Lather (song)

1968 single by Jefferson Airplane

"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]

1. ^ Slick, Grace (December 1999). Somebody to love? : a rock-and-roll memoir. Warner Books. p. 119\. ISBN 978-0-446-60783-4.
2. ^ Tamarakin, Jeff (2003). Got a Revolution: The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane. Simon and Schuster. p. 164\. ISBN 0-671-03403-0.
3. ^ a b Gallucci, Michael (January 28, 2016). "Top 10 Jefferson Airplane songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2025-01-11.
4. ^ Jefferson Airplane perform "Lather" on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour on YouTube
5. ^ "Spencer Dryden tribute: 1938-2005". JeffersonAirplane.com. Archived from the original on May 11, 2008. Retrieved May 11, 2008.
6. ^ Planer, Lindsay. "Morning Dew". Allmusic. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
7. ^ Lankford Jr., Ronnie D. "Waltz of the Wallflowers (A Dysfunctional Duet)". Allmusic. Retrieved 2025-01-12.

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Jefferson Airplane (discography, members) · Jefferson Starship (discography, members) · Starship (discography, members)

Studio albums|

| Jefferson Airplane|

* Jefferson Airplane Takes Off
* Surrealistic Pillow
* After Bathing at Baxter's
* Crown of Creation
* Volunteers
* Bark
* Long John Silver
* Jefferson Airplane

|

Jefferson Starship|

* Blows Against the Empire (with Paul Kantner)
* Dragon Fly
* Red Octopus
* Spitfire
* Earth
* Freedom at Point Zero
* Modern Times
* Winds of Change
* Nuclear Furniture
* Windows of Heaven
* Jefferson's Tree of Liberty
* Mother of the Sun

Starship|

* Knee Deep in the Hoopla
* No Protection
* Love Among the Cannibals
* Loveless Fascination

Live albums|

* Bless Its Pointed Little Head
* Thirty Seconds Over Winterland
* Deep Space/Virgin Sky
* Greatest Hits: Live at the Fillmore
* Across the Sea of Suns

Archival releases|

* Live at the Monterey Festival
* Live at the Fillmore East
* At Golden Gate Park
* Last Flight
* Sweeping Up the Spotlight
* At the Family Dog Ballroom
* The Woodstock Experience

Compilations|

* The Worst of Jefferson Airplane
* Early Flight
* Flight Log
* Gold
* 2400 Fulton Street
* Greatest Hits (Ten Years and Change 1979–1991)
* Jefferson Airplane Loves You
* The Essential Jefferson Airplane

Singles|

* "My Best Friend"
* "Somebody to Love"
* "White Rabbit"
* "The Ballad of You and Me and Pooneil"
* "Volunteers" / "We Can Be Together"
* "Wooden Ships"
* "Mexico"
* "Miracles"
* "Play on Love"
* "With Your Love"
* "Count On Me"
* "Runaway"
* "Jane"
* "Find Your Way Back"
* "We Built This City"
* "Sara"
* "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now"

Related articles|

* Grunt Records
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* The Planet Earth Rock and Roll Orchestra

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