Spitfire (Jefferson Starship album)

Last updated
Spitfire
Spitfire jefferson starship.jpg
Cover art by Shusei Nagaoka
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 1976
RecordedMarch 1976
Studio Wally Heider Studios, San Francisco
Genre Soft rock
Length42:04
Label Grunt
Producer Larry Cox, Jefferson Starship
Jefferson Starship chronology
Red Octopus
(1975)
Spitfire
(1976)
Earth
(1978)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Christgau's Record Guide C [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]

Contents

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

Side one
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Cruisin'"Charles HickoxHickox5:27
2."Dance with the Dragon" Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, Marty Balin, Craig Chaquico Kantner, Chaquico, Pete Sears 5:02
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 Kantner P. Kantner, Chaquico, John Barbata, David Freiberg, Sears, Slick / P. Kantner1:39 / 5:36
6."With Your Love"Balin, Joey Covington, Vic Smith Balin, Covington, Smith3:33
7."Switchblade"SlickSlick4:01
8."Big City"Barbata, Joel Scott Hill, Chris Ethridge Barbata, Hill, Ethridge3:20
9."Love Lovely Love"BarishBarish3:31

Personnel

Additional personnel

Production

Singles / music videos

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [14] Gold50,000^
United States (RIAA) [15] Platinum1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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References

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  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.
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  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.