This latest CD incarnation of Jefferson Airplane's second album, Surrealistic Pillow, is the third U.S. version to be issued by RCA/BMG. I have owned all three versions. The first CD version was in the mid-80's when CD technology was in its infancy. Many of us were abused by the major labels as they exploited us by charging premium prices for CDs of classic albums mastered from very bad (as in worn out) LP masters that were never intended nor engineered for the dynamic range capability of the compact disc. At any rate, all of the criticism about the first version is valid. It is easily identified because it has shoddy packaging as well and the old Airplane label moniker, GRUNT. The second version wasn't issued as an individual CD until 2001. It was significantly improved and included liner notes from Jefferson Airplane/Starship historian Jeff Tamarkin. The "audio restoration" for that one was done by BMG engineer, Bill Lacey. This CD was originally part of a four disc boxed set, and it included both mono and stereo versions of the album. Interestingly, the credits list two different engineers for the digital transfers of each version (stereo by Eddie Tallia and mono by Mike Hatry).

The third and most recent reissue of Surrealistic Pillow is part of BMG's Heritage series which is supposed to be as close as they are going to get to mimicking the fine reissue works of competing labels like Rhino (WEA), Hip-O (Universal), and Legacy (Sony). In fact, BMG Heritage contracted with independent engineer, Bob Irwin, to do the latest Jefferson Airplane remasters (also includes - Takes Off, After Bathing At Baxters, and Crown of Creation). Bob Irwin's past remastering credentials includes the fabulous Legacy reissues of The Byrds classic catalogue. If you have heard those albums, then you know he has high standards. His work on Surrealistic Pillow is not an exception, despite the belly aching criticism some other Amazon reviewers have written. Irwin is based at the independent label, Sundazed when he's not doing contract jobs.

For those who say that this latest CD sounds hideous, I think they protest too much. This is as good as it is going to get as long as they use the original two-track stereo masters. The only other possible way to improve the sound is to remix from the multi-tracks, and that rarely happens if the record is a classic. The biggest exception to this was the reissue of the Who's catalogue in the late 90's, but Pete Townshend himself was involved with approving each remaster. While I thought they sounded great, there was a lot of protest from fans that they did indeed sound different. When the Beatles catalogue was being prepared for CD transfer by George Martin, he remixed the earliest albums, but wisely chose to leave the later albums as was. It is possible to make an old two-track master sound good if the LP EQing is removed and the dynamic range is expanded. The late engineer/producer Gus Dudgeon (he engineered early albums by Moody Blues, Bowie, and produced many classic Elton John albums as well as remastered his entire catalog) wrote a very interesting technical article about the remastering of older albums and how it can and should be done. It can be found by searching on Google. His remastering of the 70's Elton albums is flawless.

So, my opinion is that the 2003 CD of Surrealistic Pillow is the best there can and will be using the original mixes. The packaging has been restored with all the original elements and there are 6 bonus tracks including mono single mixes of the classics, "White Rabbit" and "Somebody To Love". Therefore this is the definitive remaster...unless Paul Kantner and Marty Balin are allowed to remix the multi-tracks with a very good engineer.

We all know that Surrealistic Pillow is a landmark album. The question is where can I find a decent sounding CD of this essential album? We suffered for more than ten years with the first generation CD - a notoriously bad CD plagued by hiss and crummy mastering. No surprise, RCA showed the same disregard for the Elvis CDs for years until his estate finally stepped in and said enough is enough - suddenly the original masters started showing up and now remastered Elvis sounds great. Will the same good fortune happen to Surrealistic Pillow? Well, there was the expensive Gold disc a few years ago. It sounded better, and even included the mono along with the stereo mixes (22 tracks), but virtually anything would have been an improvement! The problem was that the Gold disc lacked any depth whatsoever, it sounded very flat - and on top of that it had an edgy, harsh treble quality whenever the music got louder. Oh, well... Then a box set came out that included a slightly less harsh sounding Surrealistic Pillow that also had both stereo and mono versions. But again, the basic problems remained - a one-dimensional soundstage, a still too-harsh high-end, and muddied vocals, not to mention that, like the Gold disc, it was going to cost you some major bucks to buy the whole box to get this one disc. And remember, throughout this whole time RCA had continued to mass produce that first generation CD without remastering it - forcing you to either buy the Gold disc or the box to get better sound. Are you starting to get the picture here? Frustrating! Anyway, FINALLY last year (2001) a new single CD was issued domestically and it turns out to be exactly the same as the remastered one in the box set (includes both stereo and mono tracks). Same sound problems, but at least now you can get it without having to buy the whole box. But, that's not all folks! There is more to the story. There was also a new European import CD issued in 2001 with 4 bonus tracks (no mono tracks) that actually sounds ALMOST as good as my LP copy from the 70's, which of course isn't saying much. In any case, for what it is worth, this is by far the best re-issue CD I have heard. My advice is that if you need to get the best sound, then get the import. I can listen to this import CD without cringing and actually enjoy the experience. The remastering on the import is very faithful to the original LP mix (unlike the domestic issue) and on some songs it has some of that warm three-dimensional presence that all the other domestic CDs lack. Now I am not saying this is a fantastic CD, only that it finally begins to approach the minimal quality that you might expect from this great album. Be forewarned that even this import CD still is harsh at times, but it is far, far less annoying than the domestic versions. Let's just say Surrealistic Pillow needs to be totally remixed from top to bottom from the first generation four-track master instead of the worn out two-track Stereo mix-down master to do it justice. Until that happens, get the import CD and skip all domestic issues or better yet dig out that old LP and give it a spin.

