To me, this is one of those songs that sums up the mid-'70's vibe. Someday people will look back and see that this band - Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, Marty Balin, Pete Sears, David Frieberg, Craig Chaquico, Papa John Creach, and John Barbata, was one of the greatest rock bands of all time. I like the kind of dreamy, semi-abstract lyrics, and the video captures the feel of the song - Perfection !
This was & remains a favorite of mine for a host of reasons. Taking the parts and juxtaposing them makes this so much more than the sum of it’s parts!!! It has…character! I’m 60 and still love this group.🎧
And now there are 70 likes. The best word I can think of to describe this song is evocative. This song evokes a feeling that anything was possible in an era when, seemingly, everything was. It is a superb mix of vocals, instrumentation and styles. The lyrics are mystical and dreamy, evoking the wisdom that comes from realizing you don’t know everything and have to surrender to possibility.
Spitfire is one of the most underrated albums of the 70s. It deserves to be up there with all the other classics of that decade. Jefferson Starship really were a stellar band in this particular iteration, who put a ton of work into composing, arranging, playing, singing and playing live shows. I'm not sure what they were on, if they were high on life at that point in time (they probably were), or high on the other stimulants currently in vogue (they probably were) but they did place that line up on a par with other great 70s band, including the one they originated from. Thank you for posting this. I would love to see a new, sharp, clean 16mm version of it, with the proper sound (from the album), now that would be a kick-ass present. Someone get her done : )
Thanx for posting this. As I said on the other post I saw JS live at the Boton Garden when they toured on this album. The concert was outstanding. Vocal harmonies and Craig Chaquico on lead guitar were the standouts. Of course I must say also that Grace was very sexy still on stage at the time. We were all in high school and had a ball. So cool to see some actual concert film of this great song.
Just thought I should pipe up here but John is an awesome guy I work for him and his brother at there estate. I don't think I have ever met someone more honest and that has more wild and just unbelievable stories then the infamous John Paige Cofrin. can't wait to read the book ya big crazy LUG! for anyone else reading this just ask him about his life I guaranty you won't be disappointed.
One of my favorite songs of all time. Craig Chaquico's guitar solo is one of the best. How he imitates the wind blowing in a storm with the guitar to the the end riff where it sounds like the storm is clearing and the sun is shining through. Its just an amazing song!!!
What a treat! I had every cassette they ever put out and it was safe to say one of the cassettes was playing in my car at all times. Beautiful music and beautiful memories
Been listening to a lot of Jefferson Starship lately .. the classic stuff with Balin, Kantner, Slick, Johnny Barbata, Marty Balin, Pete Sears, David Freiberg and the amazing Craig Chaquico. This is my favorite track from that era... I love this video so much ... This gets my vote for the best "Ensemble Vocal" of all time.. Marty Balin is the smooth lead harmonized by Freiberg... then Grace is dancing around him (second verse she "takes off") .. and Kantner comes in in the middle with a beautiful spoken word! Chaquico does this amazing thing on guitar that sounds like a storm siren! Barbata has this lick he plays on many songs that works perfect here... the ride cymbal is his weapon! The bass is so cool too... A perfect song in my book
I'm still not sure about who's the lead voice in that song, even though I've heard it about a million times. In some places Marty's vocal sounds like a harmony to Paul's but I guess it's mostly Marty.
This is a great description, it gave me goose bumps!!😂😂 I absolutely love this song. The wailing lead guitar, booming bass, ricin’ drums and sensational vocals. And yes terrific video.
This version of Jefferson Starship never gets the credit they deserve-they were radio friendly and still hip enough for the music snobs like myself they just could rock and harmonize equally and Marty and Grace just played off each other so well-they were a fantastic band and all their albums from 1975-1981 were complete works of art- such a stony band!!
tryithere And the edited versions really don't do them justice-you have to listen to the versions on the CD-they chopped a lot of their tunes especially Miracles down to almost half and you lose the incredible guitar work they had on the original versions
79steelymatt I was gonna add to my comment that the songs don't really have good places to cut out that wouldn't affect the integrity of the songs but I decided to take the shortened version.
