Spirit (band)
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Spirit was an American jazz/hard rock/psychedelic band founded in 1967. The original lineup of the Los Angeles-based group was Randy California,(guitars) Jay Ferguson (vocals), Mark Andes (bass), California's stepfather, drummer Ed Cassidy, and keyboard player John Locke. The new band was originally named the Spirits Rebellious (after a book by Kahlil Gibran) but was soon shortened simply to Spirit. All but Locke had been part of the band The Red Roosters in 1965. California and Cassidy had also played together with Jimi Hendrix (then known as Jimmy James) for three months in 1966.
Ed Cassidy is notable as one of the most accomplished drummers in rock and was instantly recognizable by his shaven head and proclivity to wear black. He was considerably older than the rest of the group (he was born in 1923). His earlier career was primarily in jazz and included stints with Cannonball Adderley, Gerry Mulligan, Roland Kirk and Lee Konitz prior to joining Spirit, he was a founder member of Rising Sons with Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder.
The group's first album, Spirit, was released in 1968. Their only true hit was I Got a Line on You from their second album, The Family That Plays Together, also in 1968. They also went on tour that year, backed up by Led Zeppelin. In 1969 they were offered to open for Hendrix at Woodstock but turned down the offer.
In 1970 Spirit released what is widely considered to be their best LP, the well-received Twelve Dreams of Dr Sardonicus; produced by David Briggs (who also worked extensively with Neil Young), it was one of the first rock LPs to use the newly-developed Moog synthesiser, and is widely regarded as one of the finest albums ever recorded.
The group split in 1971, following a conflict between the members of what music to play, causing Ferguson and Andes to leave Spirit to form Jo Jo Gunne. John Arliss took Andes' place for about six months in 1971. California had a riding accident that disabled him for the next two years. Cassidy and Locke, together with Al Staehely and John Staehely, recorded the 1972 album Feedback and continued to play until 1973. In that year, California, who had previously been sidelined for some time by a riding accident, suffered a nervous breakdown and moved to Molokai, Hawaii.
Spirit was re-formed in 1974, consisting of California, Cassidy, Locke, Barry Keene and, for a brief period, also Mark Andes. They played sporadically for the next several years but with little attention. In 1982 the band was reorganized with the original members and there was a brief revival of popularity in 1984 with The Thirteenth Dream. The death of Randy California in a drowning accident off Molokai in 1997 effectively ended the band's career.
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Original members
- Randy California (guitar, vocals)
- Ed Cassidy (drums)
- John Locke (keyboards)
- Mark Andes (bass)
- Jay Ferguson (vocals, percussion)
Further members
- Bob Arkin (bass)
- John Arliss (bass)
- Al Staehely (bass, vocals)
- John Staehely (guitar, vocals)
- John Fine (bass)
- Larry Knight (bass, vocals)
- Cozy Powell (drums)
- Stu Perry (drums)
- Scott Shelley (guitar, vocals)
- Donnie Dacus (guitar, vocals)
- Steve Olitzky (keyboards)
- Steve Ewards (guitar, vocals)
- Barry Keene (bass, vocals)
- John Turlep (bass, vocals)
- Tim Bogert (bass, vocals)
- George Valuck (keyboards)
- Steve Loria (bass, vocals)
- Scott Monahan (keyboards, vocals)
- Dave Waterbury (bass, vocals)
- Freeman James (bass)
- Mike Lewis (keyboards, vocals)
- Dave Waterbury (bass, vocals)
- Walter Egan (bass, vocals)
- Andrea Carol (percussion)
- Matt Andes (guitar, vocals)
- Mike Nile (bass, vocals)
- Gary Bloom (keyboards, vocals)
- Tommy Beaumont (keyboards, vocals)
Albums
- Spirit (1968)
- The Family That Plays Together (1968)
- Clear (1969)
- Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus (1970)
- Feedback (1972; Ed Cassidy, John Locke, Al Staehely, John Staehely)
- Spirit of '76 (1975; Randy California, Ed Cassidy, Barry Keene)
- Son of Spirit (1975; Randy California, Ed Cassidy, Barry Keene)
- Farther Along (1976; Randy California, Ed Cassidy, Mark Andes, John Locke, Matt Andes, Steve Larrence, Robert Lee, Michael Temple, Ian Underwood, Ernie Watts)
- Future Games (1977; Randy California, Ed Cassidy, Terry Anderson)
- Made in Germany (1978; live; Randy California, Ed Cassidy, Larry Knight)
- The Adventures of Kaptain Kopter & Commander Cassidy in Potato Land (1981; Randy California, Ed Cassidy, John Locke, George Valuck, Mike Bunnell, Joe Green, Jeff Jarvis, Michael Lee, Robert Lee, Kari Nile, Chuck Snyder, Mike Thornburgh)
- The Thirteenth Dream/Spirit of '84 (1984; Randy California, Ed Cassidy, Mark Andes, Jay Ferguson, John Locke, Matt Andes, Jeff Baxter, Neal Doughty, Bruce Gary, Alan Gratzer, Jerry Jumonville, Keith Knudsen, Joe Lala, Bobby LaKind, Howard Lesse, Gary Myrik, Curly Smith, Bob Welch)
- Rapture in the Chambers (1989; Randy California, Mark Andes, Ed Cassidy, John Locke, Curly Smith, Janet Wolfe)
- Tent of Miracles (1990; Randy California, Ed Cassidy, Mike Nile)
- Time Circle, 1968-1972 (1991); compilation with previously unreleased tracks; Randy California, Ed Cassidy, Jay Ferguson, Mark Andes, John Locke)
- Chronicles, 1967-1992; compilation with previously unreleased tracks; Randy California, Ed Cassidy, Jay Ferguson, Mark Andes, John Locke)
- Live at la Paloma (1995; live; Randy California, Ed Cassidy, John Locke, Larry Knight, Steve Loria, Scott Monahan)
- California Blues (1996; Randy California, Ed Cassidy, John Locke)
- Cosmic Smile (2000; Randy California, Ed Cassidy, Scott Monahan, Matt Andes; 1st posthumous release)
- Sea Dream (2002; Randy California, Ed Cassidy, Scott Monahan; 2-CDs)
- Blues From the Soul (2003; Randy California, Ed Cassidy, Steve Lauria, Matt Andes, Rachel Andes, Scott Monahan; 2-CDs)
- Live From the Time Coast (2004; Randy California, Ed Cassidy, Mike Nile; 2-CDs)
Randy California Solo albums:
- Kapt. Kopter and the (Fabulous) Twirly Birds (1972; Randy California, Clit McTorius (aka Noel Redding), Henry Manchovitz, Tim McGovern, Charlie Bundy, Roger Dollarhide)
- Euro-American (1982; Randy California, Ed Cassidy (credited as Cass Strange), Jay Ferguson, Mark Andes, Matt Andes, John Locke, George Valuck, Larry "Fuzzy" Knight, Bruce Gary, Curly Smith, Tom Hall
- Restless (1985; Randy California, Neil Murray, Curly Smith, Adrian Smith, Joe Leeway, Mike Sheppard
- Shattered Dreams (1987; Randy California, Ed Cassidy