What are Jefferson Starship’s 5 Biggest U.S. Hits?

After spending the ’60s as one of the leading lights of the psychedelic rock movement, a few of the members of Jefferson Airplane decided to move in a more commercial direction in the following decade. Hence, a rebrand to Jefferson Starship.

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In terms of chart success, it worked, as the band became pretty reliable hitmakers for a nice stretch in the ’70s. Here are the five biggest US hits from Jefferson Starship (which, for the purpose of this list, means only songs by them and not by either Jefferson Airplane or Starship).

5. “Jane” (No. 14 in 1979)

Nobody would have given much hope for Jefferson Starship’s chances of sustaining any commercial success when they made their 1979 album Freedom at Point Zero. Grace Slick, the most famous member of the band, and Marty Balin, the guy who sang and (sometimes) wrote their biggest hits of the previous few years, had both departed. But they found an excellent replacement vocalist in Mickey Thomas, who sings the stuffing out of this one. They also toughened their sound, as evidenced here by the squealing lead guitar of Craig Chaquico, who sounds like he’s enjoying the freedom after being caged too long.

4. “Runaway” (No. 12 in 1978)

The remaining four songs on this list were all sung by Marty Balin. Balin’s tenure within the band was an interesting one. He always seemed to have one foot out the door, as he’d complain about the band in interviews and hem and haw about touring with them. But then he’d inevitably come back to the fold. And it was good that he did, because he always seemed to come equipped with some winning songs, even ones he didn’t write himself. Here, he delivers some winsome vocals on a song written by a fellow named N.Q. Dewey. Craig Chaquico steals the show at song’s end with some teardrop lead guitar work.

3. “With Your Love” (No. 12 in 1976)

When you do something once, you’re expected to do it again, especially when it comes to the high-pressure world of rock and roll. Marty Balin certainly felt that pressure as Jefferson Starship began the process of making the 1976 album Spitfire, since he had delivered a very successful ballad (still to come on this list) for the band’s previous record. It certainly didn’t help the band was in a bit of a fractured state, due to tension following the breakup of members Grace Slick and Paul Kantner. But Balin, with help from co-songwriters Joey Covington and Vic Smith, came through with another bit of lush pop perfect for a romantic evening.

2. “Count on Me” (No. 8 in 1978)

If you thought things were tense when Jefferson Starship made Spitfire, it was nothing compared to the angst surrounding the creation of Earth in 1978. In addition to lingering resentment over the Paul Kantner/Grace Slick split, Marty Balin had done himself no favors by bad-mouthing the entire band, especially Slick, while doing an interview in the interim between the two records. Luckily, Balin found a songwriter in Jesse Barish who delivered the band a ready-made smash in the endearing, sing-along-friendly “Count on Me.” Barish would continue his association with Balin in the ’80s when he went solo, writing the hit “Hearts” for the singer.

1. “Miracles” (No. 3 in 1975)

The first Jefferson Airplane album (Dragon Fly in 1974) helped establish the reconfigured brand but was pretty much a nothing burger on the charts. Marty Balin rejoined the outfit (he had been in the Airplane for six years) for Red Octopus in 1975 with one condition: they record his song “Miracles.” It’s somewhat of a quirky song to become such a big hit, especially when you consider the much-longer album version. Lyrically, it ranges from trippy-dippy affirmations of love to somewhat brazen sexual come-ons. But the nice blend of lead and backing vocals helps push it to another level, and whenever the chorus rises out of the quiet storm, it makes a decisive impact.

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