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Jefferson Airplane — Somebody to Love
Album: Surrealistic Pillow
Avg rating:
8.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 4039









Released: 1967
Length: 2:55
Plays (last 30 days): 2
When the truth is found to be lies
And all the joy within you dies
Don't you want somebody to love, don't you
Need somebody to love, wouldn't you
Love somebody to love, you better
Find somebody to love

When the garden flowers baby are dead, yes and
Your mind, your mind is so full of red
Don't you want somebody to love, don't you
Need somebody to love, wouldn't you
Love somebody to love, you better
Find somebody to love

Your eyes, I say your eyes may look like his
Yeah, but in your head, baby, I'm afraid you don't know where it is
Don't you want somebody to love, don't you
Need somebody to love, wouldn't you
Love somebody to love, you better
Find somebody to love

Tears are running down and down and down your breast
And your friends, baby they treat you like a guest
Don't you want somebody to love, don't you
Need somebody to love, wouldn't you
Love somebody to love, you better
Find somebody to love
Comments (328)add comment
 kingart wrote:
1967. It's not just a year, a year in music and events.  It's almost a mantra.  
 
I have long said that 1967 was the best and likely the most important year in music history.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967_in_music
Jorma and Jack can do no wrong.
Thanks RP! 

1967. It's not just a year, a year in music and events.  It's almost a mantra.  
Go for it Gracie..
I would definately love somebody to love 
 dwhayslett wrote:

She's almost 82 years old (!).  Time comes for us all.

Actually, only the lucky ones.
I was lucky enough to see this tour in '93! Still have the ticket stub!
 kiwipete wrote:

Where else would you hear Bombino followed by Jefferson Airplane?

Long live Radio Paradise and all the lost souls drawn to its magic.




I Agree!!   
Where else would you hear Bombino followed by Jefferson Airplane?

Long live Radio Paradise and all the lost souls drawn to its magic.
 ProjectGemini07 wrote:

A more polite version of this is that she has lived a very full life.


Or...she is still ravSHING, even as an elder...
 finoufk wrote:


Same segue 3 years later


If it ain't broke...
 V12Silly wrote:

you are good Bill..
Play list  today  
Emiliana Torrini — White Rabbit 2011  - in front of   Jefferson Airplane — Somebody to Love 1967 



Same segue 3 years later
When I was a kid, for a brief time I thought Grace Slick was the same lady who narrated "Chilling, Thrilling Sounds of the Haunted House".
Just lost out to Light My Fire for song of the year....
GREAT!!! ICONIC!!!
 V12Silly wrote:

you are good Bill..
Play list  today  
Emiliana Torrini — White Rabbit 2011  - in front of   Jefferson Airplane — Somebody to Love 1967 



I would have liked to hear the 2 White Rabbit version back to back.
Grace Slick had amazing vocals!
 hdavid7 wrote:

Saw a photo of Grace the other day. Age has ravaged her. I'll remember her as she was then.


She's almost 82 years old (!).  Time comes for us all.
 PabloElBandito wrote:

OK. It's the Airplane. Faultless music. A good moment to introduce myself. I live in Paris, France. I'm an English actor and I live for good music. I recently discovered Radio Paradise and it's fab gear. I shall be coming back to enjoy your company. A bientôt!



Slang is always a little ticklish, but in the early Beatles time, I think they would use either "gear" or "fab" as adjectives.
 michelleaddinall wrote:


What recording/ show  was this from do you know? I can see a wee glimpse of David Crosby in the background so this can only be good. 


Jefferson Airplane - Somebody to love (live at the Dick Cavett show - full version) - YouTube

Not the best audio in the world, but it was probably not recorded the best anyways.
 hdavid7 wrote:

Saw a photo of Grace the other day. Age has ravaged her. I'll remember her as she was then.


