Jefferson Airplane - We Can Be Together (live 1970)

This was recorded in 1970 at Pacific High Recording in San Francisco and feature their new drummer, Joey Covington.

[@SteveBerberovic]

Jorma has to be one of the most underrated Guitarists in the history of Rock. Power and taste.

[@blue-fj9ky]

And originality!

[@michaelcelani8325]

@@blue-fj9ky And ... LOUD. !! saw him at Princeton Univ. in 73 with Hot Tuna ..wow super Loud. . With Papa John Creech on electric violin. ...and Cassady of course, Great Bass player of all time.

[@blue-fj9ky]

@@michaelcelani8325 I agree 100%! Hot Tuna was the loudest band I ever saw. Zeppelin and The Who didn't come close! After one concert at Constitution Hall in Washington DC I was in pain and everything sounded muffled for hours! I loved the Airplane and Hot Tuna and saw them several times in the late sixties.

[@stefanschleps8758]

Not by us.

[@stefanschleps8758]

I saw Jorma & Jack, Hot Tuna, the Airplane, and solo Jorma almost a dozen times, but never was he loud. Not even in tiny venues. I guess loud Jorma is better than no Jorma. Peace.

[@frankpalumbo8384]

The brilliance of Jorma comes through on this

[@juanpedroparrasanchez4884]

Bueno, si es verdad, hay que tener en cuenta,que Jorma aguanta musicalmente la banda (J.Airplane)sin el trabajo de Jorma nada hubiera sido igual.

[@TheJoshuamooney]

I love that footage like this is on KZbin. When I bought my first Airplane disc in 1976, access to KZbin was severely limited.

[@tacey01]

I bought Volunteers in 1968 with my own money! I was 13.

[@frederickglasser5617]

Top of their game. Love how Grace switches to from lead to backing/harmony and lets the men sing their asses off. Jorma simply shredding. What a performance. Thanks, Findusam.

[@christianauerbach9845]

100 % agreed man . JK was a beast of Axe . They were in the pantheon of greats . Jack still alive and well too . ( I think ) Now impress me and get to a Jinjer Gig . Cheers / The Ancient Metal Guy .

[@vincentlussier8264]

They were REALLY together when they did this one! All instruments and vocals are equally audible. And the bass? Wow! This was tight!!

[@tomgebarowski8156]

The JA was at the center of the hippie scene in late 60's San Fransisco, but more importantly they were terrific musicians and a terrific band.

[@sylviafoster9093]

Jack Cassedy on bass.

[@LucyLennon20]

Far out, man! It's the year 2023 and this is taking me back!

[@davidallen8242]

Oh man, just imagine being in that room with all of them during that time.

[@blankfrancine]

This was part of a film broadcast on WGBH (public tv) in Boston Mass in 1970, and probably nationwide. There was also some concert footage (Woodstock?)included. I was 14 then but I still remember the line "she's loose" to this day.

[@TJCATLOVER]

They had such a raw, honest sound. I love the passionate way that they play and sing.

[@adelinacavanagh9355]

My theme song since I was 15. Has never gotten old- just I have.

[@robertog9938]

To all the young ones out there: This was more than a song back when; it was an anthem.

[@haintedhouse2990]

agreed. when Volunteers was released the Vietnam war was still raging and a concert with the Airplane could easily turn into a showdown with cops

[@saveourrivers]

@@haintedhouse2990 According to Jorma, Paul nearly started a riot once.

[@haintedhouse2990]

@@saveourrivers I believe it. Paul jokingly said around 1968 the flower children put on jack boots.

[@drewburt4315]

This has such a warm, golden sound to it. They don't make sound equipment like that anymore.

[@ShipwreckTownBand]

Captured at their peak- the guitars and vocals never sounded better. Kaukonen just rips. More passion and power than an ipod full of the music today that serves to distract and titillate, but rarely to inspire.

[@markhunter8554]

Well, they were at their peak when Spencer was still in the band.

[@kevinjoseph517]

66-70 then marty quit...the 2 coke addicts became unbearable..i know a friend of martys. his writer....@@markhunter8554

[@johnnybradin5112]

I couldn't see who the drummer is. In 1970 it would have been Ainsley Dunbar or Joey Covington.

