Mother of the Sun is the eleventh studio album by American rock band Jefferson Starship. It was released on August 22, 2020, through Golden Robot Records.
| Mother of the Sun | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 22, 2020 | |||
| Recorded | 2019–2020 | |||
| Length | 32:05 | |||
| Label | Golden Robot Records | |||
| Producer | Jefferson Starship | |||
| Jefferson Starship chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Mother of the Sun | ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [4] |
| Maximum Volume |    [5] |
| Subculture Entertainment | [6] |
| Liverpool Sound & Vision | [7] |
| Velvet Thunder | (favorable)[8] |
| Loudersound | 70/100[9] |
Production
editThis is the first album from the band to not include any contributions from founder Paul Kantner, who died in 2016. This is also the first studio album from the band in 36 years to include former bassist Pete Sears, who plays on three tracks on the album.[10] After the recording of their last studio album, Jefferson's Tree of Liberty (2008), drummer Prairie Prince departed from the group and was replaced by 1982–84 drummer Donny Baldwin to perform on the tour. Baldwin, who had also performed with the offshoot band Starship from 1984 to 1989, has remained with Jefferson Starship since, and this is his first album with the group since 1984's Nuclear Furniture.
The first single from the album, "It's About Time", was co-written by co-founder and former vocalist Grace Slick,[11] and "Don't Be Sad Anymore" was written by former vocalist Marty Balin, who died in 2018. A live rendition of Jorma Kaukonen's instrumental "Embryonic Journey", is featured on the album.
Reception
editThe album garnered mixed reviews from professional critics, but a generally positive response from fans. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic said of the album "Whether it's a rocker or a ballad (and there are more of the latter than the former), almost everything on Mother of the Sun is overblown in a manner that's specific to the mid-'80s, when AOR airwaves were littered with '60s veterans flexing their muscles in an attempt to sound relevant."[12] Many others noted this detail as a fault, but most praised the relatively uncharacteristic style of the album as being compatible with staying near their roots in the 1960s era San Francisco Sound.
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "It's About Time" | Cathy Richardson, Grace Slick, Jude Gold | 4:12 |
| 2. | "What Are We Waiting For?" | Richardson, Donny Baldwin | 4:07 |
| 3. | "Setting Sun" | Richardson, David Freiberg | 5:13 |
| 4. | "Runaway Again" | Richardson, Gold | 4:48 |
| 5. | "Embryonic Journey" (Live) | Jorma Kaukonen | 5:22 |
| 6. | "Don't Be Sad Anymore" | Chris Smith, Marty Balin | 3:07 |
| 7. | "What Are We Waiting For?" (Extended) | Richardson, Baldwin | 5:14 |
| Total length: | 32:05 | ||
Personnel
editAdapted from liner notes.[13]
Jefferson Starship
- Cathy Richardson – lead vocals (1, 2, 4, 7), backing vocals, guitar, keyboards
- David Freiberg – lead vocals (3, 6), backing vocals, guitar
- Jude Gold – lead guitar
- Chris Smith – keyboards
- Donny Baldwin – drums, backing vocals
Additional musicians
- Pete Sears – bass (1, 3, 4)
- Greg Panciera – bass (2, 7), shaker (1)
- China Kantner – backing vocals (4)
Production
edit- Jefferson Starship – producer
- Greg Panciera – mixing
- Greg Calbi – mastering
- Jason Reed, David Freiberg, Jono Brown, Thomas Woodfill, Jeff Tamalier, Peter Deleon, Cathy Richardson, Jude Gold – recording
- Nicholas Mohler – cover artwork
- Kevin Baldes – photography
- Hendrix Richardson – boy on cover
Space imagery courtesy of NASA.
References
edit- ^ "Watch Jefferson Starship's New 'It's About Time' Video". 27 July 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-04-11. Retrieved 2021-03-09 – via www.ultimateclassicrock.com.
- ^ "Jefferson Starship Release Lyric Video For 'What Are We Waiting For". Archived from the original on 2020-11-23. Retrieved 2021-03-09 – via www.rockposer.com/.
- ^ "JEFFERSON STARSHIP Releases Music Video For 'Setting Sun'". 3 March 2021. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021 – via www.blabbermouth.net.
- ^ "Allmusic review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
- ^ "Review: Jefferson Starship – Mother of the Sun (2020)". 5 September 2020. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
- ^ "JEFFERSON STARSHIP – Mother of the Sun EP". 23 August 2020. Archived from the original on 4 September 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
- ^ "Jefferson Starship, Mother of the Sun. E.P. Review". 24 August 2020. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
- ^ "Jefferson Starship – Mother of the Sun EP (Golden Robot Records)". 24 September 2020. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
- ^ "Jefferson Starship – Mother of the Sun". Archived from the original on November 4, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
- ^ Beviglia, Jim (20 August 2020). "David Freiberg Talks About Jefferson Starship Returning with First New Music in Twelve Years". American Songwriter. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
- ^ "Out Now: Jefferson Starship Re-Emerges After 12 Years Away with 'Mother of the Sun' EP (Listen)". 2020-08-21. Archived from the original on 2020-11-01. Retrieved 2021-03-08.
- ^ "Mother of the Sun – Jefferson Starship | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". Archived from the original on 2021-01-20. Retrieved 2021-03-08 – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ Mother Of The Sun (Liner notes). Golden Robot Records. 2020. GOLDRR 123.