Lather (song)
| "Lather" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Jefferson Airplane | |
| from the album Crown of Creation | |
| A-side | "Crown of Creation" |
| Released | September 1968 |
| Recorded | February–June 1968 |
| Length | 2:55 |
| Label | RCA Records |
| Songwriter(s) | Grace Slick |
| Producer(s) | Al Schmitt |
"Lather", a song by Grace Slick, performed by US rock band Jefferson Airplane, is the opening track on the 1968 album Crown of Creation and was the B-side for the single of the same name. Slick says she wrote the song for the drummer of the group Spencer Dryden, who was at the time twenty-nine years old and her boyfriend.[1] The lyrics tell of a boy who stays as young as possible until one day when he is shattered by having finally to grow up.[2]
Ultimate Classic Rock critic Michael Gallucci rated it Jefferson Airplane's 10th best song, calling it "Grace Slick's gentle poke at people who reach the ripe old age of 30."[3] Gallucci described the music as "a blend of medieval and psychedelic styles, with acoustic instruments brushing up against freak-out sound effects.[3]
The band performed the song during their 1968 appearance on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.[4]
Upon Dryden's death in 2005, Slick and other band members wrote tributes to Dryden that appeared on the group's website. Slick's ends with the first lines of the song: "Lather was 30 years old today, they took away all of his toys."[5]
Cover versions
[edit]- Tom Constanten performs a solo piano instrumental cover of this song on his album Morning Dew.[6]
- Small Potatoes performed as part of a medley "Lather Danish Misfortune Mad Mouth" on their album Waltz of the Wallflowers (A Dysfunctional Duet).[7]
References
[edit]- ^ Slick, Grace (December 1999). Somebody to love? : a rock-and-roll memoir. Warner Books. p. 119. ISBN 978-0-446-60783-4.
- ^ Tamarakin, Jeff (2003). Got a Revolution: The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane. Simon and Schuster. p. 164. ISBN 0-671-03403-0.
- ^ a b Gallucci, Michael (January 28, 2016). "Top 10 Jefferson Airplane songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2025-01-11.
- ^ Jefferson Airplane perform "Lather" on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour on YouTube
- ^ "Spencer Dryden tribute: 1938-2005". JeffersonAirplane.com. Archived from the original on May 11, 2008. Retrieved May 11, 2008.
- ^ Planer, Lindsay. "Morning Dew". Allmusic. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
- ^ Lankford Jr., Ronnie D. "Waltz of the Wallflowers (A Dysfunctional Duet)". Allmusic. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
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