JEFFERSON AIRPLANE BARK 1971 Folk Rock, Psychedelic Rock (vinyl)

JEFFERSON AIRPLANE BARK 1971 Folk Rock, Psychedelic Rock (vinyl)

Bark is the sixth studio album by Jefferson Airplane. Released in 1971 as Grunt FTR-1001, the album is one of the Airplane's late-period works, notable for the group's first personnel changes since 1966. The album was the first without band founder Marty Balin (who departed the band during the recording process but without featuring in the sessions) and the first with violinist Papa John Creach. Drummer Spencer Dryden had been replaced by Joey Covington in early 1970 after a lengthy transitional period in which both musicians had performed with the band.

Bark was the Airplane's first all-new release in two years, the previous being 1969's Volunteers. It was also the first album to be released under the Jefferson Airplane-owned Grunt Records label.

Lead guitarist Jorma Kaukonen received four songwriting credits on the album, indicative of his growing importance as a composer. At the time, he and bassist Jack Casady had already recorded two albums for their spin-off blues group Hot Tuna.

The album reached #11 on the Billboard album chart (outperforming both Volunteers and Kantner's Hugo Award-nominated 1970 solo album Blows Against the Empire) and was certified gold by RIAA. An accompanying single, the Covington-led "Pretty as You Feel"—excerpted from a longer jam on the LP with members of Santana—was the band's final Top 100 American hit, peaking at #60.