We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago…..
The album cover folded over to become a stash box. Does anything scream early 70’s more than that. The Jefferson Airplane released their final LP “Long John Silver” in July of 72′ before finally splintering into the Hot Tuna camp (Jorma & Jack) and the soon to be Jefferson Starship camp (Slick-Kantner-Creach).
The album is dominated by Jorma Kaukonen’s menacing guitar licks & Papa John Creach’s soaring violin. The vocals are buried so far in the mix that even if you wanted to follow along, without liner notes there is no way.
Grace seems to be slipping a bit…more screechy than usual. But I do like the Creach penned ‘Milk Train and also much of Side 2, “Trial by Fire” and “Eat Starch Mom” music from Jorma-lyrics from Slick and Kantner’s “Alexander The Medium”.
The album made it to #20 on the charts, the worst effort since their debut in 1966. The critics didnt like it..calling it pretentious and boring.
The final tour culminated at their old stomping grounds…Winterland in San Francisco…here is the show…
1972 was seeing the last gasp from some of the bands that broke out in the mid to late 60s. Another epitaph fo the “60s” of mythological legend.
I am off on Monday…the next blog will be Tuesday July 5th.
