Jefferson Starship – “Mother of the Sun”

Jefferson Starship – Mother of the Sun (Secret Knock, 2020)

I have been a fan of the Jefferson Starship, (Formerly Jefferson Airplane), since at least Woodstock or the Altamonte Festival of the late 1960s. Jefferson Airplane/Starship were one of the many headline bands of their generation. They helped define the “San Francisco, and California” sounds of the 1960s and the ‘70s. They crashed through the ceiling in the 1980s, and ‘90s, making several of the most famous hits of that era.

Over the decades, this band has created some of the greatest music in rock history, and has been inducted into the Rock N’ Roll Hall of fame in 1996, for all their efforts.

The band has had many personnel changes over the years and has included such revered members as: Grace Slick, Marty Balin, Paul Kantner, Spencer Dryden, Jack Casady, Craig Chaquico, John Baratta, Pete Sears, Mickey Thomas, Prairie Prince, and Jorma Kaukonen. Many other famous musicians have collaborated with the band, over the years.

A band with this long a legacy depends on change. The current members of the band include: David Freiberg, on lead and backing vocals, and guitar; Donny Baldwin, on drums, and backing vocals; Chris Smith, on keyboards, Jude Gold, on lead guitar; and Cathy Richardson, on lead and backing vocals, guitar, and keyboards.

The concept for the next stage and new album for the Jefferson Starship, centers on Cassiopeia; which is a constellation in the northern sky, named after the vain queen Cassiopeia in Greek mythology. She was described as the mother of the Sun and Moon. The EP was named Mother of the Sun, and much of the lyrics and album artwork supports that concept.

So, how do you add to a powerful legacy, established by decades of wonderful music? By creating new music which jumps out quickly and shows the world you have come to play and add your poetry to that legacy. Gone are the poetic meanderings of early Airplane as well as the ‘Big Hair’, of ‘80s Starship. What I hear is more of the transition era. The Red Octopus; straight ahead rock, that the band played in transition from Airplane to Starship. 

The Mother of the Sun, EP opens with a head-spinning powerhouse, “It’s About Time”. It is a song that immediately catches you and makes you wonder where has this band been? It is an anthem to the power of women and what they can do; and more importantly, what has been denied to them. With the central question, why?

I was so happy to see the band embrace the use of the song as an election theme for the Biden/Harris campaign. After all, it is about time a black woman was considered for Vice President. This song is also an anthem for change and welcoming women to become more politically active. In fact, Grace Slick, a revolutionary leader in her own right, was one of the earliest female lead singers in rock, and provided some of the lyrics, theme and inspiration for this song. The lyrics cut right to the point. “Old white men have had their turn, thousands of years, what have we learned?”

The theme does branch beyond an anthem for women, into and anthem for change, protest and a call to action to protect the Earth’s ecology. Essential themes, to this protest – loving band, throughout the ages. After all they wrote the songs “Volunteers”, “Have You Seen the Saucers?”, “Eskimo Blue Day”, “When the Earth Moves Again”, “I Want to See Another World”, “Song to the Sun”, and many others, declaring the need for environmental protection and the need to protest for change. The added bells are a wonderful added call to action. Of course, Cathy Richardson is the lead singer on this album opener.

The second track on the album, “What Are We Waiting For?”, continues the themes laid out on the opening song. It is a song determined to move listeners to make a change in their lives, in hopes of changing the direction of the country. “We can do better, yes, let’s get together, right now!” Both the opener and this song have excellent riffs and melodies, and are now my favorite two songs of the year. Dynamic songs that can help move you to action. They are perfectly placed during a pandemic, which has locked us behind doors and walls, and slowed our collective activity. Cathy Richardson pleads and sings for us to wake up and make changes to the world we control. I like the lyric, “And for all of the eons of stardust shine, we’re still standing at the starting line”. It brought back memories of the theme of Pink Floyd’s “Time”, “And then one day you find, ten years have got behind you. No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun”.

“Setting Sun”, opens with  a raucous guitar riff and great drums. It features David Freiberg on lead vocals. The lyrics and song have a “Wanted Dead or Alive”/Bon Jovi feel to it. In fact, you could say it their version of the Bon Jovi classic. A great western/hard rocker that you will enjoy listening to multiple times. Powerful guitars and excellent drums.

“Runaway Again”, is ballad, like some of the band’s more traditional songs. Cathy Richardson sings this sad song. A deep song about running away from problems or difficult situations, that can’t be resolved.

“Embryonic Journey”, is a live presentation of the classic song from Jefferson Airplanes’ classic album, Surrealistic Pillow. It gives all listeners a chance to hear live/recorded music again, after so long in a pandemic. Jude Gold plays this famous instrumental, adding his own improvisations.

“Don’t Be Sad Anymore”, opens with beautiful piano from Cathy Richardson. David Freiberg sings this stary-eyed, inspirational song about love. It was co-written by one of the band’s best songwriters Marty Balin. A classic crooner.

“What Are We Fighting For?” – (Extended Version), is a longer version of the album’s second track.

Jefferson Starship’s Mother of the Sun, is one of the best albums of the year. The first two songs are some of my early favorites for song of the year. The difficult part is going to be trying to select between them. With an EP, there are fewer tracks, and all of these are perfect. No misses.

Get this return to form for this band with so much legacy. It is so relevant, while at the same time harkens back to the hits they made in the past.

Track List

1. It’s About Time – 4:12
2. What Are We Waiting For? – 4:07
3. Setting Sun – 5:11
4. Runaway Again – 4:48
5. Embryonic Journey – 5:19
6. Don’t Be Sad Anymore – 3:04
7. What Are We Fighting For? (Extended Version) – 5:14

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