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Miracles (Jefferson Starship song)

March 01, 2023

"Miracles" is a song written by Marty Balin and originally recorded by Jefferson Starship, appearing on its 1975 album Red Octopus.[2]

"Miracles"
Cover of the Spanish single (FB-10367)
Single by Jefferson Starship
from the album Red Octopus
ReleasedMarch 1975 (1975-03)
RecordedFebruary 1975[1]
GenreRock, soft rock
Length6:52 (Album version)
3:25 (Single version)
LabelGrunt/RCA Records
Songwriter(s)Marty Balin
Producer(s)Jefferson Starship and Larry Cox
Jefferson Starship singles chronology
"Ride the Tiger"
(1974) 		"Miracles"
(1975) 		"Play on Love"
(1976)

"Miracles" peaked at number 3 for three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the highest-charting single the band ever recorded under the name Jefferson Starship or its previous incarnation Jefferson Airplane.[3]

Background and writing

The song was inspired in part by the Indian guru Sathya Sai Baba,[4][5][6] whose followers believe him to have been a miracle worker.[4] It was also inspired in part by a woman Balin was in love with at the time.[4] According to Jeff Tamarkin's book Got a Revolution! The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane, Balin labored over the song "for some time" and "slowly but deliberately crafted" it.[4] However, author Robert Yehling has written that Balin wrote the song in 30 minutes[5] or wrote the lyrics in 45 minutes.[6] According to Balin, when he presented the song to the rest of the band members, "Everybody went, 'I don't know about that. That's pretty weird, man.' I was really worried; nobody liked it. But I told myself, after about five days, 'Maybe they're wrong.'"[4]

In order to secure more radio airplay for the song, the full-length album version of "Miracles" (6 minutes, 52 seconds long) was cut by more than half its length for the single, which was released at a length of 3 minutes, 25 seconds.[7] This edit was done not only for length, but to remove the sexual reference in the line "I had a taste of the real world when I went down on you, girl."[7]

Critical reception

Commenting on the band's recording of "Miracles", Jeff Tamarkin wrote: "[Larry] Cox nailed the production -- there isn't a wasted, out of place note. Strings glisten, the keyboard sound is contemporary and Grace [Slick] and Paul [Kantner]'s harmonies are relatively traditional. [David] Freiberg came up with the memorable signature organ riff that opens the song and Craig [Chaquico] with a fresh supply of delicious guitar sounds. Marty is at his most open, crooning his words of love like he hasn't in years -- without a hint of irony or awkwardness he uses the word 'baby' at least 25 times ...."[4]

Upon the single's release, Billboard magazine listed "Miracles" among its Top Single Picks, indicating that the review panel predicted it to reach the top 30 of the Hot 100. The magazine commented, "With a top 10 LP under their belts, the rejuvenated Starship (with Marty Balin back as a full fledged member) come up with the kind of easy rocker that highlighted the early Airplane days. Vocal interchanges between Balin and Grace Slick the high point of the record."[8] Cash Box said it is "a fine, well-orchestrated love ballad in the Airplane tradition" and "some of their most appealing, well-produced material in years."[9]

Reviewing a Balin solo concert in 1981, New York Times critic Stephen Holden referred to "Miracles" as Balin's "little masterpiece of pop pillow talk".[10]

Dave Marsh and James Bernard listed "Miracles" among the "Best Songs to Pass the Censor" in The New Book of Rock Lists.[11] In the same book, they also described "I had a taste of the real world / When I went down on you, girl" as the "Most Off-Color Line in the LP Version of a Number One Hit"[12] (although "Miracles" did not, in fact, hit #1).

In 1998, Balin received a plaque from Broadcast Music Incorporated, a performing rights organization which monitors music performances on radio and elsewhere, recognizing that "Miracles" had achieved 2 million performances.[13]

William Ruhlmann, writing in All Music Guide Required Listening: Classic Rock, commented, "[T]here can be little doubt that it was Balin's irresistible ballad 'Miracles,' the biggest hit single in the Jefferson Whatever catalog, that propelled Red Octopus to the top of the charts .... This must have been sweet vindication for Balin, who founded Jefferson Airplane but then drifted away from the group as it veered away from his musical vision. Now, the collective was incorporating his taste without quite integrating it -- 'Miracles,' with its strings and sax solo by nonband member Irv Cox, was hardly a characteristic Airplane/Starship track."[14]

The New Rolling Stone Album Guide, published in 2004, stated that "with Marty Balin's 'Miracles,' Octopus′s massive hit, the band began shifting toward schmaltz. Balin now sounded like a lounge singer ...."[2]

Philip Dodd, in The Book of Rock: From the 1950s to Today, described "Miracles" as "magnificent".[15]

Soundtracks

The song has been featured in the films The Family Stone (2005), Crank (2006), and the TV series Supernatural (Season 6, Episode 19, 2011).

