Jefferson Airplane reissues

[bertrand]

I've been thinking of picking up the new Baxter's, Pillow, Crown Of Creation and Takes Off reissues using the Borders' 20% coupon.

I have no previous reissues of these CDs. How is the sound quality? Some people are griping at amazon.com about the sound (especially Pillow), others seem happy.

I only trust the feedback from my friends at Organissimo.

Thanks in advance,

Bertrand.

[J.A.W.]

The sound of Surrealistic Pillow has never been great. I picked up the LP when it came out in 1966 and purchased the subsequent CD reissues, including the 20-bit K2 remastered Japanese CD and the latest RCA reissue. That one - the 2003 RCA remaster - is the best of the lot, with the Japanese CD a close second.

As far as After Bathing at Baxter's and Crown of Creation, the 2003 RCA remasters are wonderful. On my system (Mark Levinson-fed electrostatics) I'm hearing things I've never heard before, not even on the original LPs and the Japanese 20-bit K2 remastered reissues. Recommended!

Edit: I've just been listening to the Surrealistic Pillow remaster and it does sound pretty good, though the recording's only so-so.

By the way, I can't comment on Takes Off. I had the original LP, didn't like it very much and never got any of the CD reissues.

Edited April 3, 2004 by J.A.W.

[Parkertown]

The 2003 Bob Irwin remasters are FREAKIN' INCREDIBLE!!! I've heard Baxter's & Crown so far from the library and I'm hearing things I've never heard before.

I've got that "Ignition" boxed set with the 1st four and these new ones blow them away! Highly recommended. I'm selling that box.

[Ragu]

I've had all the CD reissues and the latest bactch by Bob Irwin are easily the best. I don't think they're going to sound better in CD format. I kept older versions of Takes Off and Surrealistic Pillow for the addtional mono mixes, but in stereo there's no contest with the new versions.

[A Lark Ascending]

Any comments on these:

I recall hearing them in the early 70s and like the line up.

[J.A.W.]

Any comments on these:

I recall hearing them in the early 70s and like the line up.

After Volunteers (1969) everything Jefferson (Airplane / Starship / whatever) was a rapid move downhill as far as I'm concerned.

[AfricaBrass]

Any comments on these:

I recall hearing them in the early 70s and like the line up.

I really love BLOWS AGAINST THE EMPIRE.

I have the original remaster and the recent upgrade. I like the sound of the upgrade better, but they must have used different masters. The lyrics on the track "Let's Go Together" are different. My guess is they are an earlier version.

I love the Airplane and I think BLOWS ranks up there with their best stuff. I've probably listened to it more than any Airplane album. SUNFIGHTER is okay to me, but not on the same level IMO. The remaster sounds good, though.

As for the other recent remasters, I have BAXTER'S and it sounds great. I haven't heard the new CROWN OF CREATION since I have the old Mobile Fidelty CD.

[J.A.W.]

On my system the 2003 remaster blew the MFSL away like a tornado.

[A Lark Ascending]

Thanks,

Most of what I've heard rates Blows, not so keen on Sunfighter.

[AfricaBrass]

On my system the 2003 remaster blew the MFSL away like a tornado.

Thanks Hans,

Now I have a good excuse to pick up the reissue.

I LOVE that album!

[AfricaBrass]

"Sunfighter" is mostly excellent, don't be (too) dissuaded. Tho' it doesn't hang together the way Kanter/Slick intended, it's BETTER than the tail end of JA, the great "Long John Silver" stash box excepted of course, hah.

Q: does the "Sunfighter" cd reproduce the booklet that came w/the original vinyl?

clem

I agree Clem, to me SUNFIGHTER is a lot better than later Airplane. I guess I always compare it BLOWS, which I love so it doesn't fare as well..

As for the booklet of the reissue, it has a few small photos and four pages of liner notes by Jeff Tamarkin.

BFrank, the Kantner/Slick CDs I have were remastered in '97, so you may already have them.

[Tony Pusey]

Oh dear, looks like my third Airplane upgrade on CD awaits. I upgraded a couple of years back ( you know that series with Jeff Tamarkin liner notes, and no extra tracks) and I guess I was happy with them until now. Do you know the "extra" album that came out around the same time as the rest of these? Live at the Fillmore East. Very very good.

I also love the Blows album, while Sunfighter never really did it for me. I agree after Volunteers and Blows, it was sharply downhill, Bark has (a few) moments but I could no longer take Kantners lyrics seriously. Much more interesting was the Balin Bodacious recently reissued by the very exellent label Evangeline.

[AfricaBrass]

I listened to SUNFIGHTER again tonight. I really do like some of the songs, especially the track "Sunfighter". I really love the whole trip Kantner was on at this time. I think I'll spend some time with this album this week.

BARON VON TOLLBOOTH is my least favorite of the three albums, but the track "Your Mind Has Left Your Body" is one of my favorite tracks from these three albums.

