Fresh Garbage

This album is a classic in every sense of the word. There is so much going on musically, due in no small part to the diverse backgrounds of the band members. that it is simply captivating. And given the fact that it was released in 1968 illustrates how ahead of the curve these artists were.

From Wiki & Amazon:

The original lineup of the group evolved from an earlier Los Angeles band, The Red Roosters, which included Randy California (guitars, vocals), Mark Andes (bass) and Jay Ferguson (vocals, percussion). With the addition of Ed Cassidy (drums) and keyboard player John Locke the new band was originally named the Spirits Rebellious (after a book by Khalil Gibran) but was soon shortened simply to Spirit. Randy California had also played with Jimi Hendrix (then known as Jimmy James) in Jimmy James and the Blue Flames in 1966.

Cassidy was instantly recognizable by his shaven head (hence his nickname "Mr. Skin") and his fondness for wearing black. He was around twenty years older than the rest of the group (born in 1923). His earlier career was primarily in jazz and included stints with Cannonball Adderley, Gerry Mulligan, Roland Kirk, Thelonious Monk and Lee Konitz. He was a founding member of Rising Sons with Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder.

The group's first album, Spirit, was released in 1968. "Mechanical World" was released as a single (it lists the playing time merely as "very long"). The album was a substantial underground hit, reaching #31 and staying on the charts for over eight months. The album displayed jazz influences, as well as using elaborate string arrangements (not found on their subsequent recordings) and is the most overtly psychedelic of their albums.

As soon as I hear the "yeah" cried out in the distance, just before the first notes hit, I am lit. What a magically engrossing affair this is. Spirit was certainly a very special band from a very interesting time in rock history. The group's albums are a compelling blend of psychedelic rock and jazz, and I find their adventurous allure a constant delight.

The infectious beat of "Fresh Garbage" is in 4/4, but because of where the accents are placed, it sounds like five, seven or maybe nine. The piano break is a jazzy 6/8. Drummer Ed Cassidy completely understood jazz and rock. This is why the transitions between the rock rhythms and the jazz rhythms are seamless and utterly convincing. Much of his drumming on the album suggests far more than he's actually playing, while his perfect choices time and again yield the perfect complement to the music. Listen closely to what he plays on "Straight Arrow"; always interesting, always brilliant. Randy California's guitar work is magnificent throughout. Oh, the sound he gets on his solo in "Mechanical World"--what an incredibly delicious tone! And, the guitar harmonies at the end of "Gramophone Man" are simply divine.

Most of the tunes were written by Jay Ferguson, and are fantastic vehicles for the band to show off their unique style. "Girl In Your Eye" floats along beautifully, with sitar shadowing the melody. Listen closely to the guitar line in "Taurus" and you'll hear where the main line during the verse in Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" came from. (Jimmy has been known to lift a line or two.) On the jazzy "Elijah," the final original-album cut, we hear something intriguing: even when the band goes to straight improvisation, they don't lose their musical identity; they still sound like Spirit. Three of the four bonus tracks are not just alternate takes, but interesting tunes that didn't make the original album.

Do you love psychedelia, the 60s, great and imaginative music? Get this. These guys won't disappoint. (The delightful and informative liner notes were written by Randy California in 1996.)