Modern Times is the sixth album by Jefferson Starship and was released in 1981. Grace Slick appeared on this album after a three-year absence. She returned near the end of the recording sessions, providing background vocals on some tracks as well as lead vocals on the single "Stranger" as a duet with lead singer Mickey Thomas. "Stranger" had previously been performed live by Jefferson Starship as early as December 1979, and the first studio version was made for Modern Times.[2] Although not appearing in the band picture on the gatefold cover, Slick is listed on the back cover of the LP with the credit "Introducing Grace Slick" and her picture is on the lyric sleeve with the note "Grace Slick courtesy of Grace Slick." She joined the band officially for the 1981 tour. This was the first Jefferson Starship album to have promotional music videos. It was also the first album to feature a charting single on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, which had premiered earlier in the year. The single "Find Your Way Back" reached No. 3 on the Mainstream Rock chart.
| Modern Times | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | April 2, 1981 | |||
| Recorded | 1980–1981 at the Record Plant, Los Angeles and Sausalito | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 38:26 | |||
| Label | Grunt | |||
| Producer | Ron Nevison | |||
| Jefferson Starship chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
The song "Stairway to Cleveland" was inspired by a harsh review that Rolling Stone had given the album Freedom at Point Zero,[3] inspiring Paul Kantner to wrap lyrics around a phrase he had heard from Paul Warren: "Fuck you! We do what we want!"
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Find Your Way Back" | Craig Chaquico | Chaquico, Tom Borsdorf | 4:15 |
| 2. | "Stranger" | Jeannette Sears | Pete Sears | 4:44 |
| 3. | "Wild Eyes (Angel)" | Paul Kantner | Kantner | 4:02 |
| 4. | "Save Your Love" | J. Sears | P. Sears | 5:58 |
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5. | "Modern Times" | Kantner, Mickey Thomas | Kantner | 2:36 |
| 6. | "Mary" | J. Sears, Chaquico | Chaquico | 3:37 |
| 7. | "Free" | Thomas, Chaquico | Chaquico | 4:34 |
| 8. | "Alien" | J. Sears | P. Sears | 4:42 |
| 9. | "Stairway to Cleveland (We Do What We Want)" | Kantner, Paul Warren | Kantner | 3:58 |
Personnel
edit- Mickey Thomas – lead (all tracks) and backing vocals, spoken word (9)
- Paul Kantner – lead (9) and backing vocals, rhythm guitar, Oberheim 8-voice synthesizer (9), keyboards (2), spoken word (9)
- Craig Chaquico – lead guitar, rhythm guitar, synthesizer (1, 6, 7), steel drums (6), spoken word (9)
- David Freiberg – bass (1, 6, 8), piano (2), synthesizer (2, 5), organ (3), backing vocals, spoken word (9)
- Pete Sears – bass (2-5, 7, 9), piano (1, 3, 4, 8), synthesizer (2, 4, 8), Moog (8)
- Aynsley Dunbar – drums, percussion, marimba (6), synthesizer (7)
- Grace Slick – co-lead vocals (2), backing vocals (3, 4, 8, 9)
Production
edit- Ron Nevison – producer for Gadget Productions, Inc., engineer
- Michael Clink – engineer
- Mike Reese – mastering
- Pat Ieraci (Maurice) – production coordinator
- Bill Murphy / Rod Dyer, Inc. – album design, art direction
- Ryoko Ishioka – cover concept
- Monica Clemans – cover model and eyes
- Leon LeCash – photography
- Bill Thompson – manager
- Recorded and mixed at The Record Plant, Los Angeles - Sausalito
- Mastered at The Mastering Lab, Hollywood
Singles / music videos
edit- "Find Your Way Back" (1981) #29 US
- "Stranger" (1981) #48 US
- "Save Your Love" (1981) #104 US (single only / no music video)
- "Stairway to Cleveland" (1981) (promo single only)
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
|
Year-end chartsedit
|
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[8] | Gold | 500,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^ William Ruhlmann. "Modern Times". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 2, 2019. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
- ^ Stranger (Live: X's San Francisco 31 Dec '79 (Early Set)). Jefferson Starship. Retrieved May 20, 2022 – via YouTube.
- ^ Tamarakin, Jeff (2003). Got a Revolution: The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0-671-03403-0.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0355". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
- ^ "Jefferson Starship Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1981". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ "American album certifications – Jefferson Starship – Modern Times". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
