In a lot of ways, Spirit never became as noted a band as it could have been. It certainly hit a number of highs in the early years, especially the band’s first four albums, the eponymous debut, The Family That Plays Together, Clear, and Twelve Dreams of Dr Sardonicus, the latter considered by many fans and critics to be the band’s masterwork. The group’s greatest asset was guitarist Randy California, who was capable of brilliant highs on his instrument. (Randy was actually born Randy Craig Wolfe but was dubbed as Randy California by Jimi Hendrix, with whom he played in Jimmy James and the Blue Flames, to differentiate him from another Randy in the band, Randy Palmer, who became Randy Texas. Randy California would have come to the UK with Hendrix but was too young at the time, still being in his mid-teens). But relationships in the Spirit were always fractious. There were fights, defections, and artistic differences that saw the band stumbling along and serving a hiatus in the early Seventies. This eight CD box set represents the band’s output when it signed with the Mercury label and attempted a renaissance, starting in the middle of the decade.
Having been founded in the Sixties, Spirit’s sound was drenched in psychedelia, tumbling from time to time into progressive rock and even jazz-fusion at times. Although Randy California was the keystone of the band, there were several really talented other members of the group. Percussionist Ed Cassidy, Randy’s step-father, had played with Cannonball Adderley, Gerry Mulligan, Roland Kirk, Thelonious Monk and Lee Konitz, he had been the drummer of Rising Sons, an early blues rock vehicle for Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder. Other talented musicians were involved at times too, both as full-members and session men.
This clamshell boxset contains the albums the band created between 1975 and 1977, then again from 1984 for the Mercury record label. The eight CDs are comprised of the albums Spirit of ‘76’, Son Of Spirit, Farther Along, Future Games and The Thirteenth Dream. There are also a stunning number of previously unreleased tracks, consisting of one hundred and two demos, alternate versions, or live recordings that have never been available before. All have been newly remastered from the original master tapes. This was all compiled by Spirit archivist Mick Skidmore, who has also written a new essay for the illustrated booklet.
Released in 1975, The Spirit Of ’76 is a double album maintaining the psychedelic aspect of the band, this time displaying the influence of Randy California having lived in Hawaii for a while. In parts it shows the straight-ahead rock side of the bands output too. The highlight is probably a cover version of Hendrix’s Hey Joe. The fresh sound of Hawaii is most obvious on the track Mauna Loa, where there’s a nod to the Beach Boys too. Fast on the heels of this album, released in the same year, Son Of Spirit consists of material from the same sessions as the previous album. Much of it is little more than California’s guitar accompanied by percussion. It has the feel of demos though. There’s a slightly blissed out version of The Beatles song Yesterday, presented in a somewhat languid style. Farther Along, from 1976, sees the band moving slightly way from the fresh sounding influence of Hawaii, drawing on a more varied selection of styles including folk, soft rock, and a touch of Motown. It remains a quite mellow listen, although it tries to chug to life on the heavier numbers like Colossus and Mega Star. Overall, the album is a little too schizoid, never settling on any particular style, like a butterfly seeking a nectar laden flower in a storm. Future Games from 1977 could quite easily be a Randy California solo album as he dominates so much. He plays just about all the instruments apart from percussion. It is somewhat of a sci-fi influenced release, still in the psychedelic realm. There’s an interesting take on Bob Dylan’s All Along The Watchtower, similar to the version by Hendrix, but it sounds just a tad too nice and safe. There was then a little pause in the Mercury output by the band until The Thirteenth Dream was released in 1984. It features re-recordings of seven of the bands most loved songs and just three new ones. Several old members returned, along with a number of session men that included Jeff Skunk Baxter and Bob Welch, amongst others. It is quite a weak album; the music seems quite insipid and uninspired in a rather plodding psychedelic rock manner. It is more mannered and refined overall. The opening track, Black Satin Nights, tries to be a more contemporary rock song, but doesn’t quite have the legs to take off which sets the tone for the rest of the album.