[@michaeleli6767]

Spencer was an important part of the JA and is missed here he played with a jazz sense that really helped them

[@arthurw8054]

I agree. Covington was a more conventional driving rock drummer, but Spencer was better. Spencer mostly played it straight but infused a subtle jazz-rooted syncopation that reall helped them. The "classic", best lineup was: Slick, Kantner, Balin, Cassady, Kaukonen and Dryden.

[@tobymj0781]

Arthur W I agree!!

[@jasontimperley9199]

Spencer was not only the best drummer the Airplane ever had, but he was also one of the the most creative drummers of the era.

[@markhunter8554]

@@arthurw8054 No argument about that.

[@pedrovaldez2700]

He left after Altamont

[@jeremyraikes7980]

I had the great pleasure of working (woodwork:rebuilding the top of a boat he had in Sausalito) in the early 70's - Joey was a great soul, with a huge grin, and a n equally large assortment of appetites: i enjoyed my time with him immensely! Requiescat In Pacem, Joey baby!

[@Tipi_Dan]

The greatest rock band that ever mounted a stage.

[@DrMitchMedina]

No. It was the Grateful Dead. They LASTED. And their music never stopped. Who is playing Airplane covers today? That's right, nobody. Hot Tuna goes on, but it's a different groove.

[@markhunter8554]

@@DrMitchMedina I love the Dead, but I prefer the Airplane. Admittedly, though, the Dead carried the torch a lot longer and didn't turn into the embarrassment that the Starship became.

[@kevinjoseph517]

what hits have peeps had with hunter-garcia songs? the dead needed robert hunter. outsider.@@DrMitchMedina

[@DrMitchMedina]

@@kevinjoseph517 The Dead didn't really have hits with Hunter-Garcia songs, much less anybody else. But the music never stopped -- there are dozens of cover bands that play it, every day, somewhere. And I agree about the unique excellence of Robert Hunter's lyrics.

[@rivergladesgardenrailroad8834]

one of them for sure...

[@lloydboisjolie8064]

Saw them in 67, wow, what a show!!! I was 15, Fargo, N.D. Temporarily kidnapped their robot with my belt from the stage!!!❤

[@alainpaum]

This is a magic group ! They blend together so we'll ! What a fantastic lead guitar tipical of JA and the incredible voices ! What a music trip !

[@Versul1]

They blended like cats in heat

[@grampsrivera9771]

Blows against the empire!!!

[@mickeywhitlock162]

Masterpiece IMO

[@johnmckenna6203]

Jorma's guitar style was so unique. He was 'lead' guitar but more then that, he kind of took his lead notes and made them rhythm too. And of course Jack was there the whole time.

[@casperguylkn]

Jack Casady is great because he's a team player and that makes everyone else better. Tat's what a great musician does, makes everyone else better, not that the other guys aren't fantastic, mind you.

[@curiousnomad]

Grace Slick was a goddess back then. Mesmerizing.

[@Sophie1Lynne]

still is

[@tomisasi9626]

amen

[@Methilde]

So right that I often wish that Marty could stay at home.

[@kingtrades]

favorite band of all time. Thank you San Francisco

[@melissatyree566]

Grace is just beautiful. Her voice is out of this world. Nobody is better than Marty ballen. Delightful ✌️✌️✌️

[@haintedhouse2990]

She was. Especially in the this video. Great voice and easy on the eyes. What a time it was.

[@jasondalton-earls9972]

Except Grace Slick & Paul Kanter lol

[@tovarisch2788]

@@jasondalton-earls9972 *Kantner

[@tovarisch2788]

*Balin

[@EZE503]

Balin

[@Apodicticus]

Jack remains my favorite bass player to this very day

[@mikemerna7554]

Can’t believe I’m 51 years old and just now hearing this song for the first time! It was amazing. Long and winding with some unique chord transitions, powerful and immediate. Almost sounded like a precursor to 1990’s indie rock.

[@saveourrivers]

If you like this, the studio version of Wooden Ships (it was on the same album) is even better.

[@DanChad-er9lh]

I first heard it under the influence of California sunshine in a caravan by the sea when I was 17. I’m 49 now and that is firmly engraved in my psyche. Very loud too!

[@raylovelace8588]

You clearly need a 60's course.

[@LordGreystoke]

Marty and Grace work well together when they can hear each other.

[@kythrathesuntamer9715]

I'm a millennial and this is amazing.

[@stevennovakovich2525]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6Xac5Svjql5j7M&pp=gAQBiAQB8AUB People seemed a lot happier back then.

