One for our younger listeners........

[bigredduke]

Top Tune!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUY2kJE0AZE

[ChrisC2925]

One for a darkened room and some illicit substances lol

[bigredduke]

OK Jeff, what's the link between this track and The Grateful Dead?

[Mr Gazza]

Err.. Please sir, please, is it because Grace Slick painted rock 'n roll portraits?
One of which was Jerry Garcia.. (She was rather good actually and didn't charge a fortune for her work.)

[bigredduke]

Good try & undoubtedly true but not the link I was thinking of. Silver star on the merit board though!

Please put your hand up first Master Gazza & don't shout out next time.

[utopia]

Well, I can think of a couple of possibles but I suspect that there's something more ... tangible !!!
First, its an acid song and most of the acid around the San Francisco area at that time was manufactured by Owsley Stanley, affectionately known as Bear and "manager" of the Dead. I believe that the proceeds from this enterprise may have funded the Dead in the early years.
Second, the Dead were the house band for the Happenings organised by Ken Kesey's Merry Pranksters (of Psychedelic bus "Further" fame) and at which large barrels of fizzy pop (kool aid) laced with acid was available to anyone. LSD was legal in America at the time. These events were documented in the book The Electric Kool Aid Acid Tests.
Maybe third .. the Airplane lived just down the street from the Dead in Haight-Ashbury.
And perhaps fourth .. Garcia often played with them, particularly in the later Jefferson Starship days.
... which is as good an excuse as I can think of to listen again to this .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Disl35BIzM
The noodling guitar in the breaks and choruses is unmistakably Jerry.

That closing phrase "It ain't what you want, it's what you need" still brings a moistness to my eye.
And the whole thing still makes my spine shiver.

[Mr Gazza]

Ew sir, but he's such a girly swot! No wonder he's your favourite..

I have to admit that is a very good answer though and makes me wish I was a better student and hadn't spent quite so much time chasing rabbits..

btw.. I always thought it was inspired by mushrooms, not acid?

Feed your head on some of Grace's artwork..

[bigredduke]

Originally Posted by utopia

Well, I can think of a couple of possibles but I suspect that there's something more ... tangible !!!
First, its an acid song and most of the acid around the San Francisco area at that time was manufactured by Owsley Stanley, affectionately known as Bear and "manager" of the Dead. I believe that the proceeds from this enterprise may have funded the Dead in the early years.
Second, the Dead were the house band for the Happenings organised by Ken Kesey's Merry Pranksters (of Psychedelic bus "Further" fame) and at which large barrels of fizzy pop (kool aid) laced with acid was available to anyone. LSD was legal in America at the time. These events were documented in the book The Electric Kool Aid Acid Tests.
Maybe third .. the Airplane lived just down the street from the Dead in Haight-Ashbury.
And perhaps fourth .. Garcia often played with them, particularly in the later Jefferson Starship days.
... which is as good an excuse as I can think of to listen again to this .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Disl35BIzM
The noodling guitar in the breaks and choruses is unmistakably Jerry.

That closing phrase "It ain't what you want, it's what you need" still brings a moistness to my eye.
And the whole thing still makes my spine shiver.

What a font of knowledge this forum is to be sure!
Again, interesting, comprehensive & undoubtedly not wrong.

Here is what I was after:

The track (White Rabbit) appears on the album "Surrealistic Pillow" 1967 (track 10).
According to the sleeve notes (CD version), on hearing the album, Garcia commented - "this is as surrealistic as a pillow".
So the answer is, the album was effectively given its title by The Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia. There seems to be some dispute over whether or not he played guitar on some of the tracks. He is credited as "musical and spiritual adviser" on the album cover.

More QI style questions to follow in the future if liked.

[bigredduke]

Originally Posted by Mr Gazza

Ew sir, but he's such a girly swot! No wonder he's your favourite..

I have to admit that is a very good answer though and makes me wish I was a better student and hadn't spent quite so much time chasing rabbits..

btw.. I always thought it was inspired by mushrooms, not acid?

Feed your head on some of Grace's artwork..

Undoubtedly a talented artist but the drawing of Billy Connoly is not quite right.

I can't wait for the weekender playlist to take shape

[bigredduke]

Originally Posted by Moco1961

I can't wait for the weekender playlist to take shape

So far, bringing a whole new meaning to "Welsh Trip"