#471 Jefferson Airplane, 'Surrealistic Pillow' (1967)

Previously #146

A quintessential record of the Summer Of Love, ‘Surrealistic Pillow’ was released in February ’67, and was promoted well into that very famous summer. This is the album that epitomises psychedelic and acid rock. How many films and TV shows have used ‘White Rabbit’ as the soundtrack to a trippy drug scene? Off the top of my head, I can rememeber iconic scenes from ‘The Simpsons’ and ‘Mad Men,’ but honestly, too many to name. No song better illustrates a decent down the proverbial rabbit hole into an acid trip. And another all-time great – ‘Somebody To Love.’ But this album is not just about those two mega-singles. It lives as a cohesive work. Each song on the record supporting those two singles, and giving them context.

I’ve actually glad that this album came up so soon because just a few days ago I discovered that drummer, Spencer Dryden is Charlie Chaplin’s half-nephew. I’ve been itching to share that. As a major fan of Charlie Chaplin, music and useless trivia, I’m disappointed that I didn’t know that. Jefferson Airplane would go on to become Jefferson Starship and eventually Starship in the ‘80s. Completely different bands, while, for the most part, sharing the same members, but nothing they would ever do would quite live up to this record.

#rs500albums