I`ll See Ya At The Love-In With ‘Spirit’

“Spirit” was released on January 22nd, 1968 on Epic Records/Legacy. “Spirit” was an FM ‘underground radio’ hit, with its ecologically conscious “Fresh Garbage” and the challenging Orwellian paranoia that projects out of “Mechanical World.” I always had a fondness for this record and a love for the band Spirit. I did not learn until a few days ago, that Randy California, one of my all-time favorite guitar players, had died on January 2nd, 1997 by drowning. He rescued his son during a surfing accident, but did not make it himself. This record was conceived *(late 1967) when the band members ‘communed’ in a big yellow house in Topanga Canyon. It`s very psychedelic *(Doors and Pink Floyd), but reflects jazz, pop, and folk influences as well.

“Fresh Garbage” is a pop/rock song with witty, ironic lyrics that suddenly ambles into a cool, bebop jazz passage, then re-emerges to its original pop/rock motif. “Look beneath your lid some morning, see the things you didn`t quite consume. The world`s a place for your fresh garbage.” “Mechanical World” has some searing guitar work by Randy California, that puts you behind barbed wire in some remote detention center, wishing for some breezy beaches (huh?). “Taurus” is a mood piece that Jimmy Page took careful notice of. This requires further inquiry.

I love “Girl In Your Eye” with its eastern twangy guitar and Jay Ferguson`s dreamy vocal. These were the ‘Hippie Commune Days’ and the age of ‘Free Love.’ This song has that kind of feel. Psychedelic guitar part sends you… it`s back to the bungalow from the beach, with hanging beads in the doorway, incense burning, and glowing velvet day-glow posters `neath black light fixtures (Beanie bag chairs, of course). It`s my understanding that the band formed at a “Love In” at Griffin Park in Hollywood. “Time is going much too fast, you got to slow it on gown or it won`t last. Topango Windows.” I`ll see ya at the ‘Love-In’ with “Spirit!”

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