Album: Loveless Fascination (feat. Mickey Thomas) by Starship (2013)
Genre: Rock | Style: Rock/Pop | Mood: Excitable
Format: Album

Description: I was very excited before listening to this here album. Within this special line-up there is a presentation of talented musicians with hefy experience. STARSHIP is one of the most iconic Rock bands from the 80's, recording several of the decade’s biggest AOR / Rock anthems, including “We Built This City”, “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” and “Sara”. STARSHIP, featuring Mickey Thomas, is making a comeback with this new album "Loveless Fascination” in over two decades.

“It’s Not The Same As Love” has a fantastic main riff, impressive solo, a set of vocals of the 80's vintage, and a catchy chorus following the old AEROSMITH style, easily memorable stuff nonetheless on this five minutes potential hit. The title commercial track “Loveless Fascination” has some similarity to modern ravers of MAROON 5, especially with riff and singing patterns that resembled the latter's early hit, “This Love”. Thomas has such an amazing vocal ability. “How Do You Sleep?” seemed to be clinging to the electronic additions making it a Pop / Rock romance fling. There is a feel of later BON JOVI and DEF LEPPARD with its smoothness. “Technicolor Black And White” has a fine melodic vibe with elements of Blues and kick ass guitars, pulsating drums & bass driven by DEEP PURPLE elegance. “Where Did We Go Wrong?” is one of those strong ballads of the 80's, true BON JOVI signature on this one. Well-intentioned are also: the catchy “You Never Know” with melodic and commercial sound and ballads: “You Deny Me”, “What Did I Ever Do?” and “How Will I Get By?” that is a heart stopper.

“Loveless Fascination” can be a hitting point for classic Rock fans. Produced with impressive values, there is a feel of nostalgia, mixture of Rock and Pop, dynamism and high level of expertise. After each listen, my rating of the music grew… Everyone who admires AOR surely will fall for the sounds of STARSHIP.

Artist Background: Starship is an American rock band from San Francisco, California. Initially a continuation of Jefferson Starship, it underwent a change in musical direction, the subsequent loss of personnel, and a lawsuit settlement that led to a name change. Starship's 1985 album, Knee Deep in the Hoopla, was certified platinum by the RIAA, and included two singles that went to number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart: "We Built This City" and "Sara". Their follow up album, No Protection, released in 19... Part of the San Francisco, USA music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Music Scene: Part of the San Francisco, USA music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: Rock, Rock/Pop, Excitable, 2010s, Album


I was very excited before listening to this here album. Within this special line-up there is a presentation of talented musicians with hefy experience. STARSHIP is one of the most iconic Rock bands from the 80's, recording several of the decade’s biggest AOR / Rock anthems, including “We Built This City”, “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” and “Sara”. STARSHIP, featuring Mickey Thomas, is making a comeback with this new album "Loveless Fascination” in over two decades.

“It’s Not The Same As Love” has a fantastic main riff, impressive solo, a set of vocals of the 80's vintage, and a catchy chorus following the old AEROSMITH style, easily memorable stuff nonetheless on this five minutes potential hit. The title commercial track “Loveless Fascination” has some similarity to modern ravers of MAROON 5, especially with riff and singing patterns that resembled the latter's early hit, “This Love”. Thomas has such an amazing vocal ability. “How Do You Sleep?” seemed to be clinging to the electronic additions making it a Pop / Rock romance fling. There is a feel of later BON JOVI and DEF LEPPARD with its smoothness. “Technicolor Black And White” has a fine melodic vibe with elements of Blues and kick ass guitars, pulsating drums & bass driven by DEEP PURPLE elegance. “Where Did We Go Wrong?” is one of those strong ballads of the 80's, true BON JOVI signature on this one. Well-intentioned are also: the catchy “You Never Know” with melodic and commercial sound and ballads: “You Deny Me”, “What Did I Ever Do?” and “How Will I Get By?” that is a heart stopper.

