Early Flight is a 1974compilation album by the Americanpsychedelic rock bandJefferson Airplane, released as Grunt CYL1-0437. It features previously unreleased material from 1965, 1966, and 1970 as well as both sides of a non-album 1970 single.
The first three tracks come from the recording sessions forJefferson Airplane Takes Off which took place in December 1965 at RCA Victor's Music Center of the World recording studio in Hollywood.[4] These tracks feature vocals bySigne Toly Anderson andSkip Spence on drums. "High Flying Bird", a folk standard byBilly Ed Wheeler, was a key number in the band's early live setlists and a version with Grace Slick on vocals can be seen in the filmMonterey Pop.[5] "Runnin' 'Round This World" had been previously released as a B-side on the "It's No Secret" single and appeared on the earliest pressings ofJefferson Airplane Takes Off before RCA deleted it, objecting to its use of the word "trips."[6]
The closing two tracks on side one and the first track from side two come from the recording sessions forSurrealistic Pillow, which took place from October to November 1966 at RCA Victor's Music Center of the World.[7] All three songs were played live around the time of the album's recording as heard on the archival releaseWe Have Ignition, with "Go To Her" first attempted in the studio during sessions for the debut album; the earlier take with Signe on vocals would be included in the box setJefferson Airplane Loves You.[8] Former drummerSkip Spence penned "J.P.P. McStep B. Blues",[9] which in 1969 would sometimes be played in a medley with "Wooden Ships." Tracks from theTakes Off andSurrealistic Pillow sessions appeared later as bonus tracks on the respective 2003 remasters.[10][11]
"Up or Down", written by guitaristJorma Kaukonen's brotherPeter Kaukonen,[12] comes from the early recording sessions forBark, which took place in February 1970 at Pacific High andWally Heider Studios beforeMarty Balin chose to leave the band. "Mexico" and "Have You Seen the Saucers?" had been previously released as a non-album single in 1970, but this was the first LP on which the two songs appeared.[13] "Mexico" was author Grace Slick's rant against the anti-marijuana initiativeOperation Intercept which caused it to be banned from radio in some states,[14] while Kantner's "Have You Seen The Saucers" foreshadowed the sci-fi themes of his solo albumBlows Against the Empire later that year.[15] The latter song would also become a regular inJefferson Starship's setlist during the mid-1970s, where bassistPete Sears would usually take an extended solo.[16]
Grace Slick – vocals on "J. P. P. McStep B. Blues", "Go to Her", "Mexico" and "Have You Seen the Saucers", piano on "Mexico" and "Have You Seen the Saucers"
Spencer Dryden – drums on "In the Morning", "J. P. P. McStep B. Blues", "Go to Her", "Mexico" and "Have You Seen the Saucers"
Signe Toly Anderson – vocals on "High Flying Bird", "Runnin' Round This World" and "It's Alright"
Skip Spence – drums on "High Flying Bird", "Runnin' Round This World", "It's Alright" and "J. P. P. McStep B. Blues"
Joey Covington – drums on "Up or Down", congas and bells on "Have You Seen the Saucers"
Additional Personnel
Jerry Garcia – guitar on "In the Morning" and "J. P. P. McStep B. Blues"
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