Flight Log
Flight Log (1966–1976) is a compilation album by the American rock band Jefferson Airplane. Released in January 1977 by Grunt Records as a double LP (catalog CYL2-1255), it spans the band's activities from 1966 to 1976.[1] The album features 21 tracks drawn from Jefferson Airplane releases, Jefferson Starship, Hot Tuna, and solo projects by members such as Paul Kantner and Grace Slick. It includes hits like "White Rabbit" and "Somebody to Love," as well as a previously unreleased Jefferson Starship track, "Please Come Back." The gatefold packaging contains a 12-page booklet with the band's history, photos, and credits.[2]Background and Development
Concept and Track Selection
Flight Log was conceived as a comprehensive retrospective compilation spanning the decade from 1966 to 1976, capturing the evolution of Jefferson Airplane from their psychedelic rock roots in San Francisco to the more commercial-oriented sound of Jefferson Starship and associated side projects.[3] This scope aimed to document the "family tree" of the band, incorporating tracks from Jefferson Airplane's core catalog alongside contributions from Jefferson Starship, the blues-rock outfit Hot Tuna, and solo efforts by key figures such as Grace Slick and Paul Kantner.[1] Jefferson Airplane, formed in 1965 amid the burgeoning counterculture scene, underwent significant lineup changes and stylistic shifts during this period, making the album a timeline of their influence on rock music.[3] The selection of 21 tracks was guided by a balance of commercial hits and deeper cuts to highlight the diverse talents and collaborations within the Airplane orbit, ensuring representation of pivotal members' songwriting and performances.[1] Iconic singles like "White Rabbit" from Jefferson Airplane's 1967 album Surrealistic Pillow exemplified their psychedelic era, while lesser-known pieces from later projects underscored individual evolutions, such as Jorma Kaukonen's acoustic work on Hot Tuna recordings.[1] This curation emphasized the band's transition toward broader appeal, including rock anthems from Jefferson Starship that blended folk, psychedelia, and pop elements. A key attraction was the inclusion of the previously unreleased Jefferson Starship track "Please Come Back," a live recording from 1976 that captured the group's transitional energy during sessions influenced by their shift to arena rock.[1] Written by Ron Nagle, the song remains exclusive to this compilation, adding an exclusive artifact of the era's creative flux. Grunt Records, the band's independent label under RCA Victor established in 1971 by band members and manager Bill Thompson, spearheaded the project to leverage the enduring legacy of Jefferson Airplane following the original lineup's dissolution in the early 1970s.[3] By assembling this anthology in 1977, Grunt aimed to consolidate the scattered output of the Airplane's extended network into a cohesive narrative of innovation and cultural impact.[1]Compilation Process
The compilation of Flight Log entailed sourcing master recordings from the archives of RCA Records and the band's own Grunt Records label, drawing on releases spanning 1966 to 1976 across Jefferson Airplane's core discography as well as related projects.[1] This process included coordination with key former band members, reflected in the 12-page booklet's inclusion of photographs, historical notes by Patrick Snyder, and acknowledgments to contributors such as Paul Kantner and Grace Slick under the oversight of longtime manager Bill Thompson.[1] Sequencing decisions emphasized a chronological progression across the double-LP's four sides, beginning with early Airplane singles like "Come Up the Years" from 1966 and culminating in mid-1970s material, to foster a thematic narrative of the band's evolution while balancing high-profile classics—such as "White Rabbit" and "Somebody to Love"—with selections from Jefferson Starship, solo efforts, and side ventures.[1] Tracks from side projects, including Hot Tuna's acoustic-oriented pieces like "Ja Da (Keep On Truckin')" from Burgers (1972) and "Genesis" from Quah (1974), required securing clearances, as indicated by the varied performance rights notations (primarily BMI, with exceptions for ASCAP).[1] A notable editorial addition was the previously unreleased live recording "Please Come Back" by Jefferson Starship from 1976, exclusive to this compilation and sourced directly for the project, underscoring efforts to incorporate fresh material alongside established hits.[1] Choices favored vocal-driven tracks spotlighting performers like Grace Slick (e.g., "Greasy Heart") and Marty Balin (e.g., "Come Up the Years"), prioritizing showcase moments over instrumental-focused outliers to maintain accessibility and highlight the ensemble's signature psychedelic and folk-rock dynamics.[1]Release and Formats
Initial Release
Flight Log was released on January 7, 1977, by Grunt Records in association with RCA Records, as a double vinyl LP compilation with catalog number CYL2-1255.[4][1] The packaging featured a gatefold sleeve and a 12-page booklet containing the band's history, photographs of members, and detailed liner notes acknowledging contributors.[5][6] This initial edition positioned the album as a retrospective spanning the group's output from 1966 to 1976, marking a decade of musical evolution.[1][7]Subsequent Reissues
