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Jefferson Airplane — Plastic Fantastic Lover (live)
Album: Bless Its Pointed Little Head
Avg rating:
6.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1845









Released: 1969
Length: 3:45
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Her neon mouth with the blinkers-off smile
Nothing but an electric sign
You could say she has an individual style
She's part of a colorful time

Secrecy of lady-chrome-covered clothes
You wear cause you have no other
But I suppose no one knows
You're my plastic fantastic lover

Her rattlin' cough never shuts off
Is nothin' but a used machine
Her aluminum finish, slightly diminished
Is the best I ever have seen

Cosmetic baby plugged into me
I'd never ever find another
I realize no one's wise
To my plastic fantastic lover

The electrical dust is starting to rust
Her trapezoid thermometer taste
All the red tape is mechanical rape
Of the TV program waste

Data control and IBM
Science is mankind's brother
But all I see is drainin' me
On my plastic fantastic lover
Comments (122)add comment
 walk2k wrote:



half the band left?



Yep.  Jorma is still rocking out at his Fur Peace Ranch in Meigs County Ohio!   
Posted 1 month ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
thanks bill for a deep cut of jefferson airplane 
Posted 6 months ago by jp33442    [ Reply ]
 joejennings wrote:



I Agree completely!   



half the band left?
Posted 6 months ago by walk2k    [ Reply ]
Every time I hear this, I think, Now, there was a band that held nothing back, ever, and weren't afraid to confide and take us along for the wild psychedelic ride they orchestrated and held onto for such a long while!
Posted 11 months ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
 freddyfender wrote:

I know it was a different era, but how they went from this bad-ass jam to "We Built this City on Rock and Roll" is beyond me.




I Agree completely!   
Posted 1 year ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
I know it was a different era, but how they went from this bad-ass jam to "We Built this City on Rock and Roll" is beyond me.
Posted 1 year ago by freddyfender    [ Reply ]
Could you play, "We Built this City on Rock and Roll", that song is so groovy!
Posted 1 year ago by freddyfender    [ Reply ]
 joejennings wrote:
This song was written by Marty Balin, as an ode to his new stereo system!  It is NOT about sex toys!  LOL!   

cool.
now, what's a steely dan?
Posted 1 year ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
Hey BillG…
I think Chicago's "Morning Blues Again" from III would be a great follow up to this.

"Just reach underneath your bed
And turn on your electric friend, yeah
Woah, and turn your thoughts to me"
Posted 1 year ago by eeastridge    [ Reply ]
 idiot_wind wrote:

always has been 

always will be

its about energy and freedom 




What does the word "freedom" mean to you?
Posted 1 year ago by itsme_bygolly    [ Reply ]
 pdibby wrote:

Okay, I never comment on music that's not my bag, but I found myself thinking this sounds like the rock band on The Muppet Show -- I'm picturing Animal banging away on the drum set ~ which made me smile.





Cool! LOL!  Whatever works for you! Keep smiling!   
Posted 2 years ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
always has been 

always will be

its about energy and freedom 
Posted 2 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
Okay, I never comment on music that's not my bag, but I found myself thinking this sounds like the rock band on The Muppet Show -- I'm picturing Animal banging away on the drum set ~ which made me smile.


Posted 2 years ago by pdibby    [ Reply ]
 LizK wrote:


The price of the seats was$3.50.



I saw them summer of '68 for free in Central Park with Buddy Guy and Ten Years After. Those were the days, Upper balcony tickets to Fillmore East were $3.
Posted 2 years ago by ImaOldman    [ Reply ]
This song was written by Marty Balin, as an ode to his new stereo system!  It is NOT about sex toys!  LOL!   
Posted 2 years ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
 joejennings wrote:



Me too! Same age, born in '55!


Best model year 
Posted 2 years ago by avereaiii590    [ Reply ]
wow

these guys could rnr back in the day
Posted 2 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
Jack Casady really rips it out on his Guild Starfire hollow body bass guitar!!!
Posted 2 years ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
 LizK wrote:


The price of the seats was$3.50.


Earl Warren showgrounds?  That's where I saw them.  
Posted 2 years ago by zepp3008    [ Reply ]
 jberko wrote:

I was 14 when this came out and all of us wanted to bang Grace Slick.




