Album of the Day

With RED OCTOPUS, Jefferson Starship had an album that could rival anything from their previous incarnation as Jefferson Airplane. The 1975 collection marked the return to the fold of that band's co-founder, Marty Balin, who brought with him several fine songs including the smash hit “Miracles.” As significant as his contribution is, the album is very much a team effort; Grace Slick provides such high points as follow-up single “Play on Love” and “Fast Buck Freddie,” and strong instrumentals from Papa John Creach and Pete Sears add variety to the ballad-laden track list. A supremely listenable hybrid of pop and AOR, RED OCTOPUS soared to the top of the Billboard chart, and we'll give the double-platinum set a spin to wish Slick a happy birthday.