JEFFERSON AIRPLANE/LONG JOHN SILVER FTR 1007 (-72) US

Their seventh original studio album and last such before they transformed into Jefferson Starship. So a kind of swansong for the old band, but a very good one showing them as strong as ever. It was a reunion after the members indulging in separate solo projects and as the story goes there were internal tensions during sessions, resulting in them recording own stuff separately and also leading to drummer Joey Covington leaving after just contributing to two cuts, then replaced by John Barbata (Turtles, CSN&Y) and Sammy Piazza (Hot Tuna). With all that in mind you would expect to hear something half-ass or in best case dutiful, but this is a lot better than that - e.g. title track is a killer with catchy melody and top guitars all through and "Milk Train" a hard rocker enhanced by great guitars and violin. Much of the rest might be called typical period JA - like the unison Kantner/Slick vocals in "Alexander The Medium" - but I guess any fan finds that totally agreeable. I mean...if it's good it's good and this is. Issued and reissued on vinyl and CD all over the world through the years, also 8-track, reel and cassette. UK with same label, number and sleeve design as US. Japan 2005 CD on BMG (BVCM 37631) came in paper sleeve. Premiere US had label as shown here and fold/out cover that can be built into a humidor where you can stash the lyric/credit "cigar" inner, but removing the inner there's a pic of weed at the bottom giving the impression the box is filled with marijuana. (YZÄ*) (JÄF*) (FÄV*)