Spirit was a staple of FM music for the duration of their start-up in 1967 through roughly 1975. During that time, the band released six classic albums including the double set, Spirit of ’76. (That album charted but the fans were quickly losing interest. Personally, I thought the album was excellent. I LOVED “America The Beautiful/The Times They Are A’Changin'”, and the unreal psychedelic cover of “Like A Rolling Stone”!) But before they began to dissipate, they left five memorable sets.
On March 16, Esoteric Records teams with PledgeMusic to release a 5CD Boxed set that will feature all five Spirit albums from their years with Ode Records, and Epic Records. Those include Spirit (1968), The Family That Plays Together (1968), and Clear (1969), all with Ode Records. With Epic Records there were Twelve Dreams of Doctor Sardonicus (1970), and Feedback (1972).
Each album in this clamshell box will be newly remastered. Even better (and worth the price of admission) is the inclusion of the Mono mix of the 1968 self-titled debut. In addition, the original Stereo mix for The Family That Plays Together, the soundtrack to Model Shop, and the collection of outtakes, singles, and alternate mixes previously released for the 1991 TimeCircle compilation.
This set is being called It Shall Be – The Ode & Epic Recordings 1968-1972. I will include a booklet with essay, notes, credits, photos, and archive interviews with Spirit.
It Shall Be – The Ode & Epic Recordings 1968-1972 –Spirit
CD1:
01. FRESH GARBAGE
02. UNCLE JACK
03. MECHANICAL WORLD
04. TAURUS
05. GIRL IN YOUR EYE
06. STRAIGHT ARROW
07. TOPANGA WINDOWS
08. GRAMOPHONE MAN
09. WATER WOMAN
10. THE GREAT CANYON FIRE IN GENERAL
11. ELIJAH
12. I GOT A LINE ON YOU (ORIGINAL 1968 STEREO MIX)
13. IT SHALL BE (ORIGINAL 1968 STEREO MIX)
14. POOR RICHARD (ORIGINAL 1968 STEREO MIX)
15. SILKY SAM (ORIGINAL 1968 STEREO MIX)
16. THE DRUNKARD (ORIGINAL 1968 STEREO MIX)
17. DARLIN’ IF (ORIGINAL 1968 STEREO MIX)
18. ALL THE SAME (ORIGINAL 1968 STEREO MIX)
19. JEWISH (ORIGINAL 1968 STEREO MIX)
20. DREAM WITHIN A DREAM (ORIGINAL 1968 STEREO MIX)
21. SHE SMILED (ORIGINAL 1968 STEREO MIX)
22. AREN’T YOU GLAD (ORIGINAL 1968 STEREO MIX)
CD2:
01. THE MOVING VAN
02. MELLOW FELLOW
03. NOW OR ANYWHERE
04. FOG
05. GREEN GORILLA
06. MODEL SHOP I
07. MODEL SHOP II (CLEAR)
08. THE REHEARSAL THEME
09. SONG FOR LOLA
10. EVENTIDE
11. CORAL
12. AREN’T YOU GLAD (DEMO)
13. DARK EYED WOMAN
14. APPLE ORCHARD
15. SO LITTLE TIME TO FLY
16. GROUND HOG
17. COLD WIND
18. POLICEMANâS BALL
19. ICE
20. GIVE A LIFE, TAKE A LIFE
21. I’M TRUCKIN’
22. CLEAR
23. CAUGHT
24. NEW DOPE IN TOWN
CD3:
01. PRELUDE’S NOTHING TO HIDE
02. NATURE’S WAY
03. ANIMAL ZOO
04. LOVE HAS FOUND A WAY
05. WHY CAN’T I BE FREE?
06. MR SKIN
07. SPACE CHILD
08. WHEN I TOUCH YOU
09. STREET WORM
10. LIFE HAS JUST BEGUN
11. MORNING WILL COME
12. SOLDIER
13. ROUGHER ROAD
14. CHELSEA GIRLS
15. CADILLAC COWBOYS
16. PUESTA DEL SCAM
17. RIPE AND READY
18. DARKNESS
19. EARTH SHAKER
20. MELLOW MORNING
21. RIGHT ON TIME
22. TRANCAS FOG-OUT
23. WITCH
CD4:
01. FRESH GARBAGE (MONO MIX)
02. UNCLE JACK (MONO MIX)
03. MECHANICAL WORLD (MONO MIX)
04. TAURUS (MONO MIX)
05. GIRL IN YOUR EYE (MONO MIX)
06. STRAIGHT ARROW (MONO MIX)
07. TOPANGA WINDOWS (MONO MIX)
08. GRAMOPHONE MAN (MONO MIX)
09. WATER WOMAN (MONO MIX)
10. THE GREAT CANYON FIRE IN GENERAL (MONO MIX)
11. ELIJAH (MONO MIX)
12. VERUSKA
13. FREE SPIRIT
14. IF I HAD A WOMAN
15. ELIJAH (ALTERNATE TAKE 2)
16. I GOT A LINE ON YOU (TIME CIRCLE MIX)
17. IT SHALL BE (TIME CIRCLE MIX)
18. POOR RICHARD (TIME CIRCLE MIX)
19. SILKY SAM (TIME CIRCLE MIX)
CD5:
01. SCHEROZODE (TIME CIRCLE MIX)
02. ALL THE SAME (TIME CIRCLE MIX)
03. A DREAM WITHIN A DREAM (TIME CIRCLE MIX)
04. AREN’T YOU GLAD (TIME CIRCLE MIX)
05. EVENTIDE (TIME CIRCLE MIX)
06. MODEL SHOP THEME (TIME CIRCLE MIX)
07. GREEN GORILLA (TIME CIRCLE MIX)
08. REHEARSAL THEME (TIME CIRCLE MIX)
09. FOG
10. SO LITTLE TO SAY
11. MELLOW FELLOW
12. NOW OR ANYWHERE
13. SPACE CHILE
14. FULLER BRUSH MAN
15. CORAL
16. 1984
17. SWEET STELLA BABY
18. ANIMAL ZOO (MONO SINGLE VERSION)
19. RED LIGHT ROLL ON
20. MORNING WILL COME (MONO MIX)