MIRACLE THREE

Randy California – Guitars, vocals, bass

Ed Cassidy – Drums, percussion

Mike Nile – Bass, vocals

This is one of the best Spirit albums by the trio version of the act, the Randy California/Ed Cassidy ensemble which carried on with the name. This time the third member is bassist Mike Nile, and the album works because Nile gets to be more than a sideman, he actually contributes as the original group did, with results that are most satisfying. Tent of Miracles is a wonderful album title, and the disc opens with Ed Cassidy's jungle drumbeat instrumental "Borderline," typical of the band's bold 1990s sound. More serious and refined than the Mercury records releases in the mid-'70s, decades on the road touring, along with having those highly experimental albums behind them, make this a very musical and mature chapter. "Zandu" is your Randy California "Kahauna Dream"-style exotic guitar with its mechanical metallic stomp, a song similar to but lighter than Roxy Music's "Manifesto." California's co-write with stepdad Ed Cassidy, "Stuttgart Says Good-bye," is "Eight Miles High" gone tribal and expands the theme. This 1990 album has an inadvertent concept which is a delight to the legion of Spirit fans who cared enough to seek it out. The title track is an eerie "I Want Candy" redux with the real stunner being that it is a Mike Nile original, a major contribution from a Spirit member not originally part of the group. The almost six minutes mesmerize and are everything Spirit was ever about. It follows in the dreamy quagmire that is "Stuttgart Says Good-Bye" and the earlier "Love From Here" style. "Love From Here" has elements of the later 1994 track "One By One," a Randy California original which outdoes the excellent "Love From Here," providing insight that the late singer/songwriter was in a groove and in a good creative state, despite lack of major label support for his latter-day efforts. The band actually becoming a full unit with serious contributions from the bass player adds a cohesion missing from some of the '70s work. Mike Nile's originals not only keep pace with Randy California, they seem to give Randy and this version of the band focus. The final of the dozen songs, Nile's "Deep in This Land" holds to the theme and sound of the title track, as well as Nile's other originals, "Old Black Magic," "Ship of Fools," and the tune all three bandmembers composed, "Imaginary Mask." "Tent of Miracles" holds many secrets and is that extension of The Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus that California was seeking for so many years.

Tent of Miracles is the thirteenth studio album by Spirit

1. "Borderline"   Cassidy 1:54

2. "Zandu"   4:24

3. "Love From Here"   3:47

4. "Ship of Fools"   Nile 4:10

5. "Burning Love"   3:06

6. "Tent of Miracles"   Nile 5:55

7. "Logical Answers"   2:26

8. "Old Black Magic"   Nile 3:20

9. "Neglected Emotion"   2:04

10. "Imaginary Mask"   California, Cassidy, Nile 2:25

11. "Stuttgart Says Good-Bye"   California, Cassidy 6:32

12. "Deep in This Land"   Nile 3:54

A SPIRIT OF THREE

After the high experimentation of 1975's double LP Spirit of '76 comes a single album from that same year, and, next to 1990's Tent of Miracles, it is the most focused of the Spirit trio albums as led by Randy California. Barry Keene is again the bassist prior to Mark Andes coming to the party for the Farther Along semi-reunion in 1976. All of side one works extremely well, from "Holy Man" to "Family" and everything in between. The tunes have more pop substance than some of California's other wandering minstrel etchings, and the band sounds more full than the three-piece unit that they declare on the album jacket. Rather than re-create more songs that Jimi Hendrix covered, which was becoming a trend on Spirit outings, California and company do a mesmerizing version of the Beatles' "Yesterday" that clocks in at one minute, 58 seconds. "Magic Fairy Princess" is a good title to lead off side two, as it is a very magical side. California's production work is top notch, sounding not unlike John Lennon's "Mind Games," with much high end on the drums and all sorts of density to the mix. As Spirit of '76 is one of this pared-down band's most satisfying gambles, Son of Spirit brings it together -- it's the kind of chapter to the story that Ian Anderson would develop for Jethro Tull, very musical, and shying from the commercial side of things. Definitely for the fans, and for those hardcore Spirit fans who are out there, the acoustics and precise vocals are a treat. "Circle" is a superb work of art and a beautiful statement. As Tent of Miracles combines the old format of the original group within the three-piece ensemble, Son of Spirit is very much like a successful spinoff à la Jo Jo Gunne or Firefall. Had they gone out on the road booked as Son of Spirit, it may have opened doors closed by the perception of the group being on the oldies/classic rock circuit. This album is refreshingly new, exciting, and a direction that deserved far more attention than it received.