“Loveless Fascination” can be a hitting point for classic Rock fans. Produced with impressive values, there is a feel of nostalgia, mixture of Rock and Pop, dynamism and high level of expertise. After each listen, my rating of the music grew… Everyone who admires AOR surely will fall for the sounds of STARSHIP.

Album: Greatest Hits: 10 Years and Change by Starship (1991)
Genre: Rock | Style: Rock/Pop | Mood: Excitable
Format: Compilation

Description: As its album title suggests, Starship's compilation Greatest Hits (Ten Years and Change 1979-1991) covers not only the group's popular heyday, 1985-1991, but also the earlier era, 1979-1984, which was actually the latter days of Jefferson Starship, after the departures of co-lead singers Marty Balin and Grace Slick, with former Elvin Bishop Group singer Mickey Thomas replacing Balin, and Slick, eventually, returning. The history that is described by the collection is largely one of attrition, effectively traced by the performer credits listed in the booklet. In 1979, the group is a sextet consisting of Thomas, lead guitarist Craig Chaquico, rhythm guitarist Paul Kantner (the last remaining holdout from the original Jefferson Airplane lineup), keyboardist Pete Sears, bassist David Freiberg, and drummer Aynsley Dunbar. Slick is back by 1981, joining Thomas on "Stranger," a singles chart entry from the Modern Times LP. By the time of Top 40 hit "No Way Out" and singles chart entry "Layin' It on the Line" in 1984, Freiberg has dropped out, with Sears moving to bass; Dunbar has been replaced by Donny Baldwin; and Peter Wolf (not the singer from the J. Geils Band), who co-wrote "No Way Out" with his wife Ina Wolf, is a non-member session musician playing keyboards. As of 1985's chart-topping "We Built This City" and "Sara," Kantner has decamped, taking the "Jefferson" in the name with him after a legal tussle. Sears has disappeared by 1987's number-one hit "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" and Top Ten follow-up "It's Not Over ('Til It's Over)." As of 1989's Top 20 hit "It's Not Enough," Slick is gone again, while Mark Morgan is in on keyboards, and Brett Bloomfield is playing bass. But on the 1990 song "Don't Lose Any Sleep" (written by power ballad queen Diane Warren), which is exclusive to this collection, only Thomas and Chaquico are credited. And as of 1991, with the track "Good Heart," this album's charting single, it's Thomas alone, albeit backed by Wolf, guitarist Peter Maunu, and, on background vocals, songwriter Martin Page (who also had a hand in "We Built This City"). No wonder Starship were declared defunct soon after this album was released. Clearly, the major element in the sound is Thomas' soaring tenor, a voice not unlike that of Journey's Steve Perry, who was making his mark around the same time. But a case could be made for Wolf as well; he plays on four tracks here, and he co-wrote three. Certainly, his icy synthesizer riffs (de rigueur for 1980s pop/rock) and Chaquico's high-pitched guitar lines are the main instrumental foils to Thomas. Starship always tend to be compared unfavorably with Jefferson Airplane and even Jefferson Starship, but on the band's own terms this is carefully conceived pop/rock music of its era, nothing more or less. It's worth noting that this particular selection is imperfect, leaving out the Top 40 hits "Be My Lady" and "Winds of Change" (both from the Jefferson Starship era), as well as "Tomorrow Doesn't Matter Tonight."