A more polite version of this is that she has lived a very full life.
Saw a photo of Grace the other day. Age has ravaged her. I'll remember her as she was then.
,,,,yes,,,I 
 WonderLizard wrote:

First saw them at the Greek Theater in Berkeley in May 1967. Played the entire Surrealistic Pillow album note for note—not the free form, exploratory band of a year later, i.e., Bless Its Pointed Little Head.

Or the even more free form Bathing at Baxters...Who knew Ulysses

could be psychedelacized (ReJoyce ?-)

Tony in NJ

W.A.S.T.E.



1967.  A  -- the ? -- year of zeitgeist for the ages music. 
 bpemby wrote:
michelleaddinall wrote:


What recording/ show  was this from do you know? I can see a wee glimpse of David Crosby in the background so this can only be good. 
 

Thought that was Crosby, but he never was a member of the band.  Must have been some kind of one off.
 
Crosby has a little history with the band. Kantner co wrote the song Wooden Ships with Crosby and Stills.  The Airplane released the song first on the album Volunteers. Both bands played the song at Woodstock. Hard to say which version is better.  I like them both, with an edge going towards The Airplane because of Gracie ...
1967. What a year for music!
Now we're talking. The real deal.
 michelleaddinall wrote:


What recording/ show  was this from do you know? I can see a wee glimpse of David Crosby in the background so this can only be good. 
 
It's from the Dick Cavett show, the day following Woodstock. 

The song Woodstock by Joni Mitchell & known better by CSN would never have been written were it not for that show. Joni would have been at Woodstock, but they were afraid she wouldn't be able to get out of there and to the commitment on the show... so she wrote the song making observations about the impact of the event without having been there. 
 michelleaddinall wrote:


What recording/ show  was this from do you know? I can see a wee glimpse of David Crosby in the background so this can only be good. 
 

Thought that was Crosby, but he never was a member of the band.  Must have been some kind of one off.
 smousourakis wrote:
 

What recording/ show  was this from do you know? I can see a wee glimpse of David Crosby in the background so this can only be good. 
 V12Silly wrote:
you are good Bill..
Play list  today  
Emiliana Torrini — White Rabbit 2011  - in front of   Jefferson Airplane — Somebody to Love 1967 
 Same happened today!

Very much better than that "white rabbit" remake....:)
I see what you did there. Following that up with this. Tricky wabbit. 

Bill makes required amends for the preceding Emiliana Torrini uh, um, yeah, whatever it was.
Grace was 27, Jorma 26 and Jack just 23 when this was released.
Grace turns 81 in October, Jorma turns 80 in December and Jack turned 76 last month.
What a band!!
More JE seconds please, highlighting band member achievements.
 V12Silly wrote:
you are good Bill..
Play list  today  
Emiliana Torrini — White Rabbit 2011  - in front of   Jefferson Airplane — Somebody to Love 1967 
 

THe combo was repeated again today.
Great pipes!!
 kurtster wrote:

bump
 
And she is just sooo adorable!!
 mediamarv wrote:
This was the first lp I bought after getting back from Nam. I thought it strange music at first but it grew on me. Then I bought Sgt. Pepper's and it all started making sense...then came to CA and never left.
Thanks, RP..
 
Thank you for your service, Soldier.
My "wish I was cooler" ego tells me to try to enjoy it, but then I realize that I missed the era and it all just crumbles down...guess you had to be there?  
The very first rock song I can recall hearing on the radio back in the late 60s!
Dare I say it?  "Before they sold out ... " 

Still a classic, and I know the guitar solos note-for-note.
Cutting edge in its time; still stands up today. Kiss ass.
 Typesbad wrote:
Among female vocalists there are those who sound sweet, sultry, strong, vulnerable, resolute, angry, perky, even sleepy.  But Grace Slick's voice is the only one that sounds positively weaponized.
 
bump
Now there ya go! Thanks again Bill and Rebecca!!!
Iconic piece of music!
 PabloElBandito wrote: PS Surrealistic Pillow was the album that opened my ears definitively. In a little record shop in Cambridge in '67. I was fifteen and had come of age on the Beatles, Stones & Motown and all my head was waiting for was the San Francisco sound.

