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Spirit — It Shall Be
Album: The Family That Plays Together
Avg rating:
7.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1118









Released: 1968
Length: 3:00
Plays (last 30 days): 2
In the future soon
Beauty will find you
And all of mankind
Together binding you and me

It shall be

In the future soon
Beauty will find you
And all of mankind
Together binding you and me

It shall be
Comments (142)add comment
The sound and the price of a night at Motel 6! Fond memories!
These 60's and early 70's tunes with the dual mono tracking are pretty cool. Nothing like the vocals coming out one speaker with percussion happening in the other.
 Gamecat wrote:

One of my all-time favorite psychedelic albums is  Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus, which came out in '70 I believe. It would be great to hear some cuts from that LP Bill!



agreed.

this was nice to hear after grant lee buffalo's superslowmotion.
 fgreene wrote:


It was the other way around. "Taurus" pre-dated "Stairway".  Zep won the copyright infringement suit because the riff is about 400 years old.

You missed the sarcasm?  It is hard to spot in written comments.
 bkrans9 wrote:


Well they wrote this one song--Taurus--that totally ripped off Stairway to Heaven.  


It was the other way around. "Taurus" pre-dated "Stairway".  Zep won the copyright infringement suit because the riff is about 400 years old.
Those are some definite late 1960s California riffs there.
Crazy how these iconic hippie/far out/ tripping bands use full orchestration and a harp of all things if I’m hearing rightly. I just imagine the string players soberly playing and the rock front all wigged out.
$6 = $52 now.  But that's still pretty cheap.  A $52 room nowadays would buy a room next to drug dealers, pimps, and nonstop people going in and out.
Imagine paying $6 for a motel room for the night. The times, they have a-changed, alright.
I love this band and their music.  They were so ripped off by Led Zeppelin with the theft of the beginning riffs put into Stairway to Heaven.  
 
Godlike!! Iconic!!
 the1theyblame wrote:

Loved these guys.  Another band from that era that didn't sound like anyone else.   



Well they wrote this one song--Taurus--that totally ripped off Stairway to Heaven.  
 jacopo_7 wrote:

Saw them at a rock festival in Gold Creek Wa. with Ike and Tina, Youngbloods, Doors, Buffalo Springfield, Led Zeppelin, and more.  Anyone here go?



If I'm not misremembering, that was the Seattle Pop Festival (Gold Creek/Woodinville) July 25-28, 1969...and yes, I was there and remember it well, some of the best live performances ever. Eat your heart out Woodstock (in my humble opinion)! I was fortunate to see Spirit perform numerous times in various shows.
 Gamecat wrote:

One of my all-time favorite psychedelic albums is  Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus, which came out in '70 I believe. It would be great to hear some cuts from that LP Bill!



Spirit used to play at our local beer joint in college, 1976.  A really great band, when I think back, I just can't believe that they were at a small-town college playing.  I loved to go and dance with my friends when they were in town.  I am still confused, was it really them?  I have no reason to believe otherwise.  That album was my anthem!
Couldn't agree more. It's one of those albums that sounds as fresh as it did the very first time I heard it way back in the early 70's. Nice to know that someone else has such excellent taste. :-)

 
Gamecat wrote:
One of my all-time favorite psychedelic albums is  Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus, which came out in '70 I believe. It would be great to hear some cuts from that LP Bill!
 

Nor familiar with this at all...great track, really interesting. Good o'l Paradise.
My flat mate loved them so this reminds me of chilly student flats, Edinburgh 1981/2. Good times
 jacopo_7 wrote:
Saw them at a rock festival in Gold Creek Wa. with Ike and Tina, Youngbloods, Doors, Buffalo Springfield, Led Zeppelin, and more.  Anyone here go?
 

No but I'm jealous
Ahead of their time..really good stuff here.
One of my all-time favorite psychedelic albums is  Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus, which came out in '70 I believe. It would be great to hear some cuts from that LP Bill!
 ciarataylor wrote:
Vaguely remember Spirit. All Jethro Tully and flute pretentious.
 
As you said, vaguely.
 Milano wrote:
Ha! I thought this was David Byrne's voice for a moment.
 
Can totally see that, ahem, hear that.
What a wonderful band. Those first four albums are a must have on vinyl.

Of the later stuff, I like "Farther Along".
 ciarataylor wrote:
Vaguely remember Spirit. All Jethro Tully and flute pretentious.
 
love the horns
Vaguely remember Spirit. All Jethro Tully and flute pretentious.
Great band. Not well known. 
Ha! I thought this was David Byrne's voice for a moment.
Most underrated group ever. 
Saw them at a rock festival in Gold Creek Wa. with Ike and Tina, Youngbloods, Doors, Buffalo Springfield, Led Zeppelin, and more.  Anyone here go?
Proves again how great RP is when Spirit is in the mix.
 hayduke2 wrote:
Spirit! Life affirming music from way back, I worked with Larry and we'd smoke doobs and listen to "Twelve Dreams" on the 8-track in the company van... 

 
Woo-boo pass it this way dude (that's my first RP comment and I love the opportunity to party with you all while excellent tunes play : )
Many Blessings!!! 
 coloradojohn wrote:
How evocative of the times this is! The horns, the winds, the style of vocals, the bright, ringing keyboards... A fabulous time-piece jam!
 
How in the world didn't these guys make it as big as the Rolling Stones?
 gregr79 wrote:
6 seems like a good start maybe it can go up from there on next listen. . . .Like {#Neutral}

 
Try The Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus and you'll be in positive territory.
How evocative of the times this is! The horns, the winds, the style of vocals, the bright, ringing keyboards... A fabulous time-piece jam!
What a wonderfully unique and creative band.

Way ahead of their time. 
 And, I'll go back a bit further to CKLW and Keener 13: soundtrack of my youth in Motown. This album moved with me from Detroit to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in 1969, and it was great to hear it being discovered up here, too, a bit later.

tulfan wrote:
WABX was the best station ever...unrivaled...

 


 Skydog wrote:

Spirit got a lot of air play back then on WABX 99.5 FM Detroit "The Sation That Glows In The Dark"

  WABX was the best station ever...unrivaled...


I love this song!  Such wonderful harmonies, great flute solo, brass punches.  This is one of my few 10s.
Man, this is quite the Time Capsule... the blue, Doors-y, half-mellow, half-revolutionary vibes permeate, pulse, and radiate from this one!
Loved these guys.  Another band from that era that didn't sound like anyone else.   
 jagdriver wrote:


Great concert, July '68 at Detroit's Grande Ballroom.

Story: https://floydslips.blogspot.com/2001/01/spirit-of-randy-california.html

 
Spirit got a lot of air play back then on WABX 99.5 FM Detroit "The Sation That Glows In The Dark"


Great concert, July '68 at Detroit's Grande Ballroom.

Story: https://floydslips.blogspot.com/2001/01/spirit-of-randy-california.html
woo hoo!!!! such an incredible band from my high school days! {#Daisy}
6 seems like a good start maybe it can go up from there on next listen. . . .Like {#Neutral}
terrific.
 tiler wrote:
Horns and everything 
Such great arranging
 

Horns and everything 
Love the atmospherics here alternating with cool riffs…nice!
Spirit        sez it all, love their sound  : )
Man, these guys were really, really good at making nice groovy tunes for a while, and when I hear this I remember different times entirely...
Spirit always brings the goods: lyrics, melody, and this one has saxes, brass, and claves!  Thanks, Bill!
Has anyone else noticed how often it is when Bill plays a Spirit song, there’s two in a row? I loved the band and miss them now. For those that don’t know it, Led Zeppelin ripped off Spirit to make that song called “stairway to freebird” or something like that: https://www.cracked.com/article_18500_the-5-most-famous-musicians-who-are-thieving-bastards.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xd8AVbwB_6E
Oh man....been a lloonnnggg time!!!
{#Sunny} 
Spirit never seems to get old. Always sounds goooood.
 WonderLizard wrote:
Oh, lord a Spirit twin spin sound sandwich. Bill, you seriously rock.

 
Ohmygawd.  Haven't heard this for a thousand years.  I'm so grateful for this twofer.  Used to love (still do) Spirit.  What a treat!
 WonderLizard wrote:
Oh, lord a Spirit twin spin sound sandwich. Bill, you seriously rock.

 
Now triple up w/ "Fresh Garbage".
Oh, lord a Spirit twin spin sound sandwich. Bill, you seriously rock.
Lordy - just one of my favorite bands. Love Randy's tone.

As a youngster in the early '70s I first heard "Twelve Dreams" come wafting out of a friend's older brother's room.

At that time "Twelve Dreams" and a best of were about the only Spirit albums in print.

I thoroughly enjoyed the years spent tracking down their other albums. 
Love that Bill played this after I Got A Line On You - just like the record. Could just keep it going as far as l'm concerned
 jberko wrote:
A very under rated band.  In the 60's these guys dabbled in Jazz, Progressive, Rock, Gospel, and Blues.  Not sure if most of you realize it, but the guitarist, Randy California, got his name from Jimi Hendrix.  Jimi had two studio guys named Randy, so he referred to one as Randy California, and it stuck.
 
Cool bit of trivia; thanks for sharing!


Completely underrated band that should be in the R&R Hall of Fame. 
 plaice3 wrote:

Cynaera ... {#Good-vibes}
 


Yes! You express the spirit essence of Spirit very well.
By 68 there was so much electric tension with the country at war in SE Asia and back in the US were many many people doing Ass-id trips and opening there eyes and spirit to super reality!;)
Sadly Randy left us all to soon he drowned trying to rescue his son who was caught in a rip current on the island of Kauai.....
Perfect for this chilly, rainy fall morning here in Virginia.
Thank you Bill. Sprit ,too good too soon!
A very under rated band.  In the 60's these guys dabbled in Jazz, Progressive, Rock, Gospel, and Blues.  Not sure if most of you realize it, but the guitarist, Randy California, got his name from Jimi Hendrix.  Jimi had two studio guys named Randy, so he referred to one as Randy California, and it stuck.
 Cynaera wrote:
I hear the first few notes of this song and immediately my breathing gets easier, that tension-knot between my shoulder blades relaxes, and I feel like things will be all right.  Spirit heals my spirit. {#Sunny}

EDIT:  This song is too short!

 
Cynaera ... {#Good-vibes}
 Cynaera wrote:
I hear the first few notes of this song and immediately my breathing gets easier, that tension-knot between my shoulder blades relaxes, and I feel like things will be all right.  Spirit heals my spirit. {#Sunny}

EDIT:  This song is too short!

 
Right. Spirit didn't dawdle. Their wonderful "Nature's Way" is only 2:30.
Nice to hear.
i have always loved this band.
Nice.
So Ahead of there time ...We lose the good ones way to early   {#Rolleyes}
need to fix the wikipedia link for this one:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_(band)
Spirit! Life affirming music from way back, I worked with Larry and we'd smoke doobs and listen to "Twelve Dreams" on the 8-track in the company van... 
Makes me think of {#Sunny} bicycle day {#Smile}  for some odd reason.

I hear the first few notes of this song and immediately my breathing gets easier, that tension-knot between my shoulder blades relaxes, and I feel like things will be all right.  Spirit heals my spirit. {#Sunny}

EDIT:  This song is too short!

This sounds to me like a rip off of One note samba, from Tom Jobim:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CYpukkQo04

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Note_Samba


Spirit's music has always "spoken" to me.

I find it very relaxing. I love John Lock's keyboard sounds and Randy's guitar tone. 
I love this song. {#Meditate}
Flute rock is so rare...Traffic, Moody Blues, J. Tull...but ever so welcome.

Thanks for pulling this out of it's dust jacket. I love Spirit, Brought back many memories, and only on RP
As others have remarked, it's really fascinating how this fits right in with "contemporary" bands like Air and Zero 7 (or rather, vice versa) - great song and sound!
 ziggytrix wrote:

Sounds like something out of a Zero 7 song to me.  Couldn't say which track, but that's what I thought I was hearing when it started.

 
And here I was wondering upon hearing the intro, why Bill was already playing another Coldplay songs 5 songs after Green Eyes.  Although I must say I like God Put a Smile on Your Face as much as this track.

Ha, I was just about to comment that this song sounds like it could have been lifted from an Air cd (despite the 1968 vintage!) ... and what does Bill segue into? Air's "All I Need."
You know, I've suddenly realized that I LOVE Spirit.  They were so far ahead of their time, and every time something by them plays here, I turn it up and grin.  Thanks, RP - I'm in the hinterlands where no valid FM or AM music plays, so when I catch some of this, I cherish it and try to figure out a way to cultivate it so I can have a big tree of RadioParadise music growing in my yard.

Yep, I'm a dork.
I was just reading about Spirit and Randy California in Wikipedia. The article talks about a song from their first album, "Taurus," which some say Led Zeppelin ripped off for "Stairway to Heaven." Listen to a clip on iTunes - you won't believe it. In fact, the Zeps opened for Spirit on tour in 1968, so the connection is pretty clear. Spirit was an underrated band for sure.
 Albert1967 wrote:

Who used this intro as a sample?
 
Sounds like something out of a Zero 7 song to me.  Couldn't say which track, but that's what I thought I was hearing when it started.

Spirit was/is one of my favorite bands of all times and this was/is one of my favorite songs by them. Thanks for slipping this into the mix.
Love this song, love this album, love this band.
Recently found "Feedback" on vinyl in a Goodwill store.  Check it out.
 brander wrote:
WAY ahead of their time.
 
I second that.