Artist Background: Starship is an American rock band from San Francisco, California. Initially a continuation of Jefferson Starship, it underwent a change in musical direction, the subsequent loss of personnel, and a lawsuit settlement that led to a name change. Starship's 1985 album, Knee Deep in the Hoopla, was certified platinum by the RIAA, and included two singles that went to number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart: "We Built This City" and "Sara". Their follow up album, No Protection, released in 19... Part of the San Francisco, USA music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Music Scene: Part of the San Francisco, USA music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: Rock, Rock/Pop, Excitable, 1990s, Compilation


As its album title suggests, Starship's compilation Greatest Hits (Ten Years and Change 1979-1991) covers not only the group's popular heyday, 1985-1991, but also the earlier era, 1979-1984, which was actually the latter days of Jefferson Starship, after the departures of co-lead singers Marty Balin and Grace Slick, with former Elvin Bishop Group singer Mickey Thomas replacing Balin, and Slick, eventually, returning. The history that is described by the collection is largely one of attrition, effectively traced by the performer credits listed in the booklet. In 1979, the group is a sextet consisting of Thomas, lead guitarist Craig Chaquico, rhythm guitarist Paul Kantner (the last remaining holdout from the original Jefferson Airplane lineup), keyboardist Pete Sears, bassist David Freiberg, and drummer Aynsley Dunbar. Slick is back by 1981, joining Thomas on "Stranger," a singles chart entry from the Modern Times LP. By the time of Top 40 hit "No Way Out" and singles chart entry "Layin' It on the Line" in 1984, Freiberg has dropped out, with Sears moving to bass; Dunbar has been replaced by Donny Baldwin; and Peter Wolf (not the singer from the J. Geils Band), who co-wrote "No Way Out" with his wife Ina Wolf, is a non-member session musician playing keyboards. As of 1985's chart-topping "We Built This City" and "Sara," Kantner has decamped, taking the "Jefferson" in the name with him after a legal tussle. Sears has disappeared by 1987's number-one hit "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" and Top Ten follow-up "It's Not Over ('Til It's Over)." As of 1989's Top 20 hit "It's Not Enough," Slick is gone again, while Mark Morgan is in on keyboards, and Brett Bloomfield is playing bass. But on the 1990 song "Don't Lose Any Sleep" (written by power ballad queen Diane Warren), which is exclusive to this collection, only Thomas and Chaquico are credited. And as of 1991, with the track "Good Heart," this album's charting single, it's Thomas alone, albeit backed by Wolf, guitarist Peter Maunu, and, on background vocals, songwriter Martin Page (who also had a hand in "We Built This City"). No wonder Starship were declared defunct soon after this album was released. Clearly, the major element in the sound is Thomas' soaring tenor, a voice not unlike that of Journey's Steve Perry, who was making his mark around the same time. But a case could be made for Wolf as well; he plays on four tracks here, and he co-wrote three. Certainly, his icy synthesizer riffs (de rigueur for 1980s pop/rock) and Chaquico's high-pitched guitar lines are the main instrumental foils to Thomas. Starship always tend to be compared unfavorably with Jefferson Airplane and even Jefferson Starship, but on the band's own terms this is carefully conceived pop/rock music of its era, nothing more or less. It's worth noting that this particular selection is imperfect, leaving out the Top 40 hits "Be My Lady" and "Winds of Change" (both from the Jefferson Starship era), as well as "Tomorrow Doesn't Matter Tonight."

Album: No Protection by Starship (1987)
Genre: Rock | Style: Rock/Pop | Mood: Excitable
Format: Album

Description: No Protection is the second studio album by American rock band Starship. It was released on June 29, 1987, by Grunt Records and RCA Records. The album featured the number-one single "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now", and the top-10 single "It's Not Over ('Til It's Over)", The former of which appears in the fantasy comedy film Mannequin and the latter of which was a tune originally performed the previous year by one-time Manfred Mann's Earth Band frontman Chris Thompson for the soundtrack to the film Playing for Keeps. Third single "Beat Patrol" was #46 on Billboard's Hot 100.

This was the last album which was released through Grunt Records, and the final Starship album to feature vocalist Grace Slick, who left the band in 1988 and rejoined Jefferson Airplane for their reunion tour and self-titled reunion album, Jefferson Airplane, in 1989. The Diane Warren-penned ballad "Set the Night to Music" was covered in 1991 as a duet between R&B singer Roberta Flack and reggae singer Maxi Priest, released as a single from Flack's album Set the Night to Music.

