That is, of course, the pre-Grace Slick edition of Jefferson Airplane, with (now mostly forgotten by history) original gal singer Signe Toly Anderson up front in Grace's slot; it is, apparently, the last official portrait of that lineup, taken around the time of the splendid farewell concert immortalized in the album pictured below.
In any case, I had never seen it before, and it got me to thinking (yeah, yeah, I can hear the jokes...). 😎
And that lead me (and us) inexorably to the subject of today's business.
To wit:
...and the best example of a band that was either significantly better OR markedly inferior after a personnel change is...????
Discuss.
I'm gonna nominate these guys in the former category, and I say that knowing full well that the Peter Green or Danny Kirwan editions of the band were pretty swell in their own rights.
But I mean, sweet jeebus, was that lot to die for or what? (I should add that it is one of the great regrets of my life that the Floor Models never got around to covering "Go Your Own Way.")
But enough of my yakkin' -- what would YOUR choices be?
And have a great weekend, everybody!!!
P.S.: A special coveted PowerPop No-Prize© will be awarded to any reader who can tell me definitively whether the partially obscured band member behind Marty Balin in the top right of the picture is either Skip Spence or later drummer Spencer Dreyden. From a chronological standpoint, it should be Dreyden, but I'm just not sure I see it.
Better: Mick Taylor joining the Stones (and Brian Jones was very talented)..
ReplyDeleteWorse: Dino Valenti rejoining Quicksilver Messenger Service.
Better:
ReplyDelete10,000 Maniacs with John Lombardo (Secrets of the I Ching, The Wishing Chair) were much more interesting than after. Of course, they sold hardly any copies of those two records.
The Youngbloods with Jerry Corbitt
Television after Richard Hell
Worse:
AC/DC with Brian Johnston
- Paul in DK
Better: Guess Who adding Burton Cummings
ReplyDeleteWorse: Mott the Hoople after Ian Hunter
Mixed: Small Faces with Steve Marriott / Faces with Rod Stewart
Better: Fleetwood Mac after Christine McVie joined, NRBQ after Al Anderson joined
ReplyDeleteWorse: NRBQ after Al Anderson left, Mott after Ian Hunter (why did they even try?)
And that has to be Skip Spence in the top photo.
I think it's Skippy in the photo. Heck, Jack looks like his testicles haven't dropped yet!
ReplyDeleteI need a few hours to contemplate my answers to today's wonderful question, back later.
Captain Al
Lest we forget the worst downgrade to a kick-ass band:
ReplyDeleteSid Vicious. Well, at least he looked the part.
I had totally forgotten that, but you’re so right.
DeleteA too funny re; Jack (lol)
DeleteRush -upgrade after John Rutsey left and Neil Peart joined.
ReplyDeleteXTC - upgrade after Dave Gregory joined.
REM - downgrade after Bill Berry left
Beatles + Ringo = upgrade
ReplyDeleteFleetwood Mac morphed into such a complete animal over time that there's not much to compare, but the Pete Green version is untouchable. Having said that, the Cali version (Cali II, to be specific, since Bob Welch could be Cali I) was an extraordinary pop band, and I'd agree was an upgrade from the various iterations after Pete was gone (notwithstanding the slug of great tunes that appeared between Pete and Bucknicks).
ReplyDeleteRay Manzarek was not an official member of X, but his keys, production and focus were instrumental in X's glorious early days/1st 4 albums.
Agree on Beatles, Stones, REM.
Tom Fogerty leaving CCR revealed the discord in the greatest band of its era.
C in California
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteWanted to say Future Games, still a must hear album a few times each year.
DeleteMy deleted post - Jeremy Spencer quit and was replaced by Danny F'n Kirwan and Bob Welch 😉
DeleteRob - Well....kinda. Danny Kirwan was in the early version (not the initial version, but soon thereafter), so he did not replace anybody; he and Jeremy Spencer (the most dispensable of the early line-up) were co-members. However, Bob Welch did replace Spencer.
DeleteC in California
I'm pretty sure that's Skippy. The six-piece Little Feat was an improvement. And the Stones' replacements over the years (from Brian Jones to Mick Taylor to Ron Wood to Steve Jordan) were a gradual retreat from greatness. The addition of Warren Haynes returned the ABB to relevance. Mustn't forget Ringo.
ReplyDeleteI understand your Stones gradual decline vis a vis guitarist but to give Mick Taylor his due he brought the Stones a success over a # of albums and kept them relevant
DeleteSkippy in the first one, Spencer in the second.
ReplyDeleteYardbirds. Better with the first change, less interesting with the second.
ReplyDeletePete, don't quite understand your Little Feat post. Original with Lowell had 6 members - post Lowell (1978) they were still a large band. I saw both and I'll tell Lowell & Feat were something. Post Lowell they lacked that pizzazz. So you consider Post Lowell to be a better band ? 🧐
ReplyDeletei know exactly where the picture was taken. Talk about looking young! All said and done I would take Peter Green/Danny Kirwan Fleetwood Mac.
ReplyDeleteSteve, I know you're partial to Denny Laine-era Moody Blues, and they were great, but I give the edge to the Justin Hayward-era Moodies.
ReplyDelete--Marc
I'll give you that one; I may not like the Hayward era Moodies, but I'll concede they were a helluva band, just not my thing.
DeleteQueen was inferior with everyone they tried to replace Freddie with.
ReplyDeleteChecking in late, but surprised nobody mentioned the Velvet Underground carrying on without Lou Reed.
ReplyDeleteI actually saw that bunch. Doug Yule was fronting, and a very interesting guy named Willie "Loco" Alexander, who later became an underground sensation in the Boston indie-rock scene, was in there too. They were actually very enjoyable.
ReplyDelete