Jefferson Airplane - Sweeping Up the Spotlight Live at Fillmore East 69
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Free Music Notes for Sweeping Up the Spotlight Live at Fillmore East 69
Free Music Review: Jefferson Airplane on Auto-Pilot
Hit: 2 Stars
What an incredible disappointment this disc is! With each new Airplane "live" release I anticipate the sister album to "Bless its Pointed Little Head," one of the greatest concert albums of that era, alas it is not to be, sadly again. Which I don't understand, because as a devoted fan of the Jefferson Airplane I firmly believe there has to be more seminal "live" material of the perfected quality heard on "Pointed Head" locked away in an RCA vault somewhere in California.
I know, because I (sort of) clearly remember hearing the Airplane play one of the greatest concerts I ever attended in the gymnasium of the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia on about, Nov. 25, 1969, a few days before these New York recordings were made. I am still naïve enough at 54 to purchase this CD thinking this would capture "my J.A. concert" and I was going to trip back in time to a magical night in Philly when the Jefferson Airplane were soaring in full flight, instead I get this bummer of a crash landing.
Part of what made the U. Penn. Concert so memorable was the song selection from the Airplane catalog,, gems like "If You Feel", "Young Girl Sunday Blues", "Triad" and "Lather" as well as the (then) new stuff, "We Can Be Together" and "Hey Frederick". None of which appear on this cd, consisting of a tired rehash of songs that are better performed elsewhere. The songs on "Sweeping Up The Spotlight" (you know they have lost control of their music with such a lame title) sound rushed, as if they are very nervous (doubtful) or hopped up on too much speed (more likely). The exception is a bad version of "Good Shepard" that is so lethargic (with Jorma singing like he is in the john) it begs to be put out of it's seven minute misery. Two other mediocre time wasters are tepid renditions of "Uncle Sam's Blues" and "You Wear Your Dresses Too Short". The later was supposedly written for Otis Redding before he passed, and was wisely turned down by other soul music greats. Though Areatha Franklin did a version of "Come Back Baby" written by that famous guy, Traditional, that leaves Jorma's arrangement staring into the punchbowl at the Kool-Aid Acid Test.
So what is good about this recording? Jack Cassady saves the day with a bass solo in the middle of "The Ballad of You & Me & Pooneil" that will make you stop what you are doing and lose track of time--he is a master. They all are, which is what made the Jefferson Airplane so great. But it deepens the sorrow of their passing into music history when decidedly less-than stellar efforts are released and offered up as part of that history.
Free Music Review: Not flying...
Hit: 2 Stars
This release is mostly well-recorded, but, well, the Airplane was not what it had been anymore. More rock-oriented than before and sometimes going nowhere (nowhere interesting, at least), the band sounds loud but flat, unimaginative, and, to make matters worse, the vocals are not in tune AT ALL. Grace's voice was not the same, it sounds ragged (notably on "White Rabbit") and Kaukonen's guitar is all over, but not to good results.
It is obvious that Dryden (a very, very, really very good drummer) was not suitable for the band anymore. Subtelty was just vanishing and the band ended being just a monotonous band.
The cd jacket features one of the most beautiful band photos, taken at golden times, by the way. Jorma's liner notes do not say much.
Well, I do not recommend this, as you can guess.
(For those lookinf for Airplane live recordings, I recommend , of course, "Blessed Its Pointed Little Head", "Fillmore East 1968" and the concert at Monterey Pop Festival (in that order).
Free Music Review: Going Through the Motions
Hit: 2 Stars
There seems to no middle ground on live Jefferson Airplane cd's. I've loved this band for 40 years but this material sounds perfunctory and uninspired to me. I think "Live at The Fillmore East" is their best concert cd, followed by "Live at Monterey." I also dislike "BIPLH."Free Music Review: End of the ride
Hit: 1 Stars
I wonder if all the posters here are listening to the same cd as I am. This is the Airplane at the tail end of their power and it ain't pretty. Marty, Grace, and Paul are shouting at each other, at times trying (not bothering?)their damnedest to keep up with Jorma, who seems to feel that any space left open is a good spot to inject a solo. The unreleased songs, "Uncle Sam Blues", "Come Back Baby" and the truly awful "You Wear Your Dresses Too Short" are time fillers, nothing more. The band is playing at each other, not with each other and it's sad to hear. The version of "...You Me and Pooneil" is one of the worst I've heard.
Lest you think I'm a latecomer to the group, and I don't "get" them, I'll tell you I'm 53 and have been a rabid fan since the 60's. This is the Airplane without the joy, rage, muscle and inventiveness that made them one of the best bands of the era. They were all ready for something else at this point and it shows. Stick with "Bless It's Pointed Little Head" and remember them that way. It gets 1 star because I can't bear to give any album by the Airplane a zero. Trust me and avoid this one.