Monday, January 20, 2020

Spirit - It Shall Be, Ode & Epic Recordings 1968-1972 [2018] (5 x CD's)



SPIRIT

Spirit - It Shall Be, Ode & Epic Recordings 1968-1972 [2018] (5 x CD's)


Now here's something a bit tasty. Five studio albums in Stereo including their debut in Mono for the first time, a rare Mono Soundtrack from 1969 to Jacques Demy's film "Model Shop" that few remember (it starred Anouk Aimee and Gary Lockwood, was about Los Angeles and remained unreleased musically until Sundazed reissued it in early 2005), the original Stereo Mix of the second album, all the straggler outtakes and session pieces from the 1991 "Time Circle..." 2CD retrospective and the Bonus Cuts from the 1996 Bob Irwin/Vic Anesini Remasters of the albums, Single Sides and more.  108-Tracks across 5CDs - it shall be indeed. 

And I love that Randy California story of how he met Jimi Hendrix at the back of a Village Record Shop in New York when he was only 15 (Manny's Music on West 48th Street) just before the God of Guitar was about do his first gig. The two bonded on first eye contact and Randy played with Jimi for 3 months at $7 a night whereupon as legend would have it - it was Hendrix who famously renamed him Randy California as there was someone else in the band called Randy Texas (young Randy thereafter forever waving goodbye to his real surname of Wolfe). Hendrix was then discovered by the savvy Chas Chandler, brought to England to become a star - but Randy was too young to travel and had to stay in the USA to finish his schooling. The band Spirit is full of such stories – great music, great ideals but perhaps not the greatest of luck commercially. A dream within a dream - It certainly was.  There's a mountain of detail to wade through - so let's have at the five and seven dreams...  (Amazon)


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Pt.1     Pt.2 

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  All 

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Track Lists

CD1


Tracks 1 to 11 are their debut album "Spirit" in 'STEREO' - released January 1968 in the USA on Ode Records Z12 44004 and June 1968 in the UK on CBS Records S 63278.  NOTE: the previously unreleased on CD 'MONO' mix of the album (Ode Records Z12 44003 and CBS Records 63278) is presented on CD4 for the first time - along with other outtakes from the 1967 sessions that appeared on Spirit compilations.
01. Fresh Garbage
02. Uncle jack
03. Mechanical World
04. Taurus
05. Girl In Your Eye
06. Straight Arrow
07. Topanga Windows
08. Gramophone Man
09. Water Woman
10. The Great Canyon Fire in General
11. Elijah

Tracks 12 to 22 are their 2nd studio album "The Family That Plays Together" - released December 1968 in the USA on Ode Records Z12 44014 in Stereo (only) and June 1969 in the UK on CBS Records M 63523 in Mono and CBS Records S 63523 in Stereo - the ORIGINAL STEREO Mix is used here (outtakes from the album sessions appear on CD5).

12. I Got A Line On You
13. It Shall Be
14. Poor Richard
15. Silky Sam
16. The Drunkard
17. Darlin' If
18. It's All The Same
19. Jewish
20. Dream Within A Dream
21. She Smiled
22. Aren't You Glad

CD2
Tracks 1 to 12 were recorded in 1968 in-between the second and third album (in Mono) and used in the 1969 Jacques Remy film soundtrack to "Model Shop". The music including unreleased material (Tracks 2, 4 to 6 and 10 to 12) was finally issued February 2005 on Sundazed/Sony Music SC 6095 (Barcode 090771619723) as the 12-tracks presented above.

1. The Moving Van
2. Mellow fellow
3. Now Or Anywhere
4. Fog
5. Green Gorilla
6. Model Shop I
7. Model Shop II
8. The Rehearsal Theme
9. Song For Lola
10. Eventide
11. Coral
12. Aren't You Glad

Tracks 13 to 24 are their 3rd studio album "Clear" - released July 1969 in the USA on Ode Records Z12 44016 in Stereo (only) and October 1969 in the UK on CBS Records S 63729 in Stereo.
13. Dark Eyed Woman
14. Apple Orchard
15. So Little Time To Fly
16. Ground Hog
17. Cold Wind
18. Policeman's Ball
19. Ice
20. Give A Life, Take A Life
21. I'm Truckin'
22. Clear
23. Caught
24. New Dope In Town

CD3

Tracks 1 to 12 are their 4th studio album "Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus" - released November 1970 in the USA on Epic E 30267 and February 1971 in the UK on Epic S EPC 64191.

