Mother of the Sun

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.

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
Allmusic[4]
Maximum Volume[5]
Subculture Entertainment[6]
Liverpool Sound & Vision[7]
Velvet Thunder(favorable)[8]
Loudersound70/100[9]

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), 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,[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". Archived from the original on 2021-04-11. Retrieved 2021-03-09 – via www.ultimateclassicrock.com.
  2. "Jefferson Starship Release Lyric Video For 'What Are We Waiting For". Archived from the original on 2020-11-23. Retrieved 2021-03-09 – via www.rockposer.com/.
  3. "JEFFERSON STARSHIP Releases Music Video For 'Setting Sun'". 3 March 2021. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021 – via www.blabbermouth.net.
  4. "Allmusic review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine". Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  5. "Review: Jefferson Starship – Mother of the Sun (2020)". 5 September 2020. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  6. "JEFFERSON STARSHIP – Mother of the Sun EP". 23 August 2020. Archived from the original on 4 September 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  7. "Jefferson Starship, Mother of the Sun. E.P. Review". 24 August 2020. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  8. "Jefferson Starship – Mother of the Sun EP (Golden Robot Records)". Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  9. "Jefferson Starship – Mother of the Sun". Archived from the original on November 4, 2021. 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. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. 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. Archived from the original on 2020-11-01. Retrieved 2021-03-08.
  12. "Mother of the Sun – Jefferson Starship | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". Archived from the original on 2021-01-20. Retrieved 2021-03-08 – via www.allmusic.com.
  13. "Jefferson Starship – Mother Of The Sun (CD)". Archived from the original on 2021-03-02. Retrieved 2021-03-08 – via www.discogs.com.
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