How Frank Zappa and Jefferson Airplane Got Together To Create “Would You Like A Snack?”

When one thinks of Jefferson Airplane, one often thinks of psychedelic soundscapes, the Summer of Love, and Grace Slick’s incomparable vocals. When one thinks of Frank Zappa, one doesn’t necessarily think of Jefferson Airplane’s brand of psychedelia and related culture. 

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Rather, Zappa was better known for his progressive rock and experimental blues stylings. Maybe their differences are what really made their eventual collaboration stand out. Specifically, the two iconic figures in 1960s rock music came together for the 1968 song “Would You Like A Snack?” from Jefferson Airplane’s famed album Crown Of Creation.

This Frank Zappa and Jefferson Airplane collaboration shouldn’t be mistaken for the former’s song of the same name from 200 Motels. That song, interestingly enough, has nothing to do with the collaborative avant-garde song that Zappa and Jefferson Airplane put together.

The Story Behind “Would You Like A Snack?” by Jefferson Airplane and Frank Zappa

Before getting together for “Would You Like A Snack?”, Grace Slick asked Zappa to produce the album the song was eventually featured on. Unfortunately, Zappa wasn’t available. However, he was certainly interested enough to set aside a bit of time to help write the song “Would You Like A Snack?” with the band.

This collab was famously recorded at RCA Studios in Hollywood during the 1968 sessions for Jefferson Airplane’s album. The song was not originally released on Crown Of Creation. Rather, it was released after being found in the vaults in 1992. It is now included on the remastered version of the band’s famed album. There, Zappa is credited as the “leader” of the song. Zappa’s band was also present during sessions. 

There has been a bit of discourse over how involved Zappa actually was in the collaboration. Pauline Butcher, author of Freak Out! My Life With Frank Zappa, wrote that Zappa was a major part of the collaboration. He composed much of the song, while Slick wrote the lyrics.

“I watched spellbound while the beautiful piece he’d written that afternoon gradually metamorphosed into something else,” said Butcher, Zappa’s former secretary. “After Ian and Art had laid down piano, vibes and drum tracks, Spence Dryden, drummer with Jefferson Airplane, added extra drum rolls. And then Grace Slick wailed and half-spoke her part with a clarinet accompaniment.”

“Would You Like A Snack?” boasts all the best parts of both Zappa and Jefferson Airplane. Grace Slick’s voice is hypnotizing. The lyricism is silly. That makes sense, considering the song is about a woman on her period who needs a snack. However, that’s just part of the charm.

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