Spitfire (Jefferson Starship album)

Spitfire is the third album by the 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]

Spitfire
Cover art by Shusei Nagaoka
Studio album by
Jefferson Starship
ReleasedJune 1976
RecordedMarch 1976
StudioWally Heider Studios, San Francisco
GenreAOR
Length42:04
LabelGrunt
ProducerLarry Cox / Jefferson Starship
Jefferson Starship chronology
Red Octopus
(1975)		 Spitfire
(1976)		 Earth
(1978)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Christgau's Record GuideC[2]

Track listing
Side one
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Cruisin'"Charles HickoxHickox5:27
2."Dance with the Dragon"Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, Marty Balin, Craig ChaquicoKantner, Chaquico, Pete Sears5:02
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 KantnerP. Kantner, Chaquico, John Barbata, David Freiberg, Sears, Slick / P. Kantner1:39 / 5:36
6."With Your Love"Balin, Joey Covington, Vic SmithBalin, Covington, Smith3:33
7."Switchblade"SlickSlick4:01
8."Big City"Barbata, Joel Scott Hill, Chris EthridgeBarbata, Hill, Ethridge3:20
9."Love Lovely Love"BarishBarish3:31

Charts
Chart (1976) Peak
position
Australian (Kent Music Report)
62[4]
Cashbox Top 200 Albums[5]
1

Personnel
  • Grace Slick – lead and backing vocals, piano (5a, 7)
  • Marty Balin – lead and backing vocals
  • Paul Kantner – lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Craig Chaquico – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • David Freiberg – keyboards (1-4, 5b, 6, 9), lead and backing vocals, ARP synthesizer (5a), bass (7, 8),
  • Pete Sears – bass (1-6, 9), piano (2, 5b), Mellotron (3), keyboards (4, 8), organ (5a, 7), Moog (5a, 7)
  • John Barbata – drums, percussion, backing and lead (8) vocals
Additional personnel
  • Bobbye Hall – percussion, congas
  • Dave Roberts – string and horn arrangements
  • Steven Schuster – saxophone (5b)

Production
  • Jefferson Starship – producer, art direction
  • Larry Cox – producer, engineer
  • Steve Malcolm – assistant to the engineer
  • Pat Ieraci (Maurice) – production coordinator
  • Bill Thompson – manager
  • Cassandra Gaviola – dragon princess
  • Paul Dowell – amp consultant
  • John Langdon – label art
  • Tim Bryant/Gribbit – album design, art direction
  • Ron Slenzak – cover photography
  • Shusei Nagaoka – illustration
  • Recorded and Mixed at Wally Heiders, San Francisco
  • Mastered by Kent Duncan, Kendun Recorders, Burbank

Singles / music videos
  • "With Your Love" (7/24/76) #12 US
  • "St. Charles" (12/4/76) #64 US

References
  1. Ruhlmann, William (2011). "Spitfire - Jefferson Starship | AllMusic". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 2, 2019. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  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. 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.
  5. "Cash Box Top 100 1/12/80". 12 January 1980. Retrieved 28 January 2020.


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