Spirit
California Blues


3.5
great

Review

by menawati USER (94 Reviews)
July 11th, 2013 | 14 replies


Release Date: 1996 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Spirit's final release before Randy California's untimely demise. A warm and engaging collection of blues standards and original material from a sadly underrated musician.

If you were to mention the name 'Randy California' these days most people would hazard a guess that you might be referring to a new fly-on-the-wall TV series about the underground sex industry in The Golden State. Such was the lack of recognition that guitarist and songwriter Randy Craig Wolfe achieved during his career. Randy was the archetypal nearly man. Nearly a member of the Jimi Hendrix Experience at the age of 15. Nearly famous for the opening passages of Stairway To Heaven (which was stolen by Jimmy Page from the Spirit song 'Taurus' and never credited). Admired for his songwriting skills and guitar prowess but never quite making it into the big time before his untimely drowning at the age of 45 while rescuing his son off the coast of Molokai in Hawaii.

'California Blues' was the last album to be released just prior to Randy's death and is, as the title suggests, mainly a blues driven affair. Randy was an effortless player and this is immediately apparent on the title track opener with its slide guitar fills and lead flourishes. Rachel Andes provides some wonderfully homely vocals that suit the earthy bluesiness of the music to perfection which is exemplified on 'The River' with its rolling country twang. The utterly beautiful ballad 'Call On Me' also features a wonderful vocal contribution from Andes as she takes up a duet with the main man himself. The album also includes some live blues standards including a great version of Hendrix's 'Red House' and the Spencer Davis Group's 'Gimme Some Lovin' as well as a passable rendition of Robert Johnson's 'Crossroads'.

Randy's band Spirit released 14 albums spanning a 30 year period from the late 60's to the late 90's covering a whole range of styles from psychedelic and proto-prog to hard rock, blues and jazz. While nothing remarkable when compared to some of the more experimental albums that Spirit released in their early days this is still a very enjoyable collection of songs. There is a warm and endearing earthiness to the music, especially in the Randy California penned tracks, which makes for an undemanding yet engaging listen. Blues fans should certainly give this a try.



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user ratings (3)
3.3
great


Comments:Add a Comment 
menawati
July 11th 2013


16730 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Call On Me http://video.mail.ru/mail/alex-enm/104539/210139.html

The River http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UikiroyUcXg

Song for clyde http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-FI1UObbDU

Cygnatti
July 11th 2013


36129 Comments


This band sounds very very intriguing.

wacknizzle
July 11th 2013


14555 Comments


I haven't heard this one but I love 12 Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus so I'll def check it.

@Cyg, check 12 Dreams out first.

KILL
July 12th 2013


81580 Comments


yea didnt know they had other records

rockandmetaljunkie
July 12th 2013


9658 Comments


Good call on reviewing this, Spirit is an awesome band.

JamieTwort
July 12th 2013


26988 Comments


Haven't heard this one but their first 4 records are some of my favourite psych albums ever.

rockandmetaljunkie
July 12th 2013


9658 Comments


Agreed. S/T record is one of the best acid trips I have ever done.

menawati
July 12th 2013


16730 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

this isnt psych it's sort of mellow bluesy stuff, you might like some of it but it's not up there with their earlier stuff

JamieTwort
July 12th 2013


26988 Comments


Yeah I gathered that from the review summary and the album name. I've heard Feedback which if I remember correctly is also on the more bluesy side and I didn't like that one much, how does this compare to that album (assuming you've heard it)?

menawati
July 12th 2013


16730 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

i havent heard Feedback only their first four and this one, theres nothing really stands out on this apart from Call On Me which is a personal fave and thats not one of the blues tracks

Ire
July 13th 2013


41944 Comments


gud band

Ire
July 13th 2013


41944 Comments


feedback sucks ass wati



JamieTwort
July 13th 2013


26988 Comments


Yeah it's not very good.

CaliggyJack
April 2nd 2021


10185 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

Randy California was a genuine human who deserved far better than he was ever given. RIP



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