[@LSommer]

The intro is SO much fun. Grace just takes us right down and in. 😎

[@grampsrivera9771]

Doesn't really start until she reminds them why they are there. Excellent video. Tanks a lot.🤓

[@codybluetarp]

They got my attention back then; at the adult age of 21, particularly the musicianly edge of Jorma. Covington's got the groove. JA on the beam.

[@dreamwell2020]

"TEAR DOWN THE WALL!" A song for our time here.

[@jackcade68]

Marty and Grace's voice worked together so well! Too bad they never could.

[@richardsanislo1686]

Love Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Cassidy on “Wooden Ships”. And of course Grace Slick and the rest of the band.

[@verutschkow]

"And we are very proud of ourselves ..."

[@user-fb1dv3kw4r]

This is probably the best rock ode I've ever heard ...

[@alsoaswell]

thanks so much airplane, this was the soundtrack for almost a year of working on The Carolina Plain Dealer, an underground newspaper of the day... you sang to our hearts as we cut, pasted, typed up and drew our contribution to the cultural struggle that continues to this day...

[@edscher816]

Doesn't get any better than this!

[@larryj2416]

This is JA transitioning to the 70s..post Woodstock and Altamont, which is I believe why Dryden left right before this.

[@Talleyrandful]

Well spoken ChefMozart. If anyone will once more ask me to explain what happened in the late 60s, or rather what we hoped to get going I will play this song... For most of us it was not about politics or drugs. It was about how to live life. It was about how to get out of what these amazing musicians described so well in The House at Pooneil Corners: "You and me we keep walking around and we see all the bullshit around us". And we failed miserably... because the bullshit got even worse...

[@thomasbedell4770]

Talleyrand most of us just wanted to be able to do our own thing. Getting shot at was serious shit and many decided that revolution in the streets wasn’t wear it was at. That would take serious long term commitment, effort and planning. A lot didn’t have that energy. So, IMO, many re-enlisted in the mainstream. Many disappeared into the ether. Many kept trying. Life and obligations caught up with me and I put on my brown shoes but always tried to be an example of the counter way. Here we are today (2019) and it seems we have to start over again.

[@leyn39]

Today is a cold and miserable day. But I have shivers for a different reason.

[@guapoviejo9135]

My first " favorite band" when I heard them in the mid sixties and still my favorite band in 2018 when I'm 68. It's great to read the comments to see how many others feel because I always felt alone in school in northeast Ohio, where this was not the most popular sound or lyrics. But it was clearly what I wanted and needed to hear. I wish that all this great(est) music was still played by cover bands, or that some FM station would play it all day and all night; not just the Airplane, but other bands that felt the same way. And I was thinkung while I was listening to Gracie sing that she sounds ao much like Janis did when she sang with enormous passion.

[@chicklets4ever51]

@Guapo Viejo. I also grew up in NE Ohio (Warren) in the '60s, and I also loved the Airplane! Just the thing to ease me into my lifelong rebellion...

[@willinnewhaven3285]

@@chicklets4ever51 Youngstown here. Love Grace and the Airplane

[@johanvandermeulen9696]

@@chicklets4ever51 We are forces of chaos and anarchy everything they say we are we are. Greetings from Holland

[@haintedhouse2990]

@@willinnewhaven3285 greetings Youngstown, NE Ohio and Holland - born & raised in Dayton, Cincinnati area, saw the Airplane in Dayton 1971. We are obscene lawless hideous dangerous dirty violent and young.

[@rewolfe333]

They were really big in north east PA back then. I'm in Ohio now want to visit the fur peace ranch

[@susantyrellfans]

This band was so damn good!

[@ambertjeblue]

Sorry you are gone Joey. . . . thanks for all the music. XX

[@GratefulZen]

Jefferson Airplane, rock and roll behemoth!

[@jstraw4]

Inspired performance of the quintessential song of revolution from a time when it was in the air and lots of bands vaguely evoked it. The Airplane was the real deal -- true musical and political visionaries.

[@johnnybsteelriff]

Who said the hippies were all blissed out???...there is a surging anger of discontent in this song.....

[@TJCATLOVER]

I really admire their talent. My favorite member is Marty Balin.

[@jackwalker1822]

He did put the band together. What a visionary.

[@bjaded1]

he is a great singer. My favorite is grace but nobody can deny how great marty was

[@johntoomey357]

@@bjaded1 Grace kind of took the spot as lead singer and Marty Balin resented Grace because of this Slick slept with every guy in the group except Marty Balin because of the tension between the two and if you don't believe me look it up

[@haintedhouse2990]

@@johntoomey357 yep Marty gradually withdrew when Grace joined. he should have been grateful that the 2 songs she brought with her made them all famous and got them out of San Francisco.

[@haintedhouse2990]

@@ThreeSixNineNature i didn't mean it as harsh. Grace said in an interview "never mind the counter-culture, we didn't think anything we wrote was going to get us out of San Francisco."

[@TallaBammahassee]

Note to catergary: Interesting comment...but I'm not sure that tight, blending harmonies were what they wanted. After all, Crosby, Stills Nash and (occasionally) Young and other groups had that sewn up pretty well. What amazes me about JA is the way they managed to blend, DESPITE the cacophony. Take a thunderstorm, a tornado, an earthquake and a stampede and make them blend. Lots of misses...but when they nail it, they nail with a railroad spike. CARRY THE FIRE!

[@benoitbonnet2325]

RIP MARTY BALIN,what a singer ,with GRACE SLICK , they broke the hearts!!

[@curiousnomad]

Very perceptive observation. I think one of the really unique talents and brilliance of Grace was her ability to improvise, weaving in and out of the primary vocals. In fact, the whole group approach was very improvisational in a sense. I doubt they ever played any song the same twice. Jack and Jorma were definitely about playing creatively and not just playing a “part”.

[@hankrosenfeld8433]

I see Crosby early in this clip

[@rivergladesgardenrailroad8834]

agreed....

[@bunnyman09]

What a find! This is amazing. The vocals are spot on.

[@dakine575756]

I knew Joey Covington. One of the nicest guys . Jam on with the rest of the band, all bands in the cosmos

[@videomaniac108]

Bass players don't need to be out front, getting the acclaim and recognition of the audience, to feel good about what they do. The power and precision of the foundational rhythm that they lay down is sufficient reward in itself. I'm writing in general of, course, and there are exceptions, as you have mentioned.

[@willypotts2935]

Joey Covington RIP (June 27, 1945, East Conemaugh, Pennsylvania - June 4, 2013, Palm Springs, California)

[@laurethjezebelle8707]

I miss Marty too. Was a truly nice man.

[@bradfordgordon6552]

Grace Slick is so gorgeous in this video.

[@zolf1988]

this is precious material!

[@howielisnoff]

It will never happen again like this!

[@desert.mantis]

Great footage of a SUPER performance of a classic song! I appreciate the Airplane more now than back in the day.

[@Warp75]

My old girlfriend Charlotte circa 02/04 looked like Grace & she even had that sort of no bullshit attitude. Hope your good wherever you are CAP

[@TJCATLOVER]

Wow, what talent!!!!!!!!

[@DickPoleman]

do you realize how great this band was?

[@TheSkeptiGal]

Bar none, the best version of this song ever done. Balin's and Slick's vocals are perfect; neither out sings the other. Kaukonen is an animal, each riff is exquisite . Casady is a bit overshadowed, but still wonderful. Covington is so funny at the start " she's loose; we're ready!"

[@michaelcraig9449]

This is rock and roll, baby!! DEFF JEFF!!

[@alainpaum]

This guitar men is so F... genious and good !

[@deathwish1284]

that drummer rocks!!!

[@richardbemelen7287]

Joey Covington replaced Spencer Dryden, their drummer since 1966, only weeks before this performance. Rock music was getting heavier, so they needed a drummer with more power. He certainly strikes the drums with great force, but he keeps time nicely too. I love those opening beats, after he say, “she’s loose man, we’re ready”. The whole band is talented, and they’re in great for here.

[@deathwish1284]

thanks for the info

[@stevanaldape3424]

Spence Dryden drumming was best for the psychedelic era of rock music but I felt like once he left there wasn’t that spark that the Jefferson airplane had in their heyday of the mid to late 60s.

[@PortiidDreams]

the airplane rocks my world!

[@bwanna23]

I like it when they say, "Tear Down The Wall!"

[@goatcheeta]

Love Paul's rhythm guitar

[@blueridger28]

The concept is concrete

[@parmeetsingh5709]

RIP Marty.

[@vsibirsky]

YOU ARE SO Ttogether n vocally ! You just heard magic!

