Jefferson Airplane with Signe Toly Anderson

[SeattleLA]

Katz = putz

[sidk6]

What's vaguely disturbing is that most everyone you see dancing in this video is old enough to retire. Sigh.  Well, we still have Haight-Ashbury.

[mollyipowers]

Fall '66. Wow. I was 19, my first year at Cal, and going to the then just opened Fillmore almost every weekend. It's all but certain I was there this night; Jefferson Airplane was my favorite band that wasn't the Beatles, and, with Signe, maybe the best folk rock band i ever heard. Okay, maybe the Byrds, maybe Buffalo Springfield. What a year. to me, 66 was purer, although the summer of love lived up to its name. By then, tour buses were in the Haight. That sucked. Anybody got some zigzags?

[videomaniac108]

It's hard for me to say who is the better singer, Grace or Signe. I recently heard one of the Great Society's live Fillmore recordings of "Somebody to Love" (ca. 1966) and was absolutely blown away with the quality and power of Grace's vocals.

[wolfwomon9]

I was not yet born when this song was released, but am a huge Signe Anderson fan. I was fortunate enough to see her in 1993 with Jefferson Starship: The Next Generation. Signe did indeed tour briefly with Jefferson Airplane after her daughter Lilith was born, but found traveling with a newborn t difficult. Despite Bill Graham's offer to provide her a nanny, she declined

("Nobody's watching my kid but me'). Her daughter was lucky. Music fans not so lucky.

[videomaniac108]

Yeah, I was 15 at the time - a magical time. What a long , strange trip it's been.

[hermounts]

Was the name Toly her middle name or her maiden name?

[straycatttt]

@hermounts Toly was her maiden name.

[WillInNewHaven]

Signe was almost as good a backup singer as Grace. She was never the lead singer Grace was and she was never the versatile musician Grace became. She was content to let Marty be the whole front of the band but that is only a virtue if you lurv Marty. He's ok.

[AuntDuddie]

Ok. I admit it, I think JA sounded better with Signe than with Grace (and I like Grace). I know it took Grace's two contributions (Somebody to love and White Rabbit) to take the group to the top of the charts, but I really think they sounded better with Signe. I listen to the original High Flying Bird with Signe backing Marty and I am blown away her voice. I know Grace used to watch the Airplane perform with eyes glued to them (Mary Balin says this). Maybe she learned from watching Signe.

[akibubba1]

gotta say that 60's folks had the most interesting looks ( I recall looking up at them as a wee lad at the time ) - fantastic tune from the Plane, as always --- forever one of my top 10 bands.

[pardyhardly]

They were still doing some 1950's dance moves back then. That's interesting.

[DXPunx74]

I was born in the wrong era. I wish Id been around then seeing great bands.

[TheGoodmansRadioShow]

There really should be more of J.A with Signe commited to film somewhere if this clip exists. They should release it, it's so dam good

[RodCow]

Was Skip in the band here?Also,I don't know,was Grace chosen as Signe's replacement because their voices were similar or did Grace just cop her style from Signe?

[casadyrocks]

@RodCow Skip had left by the Trips Festival, which this footage was from.I think Moby Grape was already in action. Signe was the only one smart enough not to be duped by Mathew Katz, and left to have her first child. The Airplane sent Jack over to talk Grace into leaving Great Society, who were already in "hiatus". Signe last show (just released) is also Grace's first show (just released) 10-15-66. Signe rules the Airplane, I love Grace with Airplane but prefer her with Great Society

[RodCow]

@casadyrocks Thanks for the info.Very interesting

[straycatttt]

@casadyrocks I believe Signe did end up signing with Matthew Katz as well due to pressure from the rest of the band not to be a holdout. However, I think the court ruled in her favor in the end along with Skip as having been defrauded by Katz. I think Signe actually had given birth before leaving the band. Touring with her kid became a hassle. More than that, the band felt that her husband was an ass and felt he interfered too much. Signe had been wavering about quitting anyway.

[jesusrocks4111]

@straycatttt The court finally ruled that her and Jack's contracts were invalid.

[rooneyisRAD]

gahh, am i the only one who swoons whenever marty balin sings?

[stevevandien]

@rooneyisRAD Welllll -- Marty doesn't make me swoon, but I love his singing:). His high, wailing tenor played off Signe and Grace's deeper, darker voices so well --

[EdgeCrush1075]

Although I'm a fan of Grace Slick, I've always thought Signe's vocals were better. Check out her with Jefferson Airplane singing "High Flying Bird" and the Youngblood's "Get Together) ... killer.

