The 500 - #146 - Surrealistic Pillow - Jefferson Airplane

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by New York-based comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone Magazine's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

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Album: #146
Album Title: Surrealistic Pillow

Artist: Jefferson Airplane

Genre: Folk Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Acid Rock

Recorded: RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California, USA

Released: February, 1967

My age at release: 1
How familiar was I with it before this week: Several Songs

Is it on the 2020 list? Yes, at #471, dropping 324 places
Song I am putting on my Spotify Playlist: White Rabbit

In 2004, the hottest show on television was Lost, a mystery-adventure drama about plane crash survivors stranded on a mysterious island. As they struggled to survive, each episode revealed their past through strategically placed flashback sequences, deepening the intrigue surrounding both the characters and the island’s secrets. By the winter break that year I, along with 35 million North American viewers, was hooked. In a time before streaming services, it was appointment viewing -- Wednesdays at 8 p.m.. When reruns began airing during the winter, I started recording episodes with the goal of building a multi-curricular unit around Season One for middle school children.

The following spring, I work-shopped my newly created Lost Unit with my Grade 8 class, and, as expected, they were riveted. Their enthusiasm carried into every reading, writing, math, science and discussion activity, creating a level of engagement unlike anything I’d seen in my first decade of teaching. I used their feedback to refine the unit, and later drew on that experience to complete my Master’s Degree in Education, which I began in the fall of 2006.

As the Lost Unit expanded in both scope and structure, I became increasingly fascinated by how deeply students connected with the series and its characters. They were captivated by the mysteries and hyper-focused on subtle details hidden throughout each episode, often referencing clues, debunking red herrings and reveling in plot twists with remarkable insight. This engagement translated into noticeable improvements in their writing, speaking, and critical thinking skills.

My Master’s research focused on student engagement, particularly among 12 - 14 year-olds. At the time, I believed I had stumbled upon something revolutionary and was feeling pretty confident that I would reveal groundbreaking revelations to the education community. However, I was quickly disabused of that notion when I discovered the work of Kieran Egan, a professor of education at Simon Fraser University. Egan had already articulated many of the ideas I was exploring, especially through his theory of Imaginative Education. His collection of essays, Children’s Minds, Talking Rabbits & Clockwork Oranges, became a cornerstone of my studies. I devoured Egan’s body of work, recognizing in his writing the theoretical foundation for what I had observed in my classroom.

In summary, Lost fits many of the touchstones of imaginative learning highlighted in his essays. The show was rich in the things pre-teen and teen learners are cognitively designed to connect with, including:

• Compelling Storytelling
• Mystery and Wonder
• Emotionally Engaging Characters
• Symbolism and Metaphor
• Cross Curricular Connections
• Philosophical and Ironic Thinking

Unravelling the mysteries in each episode of Lost could even begin with the episode titles, which I used to prompt discussion and prediction. One of my favourites was Episode 4, White Rabbit, which is also the title of the tenth track on this week’s record, Surrealistic Pillow, by Jefferson Airplane -- a psychedelic-folk rock band from San Francisco whom I discussed in my April, 2021 post. White Rabbit is one of Jefferson Airplane’s biggest hits and is ranked at #455 in Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2021) as well as their song Somebody To Love from the same album. The latter sits at #274.

Airplane and the episode of Lost borrowed the term White Rabbit from the well known novel Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, published in 1865 by author Charles Dodgson (under the pen name Lewis Carroll), The “children’s book” follows the title character, Alice, who chases a white rabbit into an imaginative world filled with whimsical characters, unpredictable adventure and playful language. However, it is also filled with philosophical ideas, puzzles (logical and illogical) and satirical commentary on Victorian society.

The episode of Lost, with the same name, centers on a key protagonist, Jack, who is haunted by visions of his deceased father. He chases visions through the jungle, much like Alice chasing the rabbit. The title and theme reflect Jack’s internal struggle with leadership, grief, and identity, and also mark the beginning of his heroic journey in the series.

In White Rabbit, a physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted, Jack discusses
leadership and the pursuit of "ghosts" with fellow castaway, John Locke.

A psychedelic classic, this week’s playlist selection, White Rabbit, uses imagery from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland to explore themes of curiosity, altered perception and rebellion against conformity. As you might imagine, the exploration of the episode title from Lost can lead down a a veritable "rabbit hole" of discussion topics. This provides a teacher with plenty of options to connect students with classic literature, poetry, and literary devices -- including symbolism and metaphor. It is also a perfect place to discuss the pitfalls and risks of recreational drug use from the Ontario Health Curriculum.

Jack, middle, is pressed to make a leadership decision about the
dwindling water supply in the fourth episode of Lost; White Rabbit

Eventually, I built the Lost Unit into an eight-week syllabus and presented it to educators in my board and Ontario. It has been used by dozens of teachers and has been delivered to thousands of Grade 7 & 8 students. In fact, it has spread so far that I sometimes meet educators who, while we are discussing lesson plans, excitedly tell me about it -- not realizing that I am the author.

