Starship - No Protection 12" Vinyl LP Album

- A radio-ready pop-rock milestone featuring Grace Slick’s final studio performance with Starship

Starship's 1987 album "No Protection" marks a pivotal moment in the band's long and transformative journey through American rock history. Originally known as Jefferson Airplane, the group helped define psychedelic rock in the 1960s with countercultural anthems like "White Rabbit." In the 1970s, they evolved into Jefferson Starship, embracing a more polished, radio-friendly sound. By the mid-1980s, after major lineup changes and legal disputes over the band’s name, the group reemerged simply as Starship. With "No Protection", they fully embraced glossy '80s pop-rock, shedding their rebellious past for chart-topping success, including the hit single "Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now."

Album Description:

Starship’s “No Protection”: A Bold Musical Departure

– Album Description

In the vibrant landscape of 1980s pop-rock, Starship’s 1987 album “No Protection” emerged as a testament to the band’s evolution and their willingness to embrace new sounds. A far cry from their Jefferson Airplane roots, the album marked a distinct departure from their psychedelic past, opting instead for a polished, radio-friendly sound that resonated with a new generation of music lovers.

Historical Context: A Band in Transition

“No Protection” arrived at a pivotal moment in Starship’s career. The band, formerly Jefferson Starship, had undergone significant lineup changes and a stylistic shift in the early 1980s. With the departure of founding members Paul Kantner and Marty Balin, the band’s sound evolved from the psychedelic rock of the 1960s to a more commercial, pop-oriented direction. This change, while commercially successful, alienated some longtime fans who yearned for the band’s earlier sound.

Musical Exploration: Embracing Pop Sensibilities

“No Protection” further solidified this new direction, showcasing a blend of pop, rock, and adult contemporary elements. The album’s lead single, “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now,” became a massive hit, topping the charts and solidifying Starship’s place in the pop music landscape. Other notable tracks like “It’s Not Over (‘Til It’s Over)” and “Beat Patrol” further exemplified the band’s ability to craft catchy, memorable tunes with broad appeal.

Controversies: A Departure from the Past

The album’s pop-oriented sound drew criticism from some quarters, with some accusing the band of selling out and abandoning their rock-and-roll roots. However, others praised the band’s willingness to experiment and evolve, acknowledging the album’s undeniable catchiness and commercial success.

Production Team and Studio: Crafting a Polished Sound

“No Protection” was produced by Peter Wolf, whose meticulous attention to detail resulted in a polished, radio-ready sound. The album was recorded at several studios, including Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California, and Soundcastle Recording Studio in Los Angeles, California.

Grace Slick: A Rock Icon’s Farewell

“No Protection” marked Grace Slick’s final studio album with Starship. The legendary vocalist, known for her powerful voice and rebellious spirit, had been a fixture in the band since its inception. Her departure after the album’s release signaled the end of an era for Starship, but her iconic status in the rock and roll pantheon remained unchallenged.

Anecdote: Grace Slick’s Timeless Look on "No Protection"

When "No Protection" hit the shelves in 1987, fans flipping the vinyl cover did a double take. There was Grace Slick, the same firebrand who once shrieked through "Somebody to Love" at Woodstock, now looking barely older than the fresh-faced pop stars of the MTV generation. One record store owner in San Francisco joked, “People asked if that was Grace’s daughter on the cover.”

What they didn’t know was that Grace was pushing 48—an age rarely seen on glossy pop album jackets at the time. While most artists from the psychedelic era had faded or gone gray, Slick was front and center, defying the industry's obsession with youth.

Behind the scenes, she didn’t exactly deny the illusion. "It’s all lighting and good lenses," she once quipped during an interview. But even as photographers airbrushed the past, Slick’s voice on tracks like "Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now" carried decades of rebellion with studio-slick confidence.

And just like that, she walked away—gracefully, and on her own terms.