Personnel

Additional personnel

Chart performance

Cover versions

References

  1. ^ "Miracles" 45-RPM single label
  2. ^ a b Brackett, Nathan (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York: Fireside. p. 427. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2010). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (9th ed.). New York: Billboard Books. pp. 332–33. ISBN 978-0-8230-8554-5. from the original on 2021-12-05. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Tamarkin, Jeff (2003). Got a Revolution! The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane. New York: Atria. p. 279. ISBN 0-671-03403-0. from the original on 2021-12-05. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  5. ^ a b Yehling, Robert (2006). Shades of Green: New & Selected Poems and Essays. Tampa: Koboca. p. 86. ISBN 978-0-9744997-6-5. from the original on 2021-12-05. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  6. ^ a b Yehling, Robert (2006). Writes of Life: Using Your Personal Experiences in Everything You Write. Tampa: Koboca. p. 38. ISBN 978-0-9744997-7-2. from the original on 2021-12-05. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  7. ^ a b Tamarkin, Jeff (2003). Got a Revolution! The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane. New York: Atria. p. 280. ISBN 0-671-03403-0. from the original on 2021-12-05. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  8. ^ "Top Single Picks". Billboard. 1975-08-16. p. 78. from the original on 2021-12-05. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  9. ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. August 16, 1975. p. 26. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
  10. ^ Holden, Stephen (1981-10-11). "Rock: Marty Balin Sings". The New York Times. from the original on 2021-12-05. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  11. ^ Marsh, Dave; Bernard, James (1994). The New Book of Rock Lists. New York: Fireside. p. 507. ISBN 0-671-78700-4. from the original on 2021-12-05. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  12. ^ Marsh, Dave; Bernard, James (1994). The New Book of Rock Lists. New York: Fireside. p. 104. ISBN 0-671-78700-4. from the original on 2021-12-05. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  13. ^ "Playing for 'Miracles'". Billboard. 1998-03-28. p. 32. from the original on 2021-12-05. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  14. ^ Woodstra, Chris; Bush, John; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas, eds. (2007). All Music Guide Required Listening: Classic Rock. New York: Backbeat Books. p. 100. ISBN 978-0-87930-917-6. from the original on 2021-12-05. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  15. ^ Dodd, Philip (2005). The Book of Rock: From the 1950s to Today. Da Capo Press. p. 2136. ISBN 1-56025-729-6. from the original on 2021-12-05. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  16. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. from the original on 2016-09-27. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
  17. ^ "Starship – Miracles". Top 40 Singles.
  18. ^ "Jefferson Starship Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  19. ^ "Jefferson Starship Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Prometheus Global Media. from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  20. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. from the original on 2016-09-27. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
  21. ^ "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1975". Cashbox Magazine. from the original on 2012-08-19. Retrieved 2014-10-21.
  22. ^ "Marty Balin, Marty Balin Greatest Hits". from the original on November 26, 2016. Retrieved November 25, 2016.