I’ve taken a break from the unit over the past two years. I was getting a little tired of delivering some of the lessons and my best teaching happens when I am deeply engaged in the material. However, I am debating a reworking of the lessons and activities for the upcoming school year. If there is an educator reading this post and is interested in the unit, feel free to reach out – tv14101@tvdsb.ca . It is fun to present the unit at the same time as another class so that students can share their writing in the same way I share this blog -- to an authentic audience.

The 500 - #189 - Happy Trails - Quicksilver Messenger Company

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by Los Angeles-based comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone Magazine's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

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Album: #189
Album Title: Happy Trails
Artist: Quicksilver Messenger Company

Genre: Multiple genres: Acid Rock, Psychedelic Rock
Recorded: Live at the Filmore West Music Club (San Francisco) and the Filmore East Music Club (New York City).

Released: March, 1969
My age at release: 3
How familiar was I with it before this week: Not at all

Is it on the 2020 list? No
Song I am putting on my Spotify Playlist: Mona

Earlier this month, October, 2024, the Dave Matthews Band (DMB) was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The DMB is a divisive band -- people tend to love or loathe them. I fall into the first category. I went through a passionate DMB phase in the 1990s and early 2000s, seeing Dave with and without his band perform live at least six times in various locations, including Mississauga, Toronto, Rochester, N.Y., and Tampa Bay.

My first DMB show at Arrow Hall in Mississauga, Ontario.

Much like the DMB, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is divisive. Musicians become eligible for entry into the Hall 25 years after the release of their first recording. After being nominated, ballots are sent to more than 1,000 "rock experts". Seven to nine bands or musicians are chosen for induction. As of 2012, fans could also participate in the voting. It was they who put the Dave Matthews Band over the top and secured their admission this year.

The eight bands and solo artists inducted in 2024.

Fans of the DMB – sometimes called "Daveheads" or "Ants" (after one of their earliest and most popular song, Ants Marching), are a passionate lot. They often travel to multiple Dave shows every summer. The DMB are often called a jam band. Unlike many other touring band, they do not have an established setlist for the songs they play at their performances.  Instead, they decideon stage which song to play next. Then, they "jam" each piece – collaboratively improvising on the chord patterns and rhythmic groove, with different members taking solos. Their musicianship is exceptional -- even those who loathe the band will concede this point.

Dave Matthews Band, mid jam, Dave at centre. 

DMB's jam-style has its roots in the psychedelic music of the 1960s, which included The Grateful Dead (four records on The 500) and this week's artist, Quicksilver Messenger Service (QMS). Formed in 1965, QMS rose to popularity in the San Francisco music scene. They were not as commercially successful as their Bay Area contemporaries (The Grateful Dead or Jefferson Airplane - with, collectively, six records on The 500) but were integral to the improvisational movement.

The Quicksilver Messenger Service in 1970 (l-r) John Cipollina, 
Greg Elmore, Nicky Hopkins and David Freiberg

It would be disingenuous if I didn't mention the other commonality between all these bands -- recreational drug use. QMS are often called an acid rock band, a genre that evolved out of the garage band sound of the 1960s when it interacted with the psychedelic subculture, with San Francisco being, arguably, ground zero. Thousands of teens and young adults migrated to the area, protesting the Vietnam War, celebrating peace and love and experimenting with lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) -- commonly dubbed "acid".

West Coast "Hippies" protesting the Vietnam War.

As I listened to Happy Trails, the second record from Quicksilver Messenger Service, I could feel the connections between the acid rock of the ‘60s and the jam bands that I loved in the ‘ 90s, including the DMB. I imagine I would have been happy to experience the San Francisco scene during those strange, turbulent days, and delight at the musicianship of QMS, particularly their guitarist, John Cipollina. There is something magical about talented musicians who can communicate and collaborate with each other with seemingly effortless precision -- I am filled with both awe and envy.

John Cipollina with his one-of-a kind amplifier stack, featuring
six Wurlitzer horns, modified from an organ.

QMS are, much like DMB, still touring today. Only guitarist David Freiberg remains from the original band. They continue to release live records that capture their improvisational, acid rock style. Unfortunately, they have not been inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall, and without a passionate fan-base like the Daveheads, they likely will not be. You can, however, see Cipollina's incredible amplifier stack at the Hall on your next visit. Just don’t confuse your QMS with your DMB or that LSD…it might not work out well.

The 500 - #196 - Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era, 1965 - 1968 - Various Artists

 I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by Los Angeles-based comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone Magazine's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

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Album: #196
Album Title: Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965- 1968

Artist: Multiple

Genre: Psychedelic Rock, Garage Rock
Recorded: Multiple Studios
Released: October, 1972
My age at release: 7
How familiar was I with it before this week: Surprisingly, many.
Is it on the 2020 list? Yes, at 405, moving down 209 spots.
Song I am putting on my Spotify Playlist: Dirty Water

Like any kid trying to fit in, I made some regrettable fashion choices in high school. Most of them, including bleaching a blond streak in my hair, I look back on with  affection. However, one decision still generates a cringey shudder when I think about it. It all started when I purchased tickets to see American rock guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Ted Nugent when he brought his 1981 World Tour to my hometown of London, Ontario, in support of his sixth studio release, Scream Dream.

