“One pill makes you larger and one pill makes you small…”
Sometime in the summer of 2016, this isolated track of Grace Slick’s vocals for “White Rabbit”–probably the most famous Jefferson Airplane song and definitely one of the top ten psychedelic songs of the late ‘60s–popped up YouTube. As these things go, nobody took credit, but everybody on the Internet was thankful.
Drenched in echo, Slick sings with martial precision, completely in command of her vibrato and dipping and rising all through the Phrygian scale (also known as the Spanish or Gypsy scale.) And no wonder, the song was written in 1965 after an LSD trip at her Marin county home where Slick had listened to Miles Davis’ Sketches of Spain over and over again for 24 hours. Compare the original version to Davis’ track “Solea” to hear what I mean.
Bob Irwin, who was in charge of remastering Jefferson Airplane’s catalog in 2003, was the first to hear Slick’s isolated vocals after many, many years:
When you put up the multi- tracks of the performances to something like “White Rabbit” and isolate Grace’s vocal…you can’t believe the intensity in that vocal. It’s hair-raising, and absolutely unbelievable. I was telling Bill Thompson about that. It’s not that I’m so well-seasoned that nothing surprises me, but boy oh boy, when I put that multi up and I heard Grace’s vocal solo-ed—and it’s absolutely whisper-quiet, there’s not an ounce of leakage in there at all—-you can hear every breath drawn and the intensity and the concentration…
Interestingly, when Slick wrote the song, Airplane hadn’t started. Instead she was in a band called The Great Society, and the original jam version doesn’t do justice to the composition.
Rhythm guitarist David Minor recalled that the song came out of a songwriting request to the other members of the band.
“When we started working, nobody had anything because I couldn’t write any more,” he recalls. “I was too busy keeping up with my various jobs. So Grace’s husband Jerry challenged them: ‘What are you gonna do? Let David write all the songs?’ Y’know, ‘Do something!’. So Darby came back with a couple of songs and Grace came back with White Rabbit.”
When the Great Society fell apart, Jefferson Airplane chose Slick as their singer in 1966 and she brought with her “White Rabbit.” The rest is rock history, and a large part of the now-retired Slick’s income.
Note: An earlier version of this post appeared on our site in 2017. It’s a favorite, and today we’re bringing it back for an encore.
Related Content:
Jefferson Airplane Plays on a New York Rooftop; Jean-Luc Godard Captures It (1968)
Ted Mills is a freelance writer on the arts who currently hosts the artist interview-based FunkZone Podcast and is the producer of KCRW’s Curious Coast. You can also follow him on Twitter at @tedmills, read his other arts writing at tedmills.com and/or watch his films here.
The airplane always one of my fav. Groups.
Grace has one of the greatest voices ever. Period !!
Darned if I didn’t just have a flash back to 1972. Whoa! I’m glad to be a proud follower of the Christ now, however,it is great to remember where I was ransomed from. May Jesus touch everyone who reads this, because He is coming back soon to claim His own Be one of His followers or be lost. I love you all ❤️ God bless and give you His salvation.
Thanks for both versions. I am a 73yo totally disabled VN vet and I have always loved Jefferson Airplane and the music still gets me through some rough patches. Thanks Again.
Thanks for all of these clips! I love Grace and never ever get tired of the whole White Rabbit sound. It takes me back to 1968 and a whole different world. I am 78 now.
I’ve heard so, so many vocalists in concert going back almost 60 years now — simply fantastic world-class singers like Joan Baez and Chelsea Wolfe and Aretha Franklin and Zola Jesus, countless others — but the best of all was Grace Slick the only time I heard her in a live performance (1975, in Denver; yeah, she sang “White Rabbit”, of course). The best.
Saw the Airplane several times over the years. First in late’67, spring of’68 and spring of ‘69. As it might be surmised, the band was an all time favorite. I don’t care if Grace sang a cookbook, I would have bought it. Hearing this isolation vocal is absolutely amazing.
I’ve met her twice. Interesting, well thought out responses, smart ass sense of humor intact. The music world — and ours — has been made all the richer for her being here.
I’ve always called it the hippie anthem of all time.. growing up in the 70’s was an awesome Era to be a teenager.
Yes, Great song, Great voice. I love that song, music words and Grace Slick each time I hear it. Thank Grace Slick and her talent. No Nonsense. Sincerely, Irene Osborn.….. I hope Ms Slick is doing well
Ah,dayum
First heard this in San Francisco on the radio, loved song way back then, love it still 2024 “White Rabbit” 🐇 coolest song 🥰💜
Loved this song way back then, love it still 2024 “White Rabbit” 🐇 coolest song 🥰💜
THANKS FOR MAKING ME A LIFE TIME DRUG ADDICT I BELONG IN GUINNESS WORLD BOOK OF RECORDS. BIG H FOR 53 YEARS. What a life God bless me.
THANKS FOR MAKING ME A LIFE TIME DRUG ADDICT I BELONG IN GUINNESS WORLD BOOK OF RECORDS. BIG H FOR 53 YEARS. What a life God bless me..
It takes all kinds of experiences to make up human life.
I’m 72 years old and I know now that,for me, there was no chance that I would ever be anything but a Christian.
My Mom and Dad were young devout Christians when they were married (in the sanctuary of what is now the music venue The Tabernacle (sp?) in Atlanta. I know that they had planned their life together and I was the first child of that plan.
Daddy was raised by a devout, devout Christian, a prayer-centered woman and her husband who was a linotyper at the AtlantaJournal/Constitution and a drinker ’til my father was 9, when he contracted pneumonia and nearly died. Granddaddy bargained with God for my Dad’s life: “Please don’t take my boy, and I will never touch another drop.
He was as good as his word.
Daddy lived.
He grew there in East Atlanta and joined the Navy after graduating from Grady H.S. and was sent to the South Pacific to fight. The Japanese Imperial Navy. The War was won, he came home (having given his life to Jesus while on duty). He had a plan and he carried it out. He and Mom married and he went to school on the G.I.Bill.
I am certain that Mom and Dad prayed before retiring on the night I was conceived. And the next morning they prayed when they awakened as I was begining to become the person I am.
But, I digress.
I’m married (25 years) to the Mother of my twins who are young adults now..They have three older siblings.
We are very happy together. I pray and meditate every day and am amazed that as a young man (17 years old in 1969) I was fascinated with the Beatles spiritual pursuits.
As a step in my recovery from addiction I made prayer and meditation a part of my practice each day.
And I have found the path to peace for which I began searching all those years ago.
The word “witness” in Greek “martyros” from which, of course, comes our word martyr. We want to know Christ? We tell the story of His life.
Our lives tell the story.
May Providence grant that I live my life so that others see Jesus in me.
God Bless You, Friend.🌹🙏❤😁🙏