The first reissue of Flight Log appeared in 2008 from BMG Japan, released on October 22 as a limited-edition double CD (BVCM-35468~9) within the Paper Sleeve Collection series. This version replicated the original mini-LP packaging and included remastering for enhanced audio, including a second booklet with lyrics in English and Japanese.[8] In 2011, BGO Records followed with a remastered double-CD edition (BGOCD970) targeted at the UK market, featuring improved sound quality over prior formats and packaged in a standard jewel case with a protective cardboard slipcase. The release also incorporated credits for musicians and production personnel.[9] No significant physical reissues have occurred since the BGO edition. Digital versions of the album gained prominence in the 2010s through streaming services like Spotify, allowing wider access without physical media. Original vinyl pressings from 1977 have seen renewed interest as collectibles in the 2020s, fueled by the broader vinyl revival.Musical Content
Overview and Themes
Flight Log represents a comprehensive compilation that encapsulates the stylistic evolution of Jefferson Airplane and its extensions into Jefferson Starship, spanning a decade from 1966 to 1976 through a blend of psychedelic rock, folk-rock, and hard rock elements. The album juxtaposes the band's early acid-folk influences, as heard in "Come Up the Years" from their 1966 debut Jefferson Airplane Takes Off, with the more expansive arena rock of Jefferson Starship's "Ride the Tiger" from the 1974 album Dragon Fly. This mix highlights the group's shift from intimate, folk-infused psychedelia to broader, harder-edged rock sounds, reflecting broader changes in rock music during the era.[2][10] Thematically, the collection progresses from counterculture anthems emblematic of the 1960s, including anti-war sentiments in tracks like "Volunteers," to greater personal introspection in later solo and collaborative efforts by band members. Songs such as Paul Kantner's "Wooden Ships" convey post-holocaust dolefulness and revolutionary ideals, underscoring the band's ties to the era's socio-political turbulence and peace-and-love ethos. This evolution mirrors the internal dynamics of the group, moving toward more individualized expressions in side projects.[10] Serving as a double-LP format with a total runtime of 85:06, Flight Log bridges the Jefferson Airplane's 1972 breakup and the subsequent formation of Jefferson Starship, emphasizing continuities through key members' collaborations, including Marty Balin, Grace Slick, and Paul Kantner. The extended structure accommodates a wide array of moods and styles across 21 tracks, offering a cohesive narrative of transition without extraneous material, and underscoring the enduring connections among the personnel amid the band's dissolution.[2][11][1]Track Listing
The track listing for Flight Log comprises 21 tracks across four sides of a double LP, drawing from Jefferson Airplane's discography and related projects between 1966 and 1976, with one previously unreleased live recording.[12]Side A
| Track | Title | Duration | Performing Artist | Original Album (Year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | Come Up the Years | 2:30 | Jefferson Airplane | Jefferson Airplane Takes Off (1966)[12] |
| A2 | White Rabbit | 2:27 | Jefferson Airplane | Surrealistic Pillow (1967)[12] |
| A3 | Comin' Back to Me | 5:15 | Jefferson Airplane | Surrealistic Pillow (1967)[12] |
| A4 | Won't You Try/Saturday Afternoon | 5:02 | Jefferson Airplane | After Bathing at Baxter's (1967)[12] |
| A5 | Greasy Heart | 3:25 | Jefferson Airplane | Crown of Creation (1968)[12] |
| A6 | If You Feel | 3:30 | Jefferson Airplane | Crown of Creation (1968)[12] |
Side B
| Track | Title | Duration | Performing Artist | Original Album (Year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B1 | Somebody to Love (live) | 3:46 | Jefferson Airplane | Bless Its Pointed Little Head (1969)[12] |
| B2 | Wooden Ships | 6:00 | Jefferson Airplane (with contributions from David Crosby and Stephen Stills) | Volunteers (1969)[12] |
| B3 | Volunteers | 2:03 | Jefferson Airplane | Volunteers (1969)[12] |
| B4 | Hesitation Blues (traditional) | 5:05 | Hot Tuna | Hot Tuna (1970)[12] |
| B5 | Have You Seen the Stars Tonite | 3:42 | Paul Kantner and Jefferson Starship (with David Crosby) | Blows Against the Empire (1970)[12] |
Side C
| Track | Title | Duration | Performing Artist | Original Album (Year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Silver Spoon | 5:40 | Grace Slick and Paul Kantner | Sunfighter (1971)[12] |
| C2 | Feel So Good | 4:35 | Jefferson Airplane | Bark (1971)[12] |
| C3 | Pretty as You Feel | 3:07 | Jefferson Airplane | Bark (1971)[12] |
| C4 | Milk Train | 3:26 | Jefferson Airplane | Long John Silver (1972)[12] |
| C5 | Ja Da (Keep On Truckin') (traditional) | 3:40 | Hot Tuna | Burgers (1972)[12] |
Side D
| Track | Title | Duration | Performing Artist | Original Album (Year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D1 | ¿Come Again? Toucan | 3:13 | Grace Slick | Manhole (1974)[12] |
| D2 | Sketches of China | 5:13 | Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, and David Freiberg | Baron von Tollbooth & the Chrome Nun (1973)[12] |
| D3 | Genesis | 4:19 | Jorma Kaukonen with Tom Hobson | Quah (1974)[12] |
| D4 | Ride the Tiger | 5:06 | Jefferson Starship | Dragon Fly (1974)[12] |
| D5 | Please Come Back (live) | 4:02 | Jefferson Starship | Previously unreleased (1976)[12] |