Customer Reviews

Playlist:The Very Best of Jefferson Starship (Eco-Friendly Packaging)

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Most compilations, particularly the "budget-friendly" ones, provide edited songs for radio play (at one time called "singles"). I was pleased to note the full-length album versions of "Miracles," "Caroline," "Ride the Tiger," and "Runaway." Also nice to see "Winds of Change" from the underrated album of the same name.
You'd still need another disc to represent Jefferson Airplane, and while this one does not feature Starship recordings, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Formed in 1965 San Francisco, Jefferson Airplane was an incredibly influential proponet of psychedelia, but the drugs, sex, and rock and roll lifestyle took a toll over the years. In the early 1970s Marty Balin left the band, Grace Slick survived a nasty car crash, and by 1972 everyone concerned thought they were pretty much over it, and Jefferson Airplane dispanded. But in 1974 the band reformed as Jefferson Starship, and over the next ten years released six more albums, with the 1975 RED OCTOPUS charting at number one.

BLOWS AGAINST THE EMPIRE is sometimes described as a Jefferson Starship recording, but it isn't among the "accepted" releases, and THE VERY BEST OF JEFFERSON STARSHIP offers nothing from it. The recordings here are from DRAGON FLY (1974) with "Ride the Tiger" and "Caroline;" RED OCTOPUS (1975) with "Miracles" and "Play on Love;" SPITFIRE (1976) with "With Your Love;" EARTH (1978) with "Love Too Good," "Count On Me," and "Runaway;" FREEDOM AT POINT ZERO (1979) with "Jane;" MODERN TIMES (1981) with "Find Your Way Back" and "Stranger;" WINDS OF CHANGE (1982) with "Winds of Change" and "Be My Lady;" and NUCLEAR FURNITURE (1984), with "No Way Out" and "Laying It On The Line." Tremendous in-fighting had always been a hallmark of Jefferson Airplane and this remained true of Jefferson Starship: the band's line-up changed from recording to recording, with both Marty Balin and Grace Slick leaving the band at various points and Mickey Thomas coming in as male vocalist in 1979.

Most "Best Of" collections seem calculated to inspire arguments among fans, who seldom agree on what should and shouldn't be included. Hardcore fans may indeed bicker, but this collection does seem to gather the essential cuts from each recording--and unlike many "Best Of" releases (the David Bowie is particularly notorious) it doesn't edit the selections to their radio-play length: this really is the full length "Caroline," clocking in at seven minutes and thirty-one seconds. Favorites will vary tremendously from fan to fan, but if I had to select my own they would be the elegant "Miracles," which offers a surprisingly smooth sound; "Count On Me," which is in much the same liquid tone; and "Winds of Change," which offers Grace Slick at her most cut-throat. Some of the tracks could use a remaster, but on the whole the quality is quite good.

Hardcore fans of Jefferson Airplane tend to dismiss Jefferson Starship (and fans of both dismiss Starship, the band's third and final incarnation), and it is true that the band veers increasingly toward glossy pop with the passage of time. Even so, there's no arguing with the musicianship involved. Recommended.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer
With Thanks to Michael Wilk, whose gift this CD was!

These are oldies that bring back some great memories. This album is lacking some of their other great songs and should be called part 1. Who knows why they did not make it a 2 CD set. It just makes me want to go out and buy the rest of their best hits. Jamming and talented band for sure.

this compilation is a great compilation of the best stuff from both the mickey thomas and the marty balin years. the earlier compilation released by bmg included hits by starship, the band name adopted when founding member paul kantner sued to cease and desist usage of the jefferson starship name. music-wise, the starship years were weak. this collection includes some faves from the balin era: miracles, caroline, with your love, and count on me. from the thomas years, highlights include: jane, find your way back, stranger, and ends appropriately with what i feel is the last good js song' layin it on the line' . this is the best single disc introduction to js that's out there, but also get some of the original studio stuff like red octopus and freedom at point zero, to supplement if js is your bag.

This is a great compilation of Jefferson Starship. I only got it for a couple of the songs and when I heard the others I got hooked on it. My father loved them and I can't get this CD back! This is a must have for any Classic Rock or Airplane/Starship fans. Great CD!!

This group has been around since the 60's this collection has everything form the Jefferson Starship era to the Starship era.This cd has all of my favorite songs and yes Sara is on there.

Rondall Banks