Volunteers

by Jefferson Airplane

Product Description:

Jefferson Airplane: Paul Kantner (vocals, guitar); Marty Balin, Grace Slick (vocals); Jorma Kaukonen (guitar); Jack Casady (bass guitar); Spencer Dryden (drums).

Additional personnel: Jerry Garcia (steel guitar); Nicky Hopkins (piano); Stephen Stills (organ); Joey Covington (percussion); David Crosby, Mary Gannon, Denise Jewkes, Diane Hursh, Marilyn Hunt (background vocals).

Liner Note Author: Jeff Tamarkin.

Recording information: Wally Heider Studio, San Francisco, California; Fillmore East, New York, New York (11/28/1969 - 11/29/1969).

This album made the Airplane's relations with the then ultra-conservative RCA a little tense. The label knew they had potentially one of America's biggest bands on their hands, and were compelled to let them use the "F" word--unprecedented on a major-label release at the time-- on "We Can Be Together." A more substantive sticking point, though, was the group's left-of-center political stance at that time, as expressed on the exhilarating call-to-arms title tune. VOLUNTEERS found the airplane at the vanguard of the burgeoning protest movement as realized in music, and "We Can Be Together" is more of a rallying cry than an invitation to a love-in. Even the Crosby-Stills-Kantner science fiction fantasy "Wooden Ships" is post-apocalyptic rather than dreamily fanciful. "Eskimo Blue Day" and "Good Shepherd" are additional high points, as is the blatant sexuality of "Hey Frederick" where Grace Slick sings "either go away or go all the way in."