When Jefferson Starship released their previous album, "Freedom At Point Zero," Rolling Stone magazine commented that they had become just another heavy metal band. We all know that any one who has heard that album can deduce that the person from Rolling Stone who said it obviously has no understanding what heavy metal is but that's beside the point. In response to that statement, Paul Kantner, wrote back saying, "Fuck You, We Do What We Want." Those words became immortalised on the closing track of this album "Modern Times."
It was a wise thing to let Jefferson Starship do what they wanted for this album follows on nicely from the last one. While not heavy metal, there is a great deal of hard rock on the album to be loved. The first two tracks, "Find Your Way Back" and "The Stranger" were both singles for the band but in no way are either of these songs pop. Probably why the highest they charted was the former of the two, which peaked at 29. "Wild Eyes" is a typical Jefferson Starship rocker and the last track on side one (I only bought cassettes at this time), "Save Your Love," Craig Chaquico demonstrates why I rant on about his guitar playing so much. Side two gives us three shorter in length powerful rockers. The opening riffs of "Mary" have stuck in my mind for over thirty years now the way that familiar riff of "Smoke On the Water" has. The fourth song, "Alien," goes a little more on the progressive side and some say that it's a little way out there. Then comes the closer, "Stairway to Cleveland." "While not a piss take of the Led Zeppelin classic, the reason why Jefferson Starship gave that title to the song was because they thought that Cleveland was the direct opposite of heaven at the time. I knew a few guys from Cleveland back then and they wouldn't debate them on that. The song also makes good digs at politics and some of the institutions of the time as well as Rolling Stone.
One of the hypes behind the release of "Modern Times" was it marked the return of Grace Slick to the band. Not particularly true. She does sing backing vocals on most songs and lead on "Alien" and as a duet with Mickey Thomas on "The Stranger." That's one reason the song is so good. Of course, you can never fault the musicianship of this band on any album and definitely not here. Chaquico shines with his guitar throughout with Paul Kantner laying down the reliable rhythm for him. Pete Sears does his normal keyboard wizardry and Aynsely Dunbar shows why he was considered a brilliant drummer back then.
- Grace Slick
Track Listing:
1. Find Your Way Back
2. The Stranger
3. Wild Eyes
4. Save Your Love
5. Modern Times
6. Mary
7. Free
8. Alien
9. Stairway to Cleveland
- Jefferson Starship
Mickey Thomas- vocals
Craig Chaquico- lead guitar
Paul Kantner- rhythm guitar, vocals
David Freiberg- piano, organ, synthesiser, bass, vocals
Pete Sears- bass, piano, synthesiser, moog
Aynsley Dunbar- drums, percussion
Grace Slick- vocals
There was one time back in 1981 when I didn't watch Fridays solely to see Melanie Chartof. I watched because Jefferson Starship was appearing on it that night. They were my favourite band back then and the "Modern Times" album reminds me why.
Next post: Jim Steinman- Bad For Good
To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html
Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London
No comments:
Post a Comment