Genre > Rock > Classic Rock

"Jefferson Airplane", wrote the magazine Rolling Stone, "is a ship which transports its passengers to the revolutionary fantasies of their own minds." If only the group had included such well-formulated psychological analyses in their lyrics, then they would probably not have shot so meteorically into the orbit of the psychedelic 'acid rock' scene. And what is more: as self-appointed executors of chaos and anarchy, they ‘turned on’ their fans with musical sexual allegories, drug-extolling lyrics and revolutionary songs. In 1966, armed with a lucrative recording contract from RCA-Victor, they won through against much opposition from recording company bosses and released their album "Volunteers", thereby bringing what is probably the very best recording from their early years to the public.

The music of these rock rebels is, in fact, a good deal less drastic than their texts. The leaders of the combo, Marty Balin and Paul Kantner, both of whom grew up in the Californian folk scene, have put their stake on melodic and rhythmically close-knit rock and multi-part vocals. And even today, one is still astounded by the wide range of styles favoured by the hippie generation, which stretches from the down-to-earth country music of "The Farm" to the electronically distorted collage "Meadowlands".

Musicians:

• Grace Slick (vocal, organ)
• Marty Balin (vocal)
• Paul Kantner (vocal)
• Jerry Garcia (guitar)
• Jorma Kaukonen (guitar)
• Steven Stills (organ)
• Nicky Hopkins (piano)
• Jack Casady (bass)
• Spencer Dryden (drums)
• Joey Covington (conga)

Recording: 1969 by Richie Schmitt and Joe Lopes
Production: Wally Heider and Al Schmitt

About Pure Pleasure

At the beginning of the 90s, in the early days of audiophile vinyl re-releases, the situation was fairly straightforward. Companies such as DCC, Mobile Fidelity, Classic Records and, of course, Pure Pleasure all maintained a mutual, unwritten ethical code: we would only use analogue tapes to manufacture records.

During the course of the present vinyl hype, many others have jumped on the bandwagon in the hope of securing a corner of the market. Very often they are not so ethical and use every imaginable source to master from: CDs, LPs, digital files, MP3s – or employed existent tools from the 80s and 90s for manufacturing.

A digital delay is gladly used when cutting a lacquer disc because tape machines with an analogue delay have become quite rare and are therefore expensive. When cutting the lacquer, the audio signal is delayed by one LP revolution against the signal, which controls the cutter head, and for this a digital delay is very often employed. Of course, the resultant sound signal is completely digital and thus only as good as this delay.

We should like to emphasize that Pure Pleasure Records on principle only uses the original master tape as the basis for the entirely analogue cutting of lacquer discs. In addition, the pressing tool is newly manufactured as a matter of principle.

We only employ existing tools for manufacturing if an improved result is not forthcoming, e.g. the title Elvis Is Back, which was mastered by Steve Hoffman and Kevin Gray, or several titles from our Philips Classics series, which in any case Willem Makkee cut from the original masters at the Emil Berliner Studios in the 90s. It goes without saying that we only used the mother and that new tools were made for our production.

To put it in a nutshell: we can ensure you that our releases are free from any kind of digital effects and that the lacquer discs are newly cut.

Feed your head with the rare mono edition of this spellbinding time-capsule from the epicenter of the Summer of Love, San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury, circa 1967. On their groundbreaking first album with Grace Slick, the Jefferson Airplane brought their freshly-blooming psychedelia to the world at large with 'White Rabbit' and 'Somebody to Love.' On 180 gram vinyl, from the original analog masters.

Jefferson Airplane's 1967 Psychedelic Breakthrough First Record to Put Countercultural San Francisco Scene on Mainstream Music Map: Includes Top 10 Hits "Someone to Love" and "White Rabbit"

Acid-Rock Experimentalism and Folk-Based Arrangements Yield Mysteriousness, Darkness, and Beauty: Grace Slick's Clarion-Call Singing Matches Virtuosic Playing of Band Members and Guest Jerry Garcia

They were the best of times for Jefferson Airplane, and the good vibes are heard throughout the band's iconic Surrealistic Pillow. The group's first album with vocalist Grace Slick and drummer Spencer Dryden, the 1967 effort bowed as the first psychedelic-rock breakout from the potent San Francisco scene, climbing to #3 and boasting two Top 10 singles. By bringing the then-unpolluted counterculture to the attention of the mainstream, the effort ranked by Rolling Stone #146 on its 500 Greatest Albums of All Time eradicated boundaries and opened up creative vistas for a parade of likeminded artists that followed. Mobile Fidelity's analog reissue honors this legacy with an edition that presents the groundbreaking music with incredible realism.