A couple years ago I downloaded a couple CDs from www.gdlive.com that consisted of outtakes from BLOWS plus David Crosby's IF I COULD ONLY REMEMBER MY NAME. These albums shared the same musicians and were recorded around the same time. It's called the Planet Earth Rock and Roll Orchestra (PERRO). They're worth checking out.

It's nice to talk about this music.

[A Lark Ascending]

It's the Crosby connection that has me interested.

I only have the 2 disc compilation of the Airplane's music plus the reissue of Baxters so don't know their music that well.

But I'm a huge fan of IF I COULD ONLY REMEMBER MY NAME. I'm hoping for just a little of the rambling gorgeousnouss of that disc.

[gdogus]

It's the Crosby connection that has me interested.

I only have the 2 disc compilation of the Airplane's music plus the reissue of Baxters so don't know their music that well.

But I'm a huge fan of IF I COULD ONLY REMEMBER MY NAME. I'm hoping for just a little of the rambling gorgeousnouss of that disc.

Then you want Paul Kantner - Blows Against the Empire (I think it's technically a Paul Kantner album, "with" the "Jefferson Starship"). I love it. I also want to put in a good word for Baron Von Tollbooth and the Chrome Nun. Not at the same level as Blows Against the Empire, but a really fine sequence nonetheless.

Edited April 4, 2004 by gdogus

[AfricaBrass]

It's the Crosby connection that has me interested.

I only have the 2 disc compilation of the Airplane's music plus the reissue of Baxters so don't know their music that well.

But I'm a huge fan of IF I COULD ONLY REMEMBER MY NAME. I'm hoping for just a little of the rambling gorgeousnouss of that disc.

BLOWS has a different vibe than the Crosby album, it's hard to explain, it's sort of science fiction. It's a heavier and angrier record, but It's cool.

Crosby does appear on two tracks which are good. I'd say it's worth trying the album.

If you can get a copy of the PERRO sessions I mentioned (in a previous post) that would give you a good dose of Crosby and the gang.

[J.A.W.]

Besides the appearance of "Wooden Ships", Volunteers has some of the vibe of the Crosby album. Pretty much the last good Jefferson Airplane album.

Couldn't agree more.

[AfricaBrass]

Besides the appearance of "Wooden Ships", Volunteers has some of the vibe of the Crosby album. Pretty much the last good Jefferson Airplane album.

Couldn't agree more.

Yup.

I just wish they'd remaster it.

[J.A.W.]

Besides the appearance of "Wooden Ships", Volunteers has some of the vibe of the Crosby album. Pretty much the last good Jefferson Airplane album.

Couldn't agree more.

Yup.

I just wish they'd remaster it.

So do I, though my 20-bit K2 remastered Japanese CD doesn't sound bad

[A Lark Ascending]

Thanks everyone. I'll give these a try sometime in the near future.

I know a few of these things from the compilation (like the version of Wooden Ships and Volunteers itself).

The JA get a universally bad press here in the UK. Critics can't seem to get past their superficial politics which conflicted with their wealthy lifestyle.

[DrJ]

AfricaBrass 

QUOTE (J.A.W. @ Apr 4 2004, 11:47 AM)

QUOTE (BFrank @ Apr 4 2004, 09:42 PM)

Besides the appearance of "Wooden Ships", Volunteers has some of the vibe of the Crosby album. Pretty much the last good Jefferson Airplane album.

Couldn't agree more.

Yup.

I just wish they'd remaster it.

I'm a bit confused - I have a U.S. CD remastering of VOLUNTEERS from just a few years ago at most that sounds really good. I suppose anything could be improved, and wouldn't pass on a state of the art new version - it's always been my favorite Airplane album - but the one I have sounds great, especially compared to my old whipped vinyl.

Edited April 5, 2004 by DrJ

[AfricaBrass]

I'm a bit confused - I have a U.S. CD remastering of VOLUNTEERS from just a few years ago at most that sounds really good. I suppose anything could be improved, and wouldn't pass on a state of the art new version - it's always been my favorite Airplane album - but the one I have sounds great, especially compared to my old whipped vinyl.

I have the1980's remastering and it doesn't sound that great.

I remember reading that they remastered VOLUNTEERS in the early 90's. Maybe that's what you have.

[Swinger]

I could also comment about those 2003 remastered editions.

I have all JA cds up to Volunteer expect Crown Of Creation that I bought recently.

I have listened to Crown Of Creation several years ago but it didn't sound anything like the new remastered edition. Pick any track and you HEAR improvement.

My other JA cds are the ones made in the 80s.They sound ok but on the other hand I could replace my copy of After Bathing At Baxter's with the latest copy.My copy sounds really "muddy"

Baxter is my favorite JA album. So psychedelic and so powerful.

[Tony Pusey]

Volunteers also appeared in a Quadrophonic version, several tracks of which turned up in the Jefferson Airplane Loves You box. Perhaps RCA will include that when they get round to releasing a remastering, I seem to remember that the tracks I heard sounded radically different.

[king ubu]

Tony, welcome! Nice to see you over here!

(nothing to add on topic, sorry)

ubu