Jefferson Airplane Songs Ranked
Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band based in San Francisco, California that became one of the pioneering bands of psychedelic rock. Formed in 1965, the group defined the San Francisco Sound and was the first from the Bay Area to achieve international commercial success. They were headliners at the Monterey (1967), Woodstock (1969), Altamont (1969), and the first Isle of Wight Festival (1968) in England. Their 1967 break-out album Surrealistic Pillow ranks on the shortlist of the most significant recordings of the Summer of Love. Two songs from that album, “Somebody to Love” and “White Rabbit”, are among Rolling Stone‘s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”. The October 1966 to February 1970 lineup of Jefferson Airplane, consisting of Marty Balin (vocals), Paul Kantner (guitar, vocals), Grace Slick (vocals), Jorma Kaukonen (lead guitar, vocals), Jack Casady (bass), and Spencer Dryden (drums), was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. Marty Balin left the band in 1971. After 1972, Jefferson Airplane effectively split into two groups. Kaukonen and Casady moved on full-time to their own band, Hot Tuna. Slick, Kantner and the remaining members of Jefferson Airplane recruited new members and regrouped as Jefferson Starship in 1974, with Marty Balin eventually joining them. Here are all of Jefferson Airplane’s songs ranked.
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15. Comin’ Back to Me (Surrealistic Pillow, 1967)
“Sounds to me like something has reminded the narrator of a love that left some time ago, and the memories are all flooding back after something triggered them. he is seeing this person coming back to him in his mind, because that’s what he wants to see, even though he knows it isn’t going to happen (the line “the shadow in the mist could have been anyone” tells us that there is no reason to believe this lover would be coming back.) a great, gloomy airplane song.”
14. Greasy Heart (Crown of Creation, 1968)
“Airplane’s most underrated songs ever. Still sounds incredible and Slick’s lyrical style is top notch. Too bad it wasn’t a bigger hit as a single (Most of their singles after White Rabbit were censored from AM radio because they were deemed too controversial). Definitely one of the best songs from Crown of Creation,”
13. In Time (Crown of Creation, 1968)
“”In Time” is one of my all time favorite tracks, Balin’s vocals and lyrics are brilliant and the acoustic guitar riff in the background is perfect, it manages to create such a dreamlike mellow atmosphere.”
12. Panda (Jefferson Airplane, 1989)
“Nothing really to do with the flawed genius of their 60’s music or even that of the Starship but, although some of the lyrics are a bit corny, the music, singing and playing on this album are truly wonderful.”
See more: Jefferson Airplane Albums Ranked
11. Eat Starch Mom (Long John Silver, 1972)
“Eat Starch Mom is an anti-alienation tractor, which does not make cheap or for vegetable lovers, perhaps a reference to the cricket animals / hippies and variants, a tribe of which Airplane was an idol and even helped to give visibility, with the ideas of peace and love at the beginning of his career.”
10. Lather (Crown of Creation, 1968)
“Lather” is a pretty ballad with interesting lyrics about someone who does not want to grow-up. Definitely one of the Airplane’s finest songs.”
9. Watch Her Ride (After Bathing at Baxter’s, 1967)
“This song is a mid-fast, psych flavored, west coast style rock with guitar and male/female vocal harmony. Good single and was the bands third entry into the top forty as well.”
8. It’s Alright (Jefferson Airplane Takes Off, 1966)
“JEFFERSON AIRPLANE TAKES OFF is very much a product of its time. Although associated as one of the primary movers and shakers of the psychedelic scene, there is nothing on this debut release to prognosticate where they or the world would lead in only a year’s time.”
7. Today (Surrealistic Pillow, 1967)
“‘Today’ is one of the most beautiful love songs I’ve ever heard, with achingly pretty lyrics like, ‘I’m so full of love, I could burst apart and start to cry’.”
6. Star Track (Crown of Creation, 1968)
“Star Track” is a Kaukonen tune which has some really dark but awesome lyrics and also has some of Jorma’s trademark rapid firing acid guitar soloing that is simply scintillating.”
5. Now Is the Time (Jefferson Airplane, 1989)
“This album is probably the least immediate of the Airplane albums this one takes several listens to reveal it’s brilliance and worth, this album can conjure some of the most serene beautiful atmospheres like a candle lit wooden cabin in a warm twilight and at other times can create a fiery angry bitter attack that sounds more like the explosion on the cover.”
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4. High Flyin’ Bird (Jefferson Airplane Takes Off 1966)
“One of the early covers that JA used to do, this one is written by folk singer Billy Ed Wheeler. Just about having the blues. his is another phenomenal album from the group on this run of four classic psych albums they released in the sixties, these guys were really the cream of the crop in the psych rock scene make no mistake.”
3. Freedom (Jefferson Airplane, 1989)
“Freedom promises well but then the Spanish harmonic progression is so banal and predictable as to tear me an olè, Summer of love already from the title makes it clear that it is suitable for rich retirees”
2. Somebody to Love (Surrealistic Pillow, 1967)
“White Rabbit will be the one song Grace Slick will be remembered for. But, she sang Somebody to Love with every bit of emotion she had. One to remember as well.
1. White Rabbit (Surrealistic Pillow, 1967)
“The song starts building the tension right from the start, and continues to do so throughout its all too short existence. How they got away with seemingly promoting drug use and relating it with Alice in Wonderland at the same time I do not know, but I’m glad they did as we got one of the best songs ever out of it.”
