PAUL KANTNER, GRACE SLICK & DAVID FREIBERG/BARON VON TOLLBOOTH & THE CHROME NUN BFLI 0148 (-73) UK

Forget about the billing cause this could as well be recognized as the last Jefferson Airplane studio album before the 1989 reunion. Though Jorma Kaukonen only plays lead guitar on one track - most of the rest performed by Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia - Jack Cassady just do bass on three - the remaining by Flying Burrito's Chris Ethridge - and Papa John Creach's violin just heard on one cut it all comes out like Jefferson Airplane, with a sound much reminding of "Bark" or Long John Silver". Songwriting maybe not reaching up to any of those, but the whole atmosphere oozes JA and the Slick/Kantner vocals feels pleasingly familiar. It's hard to mention favorite tracks since non of them strikes me as categorically catchy. Instead I enjoy the ambience, the bosom touch from listening to a group I know so well sounding exactly as they should. I get the same feeling here as together with old friends - even if they don't do or even try their best all the time it sure feels good having them around. So even if not the most soul grabbing one I enjoy listening to and couldn't be without. Premiere release in US (BFL-1-0148), further a couple of European countries, Japan and downunder. First UK had label as shown here and glossy cover. I've seen US copies having a picture/credit/lyric insert, but if that also was UK it's missing with this 1st press copy. (JÄF*)(FÄV*)