Cash Box said that the single "It's Not Over ('Til It's Over)" is "a soaring, anthemic rocker with a winning chorus."

Artist Background: Starship is an American rock band from San Francisco, California. Initially a continuation of Jefferson Starship, it underwent a change in musical direction, the subsequent loss of personnel, and a lawsuit settlement that led to a name change. Starship's 1985 album, Knee Deep in the Hoopla, was certified platinum by the RIAA, and included two singles that went to number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart: "We Built This City" and "Sara". Their follow up album, No Protection, released in 19... Part of the San Francisco, USA music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Music Scene: Part of the San Francisco, USA music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: Rock, Rock/Pop, Excitable, 1980s, Album

Additional Context: Available on Discogs marketplace


No Protection is the second studio album by American rock band Starship. It was released on June 29, 1987, by Grunt Records and RCA Records. The album featured the number-one single "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now", and the top-10 single "It's Not Over ('Til It's Over)", The former of which appears in the fantasy comedy film Mannequin and the latter of which was a tune originally performed the previous year by one-time Manfred Mann's Earth Band frontman Chris Thompson for the soundtrack to the film Playing for Keeps. Third single "Beat Patrol" was #46 on Billboard's Hot 100.

This was the last album which was released through Grunt Records, and the final Starship album to feature vocalist Grace Slick, who left the band in 1988 and rejoined Jefferson Airplane for their reunion tour and self-titled reunion album, Jefferson Airplane, in 1989. The Diane Warren-penned ballad "Set the Night to Music" was covered in 1991 as a duet between R&B singer Roberta Flack and reggae singer Maxi Priest, released as a single from Flack's album Set the Night to Music.

Cash Box said that the single "It's Not Over ('Til It's Over)" is "a soaring, anthemic rocker with a winning chorus."

Album: No Protection by Starship (1987)
Genre: aor
Record Label: Grunt
Format: CD

Artist Background: Artist from US, known for acid rock, aor, arena rock, hard rock, pop

Musical Influences: Grace Slick, Mark Morgan, Jeff Tamelier

Related Artists: Mr. Mister, John Waite, Eric Carmen, Peter Cetera

Music Scene: Part of the San Francisco, USA music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: aor, 1980s, CD, Grunt


Album: Knee Deep in the Hoopla by Starship (1985)
Genre: Rock | Style: Rock/Pop | Mood: Excitable
Format: Album

Description: Knee Deep in the Hoopla is the debut studio album by American AOR band Starship, the succeeding musical project to Jefferson Starship. It was released on September 10, 1985, through record label Grunt.

Four singles were released from the album: the No. 1 hits "We Built This City" and "Sara", "Tomorrow Doesn't Matter Tonight" (No. 26 US Hot 100) and "Before I Go" (No. 68 US Hot 100).

Artist Background: Starship is an American rock band from San Francisco, California. Initially a continuation of Jefferson Starship, it underwent a change in musical direction, the subsequent loss of personnel, and a lawsuit settlement that led to a name change. Starship's 1985 album, Knee Deep in the Hoopla, was certified platinum by the RIAA, and included two singles that went to number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart: "We Built This City" and "Sara". Their follow up album, No Protection, released in 19... Part of the San Francisco, USA music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Music Scene: Part of the San Francisco, USA music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: Rock, Rock/Pop, Excitable, 1980s, Album

Additional Context: Rating score: 7. Based on 1 votes. Available on Discogs marketplace


Knee Deep in the Hoopla is the debut studio album by American AOR band Starship, the succeeding musical project to Jefferson Starship. It was released on September 10, 1985, through record label Grunt.

Four singles were released from the album: the No. 1 hits "We Built This City" and "Sara", "Tomorrow Doesn't Matter Tonight" (No. 26 US Hot 100) and "Before I Go" (No. 68 US Hot 100).

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