Mother of the Sun

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Mother of the Sun
Studio album by
Jefferson Starship
ReleasedAugust 22, 2020
Recorded2019-2020
Genre
Length32:05
LabelGolden Robot Records
ProducerJefferson Starship
Jefferson Starship chronology
Jefferson's Tree of Liberty
(2008) 		Mother of the Sun
(2020)
Singles from Mother of the Sun
  1. "It's About Time"
    Released: July 28, 2020[1]
  2. "What Are We Waiting For?"
    Released: August 22, 2020[2]
  3. "Setting Sun"
    Released: February 26, 2021[3]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic2/5 stars[4]
Maximum Volume8.5/10 stars[5]
Subculture Entertainment4/5 stars[6]
Liverpool Sound & Vision8.5/10 stars[7]
Velvet Thunder(favorable)[8]
Loudersound70/100[9]

Mother of the Sun is the eleventh studio album by American rock band Jefferson Starship. It was released on August 22, 2020 through Golden Robot Records.

Production[]

This is the first album from the band to not include any contributions from founder Paul Kantner, who died in 2016. This is also the first studio album from the band in 36 years to include former bassist Pete Sears, who plays on three tracks on the album.[10] After the recording of their last studio album, Jefferson's Tree of Liberty (2008), the band let go of longtime drummer Prairie Prince, bringing back 1982–84 drummer Donny Baldwin to perform on the tour. Baldwin has remained with the band since, and this is his first album with the group since 1984's Nuclear Furniture.

The first single from the album, "It's About Time", was co-written by co-founder and former vocalist Grace Slick,[11] and "Don't Be Sad Anymore" was written by former vocalist Marty Balin, who died in 2018. A live rendition of Jorma Kaukonen's instrumental "Embryonic Journey", is featured on the album.

Reception[]

The album garnered mixed reviews from professional critics, but a generally positive response from fans. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic said of the album "Whether it's a rocker or a ballad (and there are more of the latter than the former), almost everything on Mother of the Sun is overblown in a manner that's specific to the mid-'80s, when AOR airwaves were littered with '60s veterans flexing their muscles in an attempt to sound relevant."[12] Many others noted this detail as a fault, but most praised the relatively uncharacteristic style of the album as being compatible with staying near their roots in the 1960s era San Francisco Sound.

Track listing[]

Mother of the Sun track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."It's About Time"Cathy Richardson, Grace Slick, Jude Gold4:12
2."What Are We Waiting For?"Richardson, Donny Baldwin4:07
3."Setting Sun"Richardson, David Freiberg5:13
4."Runaway Again"Richardson, Gold4:48
5."Embryonic Journey" (Live)Jorma Kaukonen5:22
6."Don't Be Sad Anymore"Chris Smith, Marty Balin3:07
7."What Are We Waiting For? (Extended)"Richardson, Baldwin5:14
Total length:32:05

Personnel[]

Adapted from liner notes.[13]

Jefferson Starship

  • Cathy Richardson – lead (1, 2, 4, 7) and backing vocals, rhythm guitar (1, 3, 7)
  • David Freiberg – lead (3, 6) and backing vocals, rhythm guitar (1-4, 7)
  • Jude Gold – lead guitar (1-5, 7), backing vocals
  • Chris Smith – keyboards (1-4, 6, 7)
  • Donny Baldwin – drums (1-4, 7), backing vocals

Additional musicians

Production[]

  • Jefferson Starship – producer
  • Greg Panciera – mixing
  • Greg Calbi – mastering
  • Jason Reed, David Freiberg, Jono Brown, Thomas Woodfill, Jeff Tamalier, Peter Deleon, Cathy Richardson, Jude Gold - recording
  • Nicholas Mohler – cover artwork
  • Kevin Baldes - photography
  • Hendrix Richardson - boy on cover

Space imagery courtesy of NASA.

References[]

  1. ^ "Watch Jefferson Starship's New 'It's About Time' Video" – via www.ultimateclassicrock.com.
  2. ^ "Jefferson Starship Release Lyric Video For 'What Are We Waiting For" – via www.rockposer.com/.
  3. ^ "JEFFERSON STARSHIP Releases Music Video For 'Setting Sun'". 3 March 2021 – via www.blabbermouth.net.
  4. ^ "Allmusic review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine". Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  5. ^ "Review: Jefferson Starship - Mother of the Sun (2020)". 5 September 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  6. ^ "JEFFERSON STARSHIP - Mother of the Sun EP". 23 August 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  7. ^ "Jefferson Starship, Mother of the Sun. E.P. Review". 24 August 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  8. ^ "Jefferson Starship – Mother of the Sun EP (Golden Robot Records)". Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  9. ^ "Jefferson Starship - Mother of the Sun". Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  10. ^ Beviglia, Jim (20 August 2020). "David Freiberg Talks About Jefferson Starship Returning with First New Music in Twelve Years". American Songwriter. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  11. ^ "Out Now: Jefferson Starship Re-Emerges After 12 Years Away with 'Mother of the Sun' EP (Listen)". 2020-08-21. Retrieved 2021-03-08.
  12. ^ "Mother of the Sun - Jefferson Starship | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  13. ^ "Jefferson Starship – Mother Of The Sun (CD)" – via www.discogs.com.

External links[]

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