"Nature's Way" became i of Spirit's signature songs, but was non a large hitting at the time, peaking at #111 on the Billboard popular charts inward 1971. In 1973, the B-side of "Nature's Way", "Mr. Skin", likewise charted, peaking at #92.
The album was re-issued on CD inward 1996 past times Sony inward remastered form, alongside bonus tracks.
Although Twelve Dreams of doctor Sardonicus has the reputation of beingness artist/spirit-mn0000746010">Spirit's most far-out album, it truly contains the most disciplined songwriting too playing of the original lineup, cutting dorsum on unopen to of the drifting too offering unopen to of their to a greater extent than melodic tunes. The lilting "Nature's Way" was the most endearing FM criterion on the album, which likewise included unopen to of artist/spirit-mn0000746010">Spirit's best songs inward "Animal Zoo" too "Mr. Skin." [The 1996 CD reissue has 4 bonus tracks, though these are on the nonessential side: mono versions of "Animal Zoo" too "Morning Will Come," the 1970 unmarried "Red Light Roll On," too the previously unissued "Rougher Road."]
Spirit was formed alongside the intention to combine jazz, rock, classical, too folk alongside a mystical orientation. Led past times the household unit of measurement duo of Hendrix-inspired guitarist Randy California too his uncle, jazz drummer Ed Cassidy (whose shaved head--some 20 years ahead of its time--was the band's visual focus), Spirit had a few idiosyncratic hits such every bit "I Got Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Line On You." The band didn't ambit its prime number until Twelve Dreams, afterwards which they promptly broke up. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 loosely constructed sci-fi concept album, it contains the band's biggest hit, the ecological "Nature's Way" (complete alongside booming kettle drums), the surreal stone of "Animal Zoo," too the orchestral psychedelia of "Life Has Just Begun." Bristling alongside ideas, energy, too California's meaty guitar, Twelve Dreams exemplifies the best of the belatedly '60s experimentalism.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 hearty "Amen" to all the 5 star reviews before. This is only i of the greatest stone albums of all time, debatably the most successful concept album always (probably due to the elasticity too emotional resonance of its "dream" theme), too inward my sentiment the best "headphone album" ever. Spirit made unopen to wonderful tunes before, but were hampered past times the laconic too inconsistent production of Lou Adler on their prior records. Fortunately they connected alongside David Briggs inward fourth dimension to create this masterpiece of psychedelia prior to their untimely breakup. Interestingly, for a psychedelic album it is remarkably extroverted, emotionally engaging, accessible, too musically disciplined. Every damn vocal is memorable, too indispensible to the current of the album. It manages to somehow collapse the emotional sense of a fitful black (Asleep? Awake? Drugged out?) into a breathtaking 40 minutes or so, alongside stunning moments of beauty too sonic adventure. Thirty years downwards the line, this album refuses to audio dated, too showcases the instrumental too vocal talents of the band at their height. All y'all immature ones (especially musicians) out at that topographic point who intend that they've heard it all from the 60's through the 90's, good if y'all haven't heard 12 Dreams (and Randy California on guitar) too then y'all are really wrong. The exclusively contemporary reference I tin intend of off-hand is OK Computer past times Radiohead, but this album is to a greater extent than consistent too to a greater extent than fun than that one. Buy this record, too appreciate i of the pinnacle achievements of an era when musicianship too artistic vision was prized every bit a grade of hipness. Limp Bizkit too Snoop fans tin pass--nothing of involvement here.
Spriit was (and nevertheless is) sadly i of the most overlooked bands from the psychedelic era- possibly it was due to drummer Ed Cassidy's famous bald shaved head; possibly it was the fact that the music was to a greater extent than peel to the Soft Machine too other jazz-oriented bands of the twenty-four hr catamenia during the era when country/rock (the Dead, Flying Burrito Brothers, Poco, etc) began to dominate California rock... whatsoever the reason, Spirit deserves greater attending too praise than it has received.
While they DID score a surprise hitting inward 1968 alongside "I Got a Line on You," it is without inquiry the concept oriented lp "The 12 Dreams of Dr.Sardonicus" that volition forever define the band. The songs, similar the talent inward the band, are enormous too special, spanning the gamut from the jazzy blues of the wonderful "Mr. Skin" (tribute to drummer Cassidy)to the out n out psychedelia of the gorgeous "Love has Found a Way," to the surrealism of "Animal Zoo."
"12 Dreams" remains i of the most consistent listens that I ain from belatedly 60's, early on 70's stone n roll. This is due most to the bright musicianship of Jay Ferguson, John Locke, Mark Andes, Ed Cassidy, too Randy California. The wonderful interplay betwixt these men is top-rate, alongside California's brilliance on the guitar meshing perfectly alongside stepfather Cassidy's jazzy drumming (he was drummer for the Rising Sons, featuring Taj Mahal too Ry Cooder). The songs, every bit I mentioned earlier, are bright too current wonderfully. The combination of the two equals an album that I can't pose downwards for really long.
Now alongside alternate takes, Spirit's colossal lp comes to life again- ameliorate than ever. Fans of belatedly 60's stone know most Spirit. The fourth dimension has come upwards for the residual of the globe to practice the same. An absolute no-brainer of a purchase. One of the most underrated too bright lps always made. Period.
Tracks Listing
1. Prelude - Nothin' to Hide (3:43)
2. Nature's Way (2:40)
3. Animal Zoo (3:10)
4. Love Has Found a Way (2:42)
5. Why Can't I Be Free (1:05)
6. Mr. Skin (4:01)
7. Space Child (3:25)
8. When I Touch You (5:37)
9. Street Worm (3:43)
10. Life Has Just Begun (3:29)
11. Morning Will Come (2:50)
12. Soldier (2:50)
Total Time 54:13
Line-up / Musicians
- Jay Ferguson / vocals, percussion, keyboards
- Randy California / guitars, vocals
- John Locke / piano, keyboards, moog synthesizer
- Ed Cassidy / drums, percussion
- Mark Andes / bass, vocals
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