Signe briefly toured with part of JA (Kantner, Balin and Cassidy) in the mid 90s and I was lucky enough to go see one of the shows. She still had an amazing, bluesy voice ... it was a much better show than those of the JA reunion (in the mid 80s) with Grace Slick.

[stevevandien]

@EdgeCrush1075 I'm a fan of Grace as well, but I agree about Signe:) --

[cosmicdoorway]

Unless someone grew up during these times, they may not realize that LSD was legal up until 1966 (October 6, 1966 was when LSD was outlawed in California).

Also, who can forget Bill Graham and those buckets of apples at those concerts?!

Man, those early days (before the City - especially the Haight - became over populated with kids everywhere coming to SF), were actually the best, in my opinion.

[syater]

1965 as a boy of 9 visiting San Francisco (from San Jose) seeing "beatniks" but with longer hair. Then in 1966 the term "flower children" was used, the feeling had already changed a little. Even at that age I was deeply drawn to "the vibe" and could tell something new was happening. My older step-sisters had the first two J.A. albums and I was fascinated by the sound. San Francisco seemed to be an actual wonderland of sorts. This striking video comes closest of all to evoking those memories.

[msu7208]

Hey everybody .. i was born in 1972 and I want to say that all these recollections are as interesting and cool as the video. I was craving for material like this since i was 16. First hand, no rethoric or mainstream assumptions. You just keep it up and real! thanks

[michaelnel]

I saw The Airplane with Signe play at (believe it or not) a FASHION SHOW by the pool at the Cabana Hotel in Palo Alto. She was WAY WAY pregnant and left the band shortly after.

[Finkleburg45]

Signe rocking the pigtails

[TumbrelJockey]

P.s. This was 8th grade mind you ...in the South...he was one two African American teachers.Now do see how rare and wise his gesture was ?

[TumbrelJockey]

Everyone should hopefully have an instructor / professor that gives you reign over the possibilities .Mr.Johnson allowed me to use the overhead projector in biology for a little light show .wherever you are sir... thanks.

[mercuriusdoble]

Thank you for this reminder of The Airplane with Signe. I was 17 and was an avid fan hardly missing a Friday or weekend concert. I even have their first album, "Jefferson Airplane Takes Off".It was in fact quite a mixed crowd in appearance. Sometimes I put on my English mod look. Other times I was in full hippie regalia, facepainted and beaded.Great times!

[tunenito]

@mercuriusdoble Wonderful recollections, for sure! Thanks for sharing ... yes, those were great times ...!

[Baden1]

I was 16 in '66....what a great time to be alive.

[tunenito]

@Baden1 Agree 101% !

[krstnlhjt]

@Baden1 - I was 8. I didnt really understand what the heck was going on in the 60's, but now I am starting to learn more about the 60's, especially the music.  Wow, was the music great

[BobBerkeley]

1966...a transitional time...interesting crowd...looks like half of them are longhairs, and half are straight San Francisco State College students who drove up to the Fillmore Auditorium for a night with their favorite dance band.

[tunenito]

@BobBerkeley Yup ... 1966 was definitely a transition year, the counter culture thing was still pretty underground. By 1967, the whole "Summer of Love" scene was in full bloom.

[clarkewi]

@tunenito The real "Summer of Love" was '66. LSD was being sold on the street in the Haight, on the Sunset Strip and in the Village as it was not illegal yet and was of a very high quality (Owsely). The music was amazing - especially in California and England. Still not equaled - a "Golden Era" for music but bad for young men getting shipped off to Viet Nam.

[WillInNewHaven]

Signe was content to let Marty be the front and she was basically a background singer. They were a good act with her but better with Grace. However, Marty had a lot less "room" after Grace joined up.

And Signe said that the reason she left was her pregnancy. She just wasn't that into being a musician.

[disgruntledgoatiam]

She's also cute...the one at .41

[disgruntledgoatiam]

I wonder who the chick is (or was) at .41. She's got good moves.

[60srule]

amazing. i live blocks from where this all happened. such an important piece of history. i was only 9 or 10 at the time and learned about this after it all passed.

[tunenito]

I too would love to have been THERE!

:-)

[guitar241990]

If you do remember, Grace was a pretty face but she could also sing. Why complain?

[TheDreamMechanic]

1:28 - 1:56 = some fantastic music.

