Spirit of '76 [Import, Original recording remastered]

Spirit | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 26, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Bgo - Beat Goes on
• ASIN: B0000YHJP0
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #161,543 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. America the Beautiful/The Times They Are a Changing

2. Victim of Society

3. Lady of the Lakes

4. Tampa Jam, Pt. 1

5. Mauna Loa

6. What Do I Have?

7. Sunrise

8. Walking the Dog

9. Tampa Jam, Pt. 2

10. Joker on the Run

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Once Again

2. Feeling in Time

3. Happy

4. My Road

5. Tampa Jam, Pt. 3

6. Thank You Lord

7. Urantia

8. Guide Me

9. Veruska

10. Hey Joe

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Originally a double album appearing on the Mercury record label in 1975, and now available on CD for the first time. 25 tracks packaged with a slipcase. BGO. 2003.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars IT'S ABOUT TIME!!!, July 10, 2004

By 

F. M. Moses "insultant1" (Blacklick, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spirit of '76 (Audio CD)

This is the first Randy California effort without the help of Ferguson, Locke, and Andes to rehash the legacy of Spirit. Though 1971's release of "Feedback" seemed to satisfy a few Spirit fans' cravings, many felt that the band was missing its main ingredient= Randy California!

"Spirit Of 76" is California's first collaboration with the trademark name after nearly five years of the release of the stunning "Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus" classic album. No, it isn't the best follow-up album...but the title of the album offers a truce, for, it is in the "spirit" of its time. With Calfornia and Cassidy minus the rest of the original line-up leading the way, "Spirit of 76" lacks some of the heavy jazz influences of the previous Spirit + California efforts. But for the elements that are lacking without the rest of the band, California makes up for with his brilliant guitar work and his find ear in music production.

To look at the album in another distinct way, it is sort of like Bob Dylan from "Blonde on Blonde" to "John Wesley Harding"...the ingredients differ, but both flavors are equally satisfying.
"Spirit of 76" brings that same brand to life...it is much more mellow than the previous California/Spirit efforts, yet it is full of body and soul. Lacking the experimentation of "Twelve Dreams...," "Spirit of 76" is more natural in its sound...it reveals a beauty that cannot be duplicated by any mixing board...for, it comes right from the heart.

"Sunrise" and "Maunaloa" remain as some of my favorites on this album...there is plenty of studio experimentation made by a simple guitar and rhythm session, similiar to the Hendrix tradition. If Dylan praised Hendrix's version of "All Along the Watch Tower"...he surely had to recognize the chilling, yet beautiful version of "Like a Rolling Stone" composed by California on this album.

"Spirit of 76" remains more like a MTV production of "Unplugged" in a bands' discography...it proves that Randy California was truly a musician, not just another victim who fell to the grace of a record company. By now, any Spirit fan can recognize that Spirit are unique in their following. From a band that rejected an offering to the original Woodstock, the group has alot to offer than words can say. "Spirit of 76" proves that a band can make the best without selling out!

It's about time this album made its way to compact disc...hopefully it will have the same impact on others as it did for me...to see the Spirit collection reissued in its entirety! "Spirit of 76" is just a start, and what a fine start it is!

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Rolling Stone" alone makes it worth the price of admission, March 26, 2004

By 

dougkenz "dougkenz" (Bethlehem, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spirit of '76 (Audio CD)

I owned the original double album and always thought they probably could have done this as a single...there's a fair amount of fluff which sometimes sounds like the boys were smoking in the studio and just messing around (they probably were, actually). HOWEVER, that said, it is a worthwhile addition to anyone's collection, especially if you are a Spirit fan. Their covers of several songs feature some of the best electric guitar work around and are just plain really good, including: Walking the Dog, Like a Rolling Stone (the gem of the entire album in my opinion...if you don't get a tear in your eye on this one, you're not human), Happy, Hey Joe and others. I also love "When", basically a beautiful prayer. This CD version sounded pretty good to me. Enjoy. Peace!

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Sat in during the original recording, October 7, 2005

By 

Bruce Fleischer - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spirit of '76 (Audio CD)

I was fortuate to be the photographer for this album. Interesting facts. The cover was a napkin drawing by a friend artist of the band. He flew in to Tampa from Los Angeles and surprised everyone with the restaurant napkin illustration. Randy loved it. The artist did some reverb vocals on the album. Randy enjoyed recording especially with his step dad Ed Cassidy. He had written many songs for the recording which did not end up on this album. Randy was nice to speak with. The concert was in Tampa and also recorded there over a few week period. Though this music in my opinion is no where the level of the original Spirit, at the time it was good seeing two original members play together. Barry Keene was the bass player. The band's manager was the nephew of Milton Bearle.
It was a great experience for me and am very excited that it's on a C.D. I will buy it with fond memory's of the experience .