"Surrealistic Pillow" is Jefferson Airplane's finest moment, and one of the quintessential '60s albums. So many great records were put out in the late '60s, particularly in the period surrounding and including the "Summer of Love," but this is always one of the first mentioned.

I had the privilege of hearing Jorma Kaukonen play "Embryonic Journey" while I was in college in the late 70s, and it evoked for me how great this album is. That lovely, fluid, and weaving solo tune is the only one unaccompanied by singing, and Grace and company do it up with the rest. There is consistently good instrumentation, but this album is more marked by verse and lyrics, the accompanying melody usually dominating rather than the surrounding music and soloing.

"White Rabbit" and "Somebody to Love," which stand as '60s anthems on the magnitude of almost anything, are the highlights of a load of great tracks. Through the looking glass, and let's love one another. They have a similar dramatic tone and structure but are still distinctive, and both are superb. "Plastic Fantastic Lover" is another memorable song, and provides a forceful conclusion. "My Best Friend" is more spirit of the '60s. "DCBA" is one of a number of pretty songs, with rhythmic cadences that make it a favorite for me. "Today" and "Comin' Back to Me" are highly evocative, beautiful ballads, with a sort of tripped out aura, but more lyrically dominated. Indeed, one thing I like about this album is the clear, fluid structures, not the tripped out excesses of the Airplane''s later work. There are no wasted cuts, as the Airplane make one of the great artistic statement of the 60s.

This "remastered" CD (the domestic CD with 4 bonus tracks and the 2 mono tracks) still does not sound very good! Let me first state that I own three different CD reissues of Surrealistic Pillow as well as the '73 stereo LP, the DCC reissue stereo LP, AND the Sundazed mono LP. Out of all of these versions only the Sundazed LP and the 1973 Stereo LP sound decent. I even transfered those LPs to CDR to listen to in my car rather than suffer through any of those official CDs. I have the first reissued CD from a few years ago that has both the stereo and mono versions - great artwork, but terrible sound. I have the import CD version with the 4 bonus tracks - slightly better sound, but still a disgrace. And I have this most recent 2003 October/November released CD that is advertised as "remastered from the original master" (has the 4 bonus cuts plus the 2 mono cuts)- still, no significant difference soundwise from the other previously issued CDs. Where does that leave a true fan who simply wants to hear a decent sounding recording of this historic LP? Well, basically you need a clean stereo LP from the 60's or the 70's or the Sundazed Mono LP! Note: the stereo DCC LP sounds the same as the CDs - very dissapointing! What is the problem here? In case you think I am some sort of an audiophile fanatic - let me point out a couple of obvious problems. Clue number one - on this CD, the 4 bonus tracks from the same studio sessions sound much cleaner than the regular album cuts. What does that tell you? It tells you the master tapes are still missing for the main album cuts. Clue number two is that there is DISTORTION on the vocals throughout this CD. Anytime the music gets loud and you crank it up a bit you hear slight distortion, especially on the background vocals. Folks, this is basic stuff. Clue number three - why does RCA continually, and apparently endlessly, reissue Surrealistic Pillow? Answer - because they still can't get it right. This album needs to be remastered and REMIXED. If the mixed down 2 track stereo master is shot, then they have no alternative - they need to completely remix this album. Assuming of course they have not lost the original tracks. There is hope here however, hidden in the last cut on this CD - after the mono White Rabbit track - is an undocumented instrumental track from the album without vocals. So, apparently they do have the backing tracks! O.K. then RCA, why don't you bite the bullet and remix the album?

Having grown up in the Bay Area during the sixties and seventies, I'd like to share my impressions with Amazon buyers and browsers of the aural artifacts of the scene, we'll call it "Back In the Daze." And there's no better place to start than with this essential recording. While the majority of the first wave of Bay Area bands didn't translate well to the studio, the Airplane was a glowing - and I do mean "glowing" - exception. This is a perfect rock album from start to finish. However, and it's a BIG however, don't buy it. This release is one of RCA's nefarious, generic, "Digitally Remastered" CD's. In other words, the term, "digitally remastered," when discs first started appearing in the eighties, was bandied about in a slipshod fashion. One could argue that all CD's are "digitally remastered," but today, we do know better...right? Compare this with almost any other recent RCA Jefferson Airplane release, and you'll know you've been had. Especially at full price! And to address another contributor's comments, "Pillow" was available on an RCA gold disc, with both stereo and mono versions, and while the sound is infinitely better than the present issue, the remastered versions of the other Airplane releases set the standard. The mono portion still counts among one of my favorite discs. For those who aren't quite so jaded, pick out your favorite songs on "Pillow," and search around Amazon's Airplane listings for a recent compilation that'll suit you. Perhaps you'll find yourself enjoying the other material, as there's much more - with better sound - to enjoy by this classic band.