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Spirit's debut unveiled a band that seemed determine to out-eclecticize everybody else on the California psychedelic scene, with its melange of rock, jazz, blues, folk-rock, and even a bit of classical and Indian music. Teenaged Randy California immediately established a signature sound with his humming, sustain-heavy tone; middle-aged drummer Ed Cassidy gave the group unusual versatility; and the songs tackled unusual lyrical themes, like "Fresh Garbage" and "Mechanical World." As is often the case in such hybrids, the sum fell somewhat short of the parts; they could play more styles than almost any other group, but couldn't play (or, more crucially, write) as well as the top acts in any given one of those styles. There's some interesting stuff here, nonetheless; "Uncle Jack" shows some solid psych-pop instincts, and it sounds like Led Zeppelin lifted the opening guitar lines of "Taurus" for their own much more famous "Stairway to Heaven."
© Richie Unterberger /TiVo
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Jay Ferguson, Vocal - Jay Ferguson, Percussion - Jay Ferguson, Composer - Jay Ferguson, Lyricist - Mark Andes, Vocal - Mark Andes, Bass - John Locke, Keyboards - Spirit, Performer - Lou Adler, Producer - Ed Cassidy, Percussion - Ed Cassidy, Drums - Randy California, Vocal - Randy California, Guitar - Vic Anesini, Mixing Engineer - Vic Anesini, Mastering Engineer - Bob Irwin, Producer
Originally released 1968. All rights reserved by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Jay Ferguson, Vocal - Jay Ferguson, Percussion - Jay Ferguson, Composer - Jay Ferguson, Lyricist - Mark Andes, Vocal - Mark Andes, Bass - John Locke, Keyboards - Spirit, Performer - Lou Adler, Producer - Ed Cassidy, Percussion - Ed Cassidy, Drums - Randy California, Vocal - Randy California, Guitar - Vic Anesini, Mixing Engineer - Vic Anesini, Mastering Engineer - Bob Irwin, Producer
Originally released 1968. All rights reserved by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Jay Ferguson, Composer - Jay Ferguson, Vocal - Jay Ferguson, Lyricist - Jay Ferguson, Percussion - Mark Andes, Composer - Mark Andes, Vocal - Mark Andes, Lyricist - Mark Andes, Bass - John Locke, Keyboards - Spirit, Performer - Lou Adler, Producer - Ed Cassidy, Percussion - Ed Cassidy, Drums - Randy California, Vocal - Randy California, Guitar - Vic Anesini, Mixing Engineer - Vic Anesini, Mastering Engineer - Bob Irwin, Producer
Originally released 1968. All rights reserved by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Jay Ferguson, Vocal - Jay Ferguson, Percussion - Mark Andes, Vocal - Mark Andes, Bass - John Locke, Keyboards - Spirit, Performer - Lou Adler, Producer - Ed Cassidy, Percussion - Ed Cassidy, Drums - R. California, Composer - R. California, Lyricist - Randy California, Vocal - Randy California, Guitar - Vic Anesini, Mixing Engineer - Vic Anesini, Mastering Engineer - Bob Irwin, Producer
Originally released 1968. All rights reserved by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Jay Ferguson, Vocal - Jay Ferguson, Percussion - Jay Ferguson, Composer - Jay Ferguson, Lyricist - Mark Andes, Vocal - Mark Andes, Bass - John Locke, Keyboards - Spirit, Performer - Lou Adler, Producer - Ed Cassidy, Percussion - Ed Cassidy, Drums - Randy California, Vocal - Randy California, Guitar - Vic Anesini, Mixing Engineer - Vic Anesini, Mastering Engineer - Bob Irwin, Producer
Originally released 1968. All rights reserved by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Jay Ferguson, Vocal - Jay Ferguson, Percussion - Jay Ferguson, Composer - Jay Ferguson, Lyricist - Mark Andes, Vocal - Mark Andes, Bass - John Locke, Keyboards - Spirit, Performer - Lou Adler, Producer - Ed Cassidy, Percussion - Ed Cassidy, Drums - Randy California, Vocal - Randy California, Guitar - Vic Anesini, Mixing Engineer - Vic Anesini, Mastering Engineer - Bob Irwin, Producer
Originally released 1968. All rights reserved by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Jay Ferguson, Vocal - Jay Ferguson, Percussion - Jay Ferguson, Composer - Jay Ferguson, Lyricist - Mark Andes, Vocal - Mark Andes, Bass - John Locke, Keyboards - Spirit, Performer - Lou Adler, Producer - Ed Cassidy, Percussion - Ed Cassidy, Drums - Randy California, Vocal - Randy California, Guitar - Vic Anesini, Mixing Engineer - Vic Anesini, Mastering Engineer - Bob Irwin, Producer
Originally released 1968. All rights reserved by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Jay Ferguson, Vocal - Jay Ferguson, Percussion - Jay Ferguson, Composer - Jay Ferguson, Lyricist - Mark Andes, Vocal - Mark Andes, Bass - E. Cassidy, Composer - E. Cassidy, Lyricist - John Locke, Keyboards - Spirit, Performer - Lou Adler, Producer - J. Locke, Composer - J. Locke, Lyricist - Ed Cassidy, Percussion - Ed Cassidy, Drums - R. California, Composer - R. California, Lyricist - Randy California, Vocal - Randy California, Guitar - Vic Anesini, Mixing Engineer - Vic Anesini, Mastering Engineer - M. Andes, Composer - M. Andes, Lyricist - Bob Irwin, Producer
