Family That Plays Together/Twe

For the first time on one CD two landmark albums from the legendary Los Angeles rock band SPIRIT. Spirit blended rock and jazz with blues, folk and psychedelic elements to produce arguably the most eclectic yet utterly beguiling body of work in all of popular music. These diverse and tasteful albums (originally issued on Ode and Epic) have more than retained their creative spark, proving that truly essential music never sounds dated and, in fact, improves with age.

Formed in 1967 around teenage guitar prodigy Randy California and jazz veteran and bald-headed drummer Ed Cassidy, their second album The Family That Plays Together (1968) offered a truly innovative approach and presence which was enhanced by the glorious hit single ‘I Got a Line on You’ (Billboard #25) featuring one of the most recognisable guitar riffs in all of late-1960s rock. Other highlights include ‘It Shall Be’, ‘Aren’t You Glad’ and ‘Dream within a Dream’.

Fourth album Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus (1970) is considered their masterpiece, certainly one of the most advanced works in rock to that time. Loosely described as a “concept album” based on the recurring lyric theme of “life has just begun”, it contains some of their very best songs including ‘Nature’s Way’, ‘Mr. Skin’, ‘Animal Zoo’ and ‘Morning Will Come’. With detailed liner notes and superb audio quality this splendid 2-for-1 is a must for fans of classic rock.