Earth (Jefferson Starship album)

Earth is the fourth album by American rock band Jefferson Starship. The album was recorded in 1977, with the same band lineup as the previous album, Spitfire and released in 1978.

The band had not toured in 1977, partly due to Marty Balin's reluctance to commit to the band. The song "Count on Me" became a Top 10 single, peaking at No. 8. The album hit No. 5 on the Billboard charts. A US and European tour followed. A riot in West Germany occurred after the band decided not to play without Grace Slick, who was inebriated. They lost their guitars and equipment during the riot and played one more tense show on West German TV in Hamburg, after which Slick left the band for one album. Marty Balin led the band for one more show at a Genesis concert at the Knebworth Festival in England using rented equipment. When they returned to the US, drummer John Barbata left the band after a serious car accident. This would be the end of the 1970s line-up and several new members joined the band, as well as a new record producer. Success of this album led to Jefferson Starship being contracted to provide a song for the Star Wars Holiday Special.

Critical reception
The New York Times deemed the album "a tired repeat of the new formulas" of the two previous albums.

Personnel

 * Marty Balin – lead (2, 4, 6, 8) and backing vocals
 * Grace Slick – lead (1, 3, 5, 7) and backing vocals, piano (7)
 * Paul Kantner – lead (9) and backing vocals, rhythm guitar
 * Craig Chaquico – lead guitar, rhythm guitar (1, 4, 5, 7)
 * David Freiberg – bass (1-4, 6, 7), organ (5, 8, 9), backing vocals
 * Pete Sears – bass (5, 8, 9), electric piano (1), organ (1-4, 6, 7), Moog (1, 5, 9), synthesizer (1), piano (2-4, 6), celeste (2), clavinet (4, 6), backing vocals
 * John Barbata – drums, congas, percussion, backing vocals

Additional Personnel

 * Gene Page – strings, horns
 * Jesse Barish – background vocals

Production

 * Jefferson Starship – producer, arrangements, art direction
 * Larry Cox – producer, engineer
 * David Frazer – assistant engineer
 * Steve Hall – recordist
 * Pat Ieraci (Maurice) – production coordinator, art coordination
 * Nat Quick – illustration
 * Paul Dowell – amp consultant
 * Cynthia Bowman – art coordination
 * Bill Laudner – art assistant
 * Gribbitt (Tim Bryant) – art director
 * Don Davis – Earth dust sleeve illustration, Earth label illustration
 * Roger Rossmeyer – photography
 * Recorded and Mixed at Wally Heider, San Francisco
 * Strings and Horns arranged by Gene Page, Whitney Recording Studio, Glendale
 * Mastered by John Golden at Kendun Recorders, Burbank

Singles

 * "Count on Me" (3/11/78) #8 US
 * "Runaway" (5/27/78) #12 US
 * "Crazy Feelin'" (9/9/78) #54 US