Dragon Fly | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 1974[1] | |||
Recorded | July 1974 | |||
Studio | Wally Heider Studios, San Francisco | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 42:25 | |||
Label | Grunt/RCA Records | |||
Producer | Jefferson Starship / Larry Cox | |||
Jefferson Starship chronology | ||||
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Grace Slick chronology | ||||
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Paul Kantner chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Christgau's Record Guide | C+[3] |
Dragon Fly is the debut album by Jefferson Starship, released on Grunt Records in 1974. It peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard 200, and has been certified a gold album. Credited to Grace Slick, Paul Kantner, and Jefferson Starship, the band itself was a turning point after a series of four albums centering on the partnership of Kantner and Slick during the disintegration of Jefferson Airplane through the early 1970s.
The album received its RIAA gold certification within six months, selling as well as most Jefferson Airplane albums. Two singles were released from the album. "Ride the Tiger" reached #84 on the Billboard Hot 100. The follow-up single, "Caroline", was written and sung by Marty Balin, who had not appeared on an Airplane or Airplane-offshoot album since Volunteers in 1969. He would join Jefferson Starship soon after, and remain with the band until 1978. The song "Hyperdrive" was used in the opening ceremonies of the 1976 World Science Fiction Convention, MidAmeriCon, in Kansas City, Missouri.
Track listing
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Ride the Tiger" | Byong Yu, Grace Slick, Paul Kantner | Paul Kantner | 5:11 |
2. | "That’s for Sure" | Jerry Gallup | Craig Chaquico | 4:58 |
3. | "Be Young You" | Grace Slick | Grace Slick | 3:49 |
4. | "Caroline" | Marty Balin | Paul Kantner | 7:29 |
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
5. | "Devil's Den" | Grace Slick | Papa John Creach | 4:03 |
6. | "Come to Life" | Robert Hunter | David Freiberg, Steven Schuster | 3:46 |
7. | "All Fly Away" | Tom Pacheco | Tom Pacheco | 5:25 |
8. | "Hyperdrive" | Grace Slick | Pete Sears | 7:44 |
Personnel
- Grace Slick – lead (3, 5, 8) and backing vocals; piano (3)
- Paul Kantner – lead (1, 7) and backing vocals, rhythm guitar
- David Freiberg – lead (2, 6) and backing vocals, keyboards (1, 2, 4), piano (5, 6), organ (7, 8), bass (2)
- Papa John Creach – electric violin (1, 2, 5-8)
- Craig Chaquico – lead guitar
- Pete Sears – bass (1, 3-8), piano (2, 4, 7 ,8), harpsichord (4, 8), backing vocals
- John Barbata – drums, percussion
- Marty Balin – lead vocals (4)
- Production
- Jefferson Starship – producer
- Larry Cox – producer, engineer
- Pat Ieraci (Maurice) – production coordinator
- Steve Mantoani – recordist
- Paul Dowell – amp consultant
- Bill Thompson – manager
- Acy Lehman, Frank Mulvey – art directors
- Peter Lloyd – illustration
- Recorded and Mixed at Wally Heider's, San Francisco
Charts
Chart (1974-1975) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian albums (Kent Music Report)[4] | 60 |
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[5] | 18 |
US Billboard 200[6] | 11 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA)[7] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ↑ Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. p. 430. ISBN 9780862415419.
- ↑ Ruhlmann, William (2011). "Dragon Fly - Jefferson Starship | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
- ↑ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: J". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved February 27, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 154. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 3915a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
- ↑ "Jefferson Starship Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
- ↑ "American album certifications – Jefferson Starship – Dragon Fly". Recording Industry Association of America.