Randy California - The Euro-American Years 1979-1983 (6 CD, 2020)

 This set gathers together studio and live recordings made between 1979 and 1983 by the Randy California Band and additional live recordings by Spirit.

In mid-1979 the trio incarnation of SPIRIT broke up and Randy formed a new solo band and embarked on a European tour supporting Ian Gillan. After recording a series of demos further studio sessions produced the recordings which would form his solo album EURO-AMERICAN, released in 1982 (and included in this set). The original boxed set of THE EURO AMERICAN YEARS was compiled by Spirit archivist Mick Skidmore and was issued in 2006. The original concept for this box (which sold out very quickly in its first pressing, only to be consistently bootlegged in various countries via downloads and separate CDR discs for which the artists received no compensation) was to pull together the vast amount of music that Randy released during 1979-1983 period (although some tracks were recorded earlier and were shelved due to lack of a record deal).

Spirit - Rockpalast 78 - West Coast Legends Vol.3 [DVDRIP video, 2009 ]

 

Filmed on March 5th 1978 in Essen at the Grugahalle.

The appearance of the legendary rock group, Spirit, with guitarist Randy California and drummer Ed Cassidy at the Rockpalast-Festival on March 4th and 5th will be a notable event: is it the group's first concert in Europe after several years. For over ten years, the American group Spirit has been commonly recognized, on the whole, as one of the most influential and important rock groups. Their album 'Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus' is a rock classic. Formed in 1967, Spirit today represents the development of the music of the American west coast in all it's aspects.


A special highlight came towards the end of the show when Dickey Betts, who had appeared on stage with his band Great Southern before Spirit joined to band.

• Randy California - g/voc/Moog Taurus
• Ed Cassidy - dr
• Larry "Fuzzy" Knight - b

 

Spirit- It Shall Be : Ode & Epic Recordings 1968-1972 (5 CD, 2018)

 

This 5CD clamshell box set, reissued by Esoteric Recordings this year, consists of one of the most legendary bands to come out of the West Coast psychedelic scene, Spirit. Formed from the Red Roosters in 1967, Spirit often flew under the radar and were regularly overlooked in the late ‘60s, but contained the late great Randy California in their ranks, just 16 years old when he played with Jimi Hendrix after first meeting at Manny’s Music in New York. California also made a guest appearance on Peter Hammill’s third studio album, The Silent Corner And The Empty Stage, on a track called Red Shift.

Alongside Randy California, the band featured Ed Cassidy on drums (Randy’s stepfather), John Locke on keyboards, Jay Ferguson on vocals and Mark Andes on bass guitar. Spirit were signed in late 1967 to Lou Adler’s Ode Records which was just starting up.

Spirit- The Complete Potatoland (4 CD, 2019)

 

Esoteric Recordings is pleased to announce the release of a 4 CD clamshell boxed set that gathers together all the recordings made for the classic "Potatoland" album by SPIRIT. The album was born in 1973 following the release of guitarist Randy California's "Kaptain Kopter and the Fabulous Twirlybirds" album (made shortly after his departure from Spirit). To promote his solo album California assembled a band to tour featuring original Spirit drummer Ed Cassidy and bass guitarist Larry "Fuzzy" Knight. Initially playing concerts in the Los Angeles area, the trio recorded two live performances at the studios of KPFK-FM in September 1972. Soon after the trio reverted to the name Spirit to undertake live work in Europe. Following these concerts Randy California and Ed Cassidy began work on the album "The Adventures of Kapt. Kopter and Commander Cody in Potatoland".