John Cofrin: It's an honor to be able to share your film with the world! I wound up with a 16mm copy of the film in my hands at one point, so I transferred it to digital and then realized nobody seemed to have seen it before. The response has been overwhelmingly great. Anything more you can share about its creation would be appreciated, I'm sure...
Would love to see you repost this film with a HQ audio track. I was blessed to see the 'ship several times from '73 to '86. 79steelymatt is dead on with his comment. Like Fleetwood Mac, these people had first-rank pop =and= rock sensibilities. Every album into the early Mickey Thomas era was treat.
I totally agree. Its easily in my 10 top songs of all time. Every time I hear this song it reminds of St.Charles MO even though I know it has absolutely nothing to do with this area.
The 1970's version of Jefferson Starship is an amazing band! Very underrated. Great musicians who rock with the best of them and do a ballad better than most. This is one of my favorite songs of all time!!!!
This is the most underated songs of the JS.I never heard it on radio .The triple threat of Balin,Slick,and Kanter were at the top of their game with all factions perfectly intertwined. I am heartbroken that this lineup,this band is no more.
+Martin Hyizna Moonlight on the water we were like lovers in another lifetime.We were moored on a big sailboat rolling around in a big bed and right now it's a snapshot of a slice of heaven that I will never have again.I don't like this part of life...having to let go.
@@MrRhmccabe Your comment initially sent shivers down my spine. But then I realised that we are blessed to have experienced such happiness and carefree times. Time can never take that away. Many people have not been as lucky as us.
The album cover made me pick this up lo so many moons ago, and it was about a week before I made it past this song. Haunting and cinematic. Those vocals and harmonies! Sounds like a collective dream.
This is an awesome old school video. It's funny how some things stick in your mind. I'll never forget the time I went shopping with my dad and he bought an 8 track tape of "Spitfire" and he got his hand caught in the hole of the case that housed all the tapes.
The band members were amazing. They treated me with respect and were gracious beyond all reason. Hugh directed and Pete was the photographer. I have not seen it in at least 25 years and expected to cringe but it is beyond excellent. Thank you SKot!!
Of all the great Jefferson Starship songs, this one has to be my favorite. The "I saw her in a dream riff" just doesn't die in memory. It's a perfect riff and I love how the song moves from the dreamy first part and builds into a wind storm finish. It's just beautiful and goes right to the heart.
I am responding under my wife's name - mine is Sam - John Cofrin is a buddy of mine. His company that put this together was called Celluloid (I hope I am spelling it right but like movie film - will confirm and repost if I am wrong) and I talked to him today about this - the story I will leave to him as he is go great at telling the unique moments of his incredible life, but he is thrilled to have this on line and knowing so many people have signed on to watch. He is looking at the comments so please feel free to comment if you have good memories or feelings plus if you know how to post to face book it would be great to get some attention. Thanks to SKot Kirkwood for giving us all a glimpse of us old guys past! :-)
im only 15 and i really like old music and other 70s stuff and this video almost makes me want to travel back in time to the 70s it just seems like such a cool interesting era
it was so much more relaxed and everybody didn't seem so hyper-conscious of everybody else. this song and many others like it seemed to reflect that attitude.
One of the best Starship songs ever. The music truly sweeps you up and carries you away. I've listened to it hundreds of times and still love it. What a fantastic band they were, and the Kantner-Slick-Balin lineup couldn't be beat. Thank you for posting this!
I saw the St. Charles tour here in Michigan, at an outdoor pavilion with both covered and lawn seating... before the concert began, a typical Michigan rain started up, gathering strength and blowing in on an angle. An announcer let us know that the Jefferson Starship wanted to still play the full night's concert; they took the stage and opened, appropriately, with "Song to the Sun/Ozymandias/Don't Let it Rain" in one of those totally in sync moments between music and life. So glad I was there!
I love the build up to climax of this tune and the f****** power behind it, kanters and craig guitar solo behind the harmonies of barlin, slick, and kanter himself, plus the paino keyboard pull across the keys, dualing bass, and those drum crashes. Omg the work to coordinate all that in the crescendo, damn amazing, truly one epic power ballad that never got the cred it deserved. Jefferson starship so underated as contenders in roll and rock superstars. Absolutely one of my all time favorite power ballads💖😎😲😲😲😲💖💖💖💖💖😈 Marty, grace , and paul Kanter should be dipped it gold for this!!!!! Epic... and craig just wow he brought that tune back home in his end solo!!💟
Truly awesome. Listening to this song transports me back to another place and time in my life: "Let me take you, To another place, Another time, Another world of people, dancin' in rhyme, Dance in the air, six-fingered webbed, Fair as the air."
