Paul Kantner and Grace Slick - Sunfighter
by Carl Bookstein
published: 29 / 6 / 2018

Label:
Select Label
Format: N/A
intro
Carl Bookstein reflects on Paul Kantner and Grace Slick of San Francisco’s Jefferson Airplane's musically innovative 1971 album 'Sunfighter', which has recently been reissued,
Consider the legendary 1960's-formed, San Francisco-based band Jefferson Airplane. That iconic band’s power couple Grace Slick and Paul Kantner had a daughter China Slick in January of 1971. The child is held aloft on the cover photo of Kantner and Slick’s album 'Sunfighter', which was released in November of 1971. The child is held aloft by two arms, over sea and setting sun: One arm is Grace Slick’s, the other Kantner’s. On the album opener 'Silver Spoon', Grace Slick sings “Throw down all of your silver spoons/Eat all the raw meat with your hands,” followed by a hum of a violin. The song, a bit strange, is nevertheless highly inventive. Slick is backed by a building orchestral arrangement. It is a powerful vocal by Slick, a great rock singer always, and an over-the-top musical arrangement. It is a fascinating start to a unique album. On the title track 'Sunfighter', Paul Kantner takes the lead vocal. The lyrics are politically charged. “There ain’t no more room here, on this planet to grow.” “Going to try and pull you through,” Kantner sings with lyrics about people making a mess of the land. “Sunfighter, gunfighter… I see you and I like it here.” 'When I Was a Boy I Watched the Wolves' is solid rock and roll. It includes some stinging electric guitar, with Kantner and Slick singing about running with the wolf pack. It is a number that builds in its propulsive energy and momentum. A lovely harmonic number, 'Million' has the lyrics of “All of us waiting for the rain to wash away the dust from our bodies” am=nd “Standing on the edge of civilization… Good morning San Francisco ladies/Good morning San Francisco crazies.” 'China' is an epiphany tribute to Kantner and Slick’s newborn daughter China. “Her voice cuts over the sea even when it’s storming/I hope she sees some things that’ll make her turn happy/…It all comes in./I see in her new face a clear beginning.” “Once the earth was a garden” is the 'Earth Mother 3' lyric, a song with a folk meets bluegrass feel, “It gave us all we need.” It speaks of a dichotomy of hope and darkness that feels ever relevant in current times. “Don’t worry anymore…Children are your salvation… o the sound of a living dream.” 'Holding Together' is the evocative closer. “I see the empire is breaking down from the inside,” is a lyric that rings truer than ever today. Speaking of the song’s muse, Kantner sings, “Look for Rosemary to open the door for you/And she sees you and she needs you” and “We’re looking for you and we need you.” Speaking of the Earth and man, 'Sunfighter' shares a muse that rang true in the war- torn Vietnam era, as did so much of the music of Jefferson Airplane. It is a muse worthy of listening to and considering again today.
Track Listing:-
Have a Listen:-
Picture Gallery:-


most viewed articles
current edition
Peter Doherty - Blackheath Halls, Blackheath and Palace Halls, Watford, 18/3/2025 and 21/3/2025Armory Show - Interview with Richard Jobson
Liz Mitchell - Interview
Lauren Mayberry - Photoscapes
Deb Googe and Cara Tivey - Interview
Max Bianco and the BlueHearts - Troubadour, London, 29/3/2025
Maarten Schiethart - Vinyl Stories
Sukie Smith - Interview
Clive Langer - Interview
Kim Wilde - Photoscapes
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPBoomtown Rats - Ten Songs That Made Me Love....
Trudie Myerscough-Harris - Interview
Doris Brendel - Interview
Beautiful South - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Kay Russell - Interview with Kay Russell
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Pulp - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Sound - Interview with Bi Marshall Part 1
Jay Reatard - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Davey Woodward - Mumbo in the JumboNigel Stonier - Wolf Notes
Wings - Venus and Mars
Only Child - Holy Ghosts
Kate Daisy Grant and Nick Pynn - Songs For The Trees
Neil Campbell - The Turnaround
Philip Jeays - Victoria
Darkness - Dreams On Toast
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
Charles Ellsworth - Cosmic Cannon Fodder
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart