Published on Oct 23, 2019
I have to say, I am a late visitor into the Spirit world. This amazing band never truly got the fame and fortune they deserved, but they sure made some great music. Guitarist/vocalist Randy California was a great talent, and this release proves that repeatedly. The band was captured live in Germany back in 1978. This release comes in a video and CD format, so you can enjoy the music in every which way you want.
Spirit is in fine form here. This power trio just nails down song after song. Drummer Ed Cassidy’s playing is very special. He truly powers up Spirit. Cassidy and California have a great musical exchange here. Bassist Larry Knight completes the trio, and he appears to be the calming force between the two volcanos. This is a very intense lineup, and on top of it, Dickey Betts joins the band on the final song of the evening.
The band is playing here all of their classics such as “Mr. Skin” and “Nature’s Way.” They also do a several Dylan songs but with a strong Hendrix twist. Hendrix was a very strong influence on California’s playing, and this fact is very visible here. Spirit is certainly a product of the time in which they grew up musically, and one can only be jealous of that scene. As the saying goes, they simply don’t make them like that anymore.
There is very little footage from Spirit’s glory days, so this comes as a very welcomed addition to any collection. It is also an artifact of what once was. California and Cassidy are both deceased, so there is no way this could be revised. Many thanks to Rockpalast organization for releasing many of these gems. It certainly is my first time seeing Spirit, and the band leaves a very good impression here.