Following this, Spirit moved on to other record labels with different ideas, but essentially continued to bumble along in the same semi-shambolic manner. Randy California released a few solo albums too. Sadly, it came to a tragic end when California drowned in the Pacific Ocean in 1997 at the age of forty-five while rescuing his twelve-year-old son, Quinn, from a rip current near his mother’s home in Hawaii. He managed to push Quinn toward the shore and the boy survived. The band had further releases after the tragedy, and continue to do so to this day (obviously!). Many people will remember that the band, or there representatives, became embroiled with Led Zeppelin in a legal battle accusing Jimmy Page of lifting a guitar part from Spirit’s tune Taurus. Led Zeppelin won the long running legal case.
In spite of the weaknesses already highlighted, these albums still have some positives. The players involved were all very good musicians, lead from the front by the brilliance of Randy California’s guitar work. He was an extremely talented and dextrous player, with a great tone and imagination. The band created some very interesting and melodic songs, which this release captures handsomely. The sheer amount of unreleased material would make this a must for serious fans of the band. It must have been a labour of love for archivist Mick Skidmore, and a great accomplishment for him producing so lavish a project. For fans of the band this is a glorious listen, others will find it intriguing at least.
Disc One: Spirit Of ‘76 – Remastered
1. America The Beautiful/The Times They Are A Changing
2. Victim Of Society
3. Lady Of The Lakes
4. Tampa Jam (Part One)
5. Maunaloa
6. What Do I Have?
7. Sunrise
8. Walking The Dog
9. Tampa Jam (Part Two)
10. Joker On The Run
11. When?
12. Like A Rolling Stone
13. Once Again
14. Feeling In Time
15. Happy
16. Jack Bond
17. My Road
18. Tampa Jam (Part Three)
19. Thank You Lord
Disc Two: Spirit Of ‘76 – Remastered
1. Urantia
2. Guide Me
3. Veruska
4. Hey Joe
5. Jack Bond Part Two
6. The Star Spangled Banner
7. Guide Me (Alternate Version)
8. Joker On The Run (Alternate Version)
9. America The Beautiful/The Times They Are A
Changing (Alternate Version)*
10. I’ve Got To Use My Imagination (Live 1974)*
11. Nature’s Way (Live 1974)*
12. Mr Skin (Live 1974)*
13. Guide Me (Live 1974)*
14. Fresh Garbage (Live 1974)*
15. Hey Joe (Live 1974)*
16. Veruska (Live 1974)*
17. Run Sinner, Run (Live 1974)*
18. Victim Of Society (Live 1974)*
19. On The Road Again (Live 1974)*
20. Happy (Live 1974)*
Previously Unreleased *
Disc Three: Son Of Spirit – Remastered
1. Holy Man
2. Looking Into Darkness
3. Maybe You’ll Find
4. Don’t Go Away
5. Family
6. Magic Fairy Princess
7. Circle
8. The Other Song
9. Yesterday
10. It’s Time Now
Farther Along – Remastered
11. Farther Along
12. Atomic Boogie
13. World Eat World Dog
14. Stoney Night
15. Pineapple
16. Colossus
17. Mega Star
18. Phoebe
19. Don’t Lock Up Your Door
20. One With
21. You Diamond Spirit
22. Nature’s Way
Bonus Tracks
23. Hawaiian Skies
24. Song For Clyde
25. Constant Stream
26. Let Me Be Your Daddy
27. Farther Along (Live 1976)
Disc Four: Future Games (A Magical Kahauna Dream)
1. CB Talk
