Spirit Two Sides Of A Rainbow CD

Esoteric Recordings is pleased to announce the release of a new re-mastered 2 CD edition of TWO SIDES OF A RAINBOW – Live at the Rainbow 1978 by the legendary psychedelic rock band SPIRIT. The set features the entire concert performed by the band at the Rainbow Theatre in London on 11th March 1978, along with the 9 tracks that comprised the US album release Live Spirit in 1979.

In March 1978, Spirit undertook a series of shows in Germany and the UK with a line-up of RANDY CALIFORNIA (guitar, lead vocals), LARRY “FUZZY” KNIGHT (bass, vocals) and ED CASSIDY (drums). The shows performed by the trio were outstanding, but perhaps the most memorable was the set performed at The Rainbow in London. With a sold out venue, the band performed such classic songs as Mr. Skin, Animal Zoo, 1984, Nature’s Way, All the Same and I Got a Line on You. Spirit also performed six encores including covers of All Along the Watchtower, Stone Free and Wild Thing. Recorded with the intention of releasing a live album, it was found the multi-track tapes had some problems and so Randy California elected to repair the issues when compiling the single album Live Spirit (released the following year and drawing upon recordings made in London and elsewhere).

Fortunately, a separate recording was made using a feed from the front of house sound desk and from these tapes it has been possible to prepare a record of the band’s entire performance on 11th March 1978. TWO SIDES OF A RAINBOW – Live at the Rainbow 1978 has been compiled by Spirit archivist and custodian Mick Skidmore and also features nine newly remastered bonus tracks drawn from the Live Spirit album.

This release also features a new essay by Mick Skidmore and has recollections from Larry “Fuzzy” Knight”. The package also features many photographs from the period. TWO SIDES OF A RAINBOW – Live at the Rainbow 1978 is a fine tribute to the trio incarnation of a wonderful band at their peak.