The second in a (woefully brief) series of
spoken word double-CD sets that would have gracefully brought the art form into the 1990s and beyond, Monster Sounds' recording of
Paul Kantner's history is an absolute joy.
Kantner proves to be an excellent speaker, and producer/interviewer
Harvey Kubernik is also a great "guide" here. The story of
the Jefferson Airplane is a complex and thorny one, yet on this set the history is laid out in a colorful and easy to digest form. As an added bonus,
Kantner delivers an excellent new composition, "Which Side Are You On?," which shows his writing and performing skills undiminished. Whether due to business screwups or financial problems, the fact that this series wasn't continued (after this and a fabulous
Ray Manzarek set as well) is a true catastrophe. However, these two collections do exist -- although they may be hard to find -- and they are well worth seeking out. ~ Matthew Greenwald, All Music Guide
