Having a Flashback Friday - Airplane Induced


I was 15 when the Jefferson Airplane released the Crown of Creation at the pinnacle of the psychedelic rock era, and it became a go to album of mine throughout high school and college.  We will not go further into the particulars of the situations regarding the playing of this album during that time.  On this cold and wet Friday I am sitting in my home listening and enjoying un-induced flashbacks of that era but also reveling in the composition, musicality, musicianship and expression of the dark emotions of this statement of society at that time.  While I do not consider it well engineered from an audiophile perspective, it has a wonderful warmth, good clarity despite the warmth, good dynamics, and above average staging/imaging for rock albums of that era.  Slick and Balin’s voices are mesmerizing.  Kaukonen’s finger picking stylings are soaring and heady.  My favorite bassist, Cassidy’s runs maintaining rhythm while often carrying melody, so intricate, warm, and woolly.  The messages are dark (There will be no survivors my friend') but I find it transfixing.

For those of the psychedelic rock era, or those who appreciate the music, what are your flashback favs.  

jsalerno277

@jsalerno277 - very well said! I don't have any use for GD studio albums; to me, that has always been besides the point; they were always all about live performances. But I do have every one of the big annual box sets they've released, and I've got the vinyl versions of a few of those shows, too. 

 

The last time I tripped (spring of 1968), I was achieving lift off just as the first track on Jefferson Airplane's After Bathing At Baxter's album was beginning. I can't hear that album without getting a mild flashback.

 

I had the good fortune to have spent my high school years in the late 60s in the San Francisco area, and got to experience psychedelia in all its glory. And yes, I misbehaved in all the typical ways for the era.

I have two go-to flashback albums:

Quicksilver Messenger Service (their 1st album)

And this largely forgotten corner of the genre: The Collectors (admittedly, this one's what I'd describe as a guilty pleasure)

They were a Canadian band who only recorded 2 albums, but they were immensely talented and had a terrific lead singer.

 

@cooper52   What’s Love(pun intended)?  The Collectors are.  Now there’s an obscure reference  on point to the discussion.  They did not get air-time in New York or probably all  areas outside of Canada and the US SF Bay AreaVery melodic and heady. Very off the beaten path.  Excellent reference, well done. And the able bearing the groups name is well engineered for the time.  For those using Cobuz you can stream a try and bring yourself back to the 60s.