1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #96. Jefferson Airplane - Surrealistic Pillow (1967)

Jefferson Airplane - Surrealistic Pillow (1967)

Label – RCA
Producer – Rick Jarrard
Art Direction – Uncredited
Nationality –USA
Running Time – 33:40

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. She Has Funny Cars
2. Somebody to Love
3. My Best Friend
4. Today
5. Comin’ Back to Me
6. 3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds
7. D. C. B. A.—25
8. How Do You Feel
9. Embryonic Journey
10. White Rabbit
11. Plastic Fantastic Lover

This was the second album by Jefferson Airplane, and the first to feature Grace Slick. By all accounts this was the groundbreaking moment that one can point to as the defining piece of folk-rock-based psychedelia. Sure there were other bands who were doing the same type thing (most notably the Grateful Dead) but more than just a local success, “Surrealistic Pillow” actually rode the pop charts for most of 1967 and resided beside other records of the year by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Suddenly this music was taken seriously. Many years on this is still their defining work. It does feature their Top Ten singles "White Rabbit" (#8) and "Somebody to Love" (#5) but there is also the nice acoustic "Embryonic Journey" as well which is equally as good. Actually, for the most part, the rest of the record is actually nothing like the two hits. I was unaware until reading about this records that Jerry Garcia (serving as spiritual and musical advisor and guitarist) was involved with the making of the album. The songs are straightforward and rock. In stark contrast to the excessive experimentation (musical and chemical) that affected the group’s ability to do a straightforward song on later recordings. They never made a better album.
“Surrealistic Pillow” peaked at #3 on Billboard's Pop Albums chart. In 2003, the album was ranked number 146 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time." It is recommended.

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You can purchase the CD here.

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ON THIS DATE
1936 Roy Orbison is born in Vernon, Texas
1960 Steve Clark of Def Leppard is born in Sheffield, England
1975 Pete Ham of Badfinger commits suicide at home in Surrey, England. He is 27

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