Me too! Same age, born in '55!
Posted 2 years ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
Interesting how the more formulaic material ages badly while the more pioneering work never does. White Rabbit, Today, Embryonic Journey etc remain timeless while stuff like this.... not so much.
Posted 2 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
This is what all the cool kids in my pre-school were listening to...
Posted 2 years ago by drewd    [ Reply ]
In the age of full on AI...? Well; yes!
Posted 2 years ago by liveaudio608    [ Reply ]
The entire album is great. Fat Angel and Bear Melt stand out.
Thanks Bill! 
Posted 2 years ago by chinaski    [ Reply ]
It's like the Airplane were sitting around in some altered state and thought of the words 'plastic' and 'fantastic' and then decided to do something with them in a song. No one seems to agree what it's about.
Posted 3 years ago by BBoyes    [ Reply ]
Had the volume cranked up for the last tune, and just gonna leave it cranked!
Posted 3 years ago by drictor    [ Reply ]
Simply awful. And on so many levels.
Posted 3 years ago by merobreno    [ Reply ]
One of the wildest, rockin'est numbers by one of the most fearless and audaciously jamming bands this country has ever produced!
Posted 3 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
Nice 👍 intro - punch attitude sync push purpose squelches tension sexual-ability focus ability crafted for purpose targeted pointed attitudinal juvenile seeking recognition
Posted 3 years ago by Matt_Maurer    [ Reply ]
This song sounds to me like it has nonsense words similar to Prisencolinensinainciusol by Adriano Celentano. Look that up if not familiar with it.
Posted 3 years ago by pfreet    [ Reply ]
 lizardking wrote:

Show off!  ;-) Damn if I would have loved to been around then, although I've said it before, don't know if I'd be here now if I was....so there's that....
Long Live RP!!
 

I saw them at the Matrix. and at a small club in Mill Valley. Grace Slick informed us that it was hard to play guitar and give good head at the same time. I'm still here and ca even remember that.
Posted 3 years ago by dougalbumski    [ Reply ]
I was 14 when this came out and all of us wanted to bang Grace Slick.
Posted 3 years ago by jberko    [ Reply ]
 Damn! This gem of a song is as old as I am and I love it!!!! More, please!
Posted 4 years ago by cavemanleong    [ Reply ]
From one of the best live rock albums ever.
Posted 4 years ago by garyalex    [ Reply ]
That bass line though...
Posted 4 years ago by jimlandwehr2582    [ Reply ]
Listening in from Trelew, Patagonia, Argentina. Great selection! Cheers!
Posted 4 years ago by Pablo_Patagonia    [ Reply ]
Great album!  I love Surrearalistic Pillow, too - it's what I lay my head on every night in these times.
Posted 4 years ago by dandueck07    [ Reply ]
Great version, but I'm partial to the one on "Surrealistic Pillow." I still remember the excitement of buying "SP." It was the first LP I ever bought, with allowance money from my mom, from a record store in Sacramento, long gone. I was 8 years old. About six years ago I saw the Jefferson Airplane at the now-defunct Razz Room in San Francisco. Paul Kantor  was in top form, as was David Freiberg. Everyone else was a relative newbie. The band played every song from "Surrealistic Pillow" that night. It was like a dream come true. 
Posted 4 years ago by scottdoggett    [ Reply ]
 jonahboo wrote:


holy shit i agree 100%
 
dude, you are spot on!
Posted 4 years ago by Wonderloaf    [ Reply ]
 fraserji wrote:
Nothing but positive reviews but it only rates 6.7?  What's up with that? 
 
It could be that the dislikers have gotten the message of "if you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all" - either way I'm a fan of this (live) track and rate it an 8....LLRP!!
Posted 4 years ago by lizardking    [ Reply ]
Nothing but positive reviews but it only rates 6.7?  What's up with that? 
Posted 4 years ago by fraserji    [ Reply ]
 ger-man wrote:
auch nach 50 Jahren! richtig cool
 
Da wird es einem doch so richtig nostalgisch warm ums Herz..  
Posted 4 years ago by Odtphy    [ Reply ]
Literally Electric Light Fantastic
Posted 5 years ago by DanFHiggins    [ Reply ]
auch nach 50 Jahren! richtig cool
Posted 5 years ago by ger-man    [ Reply ]
 garyalex wrote:
Jack Casady.  Damn.
 After seeing them live I always called Jack "eyebrow man". His eyebrows never stopped moving while he was playing.

