Top 10 Marty Balin Songs

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The top 10 Marty Balin songs feature musical material by this incredibly gifted man who officially began his career as a recording artist in 1962. Fans of Jefferson Airplane are likely to remember him as the singing-songwriting genius who helped launch the group he founded into stardom. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduating from high school in San Francisco, Martyn Buchwald overcame his autism diagnosis to become a formidable force in the music industry. It wasn’t easy, as Balin experienced a series of highs and lows that would shape this man’s incredible musical career.

Taking Flight

In 1962, Buchwald changed his name to Marty Balin, and “Nobody But You” and “I Specialize in Love” were recorded and released as singles, but they failed to make the kind of impression he hoped for. Shortly afterward, he met Paul Kantner at a San Francisco club that would lead to the founding of Jefferson Airplane. Jack Casady, Spencer Dryden, and Jorma Kaukonen were first recruited in 1965 before Grace Slick joined the lineup in 1966. She shared the lead vocalist role with Balin until he left the band in 1971. By this time, Balin’s role as a songwriter was affected by creative differences and personality clashes with his bandmates. It technically began after the 1967 recording and release of Surrealistic Pillow. At the time, his musical preferences favored folk and romantic pop, while the rest preferred psychedelic rock.

As Jefferson Airplane, Balin and his bandmates performed at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival and the 1969 Woodstock Festival. They were also among the performers at the 1969 Altamont Speedway Free concert, the same event where the Hells Angels motorcycle club served as security. Instead of the free-loving ambiance Woodstock became famous for, Altamont experienced a chaotic chain of events. While Jefferson Airplane was performing “The Other Side of This Life,” Balin was knocked out by a Hells Angels member. Footage of an event that put the concert music on pause was featured in the 1970 documentary, Gimme Shelter.

Rerouted

After Jefferson Airplane completed its 1970 tour across the United States, Marty Balin decided he needed to take a break from Jefferson Airplane. After the October 1970 death of Janis Joplin, Balin realized he needed to take a break from his bandmates and the music industry. The circumstances revolving around her death were enough for Balin to do a reality check as he opted to bail out of a toxic lifestyle in favor of living a healthier one. Although he was not one to engage in drugs like cocaine, he did admit to a drinking problem, which he opted to put an end to. Even though he was no longer officially with Jefferson Airplane, Balin remained active in the music scene. After working with a series of West Coast groups such as Bodacious DF and Grootna, Balin was approached by Paul Kantner to write music with him again.

Jefferson Starship began as a Jefferson Airplane spinoff in 1974. Between Balin’s 1971 departure and 1974, Kantner and Grace Slick. By this time, Kantner and Slick were a couple with a daughter, having begun their romantic relationship in 1969. That ended in 1975, but Kantner and Slick remained close as friends. 1975 also marked the year Balin opted to become a permanent member of Jefferson Starship.

For the next three years, he, Kantner, and Slick recorded and released a series of hit singles, including “Miracles,” “Runaway,” and “With Your Love.” However, issues similar to those Balin experienced while part of the Jefferson Airplane lineup resurfaced with Jefferson Starship. Shortly after Slick opted out of the group in 1978, Balin did the same before the year ended. It seemed clear at this point that Balin was better off as a solo artist, able to choose the direction of his musical career without conflict.

Well Grounded

Even though Balin was no longer with Jefferson Starship, his relationship with Paul Kantner wasn’t completely severed, as it had been when he left Jefferson Airplane. However, he pursued a solo career that included the 1979 rock opera, Rock Justice. This was a story Balin shared about the lengthy conflict he had with his former band manager, Matthew Katz. Although it was a Balin production, he did not perform in it. He selected a full cast to do that. In 1981, Balin recorded and released his first solo studio album. Balin produced two hit singles for him. The first was “Hearts” and the second was “Atlanta Lady (Something About Your Love).” In 1983, Balin released his second solo album, Lucky.