1. Prelude - Nothin' To Hide
2. Nature's Way
3. Animal Zoo
4. Love Has Found A Way
5. Why Can't I Be Free
6. Mr. Skin
7. Space Child [Side 2]
8. When I Touch You
9. Street Worm
10. Life Has Just Begun
11. Morning Will Come
12. Soldier

13. Rougher Road - Previously Unreleased "Twelve Dreams..." session outtake that first appeared on the November 1996 CD reissue as a Bonus

Tracks 14 to 23 are their 5th studio album "Feedback" - released March 1972 in the USA on Epic Records KE 31175 (Gatefold Sleeve) and June 1972 in the UK on Epic Records EPC 64507. Produced by DAVID BRIGGS - it peaked at No. 63 in the US LP charts (didn't chart UK)
14. Chelsea Girls
15. Cadillac
16. Puesta Del Scam
17. Ripe And Ready
18. Darkness
19. Earth Shaker
20. Mellow Morning
21. Right On Time
22. Trancas Fog-Out
23. Witch

CD4

Tracks 1 to 11 are their debut album "Spirit" in 'MONO' - released January 1968 in the USA on Ode Records Z12 44003 and June 1968 in the UK on CBS Records 63278.  This the mono mix here for the first time.
1. Fresh Garbage
2. Uncle jack
3. Mechanical World
4. Taurus
5. Girl In Your Eye
6. Straight Arrow
7. Topanga Windows
8. Gramophone Man
9. Water Woman
10. The Great Canyon Fire in General
11. Elijah

Tracks 12 to 15 were first released as Bonus Tracks in 1996 on the CD Remaster/Reissue of "Spirit" - Epic/Legacy 485175 2 (Barcode 5099748517524)
12. Veruska
13. Free Spirit
14. If I Had A Woman
15. Elijah (Alternate Take)

Tracks 16 to 19 first appeared on the 1991 2CD retrospective "Time Circle (1968-1972)" on Epic/Legacy 471268 2 (Barcode 5099747126826)
16. I Got A Line On You ("Time Circle" Mix)
17. It Shall Be ("Time Circle" Mix)
18. Poor Richard ("Time Circle" Mix)
19. Silky Sam ("Time Circle" Mix)


CD5

Tracks 1 to 8 from the 1991 "Time Circle (1968-1972)" 2CD Retrospective

1. Scherozode ("Time Circle" Mix)
2. All The Same ("Time Circle" Mix)
3. A Dream With A Dream ("Time Circle" Mix)
4. Aren't You Glad ("Time Circle" Mix)
5. Eventide ("Time Circle" Mix)
6. Model Shop Theme ("Time Circle" Mix)
7. Green Gorilla ("Time Circle" Mix)
8. Rehearsal Theme ("Time Circle" Mix)

Tracks 9 to 13 recorded for "The Family That Plays Together" Sessions in 1968 - released as Bonus Tracks on the 1996 reissue CD of that album on Ode/Epic/Legacy 485174 2 (Barcode 5099748517425)

9. Fog
10. So Little To Say
11. Mellow Fellow
12. Now Or Anywhere
13. Space Chile

Tracks 14 and 15 recorded for "Clear" Sessions in 1969 - released as 2 of the 4 Bonus Tracks on the 1996 reissue CD of that album on Ode/Epic/Legacy 484416 2 (Barcode 5099748441621)

14. Fuller Brush Man
15. Coral

Tracks 16 and 17 were the A&B-sides of a non-album US 7"single released December 1969 on Ode Records ZS7 128. Also released 2 of the 4 Bonus Tracks on the 1996 reissue CD of that album on Ode/Epic/Legacy 484416 2 (Barcode 5099748441621)

16. 1984
17. Sweet Stella Baby

Tracks 18 and 19 are the A&B-sides of a non-album US 7" single released July 1970 on Epic Records 5-10648. Also released as two of the four Bonus Tracks on the 1996 reissue CD of "Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus" on Epic/Legacy 485173 2 (Barcode 5099748517326)
18. Animal Zoo (Mono Single Version)
19. Red Light Roll On (Mono Single Version)

Track 20 released as one of the four Bonus Tracks on the 1996 reissue CD of "Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus" on Epic/Legacy 485173 2 (Barcode 5099748517326). NOTE: the fourth Bonus track from the "Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus" CD reissue was "Rougher Road" and is Track 13 on Disc 3.
20. Morning Will Come (Alternate Mono Mix)

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8 comments:

  1. Exceptional, standout band, with great tunes and musicianship. When the first album came out, I thought I was one of the few people listening to them. As far as I know, no other group since has sounded quite like them. They were early signers on Lou Adler's Ode Records, but radio did not quite know how to take them. Their style was not the stuff of "hits", but definitely had a place on album-oriented and college radio stations. The music here is all good, before the band splintered. I later caught up with bassist Mark Andes and his new band Firefall, also awesome, both recorded and live. I appreciate all the detailed track info given here. Thanks BB for keeping the Spirit alive!

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  2. This Is So Great Thank You So Much Greeetzzzz

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  3. absolutely outstanding!!! this is a really incredible band.
    many thanks Butterboy!
    Best Regards!

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  4. All Right! I box set of the guys who REALLY wrote "Stairway to Heaven!"

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    1. My first post here. Spirit's "Taurus" does indeed sounds a LOT like Stairway. It is like the great Willard's Wormholes has been resurrected... BUT, ON STEROIDS. Such amazing work you do! Not only the music... But, the education you offer us within each item's description. I cannot thank you enough! If you were to $end me a bill, I would give it my immediate attention...

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    2. Hi Libertarian,
      Welcome and thanks to you for commenting.
      There are many kind words you have said. They are truly appreciated. I only hope that people who visit here get some enjoyment out of what is posted. Enjoy the music.

      Cheers.

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  5. Replies
    1. Hi Eric,
      News links, established, tested and working. Enjoy.
      Cheers.

      Delete