Randy got his nick name from Hendrix,they were in The Blue Flames band before forming The Experience.
Mr.Skin,the drummer of the band used to work at a gas station in the middle of Topanga Canyon in California,we used to get gas there on our way to the beach. I was in jr. high when I Got A Line On You came out.
A year ago I found at a thrift store the first three albums on Vinyl on Ode records making these original pressings since Columbia bought the catalog from them and then released them on their label. The covers were thrashed but the Vinyl was mint. Great score. |
My favorite is still "Spirit", the first album. What a great work of art. In the same league as Love's "Forever Changes" and Mark Almond's first. |
Ed Cassidy was a mutha of a drummer. |
Saw them in the early 70's in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. The band warming up the crowd was a band we hadn't heard of called Bachman Turner Overdrive. Spirit was excellent! Small venue, so everyone had pretty good seats. |
Jimi Hendrix gave Randy Wolf his name Randy "California" ( he was from CA) when they played together (another Randy was in the band - Randy Texas - he was from Texas). Randy C.s parents would not let him tour with Jimi (he was too young to be exposed to the sins of RnR). The drummer of Spirit - Ed Cassidy, is Randy Cs. stepfather. At 80+ Ed still plays religously. BTW, Randy C died in HI while saving his son from a riptide. In 1978 I met the band and they stayed with me one night after a gig because the booking agent failed to line them up a hotel stay. They had played at the Grainery in Granite City, IL. |
I once had the Spirit of 76 album, and it was pretty good. I have to say, though, that "Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus" was better.
Let us assume, just for shakes and shivers, that you have ingested Lysergic Acid. Wait for about an hour and a quarter, and then spin Dr. Sardonicus:
Some hippy songwriter sings about having the world at your fingertips and then starts crying out about a demonic bride who eats away from inside. Then a song about death and renewal defines nature's way. An animal zoo passes before you and love flows in chunky waves like a mad sea. A plea for freedom falls before Mr. Skin, who leers from every television in the world. A psychedelic trip into space follows and morphs into a deranged love song. Then urbanity raises its ugly head with street noise and pollution. A pleading ode to innocence cuts through the distortion and morning threatens with a loud horn section. The last song is a dirge about the loneliness of the soldiers in Viet Nam.
How do you say goodbye to 1970? |
Best kinda venue, Wildoats. |
The bass player plays with piano player Ian McLachlan (from the Faces) in a band in Austin, Texas. I saw then in a hole in the wall bar. great band. |
12 dreams is definitly a deserted island must have... |
12 dreams is a sonic delight...many consider that the pinnacle of Spirit recordings...I also have Son of Spirit |
I am with you Ghosthouse and Pehare. After reading this post yesterday, I dusted off 12 Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus and played it last night. I had forgotten what a great sounding album it is. "Nothing To Hide" and "Mr. Skin" are great songs. I may have to dig deeper into the catalogue. |
|
Sometimes it takes a thread like this to jog one's memory & dig out an old fav, Thanks for the reminder phasecorrect, hadn't listened to Spirit in years & "fresh garbage" is playing now, what a great group they were. |
Randy California is one of the great characters in RnR history. He had an original vision as a songwriter and was a great, really underrated guitar player. (Purportedly Jimi was a big fan of his when Randy was still in high school.)
Sadly, but sort of fittingly, he died when he was swept out to sea and (I understand) just disappeared. (I'm not sure if that part's apochryphal, but - if true - it is a fitting end to his story.) |
Spirit's "Family That Plays etc." is positively brilliant. A great, sadly underrated, band. |