Posted 5 years ago by ImaOldman    [ Reply ]
 jonahboo wrote:
all hail television!

fuck!  love this one!

waaaay better than studio!!!!


 

holy shit i agree 100%
Posted 5 years ago by Wonderloaf    [ Reply ]
TURN IT UP 
Posted 5 years ago by ExploitingChaos    [ Reply ]
 Lyndont wrote:
This could be the best live album ever!! Saw them with the Doors in ’68. wish I could relive some of those concerts now!
 
Show off!  ;-) Damn if I would have loved to been around then, although I've said it before, don't know if I'd be here now if I was....so there's that....
Long Live RP!!
Posted 5 years ago by lizardking    [ Reply ]
Jack Casady.  Damn.
Posted 5 years ago by garyalex    [ Reply ]
 drictor wrote:
9 ==> 10.  Perfect tune for the mood I'm in!

 
And I feel the same way today.  Wrapped up the week and getting ready for some family/holiday time!
Posted 5 years ago by drictor    [ Reply ]
Not the best cut from Bless Its Pointed Little Head. Check out "The Other Side of This Life". It's an amazing display of the Airplane at its best. RIP, Marty and Paul.
Posted 5 years ago by yobyot    [ Reply ]
Yeah Rock On!
Posted 5 years ago by kimsmithrockmusic    [ Reply ]
  Ugh! Ugh! Sing it!!! 
Posted 6 years ago by cavemanleong    [ Reply ]
all hail television!

fuck!  love this one!

waaaay better than studio!!!!


Posted 6 years ago by Wonderloaf    [ Reply ]
 Lyndont wrote:
This could be the best live album ever!! Saw them with the Doors in ’68. wish I could relive some of those concerts now!

 

The price of the seats was$3.50.
Posted 6 years ago by LizK    [ Reply ]
Jack Casady - wow.
Posted 6 years ago by garyalex    [ Reply ]
"Science is mankind's brother
But all I see is drainin' me......."
Indeed!
Posted 6 years ago by fogmoose    [ Reply ]
This could be the best live album ever!! Saw them with the Doors in ’68. wish I could relive some of those concerts now!
Posted 6 years ago by Lyndont    [ Reply ]
 fraserji wrote:
Oh yes! So wish I'd seen them live. What a psyche-out band. 

 
I saw them several times between '68 and '71, awesome live band. Grace was sexy as hell on stage!
Posted 6 years ago by ImaOldman    [ Reply ]
Gotta admit that was a good groove. Yeah man. And Marty rappin' it out. Whew!
Posted 7 years ago by chinaski    [ Reply ]
Oh yes! So wish I'd seen them live. What a psyche-out band. 
Posted 7 years ago by fraserji    [ Reply ]
Gotta love that churning bass!
Posted 7 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
 jhorton wrote:
Makes me want to drop acid.

Do they even sell acid anymore? 

 
perscription only now with ObamaCare, just tell your doctor you have an Airplane rash
Posted 8 years ago by Skydog    [ Reply ]
Makes me want to drop acid.

Do they even sell acid anymore? 
Posted 8 years ago by jhorton    [ Reply ]
Jorma and Jack can do no wrong. Turn down the lights or we'll send Owsley to get ya.
Posted 8 years ago by chinaski    [ Reply ]
 hayduke2 wrote:
animated psychedelic grinning skull

I think I am going to have an epileptic episode from this crazy artwork.

 


Posted 8 years ago by melzabutch    [ Reply ]
One the great ones of the era!!
Posted 8 years ago by linzbrock    [ Reply ]
wooooo-hooooo man I wanna be shaking my ass off with Charlize Theron Furiosa and this blasting us off to Heaven!!!
Posted 8 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
 wgsu_1978 wrote:
Great band, but Marty Balin ... {#Frustrated}
 
I gotta disagree,  the more control Balin lost the worse JA got
Posted 8 years ago by Skydog    [ Reply ]
 hayduke2 wrote:
animated psychedelic grinning skull

 

Yeah, that's how I remember it, too.


Posted 8 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
This is a great album, when they were tight they were the best
Posted 8 years ago by Skydog    [ Reply ]
Didn't know this one.

Makes my day!

