WCSX Classic Cuts : Jane
WCSX Classic Cuts
Jefferson Starship: “Jane”
The Hook: It showed they were still viable after losing lead singers Grace Slick and Marty Balin, plus their drummer.
Album: Freedom at Point Zero
Year: 1979
Writers: Craig Chaquico, David Freiberg, Paul Kantner and Jim McPherson.
Stats: Peaked at number-14 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Background: After a string of gold and platinum albums, Jefferson Starship had just lost their two iconic lead singers, Grace Slick and Marty Balin, and replaced them with Mickey Thomas. Not only that, but drummer John Barbata had also left, with ex-Journey stickman Aynsley Dunbar taking his place. Guitarist Craig Chaquico [pr: chah-KEE-soh] credits the song “Jane” with proving that the band was still viable.
Former Jefferson Starship guitarist Craig Chaquico [pr: chah-KEE-soh] on “Jane.” OC:… :24
“That was the first song we came out with after we lost Marty [Balin]and Grace [Slick] and our drummer. The record company is kind of looking at us like, ‘Wait a minute. We signed this band and now they don’t have their lead singers and their drummer. What do we really have here?’ So we got Mickey [Thomas], and I co-wrote that song with David [Freiberg] and Paul [Kantner] and this lyricist that used to work for the Grateful Dead and stuff. It was a real departure for us, because it wasn’t ‘Miracles.’ It was way on the other side of ‘Miracles.’ And I’m so happy it got the response that it did.”