If only Spirit had appeared at Woodstock as originally planned and stayed together long enough for the public to catch up to "Twelve Dreams"...
Coldplay totally ripped this off with "God put a smile on your face".

I knew it sounded familiar.
I wouldn't classify it exactly as Bossa, but nevertheless, classy as it is...
I am in a mood, I guess - this is another really good song I'd never heard before, but I love it.  And somehow, it fits in perfectly with Herbie Hancock and Mocean Worker...

I have GOT to win the lottery and invest in all this music! {#Doh}

PARADISE is right - I just don't wanna be anywhere else! {#Meditate}{#Sunny}
Interesting follow up to Cantaloup Island. Bossa Nova is everywhere :-)

This is a great set Bill!  Full of Atmosphere and great for a sultry afternoon here in Brighton.
Spirit was among the best concerts I have EVER attended.
This is simply KOOL.
WAY ahead of their time.

Always dug Spirit.  Definitely jazz influenced.
There'll always be a special place in my heart for this track. Link

This is pretty cool too...
 woozurbuddy wrote:
Those were the days, huh?  Thanks for bringing it to this day, Bill.
 
Who used this intro as a sample?

This group helped put the " aware"  in 'socially aware.'  In a disposible world hell bent for "toss it out" vs.  recycle/sustainable, their message perhaps saved a million tons of refuse from the ever growing land fill, and turned it back to a 2nd- 3rd ect. use. Spirit deserves a thanks for using their talent to make the world a better place !


Kahuna dreaming
Dated, maybe, but still sounds great to me,
as well as many of their other songs.
Liked it then, and still like it now.   {#Bounce}

It continually amazes me, from one decade to the next, how well their catalog wears. Some of their stuff, like this one, would be hits today.
"Fresh Garbage"  was one of the first environmental songs (Bob Dylan was doing some)
But it was also great , and a really hip way to deliver a message we have yet to do much 
about. Ahead of their time. ——->>

 "Look beneath your lid some morning,
See those things you didn't quite consume-
The world's a can for
Your fresh garbage . . . "   Fresh Garbage by Spirit, Album: Spirit, 1968.

 ajlept wrote:

Yeah, and in 40 years, today's music will sound "dated" and "stale" to some people as well. I liked it then, and I like it now!

 
I guess I should add that I am a big fan of late 60s, early 70s rock — I think that this period is the best period of music in the 20th century. I think much of the music produced then does stand the test of time. Spirit, not so much. But, then that is just my opinion and we are both entitled to our opinions, right?

 Mugro wrote:
It's only my opinion, but everything that I have heard from this band sounds really dated and stale. My apologies to all the Spirit fans out there...
 
Thanks for the apology— I have a line "for you"— we are all gonna be dated and stale after 40 years, but that don't mean it wasn't good then—and for many of us—good now! 
 Mugro wrote:
It's only my opinion, but everything that I have heard from this band sounds really dated and stale. My apologies to all the Spirit fans out there...
 
Yeah, and in 40 years, today's music will sound "dated" and "stale" to some people as well. I liked it then, and I like it now!

Nice...Spirit moved me. {#Angel}
It's only my opinion, but everything that I have heard from this band sounds really dated and stale. My apologies to all the Spirit fans out there...
 jagdriver wrote:
OUTSTANDING!

And, yes, it would be wonderful if someone would go back and remaster the group's catalog, perhaps issuing a really cool box set in the process.


 
Sony did remaster the first 4 CDs (through Dr. Sardonicus) a few years ago - with bonus tracks!


Cool, just played the vinyl of this a couple nights ago. Great stuff.
Easy to forget how good so much of Spirit's work could be... and they made a lot of recordings over time.

The back story of the band itself is also pretty extensive and odd.  Worth digging into - a bit of a real soap opera.
OUTSTANDING!

And, yes, it would be wonderful if someone would go back and remaster the group's catalog, perhaps issuing a really cool box set in the process.


 gjeeg wrote:
I love these forgotten gems, these unearthed, archeological finds from the 70's.
In the vinyl to CD era, alot of music was left behind.
There was an entire golden era in there, much of which has been lost.
 
The first four (at least) have been reissued, with bonus tracks!

It's a toss up between The Family That Plays Together and Twelve Dreams as my favourite Spirit album. I find myself listening to those two discs more than most of the 60's/70's music. Still sounds fresh after all these years.

I love these forgotten gems, these unearthed, archeological finds from the 70's.
In the vinyl to CD era, alot of music was left behind.
There was an entire golden era in there, much of which has been lost.
could have been pretty good if it were mixed correctly.  Yikes!