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Hits

Jefferson Airplane - Hits Audio CD

A fair review of the Jefferson Airplane "Hits" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Jefferson Airplane reviews here, or go back to the Jefferson Airplane tabs.

Band: Jefferson Airplane
Title: Hits
Rating:

Release Date: 1998-09-29
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: It's No Secret - Jefferson Airplane 2: Somebody to Love - Jefferson Airplane 3: White Rabbit - Jefferson Airplane 4: Embryonic Journey - Jefferson Airplane 5: Plastic Fantastic Lover - Jefferson Airplane 6: Comin' Back to Me - Jefferson Airplane 7: Ballad of You and Me and Pooneil - Jefferson Airplane 8: Greasy Heart - Jefferson Airplane 9: Lather - Jefferson Airplane 10: Crown of Creation - Jefferson Airplane 11: Wooden Ships - Jefferson Airplane 12: Volunteers - Jefferson Airplane 13: Good Shepherd - Jefferson Airplane 14: Have You Seen the Saucers - Jefferson Airplane 15: Pretty as You Feel - Jefferson Airplane 16: Third Week in the Chelsea - Jefferson Airplane 17: Long John Silver - Jefferson Airplane 18: Caroline - Jefferson Starship 19: Ride the Tiger - Jefferson Starship 20: Miracles - Jefferson Starship 21: With Your Love - Jefferson Starship 22: Count on Me - Jefferson Starship 23: Runaway - Jefferson Starship 24: Jane - Jefferson Starship 25: Find Your Way Back - Jefferson Starship 26: Stranger - Jefferson Starship 27: Be My Lady - Jefferson Starship 28: No Way Out - Jefferson Starship 29: Layin' It on the Line - Jefferson Starship 30: We Built This City - Starship 31: Sara - Starship 32: Tomorrow Doesn't Matter Tonight - Starship 33: Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now - Starship 34: It's Not Over ('Til It's Over) - Starship 35: It's Not Enough - Starship

Excellent Music Experience
These cds take you from the 1960s into the 1990s. This is a rare 2 cd collection of Jefferson Starship. The sound quality is excellent and the music is awesome. This group was one of the most talented groups of their time and their music will be forever treasured. If you are a fan of rock you must own this awesome collection of timeless masterpieces by the original artist.

all manners of FLIGHT
bottom line here you are HITS of all three . . and they are great sound wonderful and all together i LOVE IT and you can live the love too !.

A great trip back in time!!!

Thank you!!!. A GREAT set with my favorite Jefferson Starship songs!!!
Great price and fast service.

Decent -- Serves it's purpose
This young vocalist's name was Marty Balin. In 1965, a young vocalist born in Cincinnati but brought up in the San Francisco area wanted to start a group. Balin started the Jefferson Airplane with the intentions of becoming a folk-rock group, but as this compilation proves, they became far more than that.

OVERVIEW:
This two CD collection spans 1966 to 1989, 23 years, to be exact. If you are new to the Airplane/Starship, and you want a two CD collection, check this album out. It serves it's purpose -- but despite being a two CD set, it has it's flaws and slip-ups. Read on for the album by album review.

Tracks from 'Jefferson Airplane Takes Off' (1966)
It's No Secret
Review: A great song, an excellent folk rocker. Balin's vocals shine here. Listen in for a simple drum beat by original drummer Skip Spence, and some backing vocals by Signe Toly Anderson. A good song choice, a great song actually, but why stop there? Their version of 'Let's Get Together' (popularized by The Youngbloods) would fit nicely here, and it gives the listener a small taste of what Anderson really sounded like. A good choice, but RCA could have easily picked more here.

Tracks from 'Surrealistic Pillow' (1967)
Somebody to Love, White Rabbit, Embryonic Journey, Plastic Fantastic Lover, Comin' Back To Me
Review: By 1967, Airplane had almost completely left it's folk rock roots behind. Drummer Skip Spence had left the group by this point as well, as did Anderson. Spence was replaced by Spencer Dryden, Anderson by Grace Slick. Of course everybody knows 'Somebody to Love' and 'White Rabbit,' perhaps two of Grace Slick's finest moments on record. The Jorma Kaukonen solo acoustic piece 'Embryonic Journey' has always been one of my favorites. Kaukonen's acoustic playing also shines on 'Plastic Fantastic Lover' and 'Comin' Back To Me,' one of Balin's best songs as well. However, one key omission here: Balin's superb ballad 'Today. ' Other than that, no complaints. An excellent album.

Tracks from 'After Bathing At Baxter's' (1967)
The Ballad Of You And Me And Pooneil
Review: Within months after the release of 'Pillow,' Airplane were back in the studio with 'Baxter's. ' Perhaps one of their best records. Representing this album here is 'The Ballad of You and Me and Pooneil,' easily one of my favorite Airplane songs. BUT THAT'S NOT ENOUGH!!! We want 'reJoyce,' the Paul Kantner masterpiece 'Watch Her Ride,' or the classic 'Wild Tyme. ' Very disappointing indeed.