If you are familiar with the troubling and sometimes odious controversies that have followed this angry media personality over the past few decades, you may have a suspicion about where this story is going – that I regretted spending money on this ticket. However, I am not. Within his range and style, "The Nuge" is a pretty good guitar player and there are still a few of his songs that I like -- mainly for old times’ sake. As I have said in previous posts, I generally try to separate the "art" from the "artist”.

Ted Nugent performing live in the 80s.\

The regrettable decision I made came the next day when I arrived in my first period history class proudly wearing the official concert shirt I bought at the show. I thought I would enjoy several nods of envy from my fellow rockers in the room. Instead, my history teacher looked at me and said... "Is that a naked man on your shirt?" (See below for evidence of the offending frock).

I found a photo of a vintage shirt, exactly like mine, online.

The class exploded with laughter as I clumsily defended the clothing choice that I was regretting more deeply with every beat of my racing, teen-age heart. I am not sure why I was trying to convince a stodgy, suited, 50-year-old high-school educator that a "Nugent shirt" was actually cool. I suspect I was trying to convince myself that this expensive ($10 was a lot of money in 1981) piece of memorabilia was worth the freight. The shirt remained in my bedroom closet for most of the next few years. It’s probably in a box in my mom's basement, and being in top condition it would likely fetch more than $100 from online vintage resellers. So, perhaps I didn’t make a bad investment after all.

A closer look at the shirt's logo - taken from Nugent's "Intensities
in 10 Cities" live album, released the same year.

Long before his solo career, Nugent belonged to the psychedelic, garage rock band The Amboy Dukes who had a hit single with Journey To The Center Of Your Mind. Released in 1968, the song reached #16 on the Billboard Charts and was a thinly veiled celebration of the mind-altering drugs that were wildly popular that decade, including L.S.D. and magic mushrooms. Nugent, who is now known for his ardent anti-drug advocacy, has claimed he had no idea what the song was about, which seems dubious unless the now aging rocker was terribly naive in his twenties…while playing in a self-described "acid rock" band.

The Amboy Dukes are among 27 bands that appeared on the 1972 compilation record, Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era, 1965 - 1968. The disc was painstakingly curated by Lenny Kaye, a writer and clerk at the Village Oldies in Greenwich Village, New York City, at the time. Kaye later became the guitarist for the Patti Smith Group whose debut album, Horses, ranks at #44 on The 500 list.

Lenny Kaye, working at Village Oldies - early 70s.

Kaye appeared on the most recent episode of The 500 Podcast and provided a rich and fascinating insight into the development of the outstanding collection of the eclectic songs he assembled. He also discussed the follow-up album, Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from The British Empire And Beyond, which was released as a four CD Box set in 2001. I encourage readers to take a listen to the podcast for a much deeper dive into the history of these bands and their music. Kaye even hints there are talks about a Nuggets III production.

Album cover for Nuggets II release (2001)

In previous posts, I have questioned the inclusion of compilation records on The 500 list. I need to amend that stance. My view now holds that anthologies are more than the sum of their parts; this one is akin to a love letter about the music of a generation.

Kaye is passionate about the rare and oddball music he discovered through his writing and work at the Oldies Record Shop, and that shines through on this beautiful tapestry of fascinating and engaging songs. The liner notes, authored by Kane, are further testament to the affection he has for the selections on Nuggets I. It also contains one of the first uses of the term "punk rock" -- a genre of music that exploded a few years after release of Nuggets I. The liner notes begin with a title that captures the spirit of this record, and I smiled when I read it -- "It's a Nugget if you Dug it".

Epilogue:

In 1995, while driving from London, Ontario, through Northern Michigan and across the top of Lake Superior toward Teachers College in Thunder Bay, I stopped at a Tim Hortons in Wawa. It was just before dawn and 11 hours into my 17-hour cross-province journey. I had set off the night before in order to avoid traffic and to enjoy the stunning landscape of the rugged, forest covered Canadian Shield as the sun rose.

Wawa, Ontario, known for its beautiful landscape and giant
goose statue.

As I walked into the Timmies to purchase a cup of conscious-propping caffeine, a slim man in camouflage gear and a ball cap held the door for me to enter as he left.

"Do you know who that was?" the cashier asked me as I ordered. "Ted Nugent" she said, excitedly answering her own question before I could respond.

I turned to see the door of a large pick-up truck close, so I couldn't confirm the information -- but, who would lie about seeing Ted Nugent at dawn in a Tim Hortons in Wawa, Ontario?

At least he had more clothes on.