OK. It's the Airplane. Faultless music. A good moment to introduce myself. I live in Paris, France. I'm an English actor and I live for good music. I recently discovered Radio Paradise and it's fab gear. I shall be coming back to enjoy your company. A bientôt!
 

OK. It's the Airplane. Faultless music. A good moment to introduce myself. I live in Paris, France. I'm an English actor and I live for good music. I recently discovered Radio Paradise and it's fab gear. I shall be coming back to enjoy your company. A bientôt!
So sick of this fucking song, been played to death
 Stave wrote:

{#Cheers} hell yeah

 
Absolutely not. "We Built this City" is a 180 turn to crap.
you are good Bill..
Play list  today  
Emiliana Torrini — White Rabbit 2011  - in front of   Jefferson Airplane — Somebody to Love 1967 
Jorma + Jack = Nuff said
JACK CASADY IS THE MAN!
 Typesbad wrote:
Among female vocalists there are those who sound sweet, sultry, strong, vulnerable, resolute, angry, perky, even sleepy.  But Grace Slick's voice is the only one that sounds positively weaponized.

 
Brilliantly phrase Typesbad!!!  True too! 
Great movie 

under the radar Coen classic 
 

treatment_bound wrote:


 


When the truth is found to be lies - the more things change, the more they stay the same
 nutrod42 wrote:
I was just thinking about how rare it is to see someone smiling in a band photo.

 
Yeah, it's almost like there's some unwritten law against it.
What a voice! Love the vibrato.
I was just thinking about how rare it is to see someone smiling in a band photo.
Rock it Grace



                                     Quintessential American Rock and Roll. Timeless.



 
 CrispyDruid wrote:
I am forever grateful that Grace Slick performed during the era of recorded music. Otherwise, I would never have had the opportunity to hear her myself.

I fear that I'll never be able to hear her live- she is so talented!
 



Same here! Way before my time and I thought she stopped performing anyway time ago (?)
Jorma! Jack! Rock out!
 LowPhreak wrote:
 treatment_bound wrote:


Here's the Billboard Top 40 from '67.  This song finished at #83 and White Rabbit was #87.

Remember that time when Soul Asylum trotted out Lulu in the early 90's for their MTV Unplugged appearance?  That was AWESOME!
RankSongArtist

1.To Sir With LoveLulu
2.Light My FireThe Doors
3.WindyThe Association
4.Ode To Billie JoeBobbie Gentry
5.The LetterThe Box Tops
6.Daydream BelieverThe Monkees
7.Somethin' StupidNancy Sinatra And Frank Sinatra
8.Happy TogetherThe Turtles
9.I Heard It Through The GrapevineGladys Knight &The Pips
10.Incense And PeppermintsStrawberry Alarm Clock
11.Groovin'The Young Rascals
12.Can't Take My Eyes Off YouFrankie Valli
13.Little Bit O'soulThe Music Explosion
14.RespectAretha Franklin
15.The Rain, The Park &Other ThingsThe Cowsills
16.Never My LoveThe Association
17.Hello GoodbyeThe Beatles
18.Tell It Like It IsAaron Neville
19.Come Back When You Grow UpBobby Vee
20.I Was Made To Love HerStevie Wonder
21.I Second That EmotionSmokey Robinson &The Miracles
22.Sweet Soul MusicArthur Conley
23.I Think We're Alone NowTommy James &The Shondells
24.Expressway To Your HeartSoul Survivors
25.Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin PieJay &The Techniques
26.Kind Of A DragThe Buckinghams
27.Love Is Here And Now You're GoneThe Supremes
28.Boogaloo Down BroadwayThe Fantastic Johnny C
29.Soul ManSam And Dave
30.Georgy GirlThe Seekers
31.A Whiter Shade Of PaleProcol Harum
32.Ruby TuesdayThe Rolling Stones
33.I Say A Little PrayerDionne Warwick3
4.All You Need Is LoveThe Beatles
35.The HappeningThe Supremes
36.Please Love Me ForeverBobby Vinton
37.Come On Down To My BoatEvery Mother's Son
38.For What It's Worth (Stop, Hey What's That Sound)Buffalo Springfield
39.ReflectionsDiana Ross &The Supremes
40.Dedicated To The One I LoveThe Mamas And The Papas

 

Much of that was the AM radio Top 40. What we heard on FM was different, taken from further down in the top 100 or so, or being album tracks not on the top 200 or whole sides of albums that AM wouldn't have touched.