Son of Spirit was the second album that Spirit released through Mercury Records. It was released in October 1975. Unlike Spirit of '76, however, it did not make the national charts.

Though some of the album's tracks were from the same sessions that produced Spirit of '76, it also features several Randy California solo demos that have been augmented by a rhythm machine.

Spirit

Randy California - Bass, Guitar, Vocals

Ed Cassidy - Percussion, Drums

Barry Keane - Bass

All songs written by Randy California except noted.

.

1. "Holy Man"  

2. "Looking into Darkness"   California, Cassidy

3. "Maybe You'll Find"  

4. "Don't Go Away"  

5. "Family"  

6. "Magic Fairy Princess"  

7. "Circle"  

8. "The Other Song"   California, Cassidy, Keane

9. "Yesterday"   Lennon–McCartney

10. "It's Time Now"    

THE THIRTEENTH DREAM

The European cover of The Thirteenth Dream

The U.S. cover version

Although Spirit achieved only moderate commercial success in its original configuration from 1968 to 1971, its music turned out to be influential and perennially popular; its last album, Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus, went gold six years after it was released. That appeal was reinforced by the success of the individual members. While guitarist Randy California and Ed Cassidy continued to lead changing lineups under the Spirit banner, lead singer Jay Ferguson and bassist Mark Andes formed Jo Jo Gunne, after which Ferguson went solo and Andes formed Firefall, before joining Heart, and keyboardist John Locke played with Hawkwind, among others. Prior commitments as much as anything else kept the original quintet from re-forming in any sustained manner. But Spirit of '84 (known as The Thirteenth Dream outside the U.S.) was the closest they came, a get-together recorded live in the studio during late 1982 and given major-label release in 1984. Augmented by 13 guest musicians, Spirit ran through seven of their old numbers and added three new songs. Two of the new ones were written by Ferguson, and they were more in his solo style (and in the mold of early-'80s synthesizer-heavy pop/rock) than that of the band. Leadoff track "Black Satin Nights," in particular, had the potential to be a hit, had it been released as a single and promoted. In contrast, California, the other leading songwriter in the band, co-wrote "All Over the World," an overt paean to the '60s peace-and-love worldview. Had the two created an album's worth of material, perhaps with some creative participation from Locke, the result might have been a collection that at least updated the Spirit sound for the '80s. As it was, the album was dominated by the remakes, which, not surprisingly, were inferior to the original recordings, but which served to remind listeners how good those recordings had been. The disc concluded with a seven-and-a-half-minute rendition of Spirit's sole Top 40 hit, "I Got a Line On You," featuring a guitar army that included heavy hitters like Bob Welch and Jeff Baxter. It had the feel of a victory lap, but for a band that never quite won the prize in the first place. Not surprisingly, Spirit of '84 proved to be a one-off reunion, after which the band members went back to their usual occupations.

  Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Black Satin Nights (3:12)

2. Mr. Skin (3:39)

3. Mechanical World (5:50)

4. Pick It Up (3:00)

5. All Over the World (3:57)

6. 1984 (3:59)

7. Uncle Jack (2:59)

8. Nature's Way (2:44)

9. Fresh Garbage (3:05)

10. I Got a Line on You (7:34)

Line-up / Musicians

- John Locke / keyboards

- Randy California / guitar, vocals

- Jay Ferguson / keyboards, percussion, vocals

- Mark Andes / bass, vocals

- Ed Cassidy / percussion, drums

+ Matt Andes / guitar, vocals

FARTHER ALONG

Farther Along was the third album that Spirit released through Mercury Records. Though Jay Ferguson was missing from the lineup, it is generally considered to be their first "reunion" album.

Out of the four albums that Spirit recorded for Mercury in the mid-70s, this one is the least influenced by Randy California's time in Hawaii. However, it isn't too dissimilar from the previous two albums in that regard, though the song structures are very tight throughout. Consequently, it also bears more than a passing resemblance to Clear at times, probably because of John Locke's presence in the group. It is particularly cherished by fans of that album. The album also includes a notable version of Nature's Way, which is arranged for a chamber orchestra.