Mastered from the original master tapes and pressed at RTI, Mobile Fidelity's 180g 45RPM mono 2LP set grants Surrealistic Pillow audiophile-grade sound remarkable for its sense of balance, clarity, and tonality. While fans have always preferred the original mono version of the LP, it went out of print soon after its release, causing prices to soar.

Offering wider, deeper grooves for better information retrieval and superior pacing, this deluxe set gives listeners the chance to enjoy Jefferson Airplane's blockbuster set in faithful-to-the-original mono without having to pay a premium. Along with immersive detail and dynamics, the level of instrumental and vocal separation allows the sensory-altering songs' complexities to emerge with full-bloom color and renewed perspective. Mobile Fidelity puts the surrealism back into Surrealistic Pillow.

This title is not eligible for discount.

Limited Edition 180 Gram White Colored Vinyl

Surrealistic Pillow, as the name implies, is one soft ridden, slightly mad piece of psychedelic San Francisco folk rock. From its percussive intro of "She Has Funny Cars" to the thumping mystique of "Plastic Fantastic Lover", this album's one heaven of a trip!

Jefferson Airplane truly hit the mark with this seminal album from 1967. Highlights that should not be overlooked are "Somebody To Love", "White Rabbit" and "Today".

Defiant, Assured, Cohesive Songs Filled With Driving Psychedelia, Rustic Country, and Crunchy Acid-Rock: Guest Musicians Include Jerry Garcia, Stephen Stills, and David Crosby

Awash in controversy and loaded with revolutionary protest, Jefferson Airplane's Volunteers stands as the last album made by the group's classic lineup and brings insurgent closure to the peace-and-love era. The potent 1969 record confronts war, politics, greed, and environmental ruin in head-on fashion matched by few peers. Steeped in the belief people and music could transform the world, it steers the band in community-minded and county-rock directions, and features charged playing by guest luminaries such as Jerry Garcia, Stephen Stills, David Crosby, and Nicky Hopkins. Volunteers also benefits from being one of the first 16-track recordings. And now, the historic set can be heard in the fidelity the artists and producers intended.

Mastered from the original master tapes and pressed at RTI, Mobile Fidelity's 180g 45RPM 2LP set of Volunteers teems with soul-affirming energy, dynamics, immediacy, and standout textures. The wider and deeper grooves translate into finer pacing, enhanced information retrieval, and superior transparency. Soundstages stretch far and extend back, with instrumental separation giving all of the musicians their own place in the mix. As a result, subtle albeit important details – Hopkins' rollicking piano, guitarist Norma Kaukonen's biting tones, Garcia's deft pedal-steel work – emerge in three-dimensional fashion amidst a musical canvas that manages to be both edgy and produced, raw and revealing. Jefferson Airplane has never sounded more vital.

Much had changed in America – and within Jefferson Airplane – in just the two short years since the release of the San Francisco collective's breakthrough smash Surrealistic Pillow. The countercultural movement had darkened, government involvement in Vietnam escalated, and regard for human rights fallen. Retreating from the excessive experimentalism that graced its prior two LPs, the Airplane responded to the social circumstances with defiant, assured, and cohesive songs shot through with driving psychedelia, crunchy acid-rock, and rustic country. From start to finish, it's the aural equivalent of a demonstration march.

Having drawn attention for the inclusion of profanities in multiple tunes, the Top 20 LP also ran up against the nonprofit Volunteers of America after the sextet wanted to title the record Volunteers of Amerika in order to express further dissatisfaction with the country. While Grace Slick and Co. gave into the charity's desires to switch the name, there's nothing compromising about Volunteers. Kaukonen's leads cut searing swaths through urgent fare like "Eskimo Blue Day" and anthemic "We Can Be Together," which boldly speaks out against convention and in favor of chaos and anarchy.

Indeed, in organizing a pseudo summit of many of the counterculture's leading musical figures to participate on Volunteers, the Airplane treats the album as an orchestrated stance against the establishment. Stills and Crosby assist in rocking the boat on a turbulent cover of "Wooden Ships" lined with Slick and Marty Balin's overlapping lead vocals. Hopkins gooses the call-to-arms title track with frisky boogie-woogie lines. Garcia lends "The Farm" a suitable rustic vibe, and on his final appearance with the Airplane, drummer Spencer Dryden helms the pastoral sing-a-long "A Song for All Seasons."

Ranked #370 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, Volunteers remains a cultural and musical touchstone.

This title is not eligible for discount.