Production & Recording Information:

Music Genre:

American 1980s Rock

Label & Catalognr:

Grunt – FL86413

Media Format:

12" Vinyl LP Gramophone Record
Album weight: 210 g

Year & Country:

1987 – Made in Germany

Producers:
  • Peter Wolf – Producer
Sound & Recording Engineers:
  • Brian Malouf – Recording & Mixing Engineer
Recording Location:

Fantasy Studios – Berkeley, CA;

Soundcastle Recording Studio – Los Angeles, CA

Band Members / Musicians:

Band Members, Musicians:
  • Grace Slick – Vocals

    Grace Slick, iconic rock vocalist, rose to fame in the 1960s with Jefferson Airplane and Starship, pioneering psychedelic rock. Learn more

  • Mickey Thomas – Vocals
  • Craig Chaquico – Guitar
  • Donny Baldwin – Drums

Complete Track-listing:

Side One:
  1. Beat Patrol
  2. Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now
  3. It’s Not Over (‘Til It’s Over)
  4. Girls Like You
  5. Wings of a Lie
Side Two:
  1. The Children
  2. I Don’t Know Why
  3. Transatlantic
  4. Babylon
  5. Set the Night to Music
Album Front Cover Photo
Front cover of Starship's 1987 album 'No Protection' featuring four band members in a photo-montage style with a pink and black color scheme against a grid-lined background.

This is the front cover of Starship's 1987 album "No Protection". The artwork features a dynamic collage of four band members, each tinted in high-contrast shades of pink and black, set against a soft gray background overlaid with a faint black grid pattern resembling glass panes or a tiled window.

At the top right, the band name STARSHIP appears in modern, all-uppercase typography, with the album title NO PROTECTION positioned just beneath it in smaller, spaced-out letters. The type is clean, sans-serif, and complements the slick, futuristic tone of the design.

Grace Slick is positioned in the top left, shown with voluminous curly hair, large hoop earrings, and a dramatic gaze that channels both confidence and mystique. Her presence is bold and commanding, dressed in dark attire with light softly highlighting her facial features.

To the right, another band member leans slightly forward, wearing sunglasses and a half-open shirt, projecting a laid-back rock-star coolness. At the bottom left, a male band member rests his head on his hand, captured mid-thought with a relaxed yet stylish demeanor.

In the lower center, another member stands with folded arms, dressed in a casual denim jacket and dark sunglasses. His expression is calm and self-assured, contributing to the overall aura of controlled cool.

The contrasting hot pink overlay and segmented layout create a vibrant, almost neon-lit feel, matching the album’s polished, pop-rock aesthetic and the era’s late-1980s visual style.

Album Back Cover Photo
Back cover of Starship's 1987 album 'No Protection' with track listings, pink tile background, black-and-white portraits of band members, and full production credits.

This is the back cover of Starship's 1987 album "No Protection". The design is structured around a grid of square tiles, featuring alternating vibrant pink marble-textured backgrounds and key information panels. The bold color choice reinforces the glossy, high-energy pop-rock image of the album.

At the top left and center, two black panels list the track titles for Side One and Side Two. Each track is marked with a distinctive geometric icon: triangle, circle, or square. Songs include chart-toppers like "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" and "Beat Patrol" on Side One, and deeper cuts like "Babylon" and "Set the Night to Music" on Side Two.

In the middle row, black-and-white photo portraits of the four band members are arranged in individual tiles. These close-up shots show: Grace Slick with intense eyes and a full hairstyle; Mickey Thomas with dark curls and a leather jacket; Donny Baldwin in sunglasses with a mullet; and Craig Chaquico with long wavy hair and dark shades.

To the right of the portraits, a centered tile reads STARSHIP with a quadrant layout underneath, naming the band members and their roles: Grace Slick (vocals), Mickey Thomas (vocals), Donny Baldwin (drums, vocals), and Craig Chaquico (guitars).

At the bottom right, fine print details the full production credits. It notes that the album was produced by Peter Wolf (Wild West, Inc.), Keith Olsen (for Pogologo Corporation), and Narada Michael Walden (for Perfection Light Productions). Engineers, mixers, production coordinator Skip Johnson, and manager Bill Thompson are also credited. A barcode and catalog number FL86413 are visible in the upper-right corner.

The overall design blends vivid visual energy with detailed liner content, reinforcing the album’s commercial appeal and visual impact.

