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Jefferson Airplane - Last Flight Audio CD

A fair review of the Jefferson Airplane "Last Flight" 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.

Jefferson Airplane Band: Jefferson Airplane
Title: Last Flight
Rating:
Release Date: 2007-02-26
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Introduction by Bill Graham - Bill Graham 2: Somebody to Love 3: Twilight Double Leader 4: Wooden Ships 5: Milk Train 6: Blind John 7: Come Back Baby 8: Son of Jesus 9: Long John Silver 10: When the Earth Moves Again 11: Papa John's Down Home Blues 12: Eat Starch Mom 13: John's Other 14: Trial by Fire 15: Law Man 16: Have You Seen the Saucers? 17: Aerie (Gang of Eagles) 18: Feel So Good 19: Crown of Creation 20: Walking the Tou Tou 21: Medley: Diana/Volunteers [Medley]

The highwater mark had passed and the tide was receding
All the players are there, but they're all acting as independents on the same stage, doing whatever they want, rather than playing together as a band. This is a good choice for a true Airplane fan, but not a good choice for introducing someone to the band.

For those of us with a historical perspective, that's very interesting. Jorma is playing his guitar, while Kantner is just playing at his singing. Marty Balin is more or less not there mourning Janis Joplin after her overdose. Grace is there, but her edginess is missing - but yet (and regrettably) not missing from her voice. The drumming is workman-like, and Papa John literally fiddles around. The airplane is breaking up in flight, but hasn't crashed yet.

It's like following a baseball team, and then watching a game after they've lost the pennant race and everyone knows that they're being traded to play for different teams next year. If you've cared about that team and followed them all season, it's heartbreaking but still interesting. If you just watched up to see a professional ball game - any pro ball game, well then it's not that great.

So, as an old rocker, when I'm in a thoughtful mood, I'll pour myself a whiskey (et al) and listen to this now and again. . . . thinking about where the Airplane has been and where they're going to end up. Still, when I want to relive the glory days, It'll be "After Bathing at Baxters" or Crown of Creation.

That's just me though, and your mileage may differ. Still, I won't be giving this recording to any 20 year-olds as a "you should listen to this!" gift.

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A great addition to the Jefferson Airplane discography
No going out with a whimper. This 2-CD set really rocks. The Airplane finished their seven-year run in a blaze of glory. The great majority of tracks are from their last two studio albums, "Bark" (1971) and "Long John Silver" (1972).

I see that a number of reviewers here have knocked the concert for not having more of their songs from earlier albums. Well, at the time the band didn't know this would be the end (Jorma quit just days afterward to start recording "Quah"), and it was the grand conclusion of their tour to promote "Long John Silver," so what do you expect?

I am truly impressed at the material done here from that album. Songs that were lackluster in the studio recording - with a bad mix to boot - are performed with a riveting intensity. The title tract of "Long John Silver" has a makeover that is nothing short of a remarkable. Grace belts out its lyrics to a musical wall of sound driven by Jack Casady's bass guitar.

"Wooden Ships" from "Volunteers" is also nice, and Papa John Creach lends an added dimension not heard in any other Airplane recordings of that tune.

The concluding medley is also a real kicker.

I concur with a prior reviewer that if you are not familiar with the Airplane, this should not be your starting point. For that I would recommend "Surrelaistic Pillow" or "The Worst of Jefferson Airplane. " This set is the icing on the cake for us longtime fans.


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Very enjoyable piece
I especially liked the versions of Lawman, Have you seen the Saucers, Wooden Ships and of course the Diana/Volunteers medley. I relly enjoyed this 2 disc set. Even though Marty isn't on it, Davis Freiberg's vocals are excellent as are Papa's contributions and Jack's bass work is incomparable. I would say it is a must have for any old Airplane fan.


Sloppier than "30 Secs Over Winterland" but lots more material.
You have to smile at the enthusiasm of the opening band introduction, which sets the right mood for enjoyment of this lengthy set. The live sound here is definitely superior to the Quicksilver Messenger Service's "Live at Kabuki Theater" but not quite up to "Thirty Seconds Over Winterland " which contains some of this same material and similar band members (including Papa John Creach). This was one of the strangest band line-ups of the day, rife with vocalists and guitarists, no keyboards, and the elder Mr. Creach on screaming violin, a nice touch indeed. Songs like "Milk Train" aren't acquitted as well here as on "30 Secs" but the longer total performance makes up for it, and generally there aren't many long tired jams, just faithful performances of the songs. Grace laments that she has no idea where lyrics to "Twilight Double Leader" come from. . . . I wonder, didn't this song mean to invoke the baseball term "Twilight Double HEADER?".


Last Flight Indeed
When the band is cooking, this show is very hot. This show is definately for the true die-hard fan of Jefferson Airplane. Unfortunately Grace Slick is not in any other form here other than bad. I have several bootleg shows from Jefferson Starship from this era and Grace is often much better than she is here. The last night of the tour, a bit too much partying before the show? It definately shows in her performance. While the drumming from Johnny Barbata is rather heavy handed, it is definately sevicable for the band. Paul, Jack, Jorma and Papa John hold this show together and really make it worthwhile to listen to. I guess it's worthwhile to have for the "Historic Show" that it is, but there's a lot better live material out there of this band.


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.

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