Tracks from 'Crown Of Creation' (1968)
Greasy Heart, Lather, Crown of Creation
Review: Another fine Airplane album. 'Greasy Heart' is an excellent Slick hard rock love song, with some mean guitar playing by Kaukonen. 'Lather' is a very strange love song from Slick to Dryden, based on Dryden celebrating his 30th birthday. An excellent track, very strange, but quite interesting and amusing. 'Crown Of Creation' is a great song, but another key omission: the David Crosby composition 'Triad' definitely deserves to be here.

Tracks from 'Volunteers' (1969)
Wooden Ships, Volunteers, The Good Shepherd
Review: Three amazing songs. Of the three, 'Wooden Ships' is my favorite. Kantner's vocals, along with Balin's and Slick's are superb here. A true gem in the Airplane catalog. 'Volunteers' is an excellent two-minute protest song, and 'The Good Shepherd' is a very odd song, but a great one. But where is Slick's classic 'Eskimo Blue Day'?

Tracks from 1970
Have You Seen The Saucers
Review: 'Have You Seen The Saucers' is an odd Balin, Slick and Kantner showcase, but it fits here, no doubt. What's missing from these sessions is Slick's 'Mexico,' an excellent song.

Tracks from 'Bark' (1971)
Pretty As You Feel, Third Week In The Chelsea
Review: Major changes occurred in 1970. Spencer Dryden and Marty Balin both left Jefferson Airplane. Dryden was replaced by drummer Joey Covington; Balin, however, was not replaced. 'Bark' is an interesting album. 'Pretty As You Feel' is a great song, very interesting indeed. Jorma Kaukonen sings lead vocals on his folk rock composition 'Third Week In The Chelsea,' which easily could have been a hit for Hot Tuna, the group he formed with Airplane bassist Jack Casady as a side project. Good picks, however I like 'Law Man' a lot as well.

Tracks from 'Long John Silver' (1972)
Long John Silver
Review: By 1972, the Airplane was falling apart in a massive way. 'Long John Silver' has a very garage-rock sound to it. A good song, not great, but good. Slick and Kantner sing lead on that track. The song probably would have been better with Balin on board. 'Eat Starch Mom' is a great Slick song that actually I would say would fit under the genre of punk rock, but yet it's not here. Somewhat irritating, it definitely should be here.

Tracks from 'Dragon Fly' (1974)
Caroline, Ride The Tiger
Review: In 1973, Jefferson Airplane disbanded. Casady and Kaukonen continued as Hot Tuna. However, Slick and Kantner, still determined to work together, formed Jefferson Starship, a followup group to the Airplane. Featuring Pete Sears on bass guitar, Quicksilver Messenger Service (another great San Francisco psychedelic rock group) veteran David Freiberg on keyboards, 19-year old Craig Chaquico on lead guitars, and Crosby Stills & Nash veteran John Barbata on drums. 'Dragon Fly' is a musically interesting debut album from JS, featuring the rocker 'Ride The Tiger. ' But the real surprise here is the part-time return of Marty Balin, who sings lead on the love song 'Caroline. ' The omission here is 'Devil's Den,' an interesting track featuring Slick on vocals and Papa John Creach on fiddle/violin. A good album indeed.

Tracks from 'Red Octopus' (1975)
Miracles
Review: By early 1975, Balin was a full time member of Jefferson Starship. 'Red Octopus' was a classic, and we get the classic hit 'Miracles' representing the album. A great song indeed. However, THAT'S IT!?! Where is Slick's amazing 'Fast Buck Freddie' or her love song 'Play On Love'? Maddening. Those were key JS tracks, and yet, nowhere to be found here.

Tracks from 'Spitfire' (1976)
With Your Love
Review: Another great album. Balin's mid-tempo ballad 'With Your Love' is here representing that album. An excellent ballad indeed. This compilation though again misses a major mark here. Where is the album classic 'Dance With The Dragon,' a great Kantner composition? Or what about Slick's album classic 'Hot Water'? More irritating omissions.

Tracks from 'Earth' (1978)
Count On Me, Runaway
Review: 'Earth' was a great album. It was a great album, especially for Balin. 'Count On Me' is a love song, but not a ballad, and features some great vocals from Marty. 'Runaway' is another Balin classic, but also listen in for some classic guitar riffs by Chaquico. A great album indeed. Wouldn't mind seeing 'Skateboard' here, but that's nothing to cry about.

Tracks from 'Freedom At Point Zero' (1979)
Jane
Review: 1979 brought big changes once again for Jefferson Starship. In 1978, after appearing drunk at a concert in Germany, Grace Slick was kicked out of the band. Balin left shortly afterwards. Also during this time, drummer John Barbata was seriously injured in a car accident, and was forced to leave the group due to injuries. Replacing Barbata was Journey and Frank Zappa veteran Aynsley Dunbar. Slick was not replaced, however, Balin was replaced with former Elvin Bishop Group singer Mickey Thomas. The group began shying away from the love song/ballad direction they were taking with Balin and began playing hard rock. The group released 'Freedom At Point Zero' in mid-1979. The album spawned a hit for the group, the incredible 'Jane. ' A great guitar solo from Chaquico and Thomas' incredible voice make this track well worth listening to. However, 'Rock Music' would be nice as well. But that's a minor complaint. A great album and a great song indeed!