[Emmie04]

Even then, white people couldn't dance. ;  )

[sphericalpyramid]

@Emmie04  LOL Dude @ 1:50 is straight groovin though.

[Fyllbulten]

And black folks can´t sing ; )

[FarrarMax]

This is a truely awesome video. The light show is not ink blots - it was called kinetic liquid projection. Much better than modern computer immitation garbage you get these days. Two immiscible liquids (colored oil and water with food coloring) were squeezed between two petri dishes or glass clock face crystals on an overhead projector. The containers were rocked to the rhythm of the music by a human being.

[tunenito]

Totally organic -- I love it.

:-)

[RATTLEY67]

Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MightySaturn5]

God, Signe was excellent

[Kamisamadesu1]

Thank you for posting this and letting me relive a bit of my teen years in Napa, CA.

[Kamisamadesu1]

I have been a fan of Marty & Toly for years. My band even gigged with them a couple of times. Signe puts Grace to shame. This is the JA signature tune...and Marty & Signe absolutely kick ass! I never figured out why she left the group. Of course, the JA has always been ruled by Kantner's lame ass! If only! What they could've been if they had never put the Skank in to sing! Man, she had a voice. You go, Signe!

[bluesimageful]

i think it had something to do with her being pregnant so she left the band, it says it all on the "Fly Jefferson Airplane" documentary

[stevevandien]

@bluesimageful Again, check out Jeff Tamarkin's book, "Got a Revolution." Signe left shortly after giving birth to her first child.

[NilezII]

Paul Kantner had a crush on Grace Slick, & wanted her in the band.

[krstnlhjt]

@Kamisamadesu1 Signe left the band because she was pregnent 

[stevevandien]

@krstnlhjt Not quite. Signe left the band after having her first child. Look it up:) ---

[krstnlhjt]

@stevevandie Oops, thanks for correcting me. 

[stevevandien]

@Kamisamadesu1 "Got a Revolution" by Jeff Tamarkin is a fine book that will answer your questions:).

[neonmoon82]

It's great to see this rare clip of the Airplane with Signe. JA Takes Off was my introduction to the group all those years ago and it is still my favorite of all of their albums.

[tunenito]

That early San Francisco sound was amazing ...

[marrrrrrks]

what's with the the guy at the start of the video, who's "ed?"

Sarcasm

[denismcdougall]

really cool how these "regular" people went to dance at the fillmore....love it

[mtopper66]

This is perhaps the *only* surviving video clip of what a Fillmore show looked like--with the light show and audience--during its first year in existence (1966). You can *really* feel the sense of something brand new and revolutionary happening here. The hippie ethos was already firmly in place, and the fashion was more eclectic and colorful than later in the decade. And I like the old primitive ink blot light shows better than fancy computer graphics. This is essential, historical footage.

[tunenito]

Thanks for the insightful commentary. I wish I could be right there on that dance floor!

:-)

[MrClearlight]

@mtopper66 Exactly.Well said.

[guitargods2009]

J.A. Takes Off, a long underrated LP in my opinion.

[SeattleLA]

@guitargods2009 very true.

[B4001950]

The first time I saw the Airplane at the Winterland Signe was still with them..what an awsome presence she was and what a soulful voice.....

[farber2]

the best

[MrWildcountry]

Good to see Signe!!!

[saabturbografx]

they were all probably on LSD eh? stuff was legal back then and popularized by the likes of ken kesey and his merry pranksters

[1bichon1]

Dear wuchi51, I am rolling from the "floppy discs" comment! And IrishClaudius- by the way I have some Irish blood running through my veins too. I hope that I did not get your temper up, didn't mean too. BUT wasn't it Grace that brought Somebody to Love and White Rabbit to the table?

[1bichon1]

Grace Slick put Jefferson Airplane on the map!

[IrishClaudius]

I think they did very well on their own that sound - only one way to describe it - cosmic folk.

It has the tightness of Johnny Cash song but the chords of Mahler at his happiest and hippest

[wuchi51]

i love the folks try to do the jerk and the watusi to music rhat is more polyrhythmic and the pointy maidenform bras that you would have bruises from. and try and get one off. two years later no one wore a bra. thaats why , children, old hippies have floppy discs!

[SuperBrianm]

You completely miss the point. It was about being free and non-judgemental then... expressing joy through dance. Those dances you mention were appropriate for that time along with a more free form element that was just beginning to manifest on the dance floor. This was a very special and unique time in S.F. popular culture.

