Mother of the Sun explained

Mother of the Sun
Type:studio
Artist:Jefferson Starship
Cover:Mother Of The Sun.jpg
Released:August 22, 2020
Recorded:2019–2020
Length:32:05
Label:Golden Robot Records
Producer:Jefferson Starship
Prev Title:Jefferson's Tree of Liberty
Prev Year:2008

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.[1] After the recording of their last studio album, Jefferson's Tree of Liberty (2008), drummer Prairie Prince departed from the group and was replaced by 1982–84 drummer Donny Baldwin to perform on the tour. Baldwin, who had also performed with the offshoot band Starship from 1984 to 1989, has remained with Jefferson Starship 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,[2] 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."[3] 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.

Personnel

Adapted from liner notes.[4]

Jefferson Starship

Additional musicians

Production

Space imagery courtesy of NASA.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: David Freiberg Talks About Jefferson Starship Returning with First New Music in Twelve Years . Beviglia . Jim . 20 August 2020 . American Songwriter . March 8, 2021 . 20 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201020185155/https://americansongwriter.com/mother-of-the-son-jefferson-starship-song-interview/ . live .
  2. Web site: Out Now: Jefferson Starship Re-Emerges After 12 Years Away with 'Mother of the Sun' EP (Listen) . 2020-08-21 . 2021-03-08 . 2020-11-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201101010857/https://www.rockcellarmagazine.com/jefferson-starship-mother-of-the-sun-ep-listen-stream/ . live .
  3. Web site: Mother of the Sun – Jefferson Starship | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic. www.allmusic.com. 2021-03-08. 2021-01-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20210120152040/https://www.allmusic.com/album/mother-of-the-sun-mw0003407563. live.
  4. GOLDRR 123. Golden Robot Records. Mother Of The Sun. 2020. Liner notes.