Jefferson Airplane – Volunteers

Volunteers by The Jefferson Airplane marks the end of an era, and the Merry Prankster-ish cover indicates that the Airplane are looking for something else as well, or perhaps someplace fresh to land, and that something, and place, was the revolution in politics. While internal problems were arising from within the band, or at least were coming to a head, that didn’t stop The Airplane from making a fine record here, with Volunteers being flavored with more textured guitars, and more conceptual in nature, as most of the songs ebb and blend from one into the other. “Hey Fredrick” is a loving and very angry song which could easily be seen as a metaphor for the rioting that was going on in the streets during this time. Yet there are very passionate numbers such as "Turn My Life Down," that seem to pushing to keep hope alive.

Blows Against The Empire will follow, bringing in a totally new possibility, but more on that later. The body of work, from Surrealistic Pillow through Bark can not be avoided, and should be seen in their proper context ... a journey through the landscape of America by those who would have something better rise from the ashes.

Enjoy my friends … "Go ride the music, go ride the music, go ride."

Here's another clue for you all:

There's a crossword grid (with no clues) appearing on the back cover of this 1969 classic Volunteers album … The numbering of the grid is, in a word, amazing. The top row starts off normally 1-4, but skips 5 to go right to 6. Then the drugs kick in: F-Across/-Down is directly above U-Across. 03-Down? 9- then 8- then 7- then (finally!) 5-Down. Then the repeated enumeration begins. There are two 4-Downs, as well as a 4-Across which has nothing to do with either 4-Down. Two 41-Acrosses as well as two 42-Acrosses, and, count 'em three 43-Acrosses. The obligatory: 69-Across (natch). A why-the-hell-not 113-Down. There's two P-Downs. And since this was the '60s, Peace-symbol-Down, positioned directly below an area that has L-, S-, and D-Acrosses.

If you think you have it completed, let me know … though, considering the times, and considering Jefferson Airplane, I suspect there are no right or wrong answers, because during those heady daze, it was the questioning that was most important, and not the answers, which were always subject to change.

As to the album cover art: Even though the album was released in late 1969, the cover photo dates back to 1967 and features the band wearing disguises, with the image being taken during the filming of a promotional film made for their single "Martha".

Review by Jenell Kesler