William's Song a Day Blog - est. September 2007

From: Dragon Fly ; Year: 1974; Genre: Progressive Rock I wanted to go back and listen to something from Jefferson Starship for whatever reason, so here's one off of their debut album after the band re-emerged under the "Starship" name. Although, unofficially, the 1970 Paul Kantner album Blows Against the Empire was technically the first time you actually saw it under the name Paul Kantner and Jefferson Starship . Anyway, this is one of those songs that is pure beauty all around. I still cannot comprehend why Grace Slick didn't get to perform more of the lead vocals; she is only lead on three tracks, this being, of course, one of them. I suppose I have always been an avid fan of hers as a songwriter, musician and vocalist; she is the full package. One of the biggest and best parts of this song is Papa John Creach's violin playing; it's just adds that beauty that really pushes their music's emotions over the top.   Hear Hyperdrive on YouTube.         My so...

From: Blows Against the Empire ; Year: 1970; Genre: Space Rock/Folk Rock Picking two today because I wanted to choose another track from this album: Have You Seen the Stars Tonight? However, the track the precedes it, Home is only 37 seconds long and is kind of a lead-in, so I thought it was a good idea. Anywho, both of these tracks are comprised of basically the who's who of the Bay Area music scene with members of The Grateful Dead, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, and, of course, Jefferson Airplane. Home has more of the expected science fiction music and sound effects, but Have You Seen the Stars Tonight? is more of a psychedelic space folk primarily with acoustic instruments and features Jerry Garcia's pedal steel work, which adds a lot of beauty to the song along with Grace Slick's piano playing.   Hear Home and Have You Seen the Stars Tonight? on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Molly Hatchet - Backstabber     My song pick 2 y...

From: Blows Against the Empire ; Year: 1970; Genre: Psychedelic Rock A showcase of Grace Slick's amazing vocals and Jack Casady's bass, I only wish this brief track was longer.   Hear Sunrise on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Harlequin - Fine Line   My song pick 2 years ago today: Ray Davies - Thanksgiving Day   My song pick 3 years ago today: Hawkwind - Alcyone   My song pick 4 years ago today: Jerry Reed - Gator   My song pick 5 years ago today: Pallas - The Executioner (Bernie Goetz a Gun)   My song pick 6 years ago today: Band of Horses - Dull Times/The Moon My song pick 7 years ago today: Los Bravos - Black is Black My song pick 8 years ago today: Led Zeppelin - Thank You My song pick 9 years ago today: Helmet - Unsung My song pick 10 years ago today: The Who - Doctor Jekyll & Mr. Hyde My song pick 11 years ago today: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - All Along the Watchtower My song pick 12 years ago today:...

From: Blows Against the Empire ; Year: 1970; Genre: Psychedelic Rock/Space Rock Been decompressing from being on the road out of town and am definitely using things like this blog to help get back to homeostasis you could say. Anyway, I have had this concept record by Paul Kantner and company on my mind off and on over the last bit and decided now would be a good time to choose another track from it. This is the "grand finale" of the "space opera" concept, which features a big group of who's who from the folk rock scene at the time contributing on this track and a few others. Starship features the lead guitar of the late-great Jerry Garcia, although you really wouldn't need to be told that because it is so obvious his sound and style. Also David Crosby and Graham Nash add some backing vocals, also Harvey Brooks on bass and other Jefferson Airplane alumni Grace Slick and David Freiberg as well. As you would guess, it's a rather big sounding progressive p...

From: Blows Against the Empire ; Year: 1970; Genre: Psychedelic Rock/Space Rock Grace Slick's powerful vocals were on my mind, so I thought I would pick something from one of her many projects. From what I understand, Blows Against the Empire , which included both Paul Kantner and Grace from Jefferson Airplane seemingly happened during a lull with the band. This was a solo project and concept album by Kantner, who used the "Starship" name as a reference to the space vehicle in the overarching story told throughout the record. After the demise of Jefferson Airplane a few years later, they apparently reused this name for the launch of Jefferson Starship. Anyway, on this album, some other members from Jefferson Airplane joined them on some of the songs along with a list of who's who of Bay Area musicians at the time filled out the lineup. Mau Mau is the lead track from the story, which tells the story of a group of counter-cultural individuals commandeering the Starship ...