 
I don't think you were listing to popular/rock/whatever music on FM in 1967.  Not until the 70s.

Awesome bass on this BTW.  Listen to the live version to really hear Casady rock out. 
I am forever grateful that Grace Slick performed during the era of recorded music. Otherwise, I would never have had the opportunity to hear her myself. I fear that I'll never be able to hear her live- she is so talented!
This must be an 'enhanced' recording.  Most I've heard sound flat.  Nice ! thanks
Drifting back to the 60's.  Coconut Grove in Santa Cruz CA.  The crowd went wild.
Nice tune, but overplayed.
If deep cuts ain't on the table, i'd rather plastic fantastic lover, martha - or even volunteers. 

 treatment_bound wrote:


Here's the Billboard Top 40 from '67.  This song finished at #83 and White Rabbit was #87.

Remember that time when Soul Asylum trotted out Lulu in the early 90's for their MTV Unplugged appearance?  That was AWESOME!
RankSongArtist

1.To Sir With LoveLulu
2.Light My FireThe Doors
3.WindyThe Association
4.Ode To Billie JoeBobbie Gentry
5.The LetterThe Box Tops
6.Daydream BelieverThe Monkees
7.Somethin' StupidNancy Sinatra And Frank Sinatra
8.Happy TogetherThe Turtles
9.I Heard It Through The GrapevineGladys Knight &The Pips
10.Incense And PeppermintsStrawberry Alarm Clock
11.Groovin'The Young Rascals
12.Can't Take My Eyes Off YouFrankie Valli
13.Little Bit O'soulThe Music Explosion
14.RespectAretha Franklin
15.The Rain, The Park &Other ThingsThe Cowsills
16.Never My LoveThe Association
17.Hello GoodbyeThe Beatles
18.Tell It Like It IsAaron Neville
19.Come Back When You Grow UpBobby Vee
20.I Was Made To Love HerStevie Wonder
21.I Second That EmotionSmokey Robinson &The Miracles
22.Sweet Soul MusicArthur Conley
23.I Think We're Alone NowTommy James &The Shondells
24.Expressway To Your HeartSoul Survivors
25.Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin PieJay &The Techniques
26.Kind Of A DragThe Buckinghams
27.Love Is Here And Now You're GoneThe Supremes
28.Boogaloo Down BroadwayThe Fantastic Johnny C
29.Soul ManSam And Dave
30.Georgy GirlThe Seekers
31.A Whiter Shade Of PaleProcol Harum
32.Ruby TuesdayThe Rolling Stones
33.I Say A Little PrayerDionne Warwick3
4.All You Need Is LoveThe Beatles
35.The HappeningThe Supremes
36.Please Love Me ForeverBobby Vinton
37.Come On Down To My BoatEvery Mother's Son
38.For What It's Worth (Stop, Hey What's That Sound)Buffalo Springfield
39.ReflectionsDiana Ross &The Supremes
40.Dedicated To The One I LoveThe Mamas And The Papas

 

Much of that was the AM radio Top 40. What we heard on FM was different, taken from further down in the top 100 or so, or being album tracks not on the top 200 or whole sides of albums that AM wouldn't have touched.


