Spitfire (Jefferson Starship album)

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Spitfire
Cover art by Shusei Nagaoka
Studio album by
Jefferson Starship
ReleasedJune 1976
RecordedMarch 1976
StudioWally Heider Studios, San Francisco
GenreSoft rock
Length42:04
LabelGrunt
ProducerLarry Cox, Jefferson Starship
Jefferson Starship chronology
Red Octopus
(1975) 		Spitfire
(1976) 		Earth
(1978)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Christgau's Record GuideC[2]

Spitfire is the third album by American rock band Jefferson Starship. Released in 1976, a year after the chart-topping Red Octopus, it quickly scaled the charts, peaking for six consecutive weeks at No. 3 in Billboard and attaining a RIAA platinum certification. The album features writing contributions from members of singer Marty Balin's former band Bodacious DF, as well as Jesse Barish, who became one of Balin's frequent collaborators. Stereo and quadraphonic mixes of the album were released. "Song to the Sun" was included in the 1977 Laserock program.[3]

Record World said that the single "St. Charles" "has the kind of haunting melody line that characterized [Jefferson Starship's] recent hits."[4]

Track listing[edit]

Side one
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Cruisin'"Charles HickoxHickox5:27
2."Dance with the Dragon"Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, Marty Balin, Craig ChaquicoKantner, Chaquico, Pete Sears5:02
3."Hot Water"SlickSears3:17
4."St. Charles"Kantner, Balin, Jesse Barish, Chaquico, ThunderhawkKantner, Chaquico6:38
Side two
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
5."Song to the Sun: Part I: Ozymandias / Part II: Don't Let It Rain"instrumental / Kantner, China Wing KantnerP. Kantner, Chaquico, John Barbata, David Freiberg, Sears, Slick / P. Kantner1:39 / 5:36
6."With Your Love"Balin, Joey Covington, Vic SmithBalin, Covington, Smith3:33
7."Switchblade"SlickSlick4:01
8."Big City"Barbata, Joel Scott Hill, Chris EthridgeBarbata, Hill, Ethridge3:20
9."Love Lovely Love"BarishBarish3:31

Personnel[edit]

  • Grace Slick – lead (3, 7) and backing vocals, piano (5, 7)
  • Marty Balin – lead (1, 4, 6, 9) and backing vocals
  • Paul Kantner – lead (2, 5) and backing vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Craig Chaquico – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • David Freiberg – keyboards (1-4, 6, 9), ARP synthesizer (5), bass (7, 8), backing vocals
  • Pete Sears – bass (1-6, 9), piano (2, 5b), Mellotron (3), keyboards (4, 8), organ (5a, 7), Moog (5a, 7)
  • John Barbata – drums, percussion, backing and lead (8) vocals
Additional personnel
  • Bobbye Hall – percussion, congas
  • Dave Roberts – string and horn arrangements
  • Steven Schuster – saxophone (5b)

Production[edit]

  • Jefferson Starship – producer, art direction
  • Larry Cox – producer, engineer
  • Steve Malcolm – assistant to the engineer
  • Pat Ieraci (Maurice) – production coordinator
  • Bill Thompson – manager
  • Cassandra Gaviola – dragon princess
  • Paul Dowell – amp consultant
  • John Langdon – label art
  • Tim Bryant/Gribbit – album design, art direction
  • Ron Slenzak – cover photography
  • Shusei Nagaoka – illustration
  • Recorded and Mixed at Wally Heiders, San Francisco
  • Mastered by Kent Duncan, Kendun Recorders, Burbank

Singles / music videos[edit]

  • "With Your Love" (7/24/76) #12 US
  • "St. Charles" (12/4/76) #64 US

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[14] Gold 50,000^
United States (RIAA)[15] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Ruhlmann, William (2011). "Spitfire - Jefferson Starship | AllMusic". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 2, 2019. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  2. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: J". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved February 27, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  3. ^ "LaserRock". Archived from the original on 2016-03-21. Retrieved 2016-04-08.
  4. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. November 13, 1976. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  5. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 154. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  6. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4337a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  7. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Jefferson Starship – Spitfire" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  8. ^ "Charts.nz – Jefferson Starship – Spitfire". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  9. ^ "Jefferson Starship | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  10. ^ "Jefferson Starship Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  11. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 1/12/80". 12 January 1980. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  12. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 5175". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  13. ^ "Billboard 200 Albums - Year-End". Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  14. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Starship – Spitfire". Music Canada.
  15. ^ "American album certifications – Jefferson Starship – Spitfire". Recording Industry Association of America.
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