[wuchi51]

how old were you when this song came out superb i was 16 and i didnt try and do the jerk to it and the point still was about gettin that maidenform bre with torpedo warhead tips off of yer date lol dont take it so serious. it wasnt then and still isnt

[cowboymark57]

In my younger days, I was friends with Jefferson Airplane's first drummer, Skip Spence.  I also knew Signe Toly Anderson and Marty Balin. What a great bunch of people! What great memories! Jefferson Airplane rocks!

[tunenito]

Thanks for sharing! :-)

[SeattleLA]

@cowboymark57 What a great experience you had!

[nero8151972]

Great post, although I do prefer Grace's vocals on this track. She was the perfect counterpoint to Marty with the strong harmony she provided......... 5*'s

[tunenito]

Unbeatable duo!  :-)

[Zepster77]

I've never sen a video like this...showing the projectionists, the original Airplane.. the dancers.... love it all> Thanks!

[tunenito]

Thanks, yeah it looks like a groovy scene.

[pyrophore]

Oh those youngsters and their insidious dancing.

I believe that's Glen McKays Headlights doing the light show.

[claumaquina]

y loveeeeeeee grace slickkk ,como me gustaa esta mujerr la hermosura personificada, tengo 22 años ja no para de firmarrr,posteo en todos lados.claudio rodriguez aca todavia esta toly anderson menos mal que se fue y dejo a la bella grace

[Solarshoji]

In 1976, Rainier Beer out of Seattle did what they called "Sun Busts" in the parks in Portland. I sat down next to a rather striking young lady with my wife and our other friends. Later did I realize, after she was called up on the stage to sing a song, (Carl Smith and the Natural Gas Co. perhaps?), that it was Signe. She was featured throughout the years in the local paper here but recently, no idea what happened to her. Wishing her all the best!

[BlankUberAlles]

I met her in the late summer of '08...she's had some health probs but still goin...she even performed in a couple little gigs in our town

[realestatefla1]

Sig was before Grace. The airplane was Marty`s band and he resented Grace after awhile...

[crownofcreation68]

i like grace, but the truth is, marty will always be #1 in my book:)

[fistofate]

Well, I like Marty alot, too... and actually, Grace has a very unique style. I'm not saying she didn't add something to the band; but I thought what they lost after "Takes Off" was alot more than what they gained. When I listen to "Blues from an Airplane", "It's No Secret", "Come up the Years" or "Let Me In"... they never achieved that quality in their work again. Glad we can still listen to that great album.

[sirigi22]

yeah,right haha

[fistofate]

I think Grace presented a "star" personna. I don't know if they told her to do that or what, but after she came, Marty was #2, and it was like 1 and 2 were just howling at each other half the time... I lost interest.

[tunenito]

Interesting comment . . .

Yes, Grace did have a "superstar" aura about her.

[stevevandien]

@tunenito Agreed. Although Grace could also sing like nobody's business. NOT saying that Grace was better than Signe. But as singers (and ONLY as singers), they were pretty much in the same class:) --

[lilic1]

I love the 'Takes Off' album but the others too. Music had changed from day to day, and it was more different in 1968/69 than in late 1965/early 1966.Marty Balin's voice is just amazing.

[tunenito]

Seems like each year brought about a different sound.

[fistofate]

In a way, it was a tragedy... Kind of like if the Beatles made "Meet the Beatles" and then "Beatles 65" and then just STOPPED.

[tunenito]

Awesome analogy! I see what you mean . . .

[fistofate]

Their first album was as good as it got. Too bad Signe left. Slick just took over as soon as she got there and they never recovered. Surrealistic Pillow was magic, but after that, they just lost it... Maybe the drugs, maybe the politics inside the band, but they were never collaborating as well as they did in the beginning.

[CookOfTheHouse]

But maybe we wouldn't have ever heard about jefferson airplane without White Rabbit and Somebody To Love, Slick's songs.

[fistofate]

I certainly knew about them. They got national and international attention with "Takes Off". Donovan's lyric "Fly Jefferson Airplane" was in a song recorded before Grace came along.

[sirigi22]

Lost it after Surrealistic Pillow? After Bathing at Baxter`s is my fav album.

[fistofate]

To each their own. I never felt that way.

[muskratrowdy]

They sure lost something. When Grace first arrived it was like a new beginning. The hassles with Signe trying to be a new mom and the problems caused by her husband and the rest of the band were gone. After Grace had been there a while, the honeymoon was over and splits started developing. Grace and whomever she was romancing pulled the band one way, Jorma and Jack wanted to do blues and poor Marty was no longer the leader. They didn't quite lose 'it', but they lost something.

