BLESS ITS POINTED LITTLE HEAD

This Little Head is alive and kicking !!! If I recall correctly, it was September of 1989 I acquired this beast and it was bursting with so much energy, I still don't think I've recovered !! This showcases Jefferson Airplane at the top of their game IMHO. They are doing what they're good at - at least to my ears this album has moments of sheer power, and moments of drifting beauty. The tracks that appeared on previous studio albums are left for dead, annihilated by adrenalin, and has all members firing on all cylinders (excuse the cliches...). After the intro, a sound sample from King Kong (I think), Spencer Dryden starts off on his kit, he is then joined by Bassist extraordinaire Jack Casady, who takes to his instrument as if his life depended on it (it may well have, too) - this is 3/5's Of A Mile In Ten Seconds, and should be 3/5's of a mile in one second, a total break-neck version of this great song from the classic 'Surrealistic Pillow' album. The famous tune 'Somebody To Love' is performed in a much 'harder' way here, and dates back from Grace Slick's 'Great Society' days, as well as on S.P. The band then embark on a laid-back and mellow flight with a version of Donovan's 'Fat Angel'. This lasts for 7.29 and cruises at an altitude of 39,000 feet. Beautiful. Time for a bluesy blast from Lead Guitarist Jorma Kaukonen, along with the spectacular rhythm section with the rendition of a blues staple, 'Rock Me Baby', and perhaps sowed the seeds for the future Hot Tuna projects Jorma and Jack would integrate into future live sets of the Airplane (Jack being one of the most unique Bassist's). Not bad for a lengthy, jammy 12 Bar. Side 2 kicks off with Fred Neil's 'The Other Side Of This Life', a cool tune with Jack leading the way with his awesome Bass riffs. 'It's No Secret' and 'Plastic Fantastic Lover' are again thumping versions of earlier tracks. A brief bit of noodling about with 'Turn Out The Lights', where Paul Kantner announces the house to 'turn down the lights, or he'll send the infamous acid-meister Owlsley to get 'em...) funny, but it leads into an absolutely BRILLIANT, stream-of- conciousness extended piece, 'Bear Melt' (11.06), a track credited to the band, and is a totally out-there, dark and brooding piece with Grace spitting out her beautiful voice over some wonderful music, which drifts along steadily until the climax towards the end. Again, it's Casady who steals the show, musically. This is such a stunning live recording, and up there with other, all too seldom, memorable live recordings (Kraan, Guru Guru, Porcupine Tree......) It may not appeal to many Proggers (therefore, not a 5 star), but I've seen its value for a long time and it definately moves my world. 4.5 stars.