Record Reviews

SPIRIT ~ THE COMPLETE POTATOLAND ESOTERIC 2687 (Barcode: 5013929478701) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1972 - 1981 Released: 2019 This is an archival / reissue Box Set by the American Rock group SpiritFind albums by this artist, collecting all the recordings associated with the so called "Potatoland" sessions scheduled for release in 1973 but eventually scrapped and released only in 1981 in a completely revamped form as "The Adventures Of Kaptain Kopter & Commander Cassidy In Potato LandFind albums with this title". The Box Set includes four CDs: CD1 presents "The Original Potato LandFind albums with this title" album recorded in 1972 / 1973 by Randy CaliforniaFind albums by this artist and Ed CassidyFind albums by this artist, which was a concept album including dialogues and sound effects, spanning over eighteen tracks, and which was not released until 2006 and then again in 2011. The political / social message of the album sound weirdly contemporary today. It also includes nine bonus tracks with alternate takes, live recordings, BBC radio recordings, an interview with California and Cassidy and finally two live recordings from 1979 recorded as a trio with bassist Larry KnightFind albums by this artist. CD2 present the 1981 release of "The Adventures Of Kaptain Kopter & Commander Cassidy In Potato Land", which was altered and re-recorded and included additional musicians, like keyboardist John LockeFind albums by this artist and horn and strings sections. It also includes seven bonus tracks with alternate versions and another interview with California. CD3 presents a live radio recording from September 13th, 1972 (sixteen tracks) and CD4 presents a live radio recording from September 6th, 1972 (eight tracks) and six bonus tracks with studio cuts, rehearsal and demos. The live radio recordings were done by the California / Cassidy / Knight trio. All the music was newly remastered and the Box set includes extensive booklet with historical background as well as the replica of the comic book insert that came with the 1981 release. Overall this Box Set is not only full of great music but also a classic example of care about music and preservation of Rock´s history, as usual with the EsotericFind albums on this label Records releases. Absolutely essential for the many Spirit fans and most welcomed by Classic Rock loves around the globe!

Updated: 14/07/2020Posted: 14/07/2020

CD 4 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend

SPIRIT ~ TWO SIDES OF A RAINBOW: LIVE AT THE RAINBOW 1978 ESOTERIC 2704 (Barcode: 5013929480483) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1978 Released: 2019 This is an archival / reissue album by the American Rock group SpiritFind albums by this artist recorded live at London´s Rainbow Theatre. After five year absence from the UK scene Spirit returned as a lean and mean power trio with Randy CaliforniaFind albums by this artist on vocals and guitar, Larry KnightFind albums by this artist on bass and Ed CassidyFind albums by this artist on drums. The Rainbow was intended as a location to record a live album and the concert was indeed recorded, but sadly it turned out that California´s guitar track was left unrecorded. This resulted in the need of the guitar to be re-recorded and overdubbed with the live tracks, producing no less than three somewhat different versions of the album being released: "LiveFind albums with this title" in UK, "Made In GermanyFind albums with this title" in Germany and "Live SpiritFind albums with this title" in the US. Three decades later a board mix cassette was discovered, which captured the entire Rainbow show, including the six encores, and after some serious repair work the entire show and the remastered edition of "Live Spirit" were released as a 2CD album "Two Sides Of A RainbowFind albums with this title" in 2012, sadly making very little impact at the time. This reissue offers another careful remaster of the entire content and elegant packaging, as always with EsotericFind albums on this label Records, and is another attempt to bring this great music to the attention of Rock and Spirit fans. The music includes mostly original material from the fabulous Spirit songbook, most written by California and two by Jay FergusonFind albums by this artist, but also a few covers of Bob DylanFind albums by this artist and other songs associated with Jimi HendrixFind albums by this artist. The Spirit songs get a much more Hard Rock oriented treatment, in contrast to the finesse and complex vocal harmonies that characterize the studio versions of these songs. The focus of this album is obviously on California´s guitar pyrotechnics, in which he clearly pays tribute to the legacy of Hendrix. By the time this music was recorded, Classic Rock was slowly disintegrating and this album is a wonderful document of the last great days of idiom, soon to be gone. Spirit was undoubtedly a manifestation of the finest aspects of American Rock, leaving a unique and completely idiosyncratic legacy, which deserves to be remembered. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 10/07/2020Posted: 10/07/2020

CD 2 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend