Five Notable Grace Slick Guest Vocals

Grace Slick is one of the most distinctive voices in rock. First with the Great Society (with whom she recorded the earliest versions of two classics, “White Rabbit” and “Somebody to Love”) and then with Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship, Slick lent her talents to a cache of era-defining music. Between 1974 and ‘84 she released four solo albums; Slick retired from music in 1990. These days painting is her primary means of creative expression.

But during her years active in music, Grace Slick took part in recording sessions for many of her friends and musical associates. Here are five notable – and wildly varied – guest vocals featuring Grace Slick.

“What Are Their Names” from David Crosby’s If I Could Only Remember My Name (1971)
Singer, songwriter and guitarist David Crosby had a long musical association with Jefferson Airplane. In fact his song “Triad” – written when he was in the Byrds – would be recorded by the Airplane with Grace singing. For Crosby’s first solo album, he was joined by members of the Grateful Dead, Santana and Jefferson Airplane, as well as musical associates Graham Nash and Neil Young. Slick joined those last two and Jerry Garcia on vocals for this track.

“The Janitor Drives a Cadillac” from Papa John Creach’s self-titled album (1971)
Violinist Papa John Creach was 54 when he released his debut solo album. By that point the Pennsylvania-born bluesman was well known in the rock community, having played on albums by Hot Tuna, Jefferson Airplane and Sunfighter, an album credited to the Airplane’s Paul Kantner and Grace Slick. Drummer Joey Covington’s song opens Creach’s album; the tune features Quicksilver Messenger Service’s John Cipollina on guitar along with Grace on vocals.

“Blind John” from Mickey Hart’s Rolling Thunder (1972)
By 1971, San Francisco heavyweights the Grateful Dead had released seven albums, five of those featuring drummer Mickey Hart. In 1972 Hart had left the group, though he’d return in ‘75 and stay on until the very end. During his break from the Dead, Mickey Hart recorded a solo album, featuring a roster of players and singers that reads like a who’s who of the Bay Area psychedelic rock scene. For Rolling Thunder’s “Blind John,” Hart recruited the Tower of Power horn section; Country Joe and the Fish guitarist Barry Melton; the Airplane’s Paul Kantner, David Frieberg and Grace Slick and others.

“Dance wit’ Me” from Rick James’ Throwin’ Down (1982)
While he would eventually become the punchline of an era’s drug-themed jokes, at his peak Rick James was a force to be reckoned with on the dance-funk scene. In 1982 his “Super Freak” single was nominated for a Grammy Award, though he didn’t win. That same year, he followed up his blockbuster Street Songs LP with Throwin’ Down, an album that featured guests including the Temptations and Teena Marie. Vibraphone legend Roy Ayers took a tasty solo on “Dance wit’ Me,” and Grace Slick’s voice can be heard amid that track’s rousing party vocal ensemble.

“What About Love” from Heart’s self-titled album (1985)
Led by sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, rock superstars Heart enjoyed well-earned success in the second half of the 1970s. Drawing favorable comparisons to Led Zeppelin, Heart combined passion and songwriting smarts to rack up a string of hit albums. The group’s popularity waned as the MTV era began, but Heart roared back with their eighth album. 1985’s Heart featured no less than five hit singles; with guest vocals from Grace Slick, the melodramatic power ballad “What About Love” was the first of those to hit the charts, peaking at #3 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock singles chart.