Take a trip back to the dawn of MTV with a video that perfectly captured the nascent visual aesthetic of early 80s rock.
The Song
"Find Your Way Back" is a high-energy rock track by Jefferson Starship, released in 1981. It was featured on their album "Modern Times". The song is characterized by its driving beat, prominent guitar riffs, and the distinctive vocal harmonies of Mickey Thomas and Grace Slick, blending their powerful voices. The lyrical theme speaks to perseverance and the search for direction, a common motif in rock music.
The Artist
Jefferson Starship evolved from the legendary psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane in the early 1970s. By the time "Modern Times" was released, the band's lineup included founding members Paul Kantner and Grace Slick, alongside newer members like vocalist Mickey Thomas, guitarist Craig Chaquico, bassist David Freiberg, and drummer Donny Baldwin. This era saw the band pivot towards a more arena-rock sound, blending their psychedelic roots with contemporary pop and rock sensibilities, leading to considerable commercial success.
Chart Performance
"Find Your Way Back" performed well on the U.S. charts, becoming a significant hit for Jefferson Starship. The single peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1981. It also achieved success on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, reaching number 3. This strong chart showing helped solidify "Modern Times" as a successful album, which itself reached number 26 on the Billboard 200.
Cultural Impact
The music video for "Find Your Way Back" played a crucial role in the early days of MTV. Premiering shortly after the channel's launch in August 1981, it became one of the foundational videos that defined the channel's initial programming. While not a narrative masterpiece by today's standards, its straightforward performance-based style, combined with abstract visual effects and early green-screen technology, was cutting-edge for its time. It showcased the band's energetic stage presence and helped introduce Jefferson Starship to a new generation of music fans through the visual medium.
Fun Facts
- The video features characteristic early MTV visual effects, including superimpositions, chroma keying (green screen), and color saturation manipulation, making it a time capsule of early 80s music video aesthetics.
- Grace Slick, one of rock's most iconic vocalists, is prominently featured in the video, adding her signature presence to the performance.
- The album "Modern Times" marked a period of renewed commercial success for Jefferson Starship after some lineup changes and a slight shift in musical direction.
- The video largely consists of the band performing the song in a dark, atmospheric setting, emphasizing the band's dynamic stage presence.
- Mickey Thomas’s powerful lead vocals are a focal point of both the song and the video, showcasing his range and stage charisma.