2. Stars Are Love
3. Kahauna Dream
4. Buried In My Brain
5. Bionic Unit
6. So Happy Now
7. All Along The Watchtower
8. Would You Believe
9. Jack Bond Speaks
10. Star Trek Dreaming
11. Interlude XM
12. China Doll
13. Hawaiian Times
14. Gorn Attack
15. Interlude 2001
16. Detroit City
17. Freakout Frog
18. The Romulan Experience
19. Monkey See Monkey Do
20. Mt Olympus
21. The Journey Of Nomad
22. Ending
Bonus Tracks
23. Detroit City (Alternate Version)
24. Would You Believe (Alternate Version)
25. Stars Are Love (Alternate Version)
26. Monkey See, Monkey Do (Demo)
27. Chairman Mao (Full Band Version)
28. Would You Believe (Full Band Unedited Version)
29. Hollywood Dream (Bonus)
30. Something New (Bonus)
31. In Just A Little While (Bonus)
32. Love Charged (Bonus)
33. Same Old Naturally (Bonus)
Disc Five: The Thirteenth Dream (Spirit Of ’84)
1. Black Satin Nights
2. Mr Skin
3. Fresh Garbage
4. Rasta Girl In A Ferrari*
5. Nature’s Way
6. 1984
7. Pick It Up
8. All Over The World
9. Give Me Your Number*
10. Mechanical World
11. Elijah
12. Uncle Jack
13. I Got A Line On You
14. All Along The Watchtower (Live 1986)
15. Animal Zoo (Live 1986)
16. Dark Eyed Woman (Live 1986)
17. Tobacco Road (Live 1986)
18. Prelude: Nothing To Hide (Live 1986)
19. Working In Detroit (Live 1986)
Previously Unreleased *
Disc Six: Spirit Of Salvation –
Unreleased Studio Material From 1974-1975
1. You’re So Beautiful
2. I’ve Got To Use My Imagination
3. Looking Into Darkness
4. Neptune Caper
5. Positively 4th Street
6. Jimmy Brown
7. We Are One People
8. Wake Up America
9. Family
10. Magic Fairy Princess
11. The Other Song
12. Cass Drums
13. Salvation
14. Future In My Hands
15. The Maharaji Speaks
16. Holy Man
17. Maybe You’ll Find
18. Yesterday
19. Magic Fairy
20. Circle
21. Kathy’s Song
Randy California Solo Demos
22. Miss Lani
23. Sparkling Sands
24. High With You
25. Seven Fires
26. 10,000 Days
27. Seems Like 1000 Years Ago
28. Livin’ In This World
29. Thinking Of You
Disc Seven: Live At Armadillo Headquarters,
Austin, Texas – 19th June 1975
1. Introduction*
2. Going Down*
3. So Little Time To Fly*
4. Austin Jam*
5. Working In Austin*
6. All Along The Watchtower*
7. Joker On The Run*
8. Mr Tambourine Man*
9. Old Blue*
10. Mr Skin*
11. Prelude: Nothing To Hide*
12. Miss This Train*
13. I’ve Got To Use My Imagination*
14. All The Same*
15. I Got A Line On You*
16. On The Road Again / Star Spangled Banner/ On The Road
Again/ Austin Jam*
Previously Unreleased *
Disc Eight: Future Games – The Early Demo Version
1. CB Talk
2. Stars Are Love
3. Kahauna Dream
4. Buried In My Brain
5. Bionic Unit
6. So Happy Now
7. All Along The Watchtower
8. Would You Believe
9. Jack Bond Speaks
10. Star Trek Dreaming
11. Interlude XM
12. China Doll
13. Hawaiian Times
14. Gorn Attack
15. Interlude 2001
16. Detroit City
17. Freakout Frog
18. The Romulan Experience
19. Monkey See, Monkey Do
20. Mount Olympus
21. Journey Of Nomad
22. Would You Believe (Reprise)
23. Ending
Live 1975
24. Downer
25. Like A Rolling Stone
26. Victim Of Society
27. Ohio Jam
28. Mr Skin
29. Old Blue
30. All The Same
31. I Got A Line On You
Release date: 24th September, 2021
Label: Cherry Red Records
Spirit of Progressive Rock 