Crown of Creation

Untitled

Crown of Creation was released in 1968 and is the fourth album by the San Francisco rock band Jefferson Airplane. The album was more concise and structured than its predecessor, After Bathing at Baxter's, and it became an immediate success, peaking at #6 on the album charts. The David Crosby-penned "Triad" is the only track not composed by Jefferson Airplane. The song was previously rejected for release by Crosby's group The Byrds as being too risqué.

Track listing

Side one

1. "Lather" (Grace Slick) – 2:57
2. "In Time" (Paul Kantner, Marty Balin) – 4:14
3. "Triad" (David Crosby) – 4:55
4. "Star Track" (Jorma Kaukonen) – 3:11
5. "Share a Little Joke" (Balin) – 3:09
6. "Chushingura" (Spencer Dryden) – 1:20

Side two

1. "If You Feel" (Balin, Gary Blackman) – 3:21
2. "Crown of Creation" (Kantner) – 2:54
3. "Ice Cream Phoenix" (Kaukonen, Charles Cockey) – 3:02
4. "Greasy Heart" (Slick) – 3:26
5. "The House at Pooneil Corners" (Kantner, Balin) – 5:54

CD bonus tracks

The compact disc re-release (August 19, 2003) featured the following bonus tracks:

1. "Ribump Ba Bap Dum Dum" (Dryden, William Goodwin) – 1:32
2. "Would You Like a Snack?" (Frank Zappa, Slick) – 2:40
3. "Share a Little Joke" (mono single version) (Balin) – 3:09
4. "The Saga of Sydney Spacepig" (Dryden) – 7:55
5. "Candy Man" (Rev. Gary Davis) (hidden track) - 2:25

Frank Zappa is credited as the "leader" on "Would You Like a Snack?". Zappa bandmates Art Tripp, Ian Underwood and Don Preston also appear. Zappa released a song by the same on 200 Motels, which is completely unrelated to the Jefferson Airplane track. The melody of that track is from Zappa's "Holiday in Berlin" composition, whereas the Jefferson Airplane track is an original composition. "Would You Like a Snack?" was first issued as part of the Jefferson Airplane Loves You box set in 1992. [1]

Personnel

• Marty Balin – vocals, rhythm guitar
• Grace Slick – vocals, piano, organ
• Paul Kantner – vocals, rhythm guitar
• Jorma Kaukonen – vocals, lead guitar, electric chicken
• Spencer Dryden – vocals, drums, piano, organ, steel balls
• Jack Casady – Yggdrasil bass
• ∞ – percussion

Additional Personnel

• Gary Blackman – nose solo
• Charles Cockey – guitar, vocals
• David Crosby – guitar
• Tim Davis – congas
• Bill Goodwin – talking drums
• Dan Woody – bongos
• Gene Twombly – sound effects

Production

• Al Schmitt – producer
• Richie Schmitt – engineer
• Maurice – 8-Track
• Hiro – cover and back photo
• USAF – bomb photo Hiroshima
• J. Van Hamersveld – album design, art direction
• Bill Laudner – road manager
• Chick Casady – equipment manager
• Bill Thompson – manager

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1968	Billboard Pop Albums	6

Single

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1968	"Greasy Heart"	Billboard Pop Singles	98
1968	"Crown of Creation"	Billboard Pop Singles	64

Miscellanea

• The song "Crown of Creation" was inspired by the novel The Chrysalids by John Wyndham, who also wrote The Day of the Triffids. Many of its lyrics come from the book.

• The song "Lather" was written in part for drummer Spencer Dryden's 30th birthday, and in part for bassist Jack Casady's arrest for nudity at Santa Cruz.

References

• Crown of Creation (Media notes). New York City: RCA. 1968. {{cite AV media notes}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |bandname= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |mbid= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |publisherid= ignored (help)