Originally released 1968. All rights reserved by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Jay Ferguson, Vocal - Jay Ferguson, Percussion - Jay Ferguson, Composer - Jay Ferguson, Lyricist - Mark Andes, Vocal - Mark Andes, Bass - John Locke, Keyboards - Spirit, Performer - Lou Adler, Producer - Ed Cassidy, Percussion - Ed Cassidy, Drums - Randy California, Vocal - Randy California, Guitar - Vic Anesini, Mixing Engineer - Vic Anesini, Mastering Engineer - Bob Irwin, Producer
Originally released 1968. All rights reserved by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Jay Ferguson, Vocal - Jay Ferguson, Percussion - Jay Ferguson, Composer - Jay Ferguson, Lyricist - Mark Andes, Vocal - Mark Andes, Bass - John Locke, Keyboards - Spirit, Performer - Lou Adler, Producer - Ed Cassidy, Percussion - Ed Cassidy, Drums - Randy California, Vocal - Randy California, Guitar - Vic Anesini, Mixing Engineer - Vic Anesini, Mastering Engineer - Bob Irwin, Producer
Originally released 1968. All rights reserved by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Jay Ferguson, Vocal - Jay Ferguson, Percussion - Mark Andes, Vocal - Mark Andes, Bass - John Locke, Keyboards - Spirit, Performer - Lou Adler, Producer - J. Locke, Composer - J. Locke, Lyricist - Ed Cassidy, Percussion - Ed Cassidy, Drums - Randy California, Vocal - Randy California, Guitar - Vic Anesini, Mixing Engineer - Vic Anesini, Mastering Engineer - Bob Irwin, Producer
Originally released 1968. All rights reserved by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Jay Ferguson, Vocal - Jay Ferguson, Percussion - Mark Andes, Vocal - Mark Andes, Bass - John Locke, Keyboards - Spirit, Performer - Lou Adler, Producer - Ed Cassidy, Percussion - Ed Cassidy, Drums - Randy California, Vocal - Randy California, Composer - Randy California, Lyricist - Randy California, Guitar - Vic Anesini, Mixing Engineer - Vic Anesini, Mastering Engineer - Bob Irwin, Producer
Originally recorded 1967 & released 1996. All rights reserved by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Jay Ferguson, Vocal - Jay Ferguson, Percussion - Mark Andes, Vocal - Mark Andes, Bass - John Locke, Composer - John Locke, Lyricist - John Locke, Keyboards - Spirit, Performer - Lou Adler, Producer - Ed Cassidy, Percussion - Ed Cassidy, Drums - Randy California, Vocal - Randy California, Guitar - Vic Anesini, Mixing Engineer - Vic Anesini, Mastering Engineer - Bob Irwin, Producer
Originally recorded 1967 & released 1996. All rights reserved by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Jay Ferguson, Vocal - Jay Ferguson, Percussion - Mark Andes, Vocal - Mark Andes, Bass - John Locke, Keyboards - Spirit, Performer - Lou Adler, Producer - Ed Cassidy, Percussion - Ed Cassidy, Drums - Randy California, Vocal - Randy California, Composer - Randy California, Lyricist - Randy California, Guitar - Vic Anesini, Mixing Engineer - Vic Anesini, Mastering Engineer - Bob Irwin, Producer
Originally recorded 1967 & released 1996. All rights reserved by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Jay Ferguson, Vocal - Jay Ferguson, Percussion - Mark Andes, Vocal - Mark Andes, Bass - John Locke, Composer - John Locke, Lyricist - John Locke, Keyboards - Spirit, Performer - Lou Adler, Producer - Ed Cassidy, Percussion - Ed Cassidy, Drums - Randy California, Vocal - Randy California, Guitar - Vic Anesini, Mixing Engineer - Vic Anesini, Mastering Engineer - Bob Irwin, Producer
Originally recorded 1967 & released 1996. All rights reserved by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Album review
Spirit's debut unveiled a band that seemed determine to out-eclecticize everybody else on the California psychedelic scene, with its melange of rock, jazz, blues, folk-rock, and even a bit of classical and Indian music. Teenaged Randy California immediately established a signature sound with his humming, sustain-heavy tone; middle-aged drummer Ed Cassidy gave the group unusual versatility; and the songs tackled unusual lyrical themes, like "Fresh Garbage" and "Mechanical World." As is often the case in such hybrids, the sum fell somewhat short of the parts; they could play more styles than almost any other group, but couldn't play (or, more crucially, write) as well as the top acts in any given one of those styles. There's some interesting stuff here, nonetheless; "Uncle Jack" shows some solid psych-pop instincts, and it sounds like Led Zeppelin lifted the opening guitar lines of "Taurus" for their own much more famous "Stairway to Heaven."
© Richie Unterberger /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 15 track(s)
- Total length: 01:03:01
- Main artists: Spirit
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Ode - Epic - Legacy
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
1996 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
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