[@michaelcraig9449]

They should have had this song on their first album, and played it all through 1967!

[@glenndouglas8822]

Grace's Lude face is so beautiful 😉🙌

[@jackkieocarroll4243]

RIP, Marty.

[@gracejacobs1954]

Marty was tremendous! RIP

[@grampsrivera9771]

Excellent video. Rock 60's at its best! Like YOUR politics???

[@blueridger28]

People of this time were but the first to see the shit thats goin down these days

[@Chevelle602]

I love everything about this song.

[@bml516]

grace is beautifullll

[@heyjudy1]

wow...

[@Majnun74]

Very cool. This reminds me of Tom Laughlin getting handcuffed at the end of the Billy Jack movie.

[@sh230968]

Grace Slick was a beauty.

[@kimdnelson8906]

Marty sounds great.

[@philhurd7990]

This is fabulous!

[@casperguylkn]

What a voice! Overshadowed maybe a little by Janis Joplin in that era, but she's also a multi-instrumentalist (like most of her former Airplane bandmates).

[@kevinjoseph517]

grace also wrote music

[@haintedhouse2990]

saw the Airplane live and I never forgot Grace's stage presence. she didn't dance a lot or boogie down. she patrolled the stage like a cop. very cool.

[@glenndouglas8822]

Well if only Janis overshadowed grace then I think grace is a very very very happy person 🙌✌️

[@melanieholstra4397]

Amazing!

[@wailinburnin]

A person can listen to this nostalgically, but I am all ways amazed at how timeless it is. I read the inside liner notes of Flightlog years ago when it came out, it talked about JA fans as a brand new ethnicity, I agreed.☮️

[@Rebelqueen89]

Fantastic song !! I like very much Jefferson Airplane !!!

[@Agoateeman]

She actually did some modeling before the band came along. You should see some of her photos from back then!

[@saray9759]

Awesome :)

[@jennydow741]

All of these youtube videos need an extra 20 seconds at the end added so that they don't all keep getting cut off.

[@greensombrero3641]

I just woke up from this party - wow - what happened?

[@terriblemvh]

This is from the movie "Go Ride the Music" from 1970. It's a great doc with several Airplane songs performed live at the Family Dog in SF.

[@keneelee]

Thanks for the info!!!

[@ianzbradmire]

chills baby

[@louisprins7410]

Have seen them in 1968 in AMSTERDAM . OMG almost 50 years ago. Time flies . Still love the band.

[@johnguild8850]

Wow. I remember. I was there

[@Ropedandhogtied]

I love it! Joey added the joy and energy of a real rock drummer so much needed for the band. 2 guitars need a solid background of drums to work against & work with. The startups and transitions A-B-A parts executed by Joey gives a new dimension. Check out at 1:58, 3:03-3:06, 3:41-3:47, 4:00-4:12 and 5:14, and find a drummer in perfect timing & tune with the band. 3:10-3:37 is unique. Joey & Jorma sharing lead/solo/melody with drums/guitar in unison between vocals inserts.

[@markhunter8554]

Joey lacked the jazz sensibilities of Spencer. Even Jorma admitted, in hindsight, that Dryden was the best drummer the Airplane ever had.

[@mickigoe]

Hey , cameraman .... Jack's in the band too !

[@charlesmarcone9210]

Jack is one of the baddest BASS PLAYERS EVER. 4 FINGERS, 4 STRINGS, HE NEVER STOPPED.

[@kevinblake7078]

seen them live they were magic

[@jordywilliams]

outlaws in the eyes of america

[@monzarose]

RIP Joey.

[@randyfranklin9804]

Take me back.

[@richardbemelen7287]

It was an amazing era for rock music. The Airplane were such an accomplished band, without being slick, theatrical or flashy. Paul Kantner Grace Slick and Marty Balin were all so intelligent and articulate, too. Not that I think the other members were unintelligent, it’s just that I’ve seen more of the aforementioned members in interviews. I was three months old when this was recorded. You said “take me back” - were you old enough to be listening to them in 1970? if you don’t mind my asking.

[@randyfranklin9804]

Yes. 16. Grew up outside of Atlanta. They were my first intro into haight ashbury. That is the street alot of the groups lived on. A stones throw from Stanford university in san Francisco. I visited there years later. Nothing like the 60's though. Thanks for asking. I love the airplane even though most are gone