Music / Jefferson Airplane Takes Off

Jefferson Airplane Takes Off.

Jefferson Airplane Takes Off is the debut studio album by Jefferson Airplane, released in 1966 through RCA Records. It is their only album with drummer Skip Spence (later a member of Moby Grape) and founding member Signe Toly Anderson. They would be replaced by Spencer Dryden and Grace Slick, respectively (though Spence and Anderson appears on three songs from this album on the UK version of Surrealistic Pillow). Unlike their later albums, this album is significantly folk rock.

"Runnin' Round This World" was supposed to end this album, but was rejected by the record company.

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Tracklist:

Side One

1. "Blues From An Airplane"
2. "Let Me In"
3. "Bringing Me Down"
4. "It's No Secret"
5. "Tobacco Road"

Side Two

6. "Come Up The Years"
7. "Run Around"
8. "Let's Get Together"
9. "Don't Slip Away"
10. "Chauffeur Blues"
11. "And I Like It"

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Bonus Tracks (2003 Reissue):

12. "Runnin' Round This World"
13. "High Flying Bird"
14. "It's Alright"
15. "Go To Her"
16. "Let Me In (Alternate Version)"
17. "Run Around (Uncensored Version)"
18. "Chauffeur Blues (Alternate Version)"
19. "And I Like It (Alternate Version)"
20. "Blues From An Airplane (Instrumental Version)"

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Principal Members:

• Signe Toly Anderson - backing and lead vocals, percussion
• Marty Balin - lead vocals, guitar
• Jack Casady - bass
• Spencer Dryden - drums ^note Only on the bonus tracks "Go To Her" and the alternate versions of "Chauffeur Blues" and "And I Like It"
• Paul Kantner - guitar, backing and lead vocals
• Jorma Kaukonen - guitar
• Skip Spence - drums

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Come Up The Tropes:

• Age-Progression Song: "Tobacco Road" in which the protagonist tells his life story from birth until now.
• Bowdlerize: "Runnin' Round This World" was supposed to end this album, but was rejected by the record company. It ended up as a non-album B-side to "It's No Secret". Also, several of the songs off this album were censored.
• Break Up Song:
  • "Bringing Me Down"
  Well, you used to tell me
  My love was your flame
  But I had you last evening
  No, it wasn't the same
  'Cause you're bringing me down
  And you know it ain't right
  • "Run Around"
  So couldn't we forget about today , start again from where we were
• Conveniently an Orphan: "Tobacco Road"
  Mother died and my daddy got drunk
  Left me here to die or grow
• Cover Version: "Tobacco Road", "Let's Get Together", "Chauffeur Blues" and the bonus track "High Flying Bird".
• Cradle of Loneliness: "Blues From An Airplane".
  Do you know how sad it is to be a man alone?
  I feel so solitary being in my home without you
• Darker and Edgier: "Blues From An Airplane".
• Early-Installment Weirdness: This album is basically a straight-ahead Folk Rock album with little hint of the tripped-out weirdness that would follow. Significantly, this album features Signe Toly Anderson and Skip Spence instead of Grace Slick and Spencer Dryden, who would make up the classic line-up of Jefferson Airplane.
• Face on the Cover: A group photo of the band.
• I Am the Band: Marty Balin at this stage of their career.
• May–December Romance: "Come Up The Years"
  I ought to get going
  I shouldn't stay here and love you more than I do
  Cause you're so much younger than I am
• Non-Appearing Title: The title doesn't appear.
• Obsession Song: "Chauffeur Blues", in which the protagonist is so desperately to have her chauffeur drive his car to she resorts to violence.
  To be ridin' these girls
  But I don't want him to be ridin' these girls all around
  I'm gonna steal me a pistol, shoot my chauffeur downµ
  Going to let my chauffeur drive me around the world
  Then he will be my lover boy, I will be his girl
• Pacifism: "Let's Get Together"
  Hey people now, smile on your brother
  Let me see you get together
  Love one another right now
• The Power of Love:
  • "Runnin' 'Round This World"
  Is it the music in your heart I love so much
  Is it the rainbows of your smile I love to touch
  There are red flowers in each kiss upon your lips
  The times I've spent with you have been fantastic trips
  • "It's No Secret"
  It's no secret how strong my love is for you
  It's no secret when I tell you what I'm gonna do
  'cause I love you, yes I love you
• "The Reason You Suck" Speech: "Bringing Me Down"
  Well your love used to echo
  From my feet to my brain
  Ah, but now it just whispers
  Well I think you are to blame
  Cause you're bringing me down
  And you know it ain't right
• Silly Love Songs: Among others, "It's No Secret".
• Something Blues: "Blues From An Airplane", "Chauffeur Blues".
• Step Up to the Microphone: Signe Toly Anderson sings lead vocals on "Chauffeur Blues", and co-lead vocals on "Let's Get Together" and the bonus track "High Flying Bird". Paul Kantner sings lead vocals on "Let Me In" and "Run Around", and co-lead vocals on "Let's Get Together".
• Unrequited Love: "Let Me In"
  Without a word to me
  Without a look at me
  You turned me down without a care

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