Customer Reviews

Spirit of '76

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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!

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!

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 .

I'll admit it right off the bat. I'm a big Randy California/Wolf/Spirit fan. And I have placed the spirit recordings into two phases. Let's call them Phase I and II for a lack of a more original heading. But I do think that you must view their recordings from that perpective, Or you do this incredible band a huge injustice. So, my question to some of the less flattering reviewers is this. What musical direction would you take after losing three players of the stature of John Locke, Mark Andes, And Jay Ferguson? Where and how do you begin to recover? If you can answer those questions then you should have replaced Randy California. That in itself would make you all knowing and Masters of the universe. Seprating this body of work and I'm talking about the first Five recordings if you include The Model Shop Which I do from the latter works is really the only way you can objectively view this and the other recordings. This is a concept album. It is intended to be listened to as whole and judge accordingly. I know there are people out there that are always looking for a hit or an album to have numerous hits. And no this wasn't an album that your going to hear repeatedly on the classic rock station of your liking. But this work has alot to offer. But you have to listen it to more than once to find and appreciate the genius of it all. Spirit of 76 falls right in line with Kapt Kopter and the fabulous twirlybirds, the Adventures in Potato land, and Future Games and not necessarily in that order. These recordings are all connected take the time to discover what that connection is. Then you may find what was once thought to be dribble is now pure joy!!!

I loved this when it first came out and was thrilled to find it on a small silver CD instead of the big black CDs.

The Star Spangled Banner is on of the nicest renditions of this song that I have ever heard. And you can even sing to it without straining your voice. Spirit ROCKS!

All words said about this double album said it was really good, even sublime compared with the later post-big 4 releases. When I first listened to it, I thought, were these reviewers loopy? There were a few songs that were on the live Spirit discs, but the rest seemed like filler at best. Ahhh, but These Times They Are A Changing.

"Victim Of Society" and "Lady Of The Lakes" are about as opposite as you can get for this album, and that is what sums up Randy California. A heavy tune into a light romp. Both excellent. "What Do I Have?" is Randy's "Yesterday" Learn it and sing along. "Joker On The Run" rocks and lets off so well, one of Randy's finest. Disc 1 ends with "Like A Rolling Stone" which, is worth the price of admission. The second disc of the set is lighter. There is a good cover of the Stone's "Happy" as well as "Veruska" a heavy tune with writing assistance from Spirit member Mark Andes and of course Cass. Mostly it makes a salvation of sorts for Randy. Plus there's "Hey Joe" thrown in and it ends with Randy's arrangement of "The Star Spangled Banner" which is used as a sign off for my internet radio show.

The first disc is the most exciting and the second is the most reflective on where Randy was at the time. Of course the "Salvation '74" three disc set really sets "Spirit Of '76" up for greatness, and indeed it delivers. Even the slower stuff, gives a heartfelt look at Randy's talent. Another thing, other than some thick analog echo effects, the tunes here do not sound like 70's tunes.

I keep listening to disc 1. It's that good.

... if you were there and had this album in the mid-70's you know what I mean. Spirit with their various line-ups always seemed to be on the edge of something really special. Yet I often felt that they came up short in making a total connection in one aspect or another. "Spirit of '76" is an excellent example of this. This album is both sparse and lush at the same time making it a true paradox. Many of the songs have a dreamlike feel to them, very soothing and laid back with mesmerizing drumming provided by Ed Cassidy to quicken the pulse. There are select spots where Cassidy and California pick up the pace but this integrated work of sonic art relies heavily on the hypnotic effect created by moving from one tranquil tune to the next. This is especially true on disc two. Disc one is more uptempo. It rocks out at times but never loses touch with the laid back groove. Disc two is more surreal.

"Spirit of '76" pays homage to Jimi Hendrix at various points by featuring steamy guitar solos distorted and controlled to perfection to suit the piece much like Hendrix would do on the more mellow tracks that he released. "Hey Joe" is a perfect example where both Hendrix (Are You Experienced) and California (Spirit of '76) hit their intended marks. California takes Hendrix's bouncier version and creates a stoned somber mood that gradually becomes more manic as the solo kicks in and weaves magically to completion. "Hey Joe" is certainly a gem on "Spirit of '76" but the album generally lacks the edgier rock out tracks that Hendrix always made sure were packaged in ample portions on his releases. California and Cassidy missed out on a golden opportunity to include a few more manic rockers like "Veruska" and make "Spirit of '76" a more robust album. What they did include, however, is worthy of note and accomplishes their vision of the times admirably. For this I give them high marks.

Based on some of the reviews posted here, consumers looking to sample Spirit for the first time or those looking to add something from Randy California to their gallery of guitar gunslingers are going to end up being perplexed, perhaps even disappointed. "Spirit of '76" is a subtle offering that is meant to be digested as an integrated whole rather than as a collection of independent tracks. The original vinyl allowed you to take this offering in four parts which worked well but I find that the two discs on the CD version are an even better division. Just like any album that you might already own, "Spirit of '76" is not something that is always suitable for the moment. It isn't a party album but rather is more of a personal escape experience for when you are looking to break loose from the confinement of your current circumstances.

This is a live CD from Tampa. I got this just for the version of Like a Rolling Stone. I wish the sound was better. I don't think you can get this version on a studio track but it is still worth it. I had a hard time finding this song. I heard it in the 70's and loved it but could never find it. Eventually while searching on Amazon it popped up. There is also a great version of America on here. I don't really listen to the rest of the songs too much. But I love the Rolling Stone song. You have to give it time when you first listen to it. The voice is barely audible for a few bars then it kicks into gear. Be patient and listen to the song all the way through. I don't know too many people who like this version besides me. I like the echoing/reverb they use.

I became a Spirit fan later in their career, and this was admittedly the first album of theirs I listened to. I was unfamiliar at the time with "12 Dreams", etc. and heard Spirit of '76 for the first time in a used record store and right off the bat LOVED it. The store manager said the same thing as one reviewer, i.e. the band brought some "combustible" into the studio and lit up.

The greatest attribute of this album is the experimentation, and perhaps it is best described as a "time capsule" of what was going on -- the 60's was over, the 80's not yet around the corner and Spirit making perhaps the best attempt at cataloging the times through this album. The dreamy sequeues from one song to another are superb, and Randy's ability to transition from folksy renditions to blues-based rock, combined with his angelic vocals and tight rhythm section spearheaded by step-dad Ed Cassady put this at the top of my all-time list.

Spirit toured/performed at least through the late 80's, I saw them at a small club on Sunset Blvd one memorable night of dancin' and rockin'. Randy was a bit standoffish that night but I chatted with Ed Cassady, one of the friendliest souls I've ever met.

Anyways, this is a great tribute to one of the most creative bands of the period. Five stars from me.

I am a late commer as a Randy California/Spirit fan. I mainly know Randy's music from the posthumous albums, and also "The 12 Dreams". I listened to "12 Dreams" a lot when it first came out. I have been listening to it, and three or four Randy California posthumous albums lately. I think I can only recomend "Spirit od 76" for those die-hard Spirit fans who want to know where Randy, and the band was at in 1976. For me overall the album was meandering, and very dated. There were only a couple bright spots in the 2 disc album. I listened to it twice, and then pitched the album in the trash. I knew I would never listen to it again. Over-all a disappointing experience. To me, only of value to see how Randy, and the band had progressed. I can highly recommend "Cosmic Smile", "Sea Dreams", and even "Son of America". But not this album. - btk