Hot Tuna - Water Song (1972)

Jack Casady (b. April 13, 1944) and Jorma Kaukonen (b. December 23, 1940) had first met in the city which they were both born, Washington, D.C. in the United States, while growing up. Together as teenagers, the duo formed their first band together called The Triumphs. While Casady remained enrolled in high school, Kaukonen went off to Ohio for college, before abruptly following his family to live overseas. Eventually Kaukonen found his way back to the States and re-enrolled in college in California. In 1965, Kaukonen joined Jefferson Airplane and, within a matter of months, recruited Casady to join the band on bass, replacing Bob Harvey. Although Jack and Jorma wound find great success with the psychedelic sounds created in Jefferson Airplane, it was the blues to which they always remained loyal. In 1969, Jack and Jorma began a side project, this band, which allowed them to perform the blues and record original material of their own. Although Jefferson Airplane would eventually split up, and although Jack and Jorma have each had their own share of solo albums and guest appearances on other records, it is only Hot Tuna which still remains intact today. From 1969 until the present, the band has never broken up, continues to release new material, and continues to put on live shows which can last anywhere from three to six hours.

The first two albums released by Hot Tuna were live albums (Hot Tuna from 1970 and First Pull Up, Then Pull Down from 1971). The album that this song appeared on was the group’s third release, but first studio-recorded album, titled Burgers, and released in February 1972. Written by Jorma Kaukonen, the song featured Kaukonen on guitar, Jack Casady on bass, and Sammy Piazza on drums.



Hot Tuna - Water Song (1972)

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Lyrics:

(instrumental)

Jefferson Airplane - Embryonic Journey (1967)

By the end of the summer in 1966, Jefferson Airplane’s pregnant singer, Signe Toly Anderson, was expecting her first child. Combined with the hostility toward her husband from her bandmates, she wanted out. Luckily for her, when the group was formed, she had a clause inserted into her contract that would allow her to break away from the group for any reason (which she had put in due to her distrust of then manager, Matthew Katz). In late 1966, Anderson parted with the group and what remained of Jefferson Airplane persuaded Grace Slick, of The Great Society, to take her place.

When Slick departed with The Great Society, she took with her two songs: “White Rabbit” and “Somebody to Love,” both of which became enormous hits. Both songs also appeared on the group’s second album, Surrealistic Pillow, which also featured this song. This song was written by the group’s guitarist, Jorma Kaukonen, in 1962 and was added to the album at the insistence of the other members. Though I've never watched the show, you may recognize this song from the last episode of the television show Friends.



Jefferson Airplane - Embryonic Journey (1967)

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Lyrics:

(instrumental)

Jefferson Airplane - Come Up The Years (1966)

Rooted in folk and blues music, this psychedelic group was the first (and largest) band to come out of the San Francisco movement in the mid to late ‘60s. They’re mostly remembered for their biggest commercial hits “White Rabbit” and “Somebody to Love.” Both of these psychedelic songs were sung by their second female vocalist, Grace Slick (a former model), who had replaced Signe Toly Anderson and boosted the band into stardom.

This song comes from their first album, Jefferson Airplane Takes Off, before Grace Slick, The Acid Queen, had joined the band.



Jefferson Airplane - Come Up The Years (1966)

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Lyrics:

I oughta get goin'
I shouldn't stay here and love you
More than I do
'cause you're so much younger than I am
Come up the years
Come up the years
And love me, love me, love me

A younger girl keeps hangin' around
One of the loveliest I've ever found
Blows my mind; stealin' my heart
Somebody help me 'fore I fall apart

I oughta get goin'
I shouldn't stay here and love you
More than I do
'cause you're so much younger than I am
Come up the years
Come up the years
And love me, love me, love me

The things she's doin' keep turnin' me on
And I've been happy to go right along
I know it's time that I said goodbye
I know I can't leave no matter how hard I try

I oughta get goin'
I shouldn't stay here and love you
More than I do
'cause you're so much younger than I am
Come up the years
Come up the years
And love me, love me, love me
Love me, love me, won’t you love me?