"Gold" is a compilation album released by Jefferson Starship in 1979. The band was an American rock band prominent in the 1970s and early 1980s, evolving out of the seminal psychedelic group Jefferson Airplane. Jefferson Starship presented a more mainstream, hard rock sound compared to its predecessor.
The "Gold" album is a mix of new and previously released tracks from their four studio albums, namely "Dragon Fly" (1974), "Red Octopus" (1975), "Spitfire" (1976), and "Earth" (1978). It also includes the band's biggest commercial hits, such as "Miracles," which reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100, and "Count on Me," which peaked at number eight.
Perhaps the most significant thing about "Gold" is that it includes a new single, "Jane," which became a top 20 hit in the US and Canada. The album was very successful on the American charts, achieving RIAA-certified gold status by 1980, denoting sales of over half a million copies. The 8-track tape version of "Gold" included the "Light the Sky on Fire" single, which was not available on the vinyl or cassette versions. Subsequent CD releases have included both "Jane" and "Light the Sky on Fire" among the album's tracks.
Despite the commercial success of "Gold," the period during and after its release marked a challenging time for Jefferson Starship. Original band members began departing, and by 1984 the band had been renamed Starship. Despite these struggles, "Gold" remains a hallmark of Jefferson Starship's legacy and a testament to the band's success during the late 1970s.
