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