TMS Retro: Two Seminal February Releases in Classic Rock History
(Herb Greene)
February 2022 marks the 55th and 45th anniversaries for two landmark releases of the classic rock era (as well as two of my own personal favorite albums): Jefferson Airplane’s ‘Surrealistic Pillow’ and Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Rumours.’ Two rock bands on the opposite end of the spectrum musically, yet somehow share surprisingly enough similarities to get compared occasionally. While a lot of late 1960s bands were associated with psychedelic rock, such as the Doors, the Grateful Dead, Love and Quicksilver Messenger Service, I don’t think any group took advantage of the subgenre better than Jefferson Airplane. Fleetwood Mac started out as a UK based blues-rock band in the 1960s, before eventually transitioning into one of the all-time legendary soft rock acts of the late 1970s/early 1980s. And on the first week of February, almost exactly ten years apart from each other; Airplane released their breakthrough LP, ‘Surrealistic Pillow’ (1967), and Mac’s groundbreaking album ‘Rumours’ (1977) came out.
(RCA Victor Records)
‘Surrealistic Pillow’ is considered Jefferson Airplane’s most important record for a couple of reasons. One is that the band’s two iconic songs, ‘Somebody to Love’ and ‘White Rabbit,’ are featured on the album. The other is because it was the introduction of frontwoman, singer and songwriter Grace Slick, who also sings lead on both tracks and penned ‘White Rabbit.’ Slick replaced Airplane’s previous female vocalist, Signe Anderson, once the latter left the band after discovering she was pregnant. Though it’s easy and fair to call ‘Somebody to Love’ and ‘White Rabbit’ the best songs on ‘Surrealistic Pillow,’ the rest of the runtime is pretty worthwhile too. Frontman Marty Balin gives us two beautiful ballads with ‘Today’ and ‘Comin’ Back to Me,’ while lead guitarist Jorma Kaukonen strums his signature instrumental ‘Embryonic Journey’ near the end of the LP. Although Slick and Balin are deservedly regarded as strong lead vocalists, Airplane’s harmonies shouldn’t be forgotten either, which are stunningly utilized on ‘My Best Friend’ and ‘How Do You Feel.’ On reissues of ‘Pillow,’ listeners will find four bonus tracks, including a second version of ‘Go to Her,’ also previously recorded when Anderson was still a member. This is actually one of my favorite Airplane songs and I’m always surprised it ended up shelved not once, but twice.
Like Mac’s Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie, Slick quickly became a symbol and pioneer for female musicians after she joined Jefferson Airplane. And just like Fleetwood Mac, the Airplane’s inner sexual politics are as familiar to fans as their music history; with Slick openly claiming she’s slept with “every member of Jefferson Airplane except Marty Balin.” Save for Balin’s songwriting, Airplane in general aren’t exactly known for composing love songs. But you can feel all sorts of tension and attraction gradually flowing through their records whether it’s coming from Slick’s relationship with Paul Kantner—JA rhythm guitarist and father of future daughter, China—or a supposed rivalry from Slick and Balin, instigated by the latter to retain leadership within the band. ‘Surrealistic Pillow’ was recorded and released before things became complicated between the bandmates, and has a vibe reflecting simpler, enjoyable times, as it would be for the Summer of Love the same year of release. Along with Jack Casady’s epic bass playing and Spencer Dryden’s unique drumming, ‘Surrealistic Pillow’ is a nice blend of pop, rock, folk and psychedelia for anyone who wants to pretend like it’s 1967.
(Warner Bros. Records)
In Fleetwood Mac’s corner, this rock group is very much famous for their love songs, whether romantic or bitter tonally. In 1977, their second LP consisting of drummer Mick Fleetwood, bassist John McVie, pianist-vocalist Christine McVie, singer-lead guitarist Lindsey Buckingham and singer-frontwoman Stevie Nicks was ‘Rumours’ to wide success. Credited as one of the most popular and acclaimed break-up albums of all time, both couples in Mac—the McVies and Buckingham & Nicks—split right before production started, and the aggression can be heard throughout the songs’ lyrics. Buckingham’s ‘Go Your Own Way’ is an epic, promise of moving on, while Nicks’ ‘Dreams’ is a more somber, self-reflective ode to a failed relationship. Chris McVie’s ‘You Make Loving Fun’ offers a catchy pop track that’s dedicated to her post-divorce beau; McVie and Buckingham appropriately duet on ‘Don’t Stop;’ and the whole band comes together to produce the anthem ‘The Chain.’ McVie’s ‘Songbird’ and Buckingham’s ‘Never Going Back Again’ are the softer sides of ‘Rumours,’ and another Nicks classic, ‘Gold Dust Woman’ ends the album on a slightly spooky note.
Fleetwood Mac had success before ‘Rumours,’ and continued to gain it years ahead, but many will agree, the LP was their lightning-in-a-bottle moment that can only be hit once. Nicks and McVie aided in paving the way for future female singer-songwriters with their efforts, and Buckingham proved himself multi-talented instrumentally and behind the soundboard. To me, ‘Surrealistic Pillow’ and ‘Rumours’ are two albums that instantly take you back to the decades they were a part of, and my fitting music recommendations for this February.
(Herbert W. Worthington)