Manhole (Grunt BFL1-0347, 1973) is Grace Slick’s sly, cosmic side-step away from the big banners of Jefferson Airplane. It’s part art-rock daydream, part piano-led confession, and part sci‑fi lounge act—like a film soundtrack for a movie that only exists in her head (and yes, she basically tells you that on the tracklist).

About the Artist

Before Manhole, Slick had already become one of rock’s most unmistakable voices—equal parts velvet, bite, and fearless phrasing. By the early ’70s, the Airplane universe was splintering and mutating, and Slick used the moment to make something more personal and weirdly theatrical. Think: fewer anthem-sized choruses, more character studies and left turns. It’s also a reminder that she wasn’t just a frontwoman—she was a writer, concept-builder, and visual artist with a painter’s eye for mood.

About the Record

Genre-wise, Manhole lives in psychedelic rock/art rock with a cabaret-like streak. The record feels intimate but mischievous: piano and voice up front, then arrangements that drift into film-score territory. Compared to her band work, it’s less “counterculture rally” and more “late-night transmission.” Collectors often frame it as a cult favorite in her catalog precisely because it doesn’t try to recreate earlier triumphs—it wanders.

This is a vinyl, LP, album, stereo, Indianapolis Pressing.

About the Cover

The front cover is a painted portrait—soft, earthy, and slightly haunted—paired with a vertical strip of symbolic doodles. The back cover turns into a scene: a band at a mixing desk facing a stage, like you’re watching the album being “controlled” in real time. Then the inner-sleeve art goes full meta: a microphone directional pattern chart, followed by a surreal, hand-drawn face mapped onto that same diagram—studio science turned into a prankish third-eye manifesto.

About the Lyrics & Music (Manhole)

Standouts come fast: “Jay Angel” opens like a curtain-raiser—dramatic, melodic, and very Slick. “Theme From ‘The Movie Manhole’” winks at the idea that this whole LP is cinema. “Come Again Toucan” is the title you quote to friends to prove this album exists. And “Better Lying Down” closes with a weary glamour—less protest, more psychological close-up. Themes circle identity, performance, and escapism—told with humor, not lectures.

Conclusion

Manhole is Grace Slick in auteur mode: playful, painterly, and just strange enough to feel like a private joke you’re invited into. If you like your ’70s rock with atmosphere and personality, this one’s a rewarding dig.

Other Recommendations

• Grace Slick – Dreams (for a later, sleeker solo angle).
• Jefferson Airplane – Surrealistic Pillow (the landmark contrast).
• Jefferson Starship – Dragon Fly (adjacent universe, different engine).
• Nico – The Marble Index (if you want art-rock, chill with menace).