BARK

A lot has been made of how terrible eighties music was, and especially how poorly so many exceptional seventies bands fared as that decade drew to a close and record labels tightened both their purse strings and the leashes they held on many acts in their stables. There must be something about new decades and shifts in musical direction though, because the same can be said about the post-Woodstock early seventies and the dismantling of many key sixties icons. While Jefferson Airplane avoided the record label squeeze by simply forming their own label, they couldn't escape changing tastes or the demise of the classic lineup of their own band.

Marty Balin was around for the early stages of 'Bark' but it was clear even in 1970 that his time with the band was coming to an end, and he would leave before much of the album was actually recorded. The band eventually released 'Bark' with no Balin songs at all when he finally departed about halfway through the lengthy recording period. The late Spencer Dryden had departed months before the sessions began and had already been replaced by drummer Joey Covington who came to the band through their Hot Tuna connection and had participated in some of the 'Volunteers' sessions as well as several live appearances in 1970. Once again the band employed several guest musicians, the most noticeable being violinist Papa John Creach who appears on the opening strands of the first track 'When the Earth Moves' as well as the muddled instrumental 'Wild Turkey' and a dismal collaboration of several band and guests titled 'Pretty As You Feel' that was apparently included only for its potential as a single (it flopped). Carlos Santana also reportedly played on the song although it's difficult to tell what his contribution was amid the cacophony of instruments and Grace Slick's uninspired, repetitive vocals.

There are simply no standout tracks on this album whatsoever, and no semblance of continuity or direction of sound throughout. A couple of minor accomplishments include some decent piano on the Grace Slick-penned 'Miranda' and the cleverly titled (but abysmally executed) 'Never Argue with a German If You're Tired (or European Song)'. But these don't serve to offset the almost monotone delivery of the acoustic/a capella turd 'Thunk', a pre-Starship sounding 'Rock & Roll Island' or the apparently poorly rehearsed 'War Movie'. In the end the overall package spelled disaster for the classic Jefferson Airplane reputation, and the loss of Balin was both obvious and tragic.

Surprisingly the album sold fairly well, presumably thanks to the band's appreciable fan base and their thirst for something new after more than two years of not much touring and a steady stream of compilations and dredged up live recordings. This was not the symbol of a band landing on its feet following lineup upheaval and personal tragedy. The end was clearly in sight by 1971.

Fans and collectors probably already have this in their collection which is just as well since as far as I know it's no longer in print although it has been bundled a couple times in CD reissue form. This is a 'collectors only' recording without a doubt, and not something anyone unfamiliar with Jefferson Airplane should seek out before hearing anything released prior to it. Two stars is the best it can be rated, and I wouldn't recommend seeking it out on its own. If you really want to hear the album try and find one of the CD versions that bundles it with 'Volunteers' and/or the later 'Long John Silver'. That way at least you won't completely waste your money.

peace