This will wrap up the visit to the 60s and ’70s San Francisco sound. Sorry for not covering The Grateful Dead and Joplin…but I post those two regularly. My whole reason for blogging is to learn new artists and the stories behind those artists and songs. This week I posted 4 artists I never posted about before. I also picked up a few good songs. I was impressed by these artists. Also thank you to the ones who told me their stories of that time… Phil, Jim, and halffastcyclingclub…those are the stories I love hearing.
***Also, I want to ask my readers something…were you at the famous Watkins Glen concert held in New York in 1973 that drew 600,000 people? If you were there I would love to hear your story. Jim has given me his story so I can repost my post about that concert on the anniversary. Thank you so much.
I’ve only posted one song by this band version, so I’m happy to do another. I always favored the Airplane over Jefferson Starship a little and REALLY favored either one over just the 1980s Starship. I first learned about them in Gimme Shelter…the Stones film about Altamont and the destruction there. Marty Balin was knocked out cold there by the Hell’s Angels.
And here it is…”You gotta keep your bodies off of each other unless you intend love…” Grace Slick.
This is one of those songs played in most movies about the 1960s. It’s one of those songs that transport you there even if you weren’t…at least you think you are.
Grace Slick was in a band named The Great Society that featured her brother-in-law who wrote this song, Darby Slick. She was married to Jerry Slick, the drummer of the band. It was released as a single from that band but did nothing. The Great Society also did another song that Slick wrote…White Rabbit.
Darby Slick started to see the downside to free love that was taking over. He saw jealousy and disconnect with some. This song is about loyalty to one person and finding one person to be with.
The Great Society opened for the Jefferson Airplane at some shows. Grace Slick said she always looked at them with awe. When she was approached to join, she jumped at the chance. That essentially ended The Great Society. She brought both songs over with her to Jefferson Airplane. They play it faster, harder, and cleaner. They set up the pause before the chorus that kicks the whole song forward using dynamics. And their arrangement suits Grace Slick’s voice much better than the original.
The song was on the Surrealistic Pillow album released in 1967. The album peaked at #3 on the Billboard Album Charts and #5 in Canada.
Somebody To Love peaked at #1 in Canada and #5 on the Billboard 100.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU7hVMc3q6Y
Somebody To Love
When the truth is found to be liesAnd all the joy within you diesDon’t you want somebody to loveDon’t you need somebody to loveWouldn’t you love somebody to loveYou better find somebody to loveLove, love
When the garden flowers, baby are dead, yes andYour mind, your mind is so full of redDon’t you want somebody to loveDon’t you need somebody to loveWouldn’t you love somebody to loveYou better find somebody to love
Your eyes, I say your eyes may look like hisYeah, but in your head, babyI’m afraid you don’t know where it isDon’t you want somebody to loveDon’t you need somebody to loveWouldn’t you love somebody to loveYou better find somebody to love
Tears are running downThey’re all running down your breastAnd your friends, babyThey treat you like a guestDon’t you want somebody to loveDon’t you need somebody to loveWouldn’t you love somebody to loveYou better find somebody to love
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