There was also the EP, There’s No Shoulder, released only in Japan. After this, he teamed up with Jack Casady and Paul Kantner to form the KBC Band. From 1985 to 1987, the trio released a studio album featuring two singles, “America” and “It’s Not You, It’s Me.” This was later followed by a Jefferson Airplane reunion album, recorded and released in 1989. In 2008, the intention to have Balin record a couple of tracks for Jefferson’s Tree of Liberty album was hampered by scheduling issues, putting this collaboration with Jefferson Starship on hold. Instead, “Maybe for You” was a song from Windows of Heaven, an album released only in Germany.

Balin’s Portrait

The legacy of Marty Balin, a member of the Jefferson Airplane, was recognized in 1996 when the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2016, he was honored with his bandmates with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. On September 27, 2018, he passed away at seventy-six years old in Tampa, Florida. Although gone, Marty Balin is by no means forgotten. In addition to blessing the world with his incredible singing voice, Marty Balin was also a painter. This passion featured Balin putting on canvas some of the biggest music industry stars since the birth of rock and roll. Adding to his musical legacy is a collection of painted portraits in a gallery in Saint Augustine, Florida.

Marty Balin’s physical demise occurred while on tour in March 2016. He complained of having chest pain and was rushed to a hospital in New York City. This led to open-heart surgery at the Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital. Instead of a promising road to recovery, Balin experienced a series of medical issues that included paralysis of his vocal cords and kidney problems. A malpractice lawsuit was filed in 2018 against the medical team involved, who were blamed for ending this brilliant singer-songwriter’s career. Before 2018 was over, Balin passed away. Since then, the widowed Susan Joy Balin dropped the charges against the hospital as she experienced difficulty finding a new team of attorneys to continue with this legal battle.

As a solo artist, Marty Balin recorded and released an EP and twelve studio albums. There were also five compilation albums, as well as a 1973 record with Bodacious DF and a 1986 record with the KDB Band. While with Jefferson Airplane, Balin recorded and released the first five studio albums with them before moving on. There was then 1989’s Jefferson Airplane, which brought the total to six. In total, Jefferson Airplane recorded and released eight albums altogether. While with Jefferson Starship, Balin was part of the lineup that recorded eight of the group’s ten studio albums before his death. As for Balin’s legacy, it lives on in his music and paintings, which continue to win over new fans to this day.

Top 10 Marty Balin Songs

#10 – Summer of Love (Jefferson Airplane)

“Summer of Love” was the first single Marty Balin performed with Jefferson Airplane since leaving the band in 1971. This came from the group’s eighth studio album, which was simply titled Jefferson Airplane. The idea to put together the album came to Marty Balin, Jack Casady, and Paul Kantner after they toured together as the KBC Band. While on tour, they performed “Summer of Love,” but the song, written by Balin, wouldn’t make its official recording debut until 1989.

On the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart, it reached number 15. This wonderful ballad featured Balin and Grace Slick sharing the lead vocal role in a duet. What’s great about “Summer of Love” is the shared trek down memory lane of two people who endured the ups and downs of a life spent together. Although Balin completely broke ties with Jefferson Airplane for about three years, the run as Jefferson Starship demonstrated Balin and Slick still had a strong enough friendship that stood the test of time. When listening to “Summer of Love,” it was about remembering all the best highlights that make a loving relationship between two people worth fighting for.

#9 – It’s No Secret (Jefferson Airplane)

The first single released by Jefferson Airplane as a group was “It’s No Secret.” This came from the group’s debut album, Jefferson Airplane Takes Off, and was a song written by Marty Balin. The group’s venture into psychedelic rock was beautifully matched with Balin’s folksy vocals, which became a familiar trademark for a man who had no trouble captivating an audience. When it came to writing and performing love songs, Balin was virtually unbeatable from the moment Jefferson Airplane made its debut in 1966.