[leadzeppbelly]

she defenitely was more beautiful than Signe, but Signe had a beauty of her own and a great voice also.

[DaveH001]

What a treasure this video is! I don't know where you found it but please please post more if you have them. Marty could have possibly been one of the giants of the sixties as a solo entertainer with that great voice. I'm sure glad he didn't make that career choice. His work with JA is timeless and sounds as great today as it did over 40 years ago.

[tunenito]

I agree, Marty Balin's voice was (is) the perfect instrument for the Airplane. Very commanding voice indeed!

:-)

[Banghouseisaphony]

Wonderful!  Thanks for posting! 5 Stars!

[tunenito]

Super - - thanks!

[richardc0077]

Absolutely super. I also thought Signe was very under-rated. Thanks for posting this GEM!

[tunenito]

Great - many thanks!

[CadillacL]

Is this the only footage of Signe?

[tunenito]

I've never seen any other complete concert / performance footage of her besides this one. Hope more clips turn up!

[Zenjammer]

Love Signe! Is Marty the ultimate romanticist or what?!!

[hawkmoon03111951]

Nice to see film of STA. I have the LP and she sounds great on it.

[tunenito]

A wonderful talent!

[Tomas180893]

OMG, amazing!

[katiestevens2003]

She had an amazing and powerful voice. Too bad she retired from the band.

[CadillacL]

This is my first time to see footage of Signe W/JA. Grace will always be Jefferson Airplane but Signe is under-rated.

[61dodgelancer]

If you haven't heard it before, "It's No Secret" is from their great album, "Jefferson Airplane Takes Off". Give the whole album a listen sometime. I think you'll like it. I sure love it. Signe Toly Anderson had a wonderful voice.

[tunenito]

Thanks for the recommendation - - I'll be sure to check it out.

[CadillacL]

check it out for sure. Its a great album/cd. Signe's singing is awesome on it.

[gethepicture]

sadly no Balin at 100 club..[boo]

[tunenito]

That's too bad, maybe next time ......

[gethepicture]

can't wait to see Balin perform at the 100 club this month!!

[lanceoftheloc]

i wish we could have seen more of Signe. What great things she could have done in music with that powerful voice.

[tunenito]

So true ...

[celine1317]

jolie chanson vidéo bien faite belle époque celine

[tunenito]

According to Wikipedia, she's still alive. They mention her having some health problems during the 1990's, but don't offer any recent information.

Maybe someone knows a bit more? Thanks ...

[muskratrowdy]

I saw an advertisement on the net that Marty was getting together in August with Signe and original J.A. members Jerry Peloquin and Bob Harvey. This will be somewhere in Oregon. Signe did a few tours with the J.Starship in the early '90s. I have a CD of one of the concerts. No Marty, but there is Paul K., Papa John and Jack Cassady.

[tunenito]

Wow, that August concert sounds fantastic.

Thanks for the great info!!

[METALisLOUDER]

At 0:17 - Marty's leg had a spazzim lol

[tunenito]

Sure looks that way ... LOL!

:-)

[METALisLOUDER]

Where'd you get this?

[egrogshub]

A wonderful song.

Anderson and Balin shine.

Thank you for posting.

[tunenito]

Thank you... Yes, I love this song! :-)

[VELMOUS]

JF were a great band. Signe Anderson was the original singer and had a beautiful voice. Grace Slick joined the band and brought the song Somebody To Love with her from her previous band the Great Society. It was their first major hit. I think Signe is a waitress ins the state of Washington and last I heard she had cancer.

[Janster59]

what happened to the female vocalist here?

[webabhi]

she is toly anderson grace slick joined later

[webabhi]

I very much feel the psychadelic effect due to the chemicals used good technology I thought it was only possible to generate this effect using a microprocessor

[webabhi]

brilliant airplane are one of the greatest acts in rock n roll I salute Marty Balin thanks tunenito for posting good quality rare music

[tunenito]

Thanks, webabhi. It's a great song and video, especially with the psychedelic visuals. Jefferson Airplane = VERY COOL!

:-)

[jondavis1234]

I love the '60s! Great music, great time.

[tunenito]

It was the grooviest of times!

[veefan1963]

Not a big fan of the psych. stuff, but this is cool!

[tunenito]

Thanks, VeeFan! Yes, I agree!!

:-)