SPIRIT (ABO#120)

SPIRIT
FATHER IN LAW
(1967-1996)

Another unusual history in Rock. Spirit was founded by Ed Cassidy with an original idea from gender Randy California who has long been playing with old friend Jimi Hendrix. The band emerged in the psychedelic landscape with a soft clean music which doesn't forget its blues roots. Like a poppy Hendrix style, but without that craziness in the guitar playing, Spirit became one of the most influent bands in USA, even inspiring Led Zeppelin's Stairway To Heaven (listen to Taurus below).
The band's history became unusual when California was injured in an accident so that the album Feedback was made without the main founding member.
When Spirit came back, it had almost become a one-man band with California nearly alone with his guitar and beat-box. After then the band reunited and disbanded frequently around the two essential members. but never made as good as before Feedback... except maybe for their 1978 huge live album "Made In Germany" which is one of the most recommended live albums in Rock history and for Potatoland (1981) which has been a great surprise in that early decade.
Spirit made a last great album, "California Blues" but Randy died not long after while trying to save his son from drowning. Another sad day for Rock.

Extracts :
Taurus

Family

My Spirit Top 3 :
1. 12 Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus (1970)
2. Spirit (1967)
3. The Family That Plays Together (1968)

My Spirit Bottom 3 :
1. 13th Dream (1984)
2. Rapture Of The Chamber (1990)
3. Father Along (1977)