New Liner Notes From Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady

"When you listen to this album, you just don't get 'peace and love man'..." Jack Casady

1968 was an amazing year for rock music, and San Francisco was the place to be for legendary classic rock bands like Jefferson Airplane.

After stunning success with three gold and platinum Lps under their belts, the classic quintet of Paul Kantner, Marty Balin, Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady, Grace Slick and Spencer Dryden delivered their masterwork Crown Of Creation. The Lp would become one of the most important albums of their long career featuring one of the most artistic and sobering covers of our time.

With a groundswell of support from the hip record buying public to major airplay at both underground FM and pop radio stations, the Lp was received incredibly well. Featuring two hit singles with Crown Of Creation and Greasy Heart, both tunes would go on to become rock music and social anthems for the turbulent 60’s. Even more stellar album tracks like If You Feel, Lather and Triad (written with David Crosby) would all become standard Airplane classics in the years to follow.

“Jam bands” began with groups like Jefferson Airplane. Therefore it’s no surprise to hear the wonderful workouts by dual guitarists Jorma Kaukonen and Paul Kantner along with Grace Slick and Marty Balin’s power vocals plus the bass of Jack Casady and Spencer Drydens’ drum work on this watershed release.

Friday Music is honored to present another exciting installment in our Jefferson Airplane 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl Series with their masterpiece Crown Of Creation Lp. Their fourth RCA album showcases a very hip band that has stood the test of time now for over five decades.

Mastered impeccably by Joe Reagoso (Jefferson Airplane/Hot Tuna/Grateful Dead), this first time audiophile vinyl release will become one of the more important albums in your classic rock collection. To enhance your Airplane listening pleasure, the Lp will be pressed for a short time on TRANSLUCENT ORANGE MARBLE vinyl at RTI, featuring new liner notes from Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady in a first time gatefold cover, as well as including the rare 12 x 24 poster of "Brumus" and photo insert, which truly make this an even more rewarding event for the fans.

Pressed At R.T.I.

1967 was an amazing year for rock music, and San Francisco was the place to be for legendary classic rock bands like Jefferson Airplane. After their groundbreaking Takes Off and Surrealistic Pillow LPs (both on Friday Music), Jefferson Airplane continued their gold and platinum magic and delivered the monumental classic After Bathing At Baxter's.

Featuring the brilliant musicianship of Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, Marty Balin, Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady and Spencer Dryden, this new LP would become one of their most important albums, as well as further developing the Airplane into the superstar act they are to this day. With a groundswell of support from the hip record buying public to major airplay at both underground FM and pop radio stations, the LP was received incredibly well. Featuring stellar radio and fan favorites like The Ballad Of You & Me & Pooneil, Won't You Try/ Saturday Afternoon, and several other tunes which would go on to become rock music anthems for the turbulent 60’s. Even more stellar album tracks like Martha and Watch Her Ride soon became standard Airplane classics in the years to follow. “Jam bands” began with groups like Jefferson Airplane. Therefore it’s no surprise to hear the wonderful workouts by dual guitarists Jorma Kaukonen and Paul Kantner along with Grace Slick and Marty Balin’s power vocals plus the bass of Jack Casady and Spencer Drydens’ drum work on this masterwork.

Friday Music is honored to present another exciting installment in our Jefferson Airplane 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl Series with their masterpiece After Bathing At Baxter's LP. Their third RCA album showcases a very hip band that has stood the test of time now for over five decades. Mastered impeccably by Joe Reagoso (Jefferson Airplane/Hot Tuna/ Grateful Dead), this first time audiophile stereophonic vinyl release will become one of the more important albums in your classic rock collection.

To enhance your Airplane listening pleasure, the LP will be pressed for a short time on CLEAR vinyl at RTI, featuring new liner notes from Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady in a first time gatefold cover, including a 12" by 24" graphic insert art, which truly help make this an even more rewarding event for 2016.

Jefferson Airplane Takes Off is the debut album of San Francisco Rock band Jefferson Airplane, released in August 1966. The personnel differs from the later "classic" lineup and the music is more Folk-Rock than the harder psychedelic sound for which the band later became famous.

Signe Toly Anderson was the female vocalist and Skip Spence played drums. Both left the group shortly after the album's release and were replaced by Grace Slick and Spencer Dryden, respectively.

Jefferson Airplane Takes Off is the debut album of San Francisco Rock band Jefferson Airplane, released in August 1966. The personnel differs from the later "classic" lineup and the music is more Folk-Rock than the harder psychedelic sound for which the band later became famous.

Signe Toly Anderson was the female vocalist and Skip Spence played drums. Both left the group shortly after the album's release and were replaced by Grace Slick and Spencer Dryden, respectively.