Time now to look Into “That Song” with our Forgotten Hits Music Historian, Chuck Buell!
WHITE RABBIT
LARGE ALICE
SMALL ALICE
“White
Rabbit,” by Jefferson Airplane, is one of the most controversial
Forgotten Hits that also has the dubious honor of being banned from
airplay by several radio stations throughout the country in the
mid-1960s due to its perceived “Blatant Drug References.” Nevertheless,
it was a Top Ten Forgotten Hit during late June and early July of 1967.
I
remember those days when an in-market “Adult Targeted” Radio Station
with their formatic “Non-offensive, Middle of the Road ( “MOR” ) Music”
in Denver repeatedly aired a sharp and harsh editorial targeted directly
at our “Top 40” formatted radio station, naming us on their air by our
call letters, for playing that song. They spotlighted it and dissected it, emphasized and interpreted every questionable line in the song to point out what a terrible role model our radio station was in setting such a poor example for the Youth of Denver by our playing it!
As the Kids might say about that today, "Whatever."
And with that “Blast from the Past” or the “Buzz that Was,” here’s my Special “Chuck Buell White Rabbit Mixtape Minute Music Medley!”
Oh! And this!
White Rabbit peaked on the pop charts on 7/29/67, reaching #6 in Cash Box, #7 in Record World and #8 in Billboard.
Much as she had with Jefferson Airplane's first chart hit, "Somebody To Love," Grace Slick brought along "White Rabbit" when she jumped ship from The Great Society to join The Airplane in 1967. Both songs, which failed to make an impact in their initial state, made The Top Ten with Grace's new support team. ("Somebody To Love" even went to #1 here in Chicago.)