Among female vocalists there are those who sound sweet, sultry, strong, vulnerable, resolute, angry, perky, even sleepy.  But Grace Slick's voice is the only one that sounds positively weaponized.
While the song shows age, the raw emotion is amazing.  
Surrealistic Pillow and Bless it's Pointed Little Head are amazing albums.
{#Drummer}
{#Bananajam}
{#Dancingbanana_2}
 MrsTom wrote:
Really? This after crappy Green Day. Two PSDs in a row.  Can we have a normal voice next 
 
Oh by all means, if there's one thing we need more of in this world, it's "normal"!  {#Rolleyes}
Bring on the Pat Boone.
Really? This after crappy Green Day. Two PSDs in a row.  Can we have a normal voice next 
First saw them at the Greek Theater in Berkeley in May 1967. Played the entire Surrealistic Pillow album note for note—not the free form, exploratory band of a year later, i.e., Bless Its Pointed Little Head.
Jan. 3 2016 has been quite the Psychedelic Sunday here at Radioparadise. Lotsa Dead, Hot Tuna, JA, the hits ( 100 mics and otherwise) just keep on coming alllll day and into the night! Go Bill!
 Skydog wrote:
When I was broke and 13 years old I stole this 45rpm from a grocery store.
Yeah they had rotating record racks back then.

 
I thought I was the only one.  I stole "Blue Moon" by the Marcels at the same age, from the shelf on top of a candy counter in a local soda fountain.  Even new singles back then couldn't have cost more than a buck.  This one was used.  Still have it. Going to keep it too.
 Skydog wrote:
When I was broke and 13 years old I stole this 45rpm from a grocery store.
Yeah they had rotating record racks back then.

 

You should head back there and drop forty-nine cents in the door of whatever building is standing there right now.
When I was broke and 13 years old I stole this 45rpm from a grocery store.
Yeah they had rotating record racks back then.
I'll second that! Saw her twice. They were a knockout act right up through their Modern Times tour, and not a little bit because of her...
—— 
tulfan wrote:

Using that same logic, I'm staying with a 10. I was lucky enough to see Grace Slick (with Starship). She was amazing...

This song makes up for Green Day's garage garbage.
I can understand people being tired of this song, and I always feel the same way at first.  But after a few bars of Grace's energy and intensity I'm loving it.  Not to mention Jorma and Jack.
 I was at sea  when she started to whisper, because I was of on the gun for a mighty surrealistic pillow fight.
take it home Jorma!
She's an oasis in the Desert of Little Girls.
Ridiculous Haunting and Brilliantly True
 senorcerveza wrote:
Heard them play this live at a free concert on a raining evening in London in '68.  Memorable.

 
Nice

Same thing at Central Park 75? maybe - rain and all. Kanter stayed on stage in a downpour and jammed like it was his last.
Memorable. that is what I remember of it. {#Sunny}
this just woke me up.
find somebody to love. 
One of the things I love most about this tune is the literal vibe. I never got a chance to see them live but can almost hear/feel the walls of the venue shaking as they rocked the place. 
Agree it is very tired after so many plays/listens. Anyone remember the TV commercial that featured a crappy sounding LP having the tone arm ripped across the vinyl?

Would love to have this one resurrected like White Rabbit was in American Hustle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAJ4-Ey7jBM
Hey, I actually owned that LP ! Vinyl and all. Ah, time is like beach sand in our hands.
 aspicer wrote:
Wonderful tune, but so worn out for me, it just falls flat at this point.  I hate that!  {#Rolleyes}

 
I know what you mean. You almost feel like apologizing to the song for what culture did to it. ^_^
 Amyjacksoncc wrote:
I know no one compares to Grace Slick on this vocal or the Jefferson Airplane for the rest of the song, and whereas I would rank them today very highly against modern bands, thinking back I'm going to stay with an 8 for then.
 
Using that same logic, I'm staying with a 10. I was lucky enough to see Grace Slick (with Starship). She was amazing...
Wonderful tune, but so worn out for me, it just falls flat at this point.  I hate that!  {#Rolleyes}
 treatment_bound wrote:


Here's the Billboard Top 40 from '67.  This song finished at #83 and White Rabbit was #87.


