Songs You Might Not Know Were Covers (Round 8): Somebody to Love (#8)

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Normally when I do the “songs you might not know were covers” lists I rank them, not in order of my favorites the way I do a normal top ten list, but rather in what I personally perceive as the “shock” of discovering it was a cover. Apparently, based on the responses to yesterday’s discussion, I should have ranked that song a little higher! Meanwhile, here’s today’s tune that you know but might not know was a cover. #8: Somebody to Love And yes, this may be a bone of contention over whether it is “really” a cover (versus technically one). Here’s the story. You decide. We all know about the Jefferson Airplane, who flew out of the San Francisco music scene to become legends. This was one of their first hits, and one of their enduring songs (you can turn on a “classic rock” station and probably hear this today). Grace Slick replaced Signe Anderson, who left the Airplane after becoming a mother, and made her debut on Surrealistic Pillow, which included the classic “White Rabbit” as well as this one. So...where did the Airplane find Grace Slick? The answer to that question is also the answer to this song’s origins. Before joining Jefferson Airplane, Slick was a vocalist in a band called The Great Society. That band featured her husband at the time, Jerry Slick, and her brother-in-law, Darby Slick. Darby wrote the song “Someone to Love,” and the Great Society recorded it for their one and only single in 1966. When The Great Society dissolved and Grace went to the Jefferson Airplane, she took this song with her (singing lead on both versions; hence, the debate on whether you’d consider this a real cover). Smart move on her part. Somebody to Love (Originally titled “Someone to Love”) Written by Darby Slick Originally recorded by The Great Society, 1966 Famously covered by Jefferson Airplane, 1967 Grace Slick on vocals on the first version of this song: