[Review] Spirit: Clear (1969)

Hastily conceived, handily dismissed, this is clearly not their best work.

Kronomyth 3: As clear as mud.

Spirit’s third album in two years—fourth if you count the soundtrack to Model Shop—is a textbook case of a band spreading themselves too thin. A few good songs emerge (Dark Eyed Woman, Give a Life Take a Life, New Dope in Town) and the instrumentals Ice and Clear are a nice change of pace, but for the most part the material here is quickly written, quickly forgotten. That said, even without their best material, the band is too interesting to ignore. Often experimental, always eclectic, Spirit at times sounds like early Deep Purple (“Dark Eyed Woman”) and Steve Miller Band (“New Dope in Town”). Even their bad ideas have some good in them, whether it’s the weird Policeman’s Ball or Ground Hog, which may have served as the inspiration for Gentle Giant’s “Wreck.” Randy California continues to make a case for himself as one of rock’s most interesting guitarists, slipping some neat solos into songs (Apple Orchard, I’m Truckin’) that frankly don’t deserve them. Of the original four studio albums, Clear is the weakest of the lot. The band probably should have been taking a vacation, not making another album. Despite a handful of intriguing ideas, a clear picture of a cohesive album never arises. File it under too interesting to ignore, too talented to be tethered to such mediocre material. There is something to be said for the band’s instrumental side, however. “Ice” and especially “Clear” show the group branching out in a very cool direction, and I for one would welcome an all-instrumental album from the band.

Original elpee version

A1. Dark Eyed Woman (Randy California/Jay Ferguson) (3:06)
A2. Apple Orchard (Mark Andes/Randy California/Ed Cassidy/Jay Ferguson/John Locke) (4:05)
A3. So Little Time to Fly (Randy California/John Locke) (2:45)
A4. Ground Hog (Jay Ferguson) (3:01)
A5. Cold Wind (Jay Ferguson) (3:20)
A6. Policeman’s Ball (Jay Ferguson) (2:18)
B1. Ice (John Locke) (5:53)
B2. Give a Life, Take a Life (Randy California/Lou Adler) (3:25)
B3. I’m Truckin’ (Jay Ferguson) (2:24)
B4. Clear (Randy California/Jay Ferguson) (4:08)
B5. Caught (John Locke) (3:10)
B6. New Dope in Town (Mark Andes/Randy California/Ed Cassidy/Jay Ferguson/John Locke) (4:24)

CD reissue bonus tracks
13. 1984 (3:37)
14. Sweet Stella Baby (2:55)
15. Fuller Brush Man (3:19)
16. Coral (3:05)

Original 8-track version
A1. Dark Eyed Woman
A2. Apple Orchard
A3. Cold Wind
B1. Ground Hog
B2. Give a Life Take a Life
B3. Clear
C1. Ice
C2. I’m Truckin’
C3. Policeman’s Ball
D1. So Little Time to Fly
D2. Caught
D3. New Dope in Town

The Players

Mark Andes (bass, backing vocals), Randy California (guitars, backing and lead vocals), Ed Cassidy (drums, percussion), Jay Ferguson (lead and backing vocals, percussion), John Locke (keyboards). Produced by Lou Adler; engineered by Weinbang/Steiner/Stachowaik.

The Pictures

Photography by Guy Webster. Design by Tom Wilkes.

The Plastic

Released on elpee and 8-track in July 1969* in the US (Ode, Z12/Z18 44016) and Canada (Columbia, ELS-356). Reached #55 on the US charts. (*First appeared in 8/2/69 issue of Billboard.)

1. Re-packaged with Spirit on 2LP in August 1973 in the US (Epic, KEG-31457/8) with gatefgold cover.
2. Re-issued on remastered, expanded compact disc in 1996 in the US (Sony, EK 65002) with 4 bonus tracks.