#8 – Atlanta Lady(Something About Your Love) (Marty Balin)

“Atlanta Lady (Something About Your Love)” was one of two songs Jesse Barish wrote for Marty Balin after he opted to go solo and record his debut album, Balin. Released as a single in 1981, it became a number twenty-seven hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 and a number eleven hit on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart. It was the follow-up single behind Balin’s biggest hit as a solo artist, “Hearts.” When it came to performing love ballads as a vulnerable man sporting his heart on his sleeve, this was a niche Marty Balin perfected. “Atlantic Lady” was Balin’s lamentation about a woman he realized he was still in love with, even though they were no longer together. He shared a desire to find his way back into her life so they could pick up where they left off.

#7 – Mariel (The KBC Band)

In 1986, Marty Balin, Jack Casady, and Paul Kantner teamed up to form the KBC Band. All three previously played together as members of Jefferson Airplane from 1966 until 1971, before Balin took what he felt was a much-needed break away from the psychedelic music scene. When the trio agreed to do an album together, “Mariel” was the lead track to a list of nine songs that showcased the men’s talents. While “It’s Not You, It’s Me” and “America” were released as singles that became hits, “Mariel” was also regarded as one of the album’s standout songs. This fast-paced single merged the fun of jazz with the energy of rock, describing “Mariel” as a woman beaming with star quality.

#6 – Comin’ Back to Me ( Jefferson Airplane)

“Comin’ Back to Me” was a folksy rock ballad written by Marty Balin that was recorded on the 1967 album, Surrealistic Pillow. The inspiration behind this psychedelic-style folk song came to Balin while he was on a high after smoking some marijuana. As soon as he wrote out the song, Balin charged straight to the recording studio and worked with whoever he could find to musically compose it with him. Going into the 1990’s, “Comin’ Back to Me” became a cult classic after it was featured in a series of movies. First, it was 1990’s Flashback, starring Kevin Bacon, Julia Roberts, and Kiefer Sutherland.

The second movie to play “Comin’ Back to Me” was 1991’s The Indian Runner. Every few years, as a new movie hit the box office, “Comin’ Back to Me” would make its musical presence felt. This was also the case going into the twenty-first century, as recently as 2015’s The Age of Adaline. In 1999, Balin also recorded and released a solo version of this song. The opening acoustic guitar gently sways the listener into “Comin’ Back to Me,” and Balin delivers one of his best vocal performances. Among fans who share stories about this song, many talk about lost loved ones and bittersweet memories of the past.

#5 – With Your Love (Jefferson Starship)

“With Your Love” was a jazzy love ballad written by Marty Balin, Joey Covington, and Vic Smith while they were part of Jefferson Starship. It was the lead single from the 1976 album, Spitfire. On the US Billboard Hot 100, it peaked at number 12. On the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart, it peaked at number six. In Canada, “With Your Love” peaked as high as number ten on its Canadian Top Singles Chart and at number six on its Adult Contemporary chart.

The charm of “Hearts” can be heard in this song, as a vulnerable Balin beautifully sings of a man realizing that the power of love had a bigger impact on him than he expected. When looking for that perfect tune to woo someone over, “With Your Love” has been an easy choice for listeners who know a really good love song when they hear it.

#4 – Caroline (Jefferson Starship)

1974 marked the year Marty Balin, Paul Kantner, and Grace Slick performed together for the first time since Balin’s departure from Jefferson Airplane in 1971. Now, as Jefferson Starship, the trio was teamed with John Barbata, Craig Chaquico, Papa John Creach, David Freiberg, and Pete Sears. Together, “Caroline” was recorded and released as a follow-up to “Ride the Tiger.” Although “Ride the Tiger” appeared on the US Billboard Hot 100, it only peaked as high as number eighty-four. “Caroline” didn’t chart at all but became the favorite between the two that has since been regarded as a classic.

