80’s at 8: January 12, 2023- Jefferson Starship & Night Ranger
Tonight’s 80’s at 8 features two bands that will be performing at WDHA’s Rock The Park on July 16, 2023, as part of Brett Michaels’ Parti Gras.
The first band in tonight’s 80’s at 8 is Jefferson Starship (they are one of the bands that will be performing at RTRF). This was the first single released from their 1981 album Modern Times titled “Find Your Way Back.” The late ’70s and early ’80s is when Jefferson Starship had a more hard rock sound and I love it.
“Find Your Way Back” reached #3 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart and #29 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album reached #26 on the Billboard 200 album chart and was certified Gold in the US.
Grace Slick appeared on this album after a three-year absence. She returned near the end of the recording sessions, providing background vocals on some tracks as well as lead vocals on the single “Stranger” as a duet with lead singer Mickey Thomas.
Grace did not appear in the band picture on the gatefold cover, Slick is listed on the back cover of the LP with the credit “Introducing Grace Slick” and her picture is on the lyric sleeve with the note “Grace Slick courtesy of Grace Slick.” She joined the band officially for the 1981 tour. MTV debuted in 1981 and this was the first Jefferson Starship album to have promotional music videos.
You can check out the music video for Find Your Way Back by Jefferson Starship here:
The second band in tonight’s 80’s at 8 is also performing at WDHA’s Rock The Park … Night Ranger! This track is from their 1982 album Dawn Patrol titled “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me.” It reached #4 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart and #40 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Singer Jack Blades was thinking about a hypothetical relationship that is “fun and happy” until one person confesses they love the other, at which point tension begins. He wrote the chorus first, followed by a few verses. He didn’t think he had written enough lyrics, but his producer convinced him he had conveyed the message of the song sufficiently in those few words.
The song’s music video, which shows the band performing the song on rail tracks in front of an oncoming train, was directed by Daniel Halperin.[4] and produced by Paul Flattery. A live video for the song was released in 2016 to promote the live album 35 Years and a Night in Chicago.
You can check out the music video for “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me” here:
Get your tickets now for Rock The Park 2023 which features Night Ranger, Jefferson Starship, and Special Guests on July 16, 2023, at PNC Bank Art Center in Holmdel, NJ. Click here for more information and check out Terrie Carr’s interview with Brett Michaels at wdhafm.com.
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