SPIRIT - THE MERCURY YEARS

 Spirit released four albums on Mercury including 'Spirit of 76 ' . Released in 1975 , Spirit fans consider this  to be one of the groups  best .  All of the first disc is taken up with this album.  .  'Like A Rolling Stone'  and  'Hey Joe' are interesting reworkings of the original's . Randy California learned both songs from Jimi Hendrix. Randy aka Randy Wolfe was recruited into 'Jimmy James and The Blue Flames ' after Hendrix  seen him playing in Manny's Music Store on 48th Street . Randy was  15 . Hendrix invited him to play with him at the Cafe Wha?.. Months later  Chas Chandler saw Hendrix for the first time at 'Cafe Wha' . Hendrix wanted Randy to come to England with him . That's another story ...
 Tracks from  'Farther Along ', 'Son of Spirit' and 'Future Games ' make up disc 2 . The songs are more pop, therefore more my cup of tea .

Randy California / guitar, vocals

Ed Cassidy / drums

 Jay Ferguson / vocals

Mark Andes / bass

John Locke / keyboards 

Barry Keene / bass

disc 1

1. Jack Bond (0:33)
2. America, The Beautiful/The Times, They Are A'Changing (4:57)
3. Victim Of Society (3:02)
4. Lady Of The Lakes (2:54)
5. Tampa Jam, Part 1 (0:42)
6. My Road (4:09)
7. Sunrise (3:04)
8. Urantia (4:01)
9. Mauna Loa/What Do I Have (3:58)
10. Feeling In Time (3:26)
11. Happy (3:13)
12. Walking The Dog (2:55)
13. Tampa Jam, Part 2 (0:59)
14. Joker On The Run (2:47)
15. When? (4:23)
16. Like A Rolling Stone (8:54)
17. Veruska (3:40)
18. Once Again (3:13)
19. Tampa Jam, Part 3 (0:48)
20. Thank You Lord (1:47)
21. Guide Me (2:52)
22. Hey Joe (6:22)


LINK A

1. Farther Along (3:17)
2. Atomic Boogie (2:27)
3. World Eat World Dog (2:42)
4. Don't Lock Up Your Door (2:59)
5. Colossus (2:43)
6. Phoebe (2:06)
7. Mega Star (3:18)
8. Once With You (1:28)
9. Diamond Spirit (2:26)
10. Stoney Night (2:28)
11. Pineapple (2:09)
12. Looking Into Darkness (2:50)
13. Holy Man (2:58)
14. Would You Believe (2:15)
15. Detroit City (2:17)
16. Circle (3:25)
17. The Other Song (5:29)
18. Yesterday (1:51)
19. Family (3:10)
20. Maybe You'll Find (2:36)
21. Magic Fairy Princess (2:53)
22. Gorn Attack (2:48)
23. Stars Are Love (2:35)
24. It's Time Now (2:59)
25. Greenback Dollar (4:09)

link b