Marty Balin was the magnificent lead singer of the original Jefferson Airplane. He left after making five seminal albums with the Airplane, in 1969, but returned to sing with Grace Slick on the Jefferson Starship in 1974. He also had solo hits. He’s dead today at 76. Jefferson Airplane was such an important group, they started the San Francisco movement that came to include the Mamas and Papas, Hot Tuna, Lovin’ Spoonful, Big Brother and the Holding Company etc.

What young people don’t know now is that Rolling Stone, a much different publication in 1967, launched out of San Francisco featuring these groups, and Bill Graham’s Fillmore. For kids in New York, it was like they were all from outer space, and so fascinating to read about. Marty Balin and Grace Slick were like gods, and their bluesy folk sound was intoxicating. Kanter died two years ago, and now Balin is gone. Slick — one of the greatest female vocalists of all time– retired a while ago.

Here comes “A Star is Born.”

A week ahead of the release of the Bradley Cooper-Lady Gaga movie, their duet from the film– called “Shallow”– debuts on iTunes at number 1.

This will be a monster single, and the first of many from the soundtrack that also releases next Friday. Watch this soundtrack soar on the charts and the radio as the movie booms.

Another big release today is Cher’s ABBA album. “Dancing Queen” blew onto the iTunes album chart at number 2, behind Lil Wayne’s “Tha Carter V.” They have totally different audiences, of course. Cher hasn’t had a new album in years, and this one has potential to last a long time.

The two performers have little in common on the face of it– they’ve each paid high prices to be celebrities. Lil Wayne has spent a lot of time in jail on drugs and weapon charges. Cher was married to Sonny Bono.

Kanye West isn’t satisfied with the low sales of his recent “Ye” album– released June 1st, sold approximately 244,000 copies.

So we’ll get a new Kanye album this Saturday night. It’s called “Yandhi,” which maybe is his Kanye’s take on Gandhi. Anyway, he’ll be the musical guest on “Saturday Night Live,” so this will be an occasion.

This is less expensive than dragging journalists to Wyoming, as he did for “Ye.”

Kanye’s already causing trouble at rehearsals. He tweeted this afternoon: “I’m at SNL rehearsal and we’re “trying” to have the performance shot on an IPhone Were receiving some push back.”

YANDHI 9 29 18

YANDHI IS RELEASING THIS SATURDAY pic.twitter.com/ysqMrtc1RP

— ye (@kanyewest) September 27, 2018

Barbra Streisand has a new song, and it’s aimed at Donald Trump. “Don’t Lie to Me” is the first single from a new album called “Walls,” coming November 2nd. The song is written by Swedish hitmaker Jonas Myrin and Streisand’s producer, Jay Landers.

In an interview with Billboard, Streisand calls Trump “The Liar in Chief, the Groper in Chief.”

Other songwriters and producers on the album include Mariah Carey’s old collaborator, Walter Afansieff, as well as Streisand’s award winning pals Alan and Marilyn Bergman, and Nashville heavyweight Steve Dorff, father of actor Steven Dorff.

Barbra doesn’t miss a beat: the remake of “A Star is Born” is coming on October 5th. She’s giving it exactly one month on its own, then she’s coming in to reclaim her crown and her publicity. Just wait and see if she turns up on the Grammys singing a duet with Lady Gaga. I like her style!