Tracks from 'Modern Times' (1981)
Find Your Way Back, Stranger
Review: Yet another major change was made in 1981 for JS. The return of Grace Slick. She rejoined in 1981 after a three-year absence from the group. Her presence is certainly felt on 'Stranger,' a classic featuring an amazing bass line from Pete Sears. 'Find Your Way Back' is a great pop metal number featuring Thomas' soaring tenor vocals. The short 'Modern Times' (the song, that is) would fit nicely here, but it's no major complaint that's omitted.

Tracks from 'Winds of Change' (1982)
Be My Lady
Review: A good album, indeed. Not a great album, in my opinion, but good, nonetheless. 'Be My Lady' was a great pop rock track, featuring Thomas' vocals and Slick singing background vocals. Something to take note of for this album was the major change in direction. Kantner practically contributed nothing here, with the exception of 'I Came Back from the Jaws of the Dragon. ' The title track should be here, and perhaps 'Black Widow' would fit nicely here as well.

Tracks from 'Nuclear Furniture' (1984)
No Way Out, Layin' It On The Line
Review: Another personnel change was made. In 1983, drummer Aynsley Dunbar left the group, being replaced by another former Elvin Bishop Group alum, Donny Baldwin. 'Nuclear Furniture' was a solid album, featuring some great moments, two of them represented here. 'No Way Out' is a great pop metal power ballad, and 'Layin' It On The Line' is a great track as well. The other great moment from this album is missing in action here. 'Connection' was a great Kantner composition, not a hit, but a great song, and yet, it's not here. Two great songs, but 'Connection' would have been a great song to see here as well.

Tracks from 'Knee Deep In The Hoopla' (1985)
We Built This City, Sara, Tomorrow Doesn't Matter Tonight
Review: In 1984, Paul Kantner left Jefferson Starship. The group planned to carry on as Jefferson Starship, but Kantner took legal action and filed a lawsuit, and the group was forced to change their name. Therefore, Starship is born. David Freiberg was also around for the early Starship sessions in early 1985, but left the group after session musician and Zappa alum Peter Wolf was handling all of the keyboard duties. 'We Built This City' revived Starship's career, reaching #1 on the charts. Written by Elton John collaborator/songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, Martin Page and Dennis Lambert, the song was a major hit. 'Sara' followed 'City,' also hitting #1. This song is a great power ballad, featuring richly textured synthesizers and great vocals from Thomas. 'Tomorrow Doesn't Matter Tonight' was a minor chart hit, and it's nice to see it here. Great picks, wouldn't mind seeing 'Before I Go,' but that's minor. A good 1980s album indeed.

Tracks from 'No Protection' (1987)
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now, It's Not Over
Review: Bassist Pete Sears left the group in early 1986, and the group carried on as a quartet. Slick and Thomas' duet on 'Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now' also landed in the #1 spot in the charts, and 'It's Not Over' hit #12. However, where is 'Babylon' and 'Transatlantic,' two of the finest moments on the album? Slick's vocals are incredible on 'Babylon,' and Thomas' long-distance relationship love song 'Transatlantic' should all be here. Good tracks and a solid album, but why not add those?

Tracks from 'Love Among the Cannibals' (1989)
It's Not Enough
Review: At the age of 49, in 1988, Grace Slick left Starship and actually joined a reformed Jefferson Airplane project with Kantner, Balin, Casady and Kaukonen. What was left of Starship (Thomas, Chaquico, Baldwin) carried on and released the album 'Cannibals. ' This is a great album, and it's a hair metal album. At times on this album, the group sounds quite similar to Def Leppard. 'It's Not Enough' was the big hit here, however this album forgot all about 'Wild Again' and 'I Didn't Mean To Stay All Night. ' This was Thomas' personal favorite Starship album, and it's a great album, one of their best as Starship, no doubt. However, those two omissions are key ones.

Overall, if you are new to the Jefferson family of groups, the two disc set 'Hits' might be exactly what you are looking for to start with. If you don't feel like shelling out the cash to buy this, and you want the best of JA/JS/Starship all in one place, I recommend 'VH1 Behind The Music' or 'Love Songs. '

This is highly recommended for the new Airplane/Starship fan that wants to get acquainted to the music of this legendary San Francisco band, or bands, for that matter. Despite those omissions, this compilation definitely deserves four stars.

Recommended.

Jefferson Airplane/Starship Hits
It contains about 90% of the bands' hits and covers the three fazes that they went through. This collection is an excellent choice for a collector of 60's, 70's and 80's rock and roll.

You can see a complete list of all Jefferson Airplane discography, or go back to the Jefferson Airplane tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.