Flight Log

Flight Log (1966-1976)
Greatest hits album by
ReleasedJanuary 7, 1977
StudioVarious
GenreFolk rock, psychedelic rock
Length85:06
LabelGrunt/RCA Records
Jefferson Airplane chronology
Early Flight
(1974)
Flight Log (1966-1976)
(1977)
2400 Fulton Street
(1987)
Jefferson Starship chronology
Spitfire
(1976)
Flight Log
(1977)
Earth
(1978)
Hot Tuna chronology
Hoppkorv
(1976)
Flight Log
(1977)
Double Dose
(1978)
Alternative cover
Japanese re-release
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Robert ChristgauC+[2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[3]

Flight Log (1966–1976) is a compilation album by the American rock band Jefferson Airplane. Released in January 1977 as a double-LP as Grunt CYL2-1255, it is a compilation of Jefferson Airplane and Airplane-related tracks, including tracks by Jefferson Starship and Hot Tuna, as well as solo tracks by Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, and Jorma Kaukonen. Although primarily a compilation album, the album includes one previously unreleased song: "Please Come Back" written by Ron Nagle and performed by Jefferson Starship. "Please Come Back" is not available on any other release.

Among the guest musicians featured on the album are David Crosby of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young on one track and Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead on three, two of which also feature Mickey Hart.

The album included a lavish 12-page full-color, full-size (12 sq.in.) booklet, containing photographs of the band throughout the period covered by the compilation. It also contained a detailed history of the band, written by Patrick Snyder of Rolling Stone magazine.

Flight Log was first reissued on CD by BMG Japan on October 22, 2008, as a part of the "Paper Sleeve Collection" reissue series (BVCM-35468-9). The release features an exact reproduction of the Grunt 1977 edition of the LP packaging including a reduced scale reproduction of the original booklet and inner sleeve jackets for the CDs. Also included is a second booklet containing all the lyrics in both English and Japanese. The only omission by BMG Japan was not reproducing the original GRUNT label on the CDs. The audio quality is as good as the original master tapes available for the Japanese LP pressing and features JVC K2 24 Bit Remastering. However, it sounds as if the master tapes had been damaged on at least three songs, and significantly obvious on the introduction of "Silver Spoon". CD 1 contains Side A and B, and CD 2 contains Side C and D.

On April 5, 2011, BGO Records released a remastered edition of Flight Log in a standard jewel case with cardboard slip cover. The BGO version is said to be a sonic improvement on the BMG/Sony edition; nonetheless, certain tape defects such as on Silver Spoon still exist.

Track listing (with artist)

Side A
No.TitleWriter(s)ArtistLength
1."Come Up the Years" (from Jefferson Airplane Takes Off)Marty Balin, Paul KantnerJefferson Airplane2:30
2."White Rabbit" (from Surrealistic Pillow)Grace SlickJefferson Airplane2:27
3."Comin' Back to Me" (from Surrealistic Pillow)BalinJefferson Airplane5:15
4."Won't You Try / Saturday Afternoon" (from After Bathing at Baxter's)KantnerJefferson Airplane5:02
5."Greasy Heart" (from Crown of Creation)SlickJefferson Airplane3:25
6."If You Feel" (from Crown of Creation)Balin, Gary BlackmanJefferson Airplane3:30
Side B
No.TitleWriter(s)ArtistLength
1."Somebody to Love" (live, from Bless Its Pointed Little Head)Darby SlickJefferson Airplane3:46
2."Wooden Ships" (from Volunteers)David Crosby, Kantner, Stephen StillsJefferson Airplane6:00
3."Volunteers" (from Volunteers)Balin, KantnerJefferson Airplane2:03
4."Hesitation Blues" (from Hot Tuna)traditional, arranged by Jorma Kaukonen, Jack CasadyHot Tuna5:05
5."Have You Seen the Stars Tonite?" (from Blows Against the Empire)Crosby, KantnerPaul Kantner, Jefferson Starship3:42
Side C
No.TitleWriter(s)ArtistLength
1."Silver Spoon" (from Sunfighter)SlickPaul Kantner, Grace Slick5:40
2."Feel So Good" (from Bark)KaukonenJefferson Airplane4:35
3."Pretty as You Feel" (single version A-side Grunt #65-0500, from Bark)Joey Covington, Casady, KaukonenJefferson Airplane3:07
4."Milk Train" (from Long John Silver)Slick, Papa John Creach, Roger SpottsJefferson Airplane3:26
5."Ja Da (Keep on Truckin')" (from Burgers)Bob CarletonHot Tuna3:40
Side D
No.TitleWriter(s)ArtistLength
1."¿Come Again Toucan?" (from Manhole)David Freiberg, SlickGrace Slick3:13
2."Sketches of China" (from Baron von Tollbooth & the Chrome Nun)Kantner, SlickPaul Kantner, Grace Slick, David Freiberg5:13
3."Genesis" (from Quah)KaukonenJorma Kaukonen4:19
4."Ride the Tiger" (from Dragon Fly)Kantner, Slick, Byong YuGrace Slick, Paul Kantner, Jefferson Starship5:06
5."Please Come Back" (live)Ron NagleJefferson Starship4:02

Personnel

Photo for Flight Log album ad, 1977. From left: Grace Slick, Marty Balin, Jorma Kaukonen, Paul Kantner, Jack Casady, Spencer Dryden.

Three of the tracks have contributions from members of the Grateful Dead.

Production

  • Bill Thompson – manager
  • Jacky Kaukonen – secretary
  • Bill Laudner – road manager
  • Pat Ieraci (Maurice) – production coordinator, album coordinator
  • Paul Dowell – equipment manager
  • Roger Ressmeyer, Tony Lane, Jim Marshall, Dave Patrick, B. Beckhard, Jim Smircich, Charles Stewart, Randy Tuten – photography
  • Mastered by John Golden, Kendun Recorders, Burbank
  • Craig DeCamps – booklet design
  • Acy R. Lehman – cover and art direction
  • Takuya Matsuyama – product director for Japanese release
  • Asami Konno – creative coordinator for Japanese release
  • Kazuhisa Fujita – design for Japanese release
  • STRANGE DAYS – support for Japanese release

Charts

Chart (1977) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[4] 37

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[5] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Ollio, J.P. (2011). "Flight Log (1966-1976) - Jefferson Airplane | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Archived from the original on June 28, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  2. ^ Christgau, Robert (2011). "Robert Christgau: CG: Jefferson Starship". robertchristgau.com. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  3. ^ Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195313734.
  4. ^ "Jefferson Airplane Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  5. ^ "American album certifications – Jefferson Airplane – Flight Log 1966-1976". Recording Industry Association of America.