When Jefferson Starship released "Miracles" in 1975, the band took a dramatic turn from its psychedelic rock roots.
Running nearly seven minutes in its original album form, the lush, romantic ballad became an unexpected commercial triumph. Not only did it introduce a smoother, more melodic side of the band, but it also delivered Jefferson Starship's first Billboard Top 10 hit, helping establish the group as one of the biggest names in soft rock during the mid-1970s.
The song was written by vocalist Marty Balin, who envisioned something far more intimate than the band's previous material.
Built around gentle guitars, rich harmonies, and Balin's soulful vocal performance, "Miracles" explored love and desire with a warmth that contrasted sharply with the politically charged music associated with Jefferson Airplane, the band's predecessor. Its dreamy production and heartfelt lyrics immediately set it apart.
"People don’t realize how hard a ballad can be," Balin said in a 2017 interview. "You have to have a lot more control. You know, when you're rocking there's that beat, that rocking raucous rhythm you can never get out of, you know, and don't have to and you don't want to. But in a ballad, you've got phrasing, you've got breath, you've got science and you’ve got emotion. You can move to four or five different notes to express what you want. There's so much more control and there's more technique that's involved."
Its length wasn't exactly radio-friendly.
The version included on Red Octopus stretched to nearly seven minutes, prompting radio stations to play a specially edited single version that trimmed more than three minutes from the recording. Notably cut from the radio edit was a particularly suggestive lyric, and while it was never confirmed that the lyric was the reason for the edit, its removal made the song radio-friendly.
Despite the edits, the song retained its emotional impact and quickly became a favorite with listeners.
The gamble paid off.
Released as the lead single from Red Octopus, "Miracles" climbed to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the highest-charting single of Jefferson Starship's career. The success helped propel Red Octopus to No. 1 on the Billboard 200, where it became the band's first and only chart-topping album, selling millions of copies and introducing Jefferson Starship to a much broader audience.
"Miracles" also marked a pivotal moment in the band's evolution.
While Jefferson Airplane had become synonymous with the counterculture movement of the 1960s, Jefferson Starship embraced a more polished sound that appealed to mainstream audiences without abandoning the group’s distinctive musicianship. The success of "Miracles" paved the way for later hits including "With Your Love," "Count on Me," and "Jane."
"I love songs," Balin told The State Journal Register in 2013. "Songs can move the world. Music is like the soul of the people, and (when performing) it's like you're connecting with the audience soul to soul. It's a thrilling thing. How can I stop? And why would I want to?"
Nearly 50 years after its release, "Miracles" remains one of the defining soft rock ballads of the 1970s. What began as an ambitious, nearly seven-minute album track ultimately became Jefferson Starship's breakthrough hit, proving that sometimes listeners are more than willing to embrace a song that takes its time.
Related: 1975 Classic Ballad, Named No. 1 Hit for Three Weeks, Became a Soft Rock Anthem
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