During the recording of Dragon Fly as an album, Balin had not yet signed up as a full-time member of Jefferson Starship. That wouldn’t happen until 1975’s Red Octopus. As a song, “Caroline” was a beauty as Balin sang as a man realizing he needed to confess to her about how he felt. The vulnerability he portrayed in this song was jazzed up by a talented group of musicians, making “Caroline” such an easygoing favorite. Chaquico’s lead-guitar performance was fantastic, while Sears was at his best on piano. Since 1974, Jefferson Starship has demonstrated what great rock music should sound like, especially with “Caroline” as one of the group’s most energetic songs ever performed.

#3 – Hearts (Marty Balin)

Starting with a little drum roll, “Hearts” was a gentle classic in which Marty Balin sang as a man pouring his heart out on his sleeve. Feeling lonely, he called his former love interest and shared how “Hearts” have a knack for taking over whenever it comes to the roller coaster ride called love. As a solo artist, Marty Balin branched out on his own with the 1981 release of “Hearts.” This single came from his debut album, Balin. It became his biggest hit since going solo, peaking at number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number nine on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart.

It peaked at number 20 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. In Canada, “Hearts” reached number eleven on the Canadian Top Singles Chart and number four on the Adult Contemporary chart. It was also popular enough in France to reach number nineteen. As a protege of Marty Balin, Jesse Barish wrote this song, as well as “Atlanta Lady” and “Do It For Love,” while working with Balin on his debut album. Balin and Barish were already working together on each other’s handiwork while with Jefferson Starship. Barish was the songwriting genius behind one of the group’s biggest hits, “Count On Me.”

#2 – Today ( Jefferson Airplane)

When “Today” was written as a folksy rock ballad by Marty Balin and Paul Kantner, it was done so with the hope of meeting Tony Bennett. One of the highlights of this song was the opening guitar riff performed by The Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia. Jefferson Airplane recorded this song for its second studio album, Surrealistic Pillow. At the time of writing “Today,” Tony Bennett was recording in the studio next to where the bandmates of Jefferson Airplane were.

The intended meeting never happened, but “Today” was just too good a song not to record. Although written for Bennett, the fans became the fortunate recipients who appreciated the beauty of a decent psychedelic folk song when they heard it. The beauty of “Today” was a fantastic song that sang about the desire to make a personalized dream come true.

#1 – Miracles (Jefferson Starship)

Written by Marty Balin and recorded while he was with Jefferson Starship, “Miracles” was the megahit from the album Red Octopus. After its 1975 release, it peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100. The inspiration for Balin to write this song came from what he learned about an Indian guru with a devoted following who believed he could perform miracles.

His name was Sathya Sai Baba. At the time Balin wrote this song, he was also involved with a love interest, which prompted him to write certain lyrics for a song that would appear on the album version but not the radio-edited single. When Balin approached Paul Kantner and Grace Slick to present “Miracles” as a song for Jefferson Starship to record, they had some reservations. It was deemed “weird” at the time, but Balin was convinced “Miracles” had everything it needed to become a hit. As it turned out, he was right.

As Jefferson Starship, this group had yet to come close to realizing the same level of stardom Jefferson Airplane had beforehand. For Balin, Kantner, and Slick, “Miracles” was a step out of the norm as a song to perform. However, as soon as they realized this was a big hit, reality sank in, and the best direction for Jefferson Starship at the time was to follow a more sultry musical path. It was the style of music Balin preferred all along, even while he was still part of the Jefferson Airplane lineup.

“Miracles” was an incredibly charming song with Balin performing as Jefferson Starship’s lead vocalist while Kantner, Slick, John Barbata, and Craig Chaquico sang in the background. Sensually performed as pillow talk in the form of a song, “Miracles” became more than just a hit song that influenced music fans from 1975 and beyond.

It became one of the most cherished love ballads that stood the test of time as a classic favorite. The impact “Miracles” had on Jefferson Starship was enormous as it became the biggest hit of the group’s career. Before becoming Jefferson Starship, Balin, Kantner, and Slick were part of Jefferson Airplane before Balin moved on in 1971. “Miracles” was credited for playing its role for Red Octopus to become certified platinum twice over by the RIAA.