{#Bananajam}{#Dancingbanana_2} 
Posted 8 years ago by robin_at_domani    [ Reply ]
Authentic vibe of it's time then, a bit like time-tripping now… not a bad thing. 
Posted 9 years ago by robertomiller    [ Reply ]
Hell yes!
Posted 9 years ago by onerb    [ Reply ]
I guess you had to be there.
Posted 9 years ago by Geecheeboy    [ Reply ]
animated psychedelic grinning skull
Posted 9 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
Great band, but Marty Balin ... {#Frustrated}
Posted 9 years ago by wgsu_1978    [ Reply ]
of historic interest only
Posted 9 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
Oh Nice !   Alright now
Posted 11 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
Is hate too strong of a word.....?
Posted 11 years ago by jules44    [ Reply ]
10+ 
Posted 11 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
9 ==> 10.  Perfect tune for the mood I'm in!
Posted 12 years ago by drictor    [ Reply ]
thats it i had to log in.
first dylan and now this low rating.
guess justin beiber wasnt on rp today! 
Posted 12 years ago by bytejunkie55    [ Reply ]
Thank you for playing this olde from the golde years of rock.
Posted 12 years ago by Larry_Rosenow    [ Reply ]

Great stuff !


Posted 12 years ago by musman    [ Reply ]
Great energy....sounds so good! I'm an artist (painter)...and this song makes things happen...great!!
Posted 12 years ago by Eros92450    [ Reply ]
 coloradojohn wrote:
There was at least one other version I had of this one — LOVE this freaky ode to inflatable company and wish it'd been used as soundtrack for the weird "party" scene where Steve Martin and Charles Grodin share a kinky secret in The Lonely Guy — where the vocals were sharper and better, but whoah the bass and everything else rocks pretty solid in a live-jam way on this one...too bad we can't cut and paste with tune-tracks here!  But hey, thanks for playing this most excellent stretch of music that has kept me pinned down here for the longest time in recent memory!

 

I always thought this one was about a TV, although your inflatable company comment gave me a chuckle.

Posted 12 years ago by music_man    [ Reply ]
Damn hippies.


{#Lol}
Posted 13 years ago by Alexandra    [ Reply ]
Man, so heavy...
Posted 13 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
There was at least one other version I had of this one — LOVE this freaky ode to inflatable company and wish it'd been used as soundtrack for the weird "party" scene where Steve Martin and Charles Grodin share a kinky secret in The Lonely Guy — where the vocals were sharper and better, but whoah the bass and everything else rocks pretty solid in a live-jam way on this one...too bad we can't cut and paste with tune-tracks here!  But hey, thanks for playing this most excellent stretch of music that has kept me pinned down here for the longest time in recent memory!

Posted 13 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
 drews wrote:
These drugged up and luvved up hippies certainly knew how to rock out when they felt like it
I like this comment. True, dat. 


Posted 13 years ago by michaelgmitchell    [ Reply ]
IMO, this is one off the Airplane's best tracks on the album and, in general, one of their best live tracks.  Very tight.  As for Balin's vocals, well...
Posted 13 years ago by shutter    [ Reply ]
Nice groove......love it!
Posted 13 years ago by Windspirit    [ Reply ]
i bet Air is coming up....
Posted 13 years ago by cohifi    [ Reply ]
GREAT BAND and the only West-Coast Band
we could do something with, in Europe (I think).

Then came Jefferson Starship....
Posted 13 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
Jorma Kaukonen!
Posted 13 years ago by dkwalika    [ Reply ]
 kurtster wrote:
Nice segue !

{#High-five}

Wore out several copies of this album.

That and surrealistic pillow .   Same energy that cream had.

  Damn -  that is good stuff.

Wow, only a six... guess you had to be there. 
Posted 13 years ago by DanFHiggins    [ Reply ]
Of course, following Donovan's "Fly Jefferson Airplane, gets you there on time"
Posted 13 years ago by oldsinger    [ Reply ]
Nice segue !

{#High-five}

Wore out several copies of this album.

Posted 14 years ago by kurtster    [ Reply ]
I prefer their studio version.  And, I still think their best album was Surrealistic Pillow.  Takes Off was good too.  It had their original lead female singer, Signe Toly Anderson.  She left after giving birth.