Custom Inner Sleeve Photo
Photo from the inner sleeve of Starship's 1987 album 'No Protection' showing the four band members wearing sunglasses, standing close together in front of a bold, modern building façade.

This inner sleeve photo from Starship's 1987 album "No Protection" captures all four band members posing tightly together in a stylized urban setting, reflecting the sleek and modern energy of their late-'80s sound. The photo is bathed in warm tones of red, yellow, and tan, emphasizing boldness and cohesion.

On the far left stands Grace Slick, with voluminous dark curls, hoop earrings, and a focused expression. She wears a pale jacket and gazes directly at the camera with confidence and poise. Next to her is Mickey Thomas, clad in a brown leather jacket over a graphic T-shirt featuring illustrated faces and utensils. His mirrored sunglasses display a red-and-white cross reflection, giving a striking and stylish effect.

Behind Mickey, slightly in shadow, is Donny Baldwin, sporting platinum blond curls, a full mustache, and dark shades. His placement toward the back adds a sense of depth to the composition. At far right is Craig Chaquico, leaning slightly against a wall painted with diagonal yellow and red stripes. He wears a black denim jacket and reflective sunglasses that echo the color palette of the background.

The band members are positioned against an architectural backdrop of angular lines and vivid colors—brick walls, geometric shadows, and sharply modern structures—complementing the pop-forward aesthetic of the album itself. The mirrored sunglasses and layered clothing style speak to the era’s fashion while reinforcing a unified band identity that bridges cool detachment with commercial appeal.

Record Label Close-Up
Side 1 label of Starship's 1987 album 'No Protection', showing tracklist, publishing credits, GRUNT logo, and RCA branding on a black vinyl record.

This is a close-up photograph of the Side 1 label from Starship’s 1987 album "No Protection", pressed on 12-inch black vinyl. The label is a dark gray circle with light gray and white text, encircled by a thin light-gray ring. It prominently displays the RCA vertical logo along the left side and the GRUNT Records label logo to the right of the spindle hole.

At the top, it reads Side 1 Stereo with the catalog number FL86413. Beneath the album title "NO PROTECTION", the track listing is printed in clear, sans-serif font. The five songs on Side 1 are:

  • Beat Patrol – 4:25 (Johnny Warman)
  • Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now – 4:29 (Diane Warren, Albert Hammond)
  • It’s Not Over (’Til It’s Over) – 4:18 (Robbie Nevil, John Van Tongeren, Phil Galdston)
  • Girls Like You – 4:15 (Craig Chaquico, Steve Diamond, Mickey Thomas)
  • Wings of a Lie – 4:57 (Peter Wolf, Ina Wolf)

Each track includes detailed songwriting and publishing credits, referencing music publishers such as Intersongs-USA, Albert Hammond Music, and Kikko Music. The international rights organizations BIEM and GEMA are also noted next to the spindle hole.

At the bottom, in all caps, it states STARSHIP © 1987 BMG MUSIC. Below that, a small triangle enclosing the number 33 indicates the playback speed in revolutions per minute. The label notes the record was marketed by RCA Records from Master Recordings and was Made in Germany.

The layout is crisp and professional, reflecting the album’s major-label release status, and the close-up provides a clear view of the textural grooves on the vinyl surface around the label ring.

Index of STARSHIP (Band) Album Cover Gallery & 12" Vinyl LP Discography Information

STARSHIP - Knee Deep in the Hoopla with Grace Slick album front cover vinyl record
STARSHIP - Knee Deep in the Hoopla with Grace Slick

Released in 1985, "Knee Deep in the Hoopla" marked Starship’s bold debut after the Jefferson Starship split. With Grace Slick and Mickey Thomas up front, the album embraced slick pop production and included the massive hits "We Built This City" and "Sara", defining the band’s 1980s commercial success.

Learn more
STARSHIP - No Protection  album front cover vinyl record
STARSHIP - No Protection

Released in 1987, "No Protection" is a polished pop-rock album that marked Starship’s full transition from their Jefferson Airplane origins. Featuring Grace Slick’s final studio performance, the album embraces the slick production of the '80s and includes the chart-topping hit "Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now."

Learn more