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Volunteers (song)
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Wikipedia article
"'Volunteers'" is a Jefferson Airplane single from 1969 that was released to promote the album 'Volunteers' two months before the album's release. It was written by Marty Balin and Paul Kantner. Balin was woken up by a truck one morning, which happened to be a truck with Volunteers of America painted on the side. Marty started writing lyrics down and then asked Paul to help him with the music.
Chart performance
B-Side "We Can Be Together"
"'We Can Be Together'" is the B-side of the "Volunteers" 45 and the first track on 'Volunteers'. The song's music and lyrics were written by Paul Kantner. Kantner was inspired by the Black Panther Party's use of the phrase "Up against the wall, motherfucker" and included it in the chorus. The Airplane performed "We Can Be Together" uncensored on 'The Dick Cavett Show' on August 19, 1969.
While the word "motherfucker" was indeed sung and not censored on the 45, it was mixed lower in the mix as compared to the LP mix, which had no volume manipulation and presented the song "un-buried".
Personnel
*Grace Slick piano, vocals
*Marty Balin guitar, lead vocals
*Paul Kantner rhythm guitar, vocals
*Jorma Kaukonen lead guitar
*Jack Casady bass
*Spencer Dryden drums, percussion
Additional personnel
*Nicky Hopkins pianoCover versions
*Balin released a new version on his 1991 solo album, 'Better Generation'.
Notes
Category:1969 songs
Category:Jefferson Airplane songs
Category:Songs written by Marty Balin
Category:Songs written by Paul Kantner
Category:Song recordings produced by Al Schmitt
Category:Protest songs
Category:RCA Victor singles
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