Song:Mr. Skin
Album:Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus
Spirit was a popular psychedelic band in the late 60s. The 1970 album Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus is probably their best album. They hung around for decades in various forms but I will concentrate on the original band. Singer guitarist Randy California (born Randy Wolfe Feb. 20, 1951 in Los Angeles) was the leader. His uncle owned the Ash Grove club in Los Angeles and that's how he became interested in music. One group he liked was Taj Mahal & Ry Cooder's band Rising Sons. His stepfather Ed Cassidy (born May 4, 1923 in Chicago) was the drummer but had to drop out due to a broken wrist. Then Wolfe met singer percussionist Jay Ferguson (born Feb. 5, 1947 in Burbank, CA) and bassist Mark Andes (born Feb. 19, 1948 in Philadelphia) at a folk music camp and the four formed The Red Roosters in Sept. 1965. The group split up when Cassidy moved his family to New York. Wolfe met Jimi Hendrix (then known as Jimmy James) and joined his band. The bass player was also named Randy so Hendrix renamed Wolfe Randy California to avoid confusion. Hendrix asked California to go to England with him but he was too young at age 15. Cassidy & California moved back to Los Angeles and started Spirits Rebellious with pianist John Locke (born Sept. 23, 1943 in Los Angles) who had worked with Cassidy previously. California ran into Ferguson & Andes and they joined the band now called Spirit. They auditioned for Lou Adler and they signed with his new Ode label in Aug. 1967. Their biggest hit I Got A Line On You reached #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 in Mar. 1969 but they were mostly an album band. In early 1970, Adler moved Ode from Epic to A & M but left Spirit on Epic. Spirit brought in David Briggs (Neil Young) to produce Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus. The album was not a commercial success but today is considered a classic. Ferguson wrote Mr. Skin as a tribute to Cassidy's bald head. The album reached #63 on the album charts. Sony released it on CD in 1996 with bonus tracks. Ferguson & Andes left Spirit and had the hit they were looking for as Jo Jo Gunne (Run Run Run). California left to go solo and Cassidy brought in Al & Chris Stahaely. Then Cassidy left and the Stahaelys continued to tour as Spirit. Cassidy got the rights to the name and reformed Spirit in 1974 and signed with Mercury. The group continued to exist until Randy California died in an accident in the waters of Hawaii on Jan. 2, 1997 at age 45. Ed Cassidy continues to tour today as Spirit Revisited. But Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus is essential listening. Here's Spirit performing Mr. Skin in Essen, Germany 1978 featuring Randy California singing lead.
No comments:
Post a Comment