Song#: 0557
Date: 04/04/1981
Debut: 81
Peak: 29
Weeks: 13
Genre: Rock, Arena Rock
Pop Bits: The Starship's last album, "Freedom At Point Zero," featured the #13 single "Jane" (1979), but it marked a bit of a downturn in sales as the LP only reached gold-level (their previous three as Jefferson Starship all were platinum sellers). This first single from "Modern Times" seemed to be the right one to generate some momentum and it was a #3 Modern Rock track. But it just made it into the pop Top 30 and it didn't really help improve things on the album side. Although it reach gold, the LP was their lowest peaking at the time for this iteration of the group. It did, however, mark the return of Grace Slick who came back to the group near the end of the recording sessions. She had basically been asked to leave the group in '78 due to her growing alcoholism and erratic behavior.
ReduxReview: It was a strange period for the group during the late 70s and into the early 80s. Personnel changes, sound changes, etc. kind of found the group floundering a bit and their albums were jumble affairs. But along the way they had a few terrific singles that kept them going. This is one of them. I'm surprised that it did not do better. I thought it had about everything you needed for a hit single - nice verse, anthematic chorus, rockin' production, etc. But it seemed to have been met with an "ehh" feeling. Too bad as it is one of their best mid-career singles.
ReduxRating: 9/10
Trivia: The "Modern Times" album contains the song "Stairway to Cleveland." The humorous album closer was written in response to a particularly bad review given to their previous album in Rolling Stone magazine and addresses the group changes throughout the years.
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