Monday, November 09, 2009

Jango Song Of The Day-Marty Balin


Artist:Marty Balin
Song:Hearts
Album:Balince: The Marty Balin Collection





Of course Jefferson Airplane was one of the best counterculture bands of the late 60s. So when the various members morphed into more mainstream pop like Jefferson Starship, it became obvious that Paul Kantner was behind the Jefferson Airplane and the others weren't all that into the counterculture. Marty Balin was no different with his 1981 hit Hearts. He was born Martyn Buchwald Jan. 30, 1943 in Cincinnati and grew up in San Francisco. He renamed himself Marty Balin and recorded some singles in 1962 and was also a member of the folk group The Town Criers. in 1965, he met Kantner at a club and they started Jefferson Airplane. Balin left in 1971 and after recording as Bodacious DF, he joined Jefferson Starship in 1975 and contributed to several of their hits. He left in 1978. After writing the rock opera Rock Justice, he signed with EMI America and released his solo debut Balin in 1981. Hearts was the first single and reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was written by Jesse Barish. He was a protege of Balin and had also written for Jefferson Starship. It's a good pop song but it's a little shocking for Airplane fans. Balin released one more album for EMI and then reunited with Paul Kantner and Jack Casady to form KBC Band in 1985. He continues to record occasionally and work Jefferson Airplane reunion tours. This 1990 Rhino comp covers Balin's career very well. Here's the video for Hearts by Marty Balin.

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