"Embryonic Journey" is an instrumental piece composed by

Jorma Kaukonen Jorma Ludwik Kaukonen Jr. (; ; born December 23, 1940) is an American blues, folk, and rock guitarist. Kaukonen performed with Jefferson Airplane, and still performs regularly on tour with Hot Tuna, which started as a side project with bassist ...

, which originally appeared as the ninth track on

Jefferson Airplane Jefferson Airplane was an American Rock music, rock band formed in San Francisco, California, in 1965. One of the pioneering bands of psychedelic rock, the group defined the San Francisco Sound and was the first from the San Francisco Bay Area, ...

's second album ''

Surrealistic Pillow ''Surrealistic Pillow'' is the second studio album by the American rock band Jefferson Airplane, released on February 1, 1967, by RCA Victor. It is the first album by the band with vocalist Grace Slick and drummer Spencer Dryden. The album peake ...

''. Other versions of "Embryonic Journey" were recorded by Kaukonen and featured on an album sharing the song's name. According to that album's liner notes, Kaukonen composed the tune in 1963 as part of a guitar workshop in Santa Clara, and included it on ''Surrealistic Pillow'' at the band's behest. According to Kaukonen, the song "evolved from... messing around on a 12 string in drop D".

Reception

''Ultimate Classic Rock'' critic Michael Gallucci rated it Jefferson Airplane's 6th best song, saying that "It's a beautiful performance and a calming tonic to the rest of the album's druggy cacophony." This song has been used in the films '' Afternoons of Solitude'' and ''

Purple Haze "Purple Haze" is a song written by Jimi Hendrix and released as the second single by the Jimi Hendrix Experience on March 17, 1967, in the United Kingdom. The song features his inventive guitar playing, which uses the signature Hendrix chord a ...

'', the final ''

Friends ''Friends'' is an American television sitcom created by David Crane (producer), David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994, to May 6, 2004, lasting List of Friends episodes, ten seasons. With an ensemble cast ...

'' episode (titled " The Last One"), in the movie '' The Rookie'', in the movie ''

Berkeley in the Sixties ''Berkeley in the Sixties'' is a 1990 documentary film by Mark Kitchell. Summary The film highlights the origins of the Free Speech Movement beginning with the May 1960 House Un-American Activities Committee hearings at San Francisco City Hall ...

'' at the end with the credits, and in a UK television commercial for

Norwich Union Norwich Union was the name of insurance company Aviva's British arm before June 2009. It was originally established in 1797. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. On 29 April 2008, Aviva a ...

. It was also included on the '' A Walk on the Moon'' movie soundtrack and in

Ken Burns Kenneth Lauren Burns (born July 29, 1953) is an American filmmaker known for his documentary films and television series, many of which chronicle American history and culture. His work is often produced in association with WETA-TV or the Nati ...

's documentary series ''

The Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...

.'' Philadelphia disc jockey

Ed Sciaky Edward Leon Sciaky (April 2, 1948–January 29, 2004) was an American rock radio disc jockey who spent his broadcasting career in the Philadelphia area. Early life and education He was born in New York City and raised in Philadelphia, where ...

used it as a theme song for his long-running "Sunday Night Alternative" radio show.

Covers

Leo Kottke Leo Kottke (born September 11, 1945) is an American acoustic guitarist. He is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. He has overcome a series of personal obstacles, i ...

did a cover version on his 1979 album ''

Balance Balance may refer to: Common meanings * Balance (ability) in biomechanics * Balance (accounting) * Balance or weighing scale * Balance, as in equality (mathematics) or equilibrium Arts and entertainment Film * Balance (1983 film), ''Balance'' ( ...

''.

References

Jefferson Airplane songs 1967 songs Folk rock songs Rock instrumentals Song recordings produced by Rick Jarrard {{1960s-song-stub