External links

  • Jefferson Starship - Miracles on YouTube

March 01, 2023
miracles, jefferson, starship, song, miracles, song, written, marty, balin, originally, recorded, jefferson, starship, appearing, 1975, album, octopus, miracles, cover, spanish, single, 10367, single, jefferson, starshipfrom, album, octopusreleasedmarch, 1975,. Miracles is a song written by Marty Balin and originally recorded by Jefferson Starship appearing on its 1975 album Red Octopus 2 Miracles Cover of the Spanish single FB 10367 Single by Jefferson Starshipfrom the album Red OctopusReleasedMarch 1975 1975 03 RecordedFebruary 1975 1 GenreRock soft rockLength6 52 Album version 3 25 Single version LabelGrunt RCA RecordsSongwriter s Marty BalinProducer s Jefferson Starship and Larry CoxJefferson Starship singles chronology Ride the Tiger 1974 Miracles 1975 Play on Love 1976 Miracles peaked at number 3 for three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 making it the highest charting single the band ever recorded under the name Jefferson Starship or its previous incarnation Jefferson Airplane 3 Contents 1 Background and writing 2 Critical reception 3 Soundtracks 4 Personnel 5 Chart performance 5 1 Weekly charts 5 2 Year end charts 6 Cover versions 7 References 8 External linksBackground and writing EditThe song was inspired in part by the Indian guru Sathya Sai Baba 4 5 6 whose followers believe him to have been a miracle worker 4 It was also inspired in part by a woman Balin was in love with at the time 4 According to Jeff Tamarkin s book Got a Revolution The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane Balin labored over the song for some time and slowly but deliberately crafted it 4 However author Robert Yehling has written that Balin wrote the song in 30 minutes 5 or wrote the lyrics in 45 minutes 6 According to Balin when he presented the song to the rest of the band members Everybody went I don t know about that That s pretty weird man I was really worried nobody liked it But I told myself after about five days Maybe they re wrong 4 In order to secure more radio airplay for the song the full length album version of Miracles 6 minutes 52 seconds long was cut by more than half its length for the single which was released at a length of 3 minutes 25 seconds 7 This edit was done not only for length but to remove the sexual reference in the line I had a taste of the real world when I went down on you girl 7 Critical reception EditCommenting on the band s recording of Miracles Jeff Tamarkin wrote Larry Cox nailed the production there isn t a wasted out of place note Strings glisten the keyboard sound is contemporary and Grace Slick and Paul Kantner s harmonies are relatively traditional David Freiberg came up with the memorable signature organ riff that opens the song and Craig Chaquico with a fresh supply of delicious guitar sounds Marty is at his most open crooning his words of love like he hasn t in years without a hint of irony or awkwardness he uses the word baby at least 25 times 4 Upon the single s release Billboard magazine listed Miracles among its Top Single Picks indicating that the review panel predicted it to reach the top 30 of the Hot 100 The magazine commented With a top 10 LP under their belts the rejuvenated Starship with Marty Balin back as a full fledged member come up with the kind of easy rocker that highlighted the early Airplane days Vocal interchanges between Balin and Grace Slick the high point of the record 8 Cash Box said it is a fine well orchestrated love ballad in the Airplane tradition and some of their most appealing well produced material in years 9 Reviewing a Balin solo concert in 1981 New York Times critic Stephen Holden referred to Miracles as Balin s little masterpiece of pop pillow talk 10 Dave Marsh and James Bernard listed Miracles among the Best Songs to Pass the Censor in The New Book of Rock Lists 11 In the same book they also described I had a taste of the real world When I went down on you girl as the Most Off Color Line in the LP Version of a Number One Hit 12 although Miracles did not in fact hit 1 In 1998 Balin received a plaque from Broadcast Music Incorporated a performing rights organization which monitors music performances on radio and elsewhere recognizing that Miracles had achieved 2 million performances 13 William Ruhlmann writing in All Music Guide Required Listening Classic Rock commented T here can be little doubt that it was Balin s irresistible ballad Miracles the biggest hit single in the Jefferson Whatever catalog that propelled Red Octopus to the top of the charts This must have been sweet vindication for Balin who founded Jefferson Airplane but then drifted away from the group as it veered