Spaceship Superstar | ||||||||||||||||
Recording Artist: | Prism | |||||||||||||||
Writers: | Jim Vallance (aka Rodney Higgs) | |||||||||||||||
Date Written: | started in 1975 / completed in 1977 | |||||||||||||||
Albums: | Prism (1977) All The Best From Prism (1980) Over Sixty Minutes With Prism (1988) The Best Of Prism (1996) |
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Charts: | #82
- Billboard "Hot 100" Singles Chart / 1977 (4 weeks on the chart) #23 - CRIA Chart (Canada) / December 28, 1977 (14 weeks on the chart) |
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Awards: | 1978 - Certificate of Honour, Performing Rights Organization of Canada (PROCAN) | |||||||||||||||
Audio: | ||||||||||||||||
Ron Tabak - vocal Lindsay Mitchell - guitar Graeme Coleman - Roland electric piano Peter Bjerring - Arp Odyssey synthesizer Jack Lavin - bass Jim Vallance - drums, percussion Backing vocals: David Sinclair, Bruce Fairbarin, Lindsay Mitchell |
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Prodcued by Bruce Fairbairn and Jim Vallance. Recorded and mixed by Rolf Hennemann at Mushroom Studios, Vancouver.
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Cover Versions: | Also recorded by Jaymz Bee and the Royal Jelly Orchestra |
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Comments:
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At 3:23am EST on March 6, 2011 the crew of the International Space Station were woken up to the sound of "Spaceship Superstar". The inspiration for "Spaceship Superstar" came from a couple of places ... 1). Somewhere between writing the song's first draft (1975) and final draft (1977) George Lucas released the classic film "Star Wars". Suddenly Science Fiction was all the rage, and that's the direction I took with the lyric, albeit more "Jetsons" than "Jabba the Hutt". 2). Musically, the initial influence was provided by the 1970's German techno group, Kraftwerk. Their signature recording, "Autobahn", peaked at #25 on the Billboard singles chart in March 1975. Listening to Kraftwerk now, their music sounds bland and dated, but in the mid-70s they were cutting edge, revolutionary. |
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3). Another source of inspiration was "Who's Next", the brilliant 1971 album by The Who. That album included the synth-driven track "Won't Get Fooled Again", with its pulsing, eighth-note keyboard pattern. The "Who" influence was so obvious that, when the "Prism" album was released, initial press reviews called Prism "The Who with horns" ... a nice compliment, but to paraphrase Lloyd Bentsen's scathing remark to Dan Quayle during the 1988 U.S. vice-presidential debate: "I know Prism, and Prism are not The Who". 4). And while we're on the topic of "inspiration", I confess that the rhythm guitar figure in the chorus of "Spaceship Superstar" was subtly lifted from the song "Free Ride" by The Edgar Winter Group ("Free Ride" peaked at #14 on the Billboard singles chart in August 1973). |
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The keyboard solo at the end of "Spaceship Superstar" was performed (in one continuous "take") by Peter Bjerring, using his Arp Odyssey synthesizer. The technology was relatively new, and synthesizers were still monophonic (only capable of playing one note at a time). In addition, midi and sequencing had not yet been invented, so despite the "high tech" components, synthesizer performances were still generated manually and in real time, a testament to Peter's proficiency on the keys. Peter's Arp was a "white face" model, which, according to synthesizer historian David Collins, was manufactured between 1972 and 1974. The Arp pictured here is a "black face" model, manufactured between 1974 and 1976. I purchased a "black face" Arp in 1976 for the considerable sum of $1,700. By the mid-1990's it was a dinosaur, and I was lucky to sell my Arp for $250. Now they're considered "vintage" and are selling for $1,000. Go figure! |
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Additional Audio 1: | Spaceship Superstar - first demo / 1975? | |||||||||||||||
This
was my first attempt at "Spaceship Superstar". The
keyboard sound is David Sinclair's electric harmonium, the same one used
on the demo of "Amelia". Other than the chord structure and melody in the verse, there's little resemblance here to the final version of the song. The first-draft lyric is "environmental" ... in an embarrassing save-the whales kind of way: "Lately I've been thinkin' 'bout it and I just don't understand / How we let the situation get so out of hand / There really ain't no substitute for the fields and the trees / If there were someplace else to go I'd be the first to leave ..." Admittedly, more than a little lame. |
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Additional Audio 2: | Spaceship Superstar - second demo / 1976? | |||||||||||||||
By the time I recorded this second demo (lead vocal by Ron Tabak) the
lyric had evolved to the final "Science Fiction" draft, give
or take a word. I had also added the "Spaceship
Superstar" chorus, including the "question-answer" exchange
between the lead and backing vocals (this was suggested by Bruce Fairbairn
and
Lindsay
Mitchell,
as I recall). Lindsay also contributed a few lyrics to the song: where I originally had "rocket-powered laser beam guitar", Lindsay suggested "solar-powered". On this, the second demo, the keyboard sound is no longer a harmonium, but a "Roland EP-10 Combo Piano" borrowed from drum-shop owner Ray Ayotte. The same keyboard was used on the final released recording (played by Graeme Coleman). |
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Additional Audio 3: | CFOX Radio Interview / May 29, 1979 | |||||||||||||||
Lindsay Mitchell and Rocket Norton discuss "Spaceship Superstar" during
an interview on Vancouver's CFOX radio station, May 29, 1979. |
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Lyrics: | Every night
it's a different flight To a different galaxy I do a sold-out show then I hit the road In my starship limousine I get so damn tired and uninspired Doin' all these one night stands It's a giant leap for rock and roll But it's too much for just one man I'm a Spaceship Superstar I've got a solar-powered laser beam guitar (He's a Spaceship Superstar) I'm at the top of all the charts on Mars (He's got a solar-powered laser beam guitar) I'm a Spaceship Superstar On Mercury they're crazy 'bout My stellar rock and roll And I always sell out in advance At the Martian Astrobowl The fans they swarm like meteorites To our concerts on the moon You should have seen us knock 'em dead on Venus Doin' all our favourite tunes I'm a Spaceship Superstar I've got a solar-powered laser beam guitar (He's a Spaceship Superstar) I'm at the top of all the charts on Mars (He's got a solar-powered laser beam guitar) I'm a Spaceship Superstar |
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