"Somebody to Love" | ||||
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One of A-side labels of the US vinyl single for the subsequent version by Jefferson Airplane
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Single by Jefferson Airplane | ||||
from the album Surrealistic Pillow | ||||
B-side | "She Has Funny Cars" | |||
Released | April 1, 1967 | |||
Format | 7-inch single | |||
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Genre | Psychedelic rock | |||
Length | 2:54 | |||
Label | RCA Victor | |||
Writer(s) | Darby Slick | |||
Producer(s) | Rick Jarrard | |||
ISWC | T-070.243.777-1 | |||
Jefferson Airplane singles chronology | ||||
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"Somebody to Love" | ||||
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Single by Boogie Pimps | ||||
Released | 11 January 2004 | |||
Format | CD single, digital download | |||
Recorded | 2003 | |||
Genre | Electronic | |||
Length | 2:59 | |||
Label | Housesession | |||
Writer(s) | Darby Slick | |||
Producer(s) | Mark J Klak, Mirko Jacob | |||
Boogie Pimps singles chronology | ||||
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"Somebody to Love", originally titled "Someone to Love", is a rock song that was written by Darby Slick. It was originally recorded by The Great Society, and later by Jefferson Airplane. Rolling Stone magazine ranked Jefferson Airplane's version No. 274 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Written by The Great Society guitarist Darby Slick after realizing his girlfriend had left him, and first performed by that band, which included his then-sister-in-law Grace Slick on vocals, the song made little impact outside of the club circuit in the Bay Area. The song was released in 1966 as a single with the B-side another Darby Slick composition titled "Free Advice" on the North Beach subsidiary of Autumn Records, and received minimal circulation outside of San Francisco. San Francisco in the mid-'60s was the epicenter of free love, but Darby Slick saw a downside to this ethos, as it could lead to jealousy and disconnect. This song champions loyalty and monogamy, as the singer implores us to find that one true love that will nurture us and get us through the tough times.
When Grace Slick departed to join Jefferson Airplane, she took this song with her, bringing it to the Surrealistic Pillow sessions, along with her own composition "White Rabbit". Subsequently, the Airplane's more ferocious rock and roll version became the band's first and biggest success; the single by Jefferson Airplane scored at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Jefferson Airplane's first hit song, "Somebody To Love" was also one of the first big hits to come out of the US West Coast counterculture scene. Over the next few years, musicians flocked to the San Francisco Bay Area to be part of this scene. The original version of this song that Grace Slick sang with The Great Society is more subdued. With Jefferson Airplane she sounds far more accusatory and menacing when she belts out lines like "Your mind is so full of red" and "Your friends, baby, they treat you like a guest."