away from his musical vision Now the collective was incorporating his taste without quite integrating it Miracles with its strings and sax solo by nonband member Irv Cox was hardly a characteristic Airplane Starship track 14 The New Rolling Stone Album Guide published in 2004 stated that with Marty Balin s Miracles Octopus s massive hit the band began shifting toward schmaltz Balin now sounded like a lounge singer 2 Philip Dodd in The Book of Rock From the 1950s to Today described Miracles as magnificent 15 Soundtracks EditThe song has been featured in the films The Family Stone 2005 Crank 2006 and the TV series Supernatural Season 6 Episode 19 2011 Personnel EditMarty Balin lead and backing vocals Grace Slick backing vocals Paul Kantner backing vocals rhythm guitar Craig Chaquico lead guitar backing vocals Papa John Creach electric violin David Freiberg organ backing vocals Pete Sears bass electric piano backing vocals John Barbata drums percussion backing vocalsAdditional personnel Bobbye Hall percussion congas Irv Cox saxophoneChart performance EditWeekly charts Edit Chart 1975 PeakpositionCanada RPM Top Singles 16 22New Zealand Recorded Music NZ 17 40US Billboard Hot 100 18 3US Easy Listening 19 17US Cash Box Top 100 4 Year end charts Edit Chart 1975 RankCanada 20 86US Cash Box 21 41Cover versions EditBalin released a new version on his 1999 solo album Marty Balin Greatest Hits 22 References Edit Miracles 45 RPM single label a b Brackett Nathan 2004 The New Rolling Stone Album Guide New York Fireside p 427 ISBN 0 7432 0169 8 Retrieved 2011 01 01 Whitburn Joel 2010 The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits 9th ed New York Billboard Books pp 332 33 ISBN 978 0 8230 8554 5 Archived from the original on 2021 12 05 Retrieved 2011 01 01 a b c d e f Tamarkin Jeff 2003 Got a Revolution The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane New York Atria p 279 ISBN 0 671 03403 0 Archived from the original on 2021 12 05 Retrieved 2011 01 01 a b Yehling Robert 2006 Shades of Green New amp Selected Poems and Essays Tampa Koboca p 86 ISBN 978 0 9744997 6 5 Archived from the original on 2021 12 05 Retrieved 2011 01 01 a b Yehling Robert 2006 Writes of Life Using Your Personal Experiences in Everything You Write Tampa Koboca p 38 ISBN 978 0 9744997 7 2 Archived from the original on 2021 12 05 Retrieved 2011 01 01 a b Tamarkin Jeff 2003 Got a Revolution The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane New York Atria p 280 ISBN 0 671 03403 0 Archived from the original on 2021 12 05 Retrieved 2011 01 01 Top Single Picks Billboard 1975 08 16 p 78 Archived from the original on 2021 12 05 Retrieved 2 January 2011 CashBox Singles Reviews PDF Cash Box August 16 1975 p 26 Retrieved 2021 12 11 Holden Stephen 1981 10 11 Rock Marty Balin Sings The New York Times Archived from the original on 2021 12 05 Retrieved 2 January 2011 Marsh Dave Bernard James 1994 The New Book of Rock Lists New York Fireside p 507 ISBN 0 671 78700 4 Archived from the original on 2021 12 05 Retrieved 2011 01 01 Marsh Dave Bernard James 1994 The New Book of Rock Lists New York Fireside p 104 ISBN 0 671 78700 4 Archived from the original on 2021 12 05 Retrieved 2011 01 01 Playing for Miracles Billboard 1998 03 28 p 32 Archived from the original on 2021 12 05 Retrieved 2 January 2011 Woodstra Chris Bush John Erlewine Stephen Thomas eds 2007 All Music Guide Required Listening Classic Rock New York Backbeat Books p 100 ISBN 978 0 87930 917 6 Archived from the original on 2021 12 05 Retrieved 2011 01 01 Dodd Philip 2005 The Book of Rock From the 1950s to Today Da Capo Press p 2136 ISBN 1 56025 729 6 Archived from the original on 2021 12 05 Retrieved 2011 01 01 Item Display RPM Library and Archives Canada Collectionscanada gc ca Archived from the original on 2016 09 27 Retrieved 2016 10 10 Starship Miracles Top 40 Singles Jefferson Starship Chart History Hot 100 Billboard Prometheus Global Media Retrieved November 11 2020 Jefferson Starship Chart History Adult Contemporary Prometheus Global Media Archived from the original on 11 November 2020 Retrieved 11 November 2020 Item Display RPM Library and Archives Canada Collectionscanada gc ca Archived from the original on 2016 09 27 Retrieved 2016 10 10 Top 100 Year End Charts 1975 Cashbox Magazine Archived from the original on 2012 08 19 Retrieved 2014 10 21 Marty Balin Marty Balin Greatest Hits Archived from the original on November 26 2016 Retrieved November 25 2016 External links EditJefferson Starship Miracles on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Miracles Jefferson Starship song amp oldid 1137654956, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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