Volunteers is the fifth studio album by Jefferson Airplane, released in 1969 as RCA Victor LSP-4238. The album was controversial because of its revolutionary and anti-war lyrics along with the use of profanity. The original album title was Volunteers of Amerika, but it was shortened after objections from Volunteers of America.
This was to be the last album with the group for both Jefferson Airplane founder Marty Balin and drummer Spencer Dryden and thus signifies the end of the best-remembered "classic" lineup. It was to be the group's last all-new LP for two years; Jack Casady and Jorma Kaukonen would now devote more of their energy to their embryonic blues group Hot Tuna, while Paul Kantner and Grace Slick released Blows Against the Empire and Sunfighter with various guest musicians and celebrated the birth of their daughter China in 1971.
Track listing
Side one
1. "We Can Be Together" Paul Kantner 5:56 5:48
2. "Good Shepherd" traditional, arranged by Jorma Kaukonen 4:21 4:21
3. "The Farm" Kantner, Gary Blackman 2:32 3:15
4. "Hey Fredrick" Grace Slick 9:00 8:26
Side two
1. "Turn My Life Down" Kaukonen 2:54 2:54
2. "Wooden Ships" David Crosby, Kantner, Stephen Stills 5:50 6:24
3. "Eskimo Blue Day" Slick, Kantner 6:15 6:31
4. "A Song for All Seasons" Spencer Dryden 3:28 3:28
5. "Meadowlands" Lev Knipper 1:04 1:04
6. "Volunteers" Marty Balin, Kantner 2:21 2:08
Personnel
Grace Slick – vocals, piano on "The Farm", "Hey Fredrick", "Eskimo Blue Day" and "Volunteers", organ on "Meadowlands", recorder on "Eskimo Blue Day"
Marty Balin – vocals, percussion
Paul Kantner – vocals, rhythm guitar
Jorma Kaukonen – lead guitar, vocals
Jack Casady – bass
Spencer Dryden – drums, percussion
Additional personnel
Nicky Hopkins – piano on "We Can Be Together", "Hey Fredrick", "Wooden Ships", "A Song for All Seasons" and "Volunteers"
Stephen Stills – Hammond organ on "Turn My Life Down"
Jerry Garcia – pedal steel guitar on "The Farm"
Joey Covington – congas on "Turn My Life Down", chair on "Eskimo Blue Day"
David Crosby – sailboat on "Wooden Ships"
Ace of Cups – vocals on "The Farm" and "Turn My Life Down"
Bill Laudner – lead vocals on "A Song for All Seasons"