Mark Andes - bass, vocals

Randy California - bass, guitar, vocals

Ed Cassidy - percussion, drums

John Locke - keyboards

Matt Andes - guitar, vocals

1. "Farther Along"  

2. "Atomic Boogie"  

3. "World Eat World Dog"  

4. "Stoney Night"    

5."Pineapple"  

6."Colossus"    

7."Mega Star"  

8. "Phoebe"  

9. "Don't Lock Up Your Door"  

10."Once With You"  

11."Diamond Spirit"  

12."Nature's Way"   

HOLY MEN

A nice quality show from the short SON OF SPIRIT tour. It includes "Holy Man" and "The Other Song" from that album, which were rarely performed after this tour. It also has a nice version of "Elijah", also rarely performed after the original band broke up in 1971. John Locke rejoined the band for this tour but did not play on that particular LP.His presence is absolutely felt with the Elijah track(which he composed)

Disc One (Time: 44:03m):
01.  Holy Man
02.  The Other Song
03.  Veruska
04.  Nature's Way
05.  Hey Joe
06.  Fresh Garbage
07.  1984
08.  So Little Time To Fly
09.  Guide Me
10.  Victim Of Society

Disc Two  (Time: 39:09m):
01.  Like A Rolling Stone
02.  It's All The Same>
03.  I Got A Line On You
04.  Dark Eyed Woman
05.  Elijah

Requested Re-Post  

SPIRIT OF SAINT LOUIS

Spirit .... April 22, 1986 (2 Sets)
Westport Playhouse, St. Louis, Missouri
A great sounding and interesting show from St Louis
Fortunately I got to see this show.


Randy California- Guitar & Lead Vocals
Ed Cassidy - Drums
Scott "The Reverend" Monahan - Keyboards, Harmonica & Lead Vocals*
Dave Waterbury - Bass & Lead Vocals**



Set List:

Disc One: (42:00m; First Set):
01. Romance In Time
02. Mr. Skin
03. Nature's Way
04. Island Of Roses
05. Shadows*
06. Like A Rolling Stone
07. 1984
08. Fresh Garbage

Disc Two: (53.25m; Second Set):
01. Body For Sale
02. Animal Zoo
03. Dark Eyed Woman
04. Sweet Child*
05. Here Comes Joanie**
06. Prelude - Nothin' To Hide
07. It's All The Same>
08. I Got A Line On You (cut)
09. I Got A Line On You (end)
10. Black Satin Nights
11. Miss This Train>
12. Workin' In St. Louis

Re-posted by request

CHAMBER MUSIC

Rapture in the Chambers was a 1988 album by Spirit. It remains the only Spirit LP or CD still out of print So I thought you Spirit fans would enjoy it.

It was their first "proper" album since their 1976 album Farther Along, which had featured almost the entire original line-up (Jay Ferguson, who was concentrating on his solo career, was absent). Their albums since that time had mostly consisted of archival releases, live albums, a re-union attempt, and Future Games, which is largely considered to be a Randy California solo album in everything but name. It was also their final album for an established label, IRS Records.

The primary line-up for this album was Randy, Ed and John Locke. Mark Andes also appeared on two tracks, and Randy's sister Janet provided harmony vocals on Hard Love.


Track listing

   1. Hard Love
   2. Love Tonight
   3. Thinking Of
   4. Rapture In The Chambers
   5. Mojo Man
   6. Contact
   7. The Prisoner
   8. One Track Mind
   9. Enchanted Forest
  10. Human Sexuality
  11. Shera Princess Of Power
  12. End Suite.

LATTER DAY SPIRIT

Here is a set of tunes from Spirit that were taken from some of their last releases   mostly from the 80's through the 90's. 

Tracks 1-6 from   California Blues

Tracks 7-12 from  Blues From The Soul

Tracks 15-18 from Son Of America

Tracks 19-24 from  Cosmic Smile

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'

Randy California - Shattered Dreams (1986)

01. Hey Joe   (06:49)

02. Shattered Dreams   (05:36)

03. All Along The Watchtower   (03:03)

04. Don't Bother Me   (05:08)

05. Downer   (03:25)

06. Second Child   (05:05)

07. Man at War   (04:34)

08. Killer Weed   (04:30)

09. Hand Guns   (02:47)

10. Radioman   (02:59)

11. Run To Your Lover   (03:15)

THE SPIRIT SOUND

While the San Francisco bands flourished the Southern California bands would also represent  to the music world some very fine musicians. Here is one from the ever persevering band "Spirit". Randy and Ed would continue their music until the time of death of Randy. One of my all time favorite groups who have provided years of great sounds for our enjoyment.

Spirit
Live in Hamburg 1981


Randy California - Guitar/Vocals
Ed Cassidy - Drums
Larry "Fuzzy" Knight - Bass
George Valuck - Keyboard

This is a soundboard source

1 - Crowd
2 - Shattered Dreams
3 - So Little Time To Fly
4 - Hey Joe
5 - Nature's Way
6 - Turn To The Right
7 - All Along The Watchtower
8 - Like A Rolling Stone
9 - Five In The Morning
10- All the Same>
11- Drum Solo\ Potatoland Theme>
12 - All The Same
13 - I Got A Line On You
14 - Can't Wait Until Tomorrow
15 - Wild Thing


                                                                               

SPIRITUAL KEYS

 

In keeping with the "spirit" of things I thought I would focus a post on John Locke. John was the original keyboardist with the band and composed many of the groups songs while with the group. After the Feedback LP  John moved on to other interests coming back to Spirit off and on until his death .

John played boards with Nazareth in the early 80's

Here is a tribute group of songs composed by John. 

Spirit........

01  Free Spirit
02  Elijah
Clear.........
03  Ice
04  Clear
05  Caught
06  Coral
07  Fog
Twelve Dreams Of Dr Sardonicus ..
08  Space Child
Model Shop..........
09  Eventide
10  The Moving Van
11  Song For Lola
12  Mellow Fellow
13  Green Gorilla
Feedback.......
14  Trancas Fog -Out
15  Puesta del Scam
16  Darkness
Farther Along.........
17  Pineapple
Chronicles.................
18  Genetic Dreams

SPIRIT ON THE 4TH OF JULY

The 13th LP by Spirit. It brought Randy and Ed together with Mike Nile (on bass) back to a power trio.
The music is exceptionally good and those songs by Nile made him more than just a player. He fits in well and gives the band a new feel with some great cuts. released in 1990. The band gives us some great sounding fireworks for the 4th of July

 

  Spirit -  Tent Of Miracles

    Randy California
    Ed Cassidy
    Mike Nile



    1 Borderline (Cassidy)
    2 Imaginary Mask (California/Nile/Cassidy)
    3 Stuttgart Says Good-Bye (Cassidy/California)
    4 Deep In This Land (Nile)
    5 Zandu (California)
    6 Love From Here (California)
    7 Ship of Fools (Nile)
    8 Burning Love (California)
    9 Tent of Miracles (Nile)
    10 Logical Answers (California)
    11 Old Black Magic (Nile)
    12 Neglected Emotion (California)

THE GLUE OF SPIRIT

 

 In keeping with the timeline between the California - less Spirits,here is another one from Ed Cassidy and another lineup of Spirit. It is very obvious that Ed was indeed the backbone and driving force during the whole Spirit story. It is well accepted as Randy being the essence of the band but it is Ed Cassidy who held this band together and should given credit as the one true Spirit band member .

A DIFFERENT SPIRIT

 

After 4 successul LP's Spirit began to crumble internally. Exiting the band to pursue other paths were Jay Ferguson, Mark Andes and Randy California. Not to be discouraged the band moved ahead with drummer Ed Cassidy and Keyboardist John Locke recruiting the Staehealy brothers Al and Chris to carry on. The result was the fifth Spirit album "Feedback" This was the only Spirit album to feature John and Al Staehely as band members. Musically it was a different turn for the band, in favor of a country influenced hard rock style and lyrics mostly dealing with conventional male-female love topics, with only the tracks "Darkness" and the instrumentals "Puesta Del Scam" and "Trancas Fog-Out" recalling Spirit's earlier psychedelic rock. Although the album wasn't widely heard in later years, it has finally surfaced on cd and has received some extremely satisfying notices. The Feedback tour saw the remaining original members (Locke and Cassidy) leave the band during the tour, and Chris and Al Staehely regrouped the band under a new name, Sta-Hay-Lee, recording another album self-titled under the Sta-Hay-Lee name in 1972. Chris Staehely would later join Jay Ferguson's band Jo Jo Gunne. This LP charted as high as the previous "12 Dreams" and is in fact a very fine record overall.

