pleasures to be had, then reverted to suburban matriarch?
It's curious to me that a daughter of power and privilege played a leadership role in a quickly co-opted "counterculture," feeding our poor young impressionable heads with all kinds of free-everything nonsense – all the while cementing her position in power and privilege.
She's certainly always known how to make the sale.
Behind the culture-war drama there's just one game, and class in the end is everything.
Gracie today
