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Spirit (Original Group) .... August ?? , 1976 (One of two shows)
Veteran's Memorial Hall, San Luis Obispo, CA, USA
("AUD" - The FIRST Full Reunion!!)

Randy California (R.I.P.) - guitar & lead vocals
Ed Cassidy - drums
Jay Ferguson - lead vocals & tambourine
Mark Andes - bass & backing vocals
John Locke (R.I.P.) - keyboards


Thanks to DS for allowing me to borrow and copy his cassette.


Taper: Unknown
Taping Gear: Unknown
Lineage: "AUD" TDK-D borrowed cassette> Teac A-550RX cassette playback> TASCAM CDRW-700> Trade CD-R> (wav) EAC (secure mode)> (flac) Trader's Little Helper level 6 (align on sector boundaries)
Quality: vg/vg+ (PLEASE READ DESCRIPTION BELOW)
Length: 39:22 minutes
Artwork: none.
Samples: none.


Set List:

01. So Little Time To Fly (Intro cut)
02. Animal Zoo>
03. 1984
04. Sweet Stella Baby>
05. Nature's Way
06. Mr. Skin>
07. It's All The Same (drum solo cut)>
08. I Got A Line On You
09. Dark Eyed Woman
10. Miss This Train


Taper's Comments:

1 - HELP!! If you have any uncirculated SPIRIT shows, or better quality FM
broadcasts than what's been posted here before, please share them. If you
know anybody who has shows that fit this category that aren't on DIME, please
dub off their stuff and share it. I'm trying to write a book on SPIRIT and need
all the information I can get. I have a database of over 1500 gigs 1967-1996, and
want to find as much information as I can to add to it. If you have any memories
of where you saw SPIRIT, the more specific the better (venue, city, date, supporting
bands, etc.), I'd love to know that as well. Please leave that in the comments
section or PM me. Thank you!


2 - Show description & comments follow:

While many people think that the 1976 SPIRIT reunion was a one shot affair at the
"Santa Monica Civic" on August 28, 1976, there were actually other reunion gigs
that preceded it. Of course, the 1976 reunion ended with the Neil Young fiasco at
the Santa Monica gig (major recent discovery - Torrent # 308058), but this gig is
the first one that started it all.

While the vast majority of SPIRIT gigs after the end of the original band were around
the nucleus of Randy California and Ed Cassidy, there were times prior to the August
1976 reunions, when other original band members performed with the band. Mark
Andes returned in October 1974, and the band toured as a trio until New Years Eve
1974 in Detroit, when John Locke also joined for a 4/5th reunion. There were two sold
out shows at some unknown venue (Michigan Palace??), and then the 4/5th line-up
played for four nights at "Ebbett's Field" in Denver from Jan. 2nd thru Jan. 5th, 1975.
Mark Andes and John Locke then left to fulfill other commitments, and the band
continued with bassist Barry Keene. In October 1975, John Locke rejoined the band
as a permanent member. Barry Keene left in November 1975, and was replaced by
Mark Andes' brother, Matt Andes, on bass. In December 1975, Mark did some gigs on
bass, with Matt on second guitar. It was this line-up that was to record the FARTHER
ALONG album, that was released in the summer of 1976.

Prior to the San Luis Obispo gig, Randy did some promotion over the phone with local radio
station KZOZ-FM. Since FIREFALL was going to be the opening act, Mark Andes, who was
a member of that band, also agreed to play with SPIRIT. The DJ, who was a big SPIRIT fan,
mentioned "wouldn't it be nice if Jay Ferguson could be there as well?" Randy said, "Wait, and
I'll call you right back". When he called back later, he said Jay had agreed to participate.
Though I have been unable to confirm it, Jay supposedly sat in on one night during SPIRIT's
stand at the "Troubadour" in Hollywood from Dec. 5th thru 7th, 1975. Again, that would have
ended up being a 4/5th's reunion since Mark Andes wasn't there.

Jay later stated that there was no rehearsal, and they just went out and did the show. It went
down so well, and everybody enjoyed it so much, that there were likely additional shows before
the Santa Monica show. Jay seems to remember that there were three or four original band
shows prior to Santa Monica. Known possibilities might be August 22nd in Denver, and August
27th in San Francisco, both with AEROSMITH and Rick Derringer. FIREFALL opened for FLEETWOOD
MAC on August 24th in San Bernadino, so that date would have to be out, and it is uncertain if
FIREFALL opened again the next night in San Diego. Jay seems to remember a gig at the University
Of California in Davis. If anybody possibly attended any of these original band reunion gigs, or has
any further information about them, please post that in the comments section.

As to the San Luis Obispo show, it is obviously not complete, nor do I know if it is the early or the
late show. You can tell from the band comments that they are having a blast! Jay even told me that
he felt it was a strong possibility that the original group could have reunited permanently at this
time frame. I personally feel from the 1976 recordings that exist, that they could have been equal
or close to their 1967-71 heyday, as they were better musicians, especially in the vocal department.
By the 1982 reunion, it was too late for them, and they had strayed too far from their original roots.
The failure of the 1976 reunion to continue is another sad piece of the SPIRIT saga. Thank God we
have this recording, and the Santa Monica show to hear what could have been. If anybody has any
information as to the exact date of this show, please post that in the comments section. Enjoy!

bpthree

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Prepared by Jeff James (roryglzep@aol.com)
**

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