Here is a show taped the same week as the LP release. 

  Ed Cassidy - drums
  John Locke- keyboards
  Al Staehely - bass, vocals
  J. Christian Staehely [credited as Chris Staehely] - guitar, backup vocals

1972-03-xx San Jose, California  Fox Theatre

01 --introduction--
02. Cadillac Cowboys
03. Ripe & Ready ->
04  Puesta Del Scam
05. Right On Time ->
06. Darkness
07. Earth Shaker
08. Witch
09. Trancas Fog-Out ->
10. Ed Cassidy drum solo ->
11. Trancas Fog-Out
12. Chelsea Girls

. 

CALIFORNIA WEST

Fillmore West
San Francisco, CA
may 16, 1970.

01 Intro
02 Sweet Stella Baby
03 1984
04 Title Unknown
05 Jealous Spirit
06 All the Same
07 Fresh Garbage
08 It Shall Be
09 Nothing to Hide
10 Mr. Skin
11 Smoke Break "OK Who's Got a Joint?"
12 Animal Zoo
13 Aren't You Glad
14 Drum Solo
15 Mechanical World
16 I've Got a Line On You
17 Dark Eyed Woman
18 Uncle Jack
19 Natures Way
20 I'm Trucking
21 So Little Time To Fly
22 Title Unknown
23 Ice
24 Animal Zoo
25 Morning Will Come
26 Ground Hog Day
27 Title Unknown
28 Shot Gun
29 Hambone Time

SPIRIT OF 75

Electric Ballroom - Dallas - Texas - June 20th 1975

Randy California - Guitar - Vocals
Ed Cassidy - Drums
Barry Keene - Bass
John Locke - Keyboards

1. Veruska
2. Nature's Way
3. Like A Rolling Stone
4. Dallas Electro Jam > Mr. Skin
5. Guide Me
6. Victim Of Society
7. Downer > Stone Free
8. Joker On The Run
9. My Imagination
10. All Along The Watchtower
11. It's All The Same > I Got A Line On You

FM broadcast
Featuring the Lineup most responsible for the Spirit of 76 LP that did provide the band with some short lived but notable exposure

SPIRIT SEATTLE

Paramount Theater
Seattle, Washington
1971

1. Radio Intro> Something You Must Say
2. Nature's Way
3. Just care About Me
4. Hey Joe
5. Improvisation
6. Veruska

7. Going Away Somewhere
8. Tow The Line
9. It's All The Same
10. I Got A Line On You
11. Set Me Free> Radio Outro





Original lineup and a great sounding radio broadcast

SPIRIT OF NEW ENGLAND

Boston,Ma.USA
June 30,1994

1. Hey Shabana
2. Like A Rolling Stone
3. Nature's Way
4. You Can't Get To Love
5. 1984
6. Fresh Garbage
7. Red House
8. Prelude-Nothing To Hide
9. Animal Zoo
10. I Got A Line On You
11. Dark Eyed Woman
12. Feel His Love

Randy California; guitar,vocals
Ed Cassidy;drums
Scott Monahan; keyboard,vocals

THE SPIRIT OF MOTOR CITY

Harpos's
10-19-84
Detroit,Michigan

This show featured the reformed original members in support of the" Spirit of 84 "LP release


1. Intro- Veruska
2. Mr. Skin
3. Black Satin Nights
4. 1984
5. Nature's Way
6. Like a Rolling Stone
7. Animal Zoo
8. Don't Call It Love
9. Run To Your Lover
10. Dark Eyed Woman
11. Freash Garbage
12. I Got A line On You
13. Walking In Detroit
14. Sister Tell Me
15. All Along The Watchtower

ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPIRIT

Ebbet’s Field
Denver, Colorado
October 30, 1974


1. Intro
2. Love Will Open Your Door >
3. Stormy Night
4. America The Beautiful >
5. The Times They Are A-Changin'
6. Happy Birthday >
7. My Imagination >
8. Nature's Way >
9. All Along The Watchtower
10. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
11. Kristi
12. My Road
13. Same Old Thing >
14. Urantia
15. Veruska
16. Better Run
17. Sunrise
18. Guide Me
19. So Little Time To Fly
20. Go Down
21. It's All The Same >
22. I Got A Line On You