4.Ode To Bill Radio Paradise

 
And why is Bill and RP number 4 and not number one  {#Fire}
Heard them play this live at a free concert on a raining evening in London in '68.  Memorable.
I know no one compares to Grace Slick on this vocal or the Jefferson Airplane for the rest of the song, and whereas I would rank them today very highly against modern bands, thinking back I'm going to stay with an 8 for then.
 Proclivities wrote:

There were a lot of good songs on the radio in 1967 - I remember.

 

Here's the Billboard Top 40 from '67.  This song finished at #83 and White Rabbit was #87.

Remember that time when Soul Asylum trotted out Lulu in the early 90's for their MTV Unplugged appearance?  That was AWESOME!


RankSongArtist

1.To Sir With LoveLulu
2.Light My FireThe Doors
3.WindyThe Association
4.Ode To Billie JoeBobbie Gentry
5.The LetterThe Box Tops
6.Daydream BelieverThe Monkees
7.Somethin' StupidNancy Sinatra And Frank Sinatra
8.Happy TogetherThe Turtles
9.I Heard It Through The GrapevineGladys Knight &The Pips
10.Incense And PeppermintsStrawberry Alarm Clock
11.Groovin'The Young Rascals
12.Can't Take My Eyes Off YouFrankie Valli
13.Little Bit O'soulThe Music Explosion
14.RespectAretha Franklin
15.The Rain, The Park &Other ThingsThe Cowsills
16.Never My LoveThe Association
17.Hello GoodbyeThe Beatles
18.Tell It Like It IsAaron Neville
19.Come Back When You Grow UpBobby Vee
20.I Was Made To Love HerStevie Wonder
21.I Second That EmotionSmokey Robinson &The Miracles
22.Sweet Soul MusicArthur Conley
23.I Think We're Alone NowTommy James &The Shondells
24.Expressway To Your HeartSoul Survivors
25.Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin PieJay &The Techniques
26.Kind Of A DragThe Buckinghams
27.Love Is Here And Now You're GoneThe Supremes
28.Boogaloo Down BroadwayThe Fantastic Johnny C
29.Soul ManSam And Dave
30.Georgy GirlThe Seekers
31.A Whiter Shade Of PaleProcol Harum
32.Ruby TuesdayThe Rolling Stones
33.I Say A Little PrayerDionne Warwick3
4.All You Need Is LoveThe Beatles
35.The HappeningThe Supremes
36.Please Love Me ForeverBobby Vinton
37.Come On Down To My BoatEvery Mother's Son
38.For What It's Worth (Stop, Hey What's That Sound)Buffalo Springfield
39.ReflectionsDiana Ross &The Supremes
40.Dedicated To The One I LoveThe Mamas And The Papas

My first concert...
 Stingray wrote:

INCREDIBLE!

NOT MUCH IS BETTER THAN "Somebody to Love"

!!!10!!!



  ............yer not wrong, just gone from 10 >>>>>> 11    

 bwanab wrote:
Consider that maybe it sounds like a song from 1967 because it helped to define that era historically. If you'd been there then, and I was, you'd have been blown away the first time you heard this song (and White Rabbit) compared to the other songs being played on the radio at the time.

 
There were a lot of good songs on the radio in 1967 - I remember.
 That_SOB wrote:
Back in the day, if you were without this album, you were without hip...
 
Today the more!!!
 jmsmy wrote:
Easier said then done {#Doh}

 

haaaa...!

It's easier than you think - trust me!


INCREDIBLE!

NOT MUCH IS BETTER THAN "Somebody to Love"

!!!10!!!


Back in the day, if you were without this album, you were without hip...
 Proclivities wrote:

Great tune, but this sounds exactly like a song from 1967 to me - nothing about this song or this band ever struck me as being very "far ahead of their time".

 

Consider that maybe it sounds like a song from 1967 because it helped to define that era historically. If you'd been there then, and I was, you'd have been blown away the first time you heard this song (and White Rabbit) compared to the other songs being played on the radio at the time.
Easier said then done {#Doh}