As for their name, I found this at Wiki:

The origin of the group's name is often disputed. "Jefferson airplane" is slang for a used paper match split to hold a marijuana joint that has been smoked too short to hold without burning the fingers - an improvised roach clip.<7> An urban legend claims this was the origin of the band's name, but according to band member Jorma Kaukonen, the name was invented by his friend Steve Talbot as a parody of blues names such as Blind Lemon Jefferson.<8> A 2007 press release quoted Kaukonen as saying:

I had this friend in Berkeley who came up with funny names for people," explains Kaukonen. "His name for me was Blind Thomas Jefferson Airplane (for blues pioneer Blind Lemon Jefferson). When the guys were looking for band names and nobody could come up with something, I remember saying, 'You want a silly band name? I got a silly band name for you!'



Posted 14 years ago by bachbeet    [ Reply ]
These drugged up and luvved up hippies certainly knew how to rock out when they felt like it
Posted 14 years ago by drews    [ Reply ]
 ThePoose wrote:


Cool. We reserve the 0s for you. Bless your blunted little head.
 

Beautiful! You have a way with words - funny AND succinct. Thank you for that. I get tired of people who feel the need to bash. There are plenty of things I don't like, either, but that doesn't mean that the artists responsible intrinsically suck. And the Airplane could crank as this song shows well. For me this is a '10' as is much of this album.
Posted 14 years ago by paulmack    [ Reply ]
This hasn't been played here since 2006..!?
Love it! {#Music}
Posted 14 years ago by DaveInSaoMiguel    [ Reply ]
 Enrique wrote:
Ha! ROTFLMAO. The fact that Grace Slick isn't singing is this song's redeeming feature :)
 
Grace could've sung the phone book and it would have been good.

Posted 14 years ago by RedGuitar    [ Reply ]
 KevinM wrote:
I'd give it a 1 but I reserve the 1's for Janis Joplin and Bob Dylan, so this one gets a 2
 

Cool. We reserve the 0s for you. Bless your blunted little head.
Posted 14 years ago by ThePoose    [ Reply ]
lily33 wrote:
what exactly IS a plastic fantastic lover? :D
Bill Burroughs called it a "steely dan". I don't believe they were made of plastic then...
Posted 18 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
This is cool...and the ratings distribution is interesting to look at as well. Clearly a polarizing song.
Posted 18 years ago by ploafmaster    [ Reply ]
Enrique wrote:
Ha! ROTFLMAO. The fact that Grace Slick isn't singing is this song's redeeming feature :)
Oh, and Marty Balin is an improvement? Feh! Still a great song. Inflatable to say the least...
Posted 18 years ago by ChardRemains    [ Reply ]
how come this is played so sparingly?
Posted 18 years ago by steeler    [ Reply ]
Nothing like a good psychedelic Casady bass line.
Posted 19 years ago by kctomato    [ Reply ]
Originally Posted by Enrique: Ha! ROTFLMAO. The fact that Grace Slick isn't singing is this song's redeeming feature :)
OMG! An almost positive comment by Enrique. Mark your calendars everyone.
Posted 22 years ago by Leslie    [ Reply ]
Originally Posted by LAfadeaway: Had to give it a "10" just to bring the rating up.
Had to give it a 1 to counter your 10.
Posted 22 years ago by cds    [ Reply ]
ah yes, good stuff. I was actually listening to this today.
Posted 22 years ago by var    [ Reply ]
Originally Posted by rmurray248: "Hey, man (exhaling bong hit), 'plastic' rhymes with 'fantastic!' Quick, grab the instruments; let's get this down on vinyl before I forget. What's that, Grace isn't around? That's alright, inspiration like this can't wait!"
Ha! ROTFLMAO. The fact that Grace Slick isn't singing is this song's redeeming feature :)
Posted 22 years ago by Enrique    [ Reply ]
\"Hey, man (exhaling bong hit), \'plastic\' rhymes with \'fantastic!\' Quick, grab the instruments; let\'s get this down on vinyl before I forget. What\'s that, Grace isn\'t around? That\'s alright, inspiration like this can\'t wait!\"
Posted 22 years ago by rmurray248    [ Reply ]
I like JA, but this song hasn\'t aged as well as a lot of their other stuff, IMO. :roll:
Posted 22 years ago by Cy    [ Reply ]
agree with LAfadeaway.
Posted 22 years ago by red    [ Reply ]
I\'d give it a 1 but I reserve the 1\'s for Janis Joplin and Bob Dylan, so this one gets a 2
Posted 22 years ago by KevinM    [ Reply ]