I loved the JS back in the 70's. Not so much anymore- too slick (no pun intended) and polished for my taste, but I still like this song very much. Thanks for posting!
A ghost story of love lost and the pain left in her wake. My God can balin pen a love song.🤫😲❤🔥😱💔 I stand corrected, I'm told Kanter wrote this and I believe it because the lyrics don't feel like balins, I didn't really access it, I thought it was a departure from his usual stuff. Now I see it does feel like Kanter words.... that Sci fi mystique def him.
I will be 60 this summer and the only regret was I never got to see JS on a live concert. I pretty much lived listening to their music since the '60's until now. I was even in the Bay Area back in the mid '70's.
I love the Airplane and this era of Jefferson so much. This song is just so beautiful. I wish I could find a performance of them playing this live from this era. Anyone know if it's out there?
This is an incredible song. So complex. To think they did this live without prerecorded tracks, autotuning, etc. They did this nightly on tour. Children, watch and learn....
I've listened to this song a hundred times but just realized how much Craigs style and even the tone of his playing here sounds like Ernie Isley on Who's That Lady. Not insinuating that he is copying Ernie, Craig is as good if not a better musician. But the similarities between their styles has me hoping that Craig was influenced by Isley, who is one of the least appreciated guitarist of the early to mid 70's. Anyway thanks for posting a really nice bit of nostalgia and a great set by the band.
what's to insinuate? who's that lady was a HUGE hit a few summers before this song was recorded. he's quoting that riff because it goes with the changes. nothing wrong with that. it was about 1981 when that riff went out of my head. also neat is craig quoting the Animals "don't let me be understood" near the end. wow... the radio played this song a lot ... i remember parts of the song without remembering the song itself. some fantastic soft rock with some pretty sharp heavy and psychedelic grooves weaving through it. those were the days... dont forget THESE are some days too.. make memories where you can.
I love this period. Gracie and Marty seem to have worked out a truce, Papa C was incredible, the vibe was good. Marty was cranking out great songs. And I could listen to Paul Kantner sing all day long. Well done guys, your efforts are not unnoticed.
Lost musical treasures like this keep me coming back to RU-vid. What an unexpected delight to see for the very first time what I consider the best Jefferson Starship lineup. You just can't beat Paul and Marty and Grace singing together. A million thanks to skotk for finding and posting this clip.
I love this song. Babaziba's comment about it sounding like a collective dream pretty much sums up life in the 70s in Marin County CA. It was an intensely creative time but laid back and relaxed at the same time. It was way too much fun! Jacky Kaukonen, the bands office manager, was a great friend and mentored me on band politics which was a huge help to me later. As I recall, Gracie, Paul, and Marty were the prime movers from the band in the editing process. The sail boat footage was shot in the Florida Keys. MMxDRAGZz what you said about a Time Machine, my daughter would agree, saying that my generation had all the fun!
It was a magic time, for sure.I remember that many of the album covers of the day, had written at the top center to right, " Direction San Francisco" ! It does not surprise me at all that the Ocean shots were done in Fla....stick your foot in any water around the Bay area and you will know why. lol I lived out there at the time.Great memories.
I would make slow,love to the most beautiful girl I have ever known in my life to this song...6 min of going down..to her sighs and the most intense feelings of love and extasy i have ever known.......I miss u laurie
One of my very favourite clips on RU-vid! Paul Kantner, what a unique talent. Not to mention the just as or even more unique Grace, Marty and the others....
Saw this tour. Heart was the backup band....I remember Pete giving about a 15 minute bass solo (while the rest of the band must have went for refreshments) with that cast on.....Probably the best bass solo I ever saw.....Dragonfly might be one of the most underrated albums ever...
I saw JS on this 1976 tour and I was sure they played in front of this huge blow up of the Spitfire album cover. Never could find any photos but this video shows it clearly. THANK YOU for finally proving my memory correct.
