četvrtak, 01.01.2009.
Spirit - The Original Potatoland (1972) (Remaster Edit 2006)
For the very first time the legendary and near mythical Potato Land in the form that Randy California envisaged back in the early 1970's. Includes 7 bonus tracks 'You Know', 'Donut House', 'Ain't That Too Bad', 'Devil' (Live), 'Shotgun' (Live), 'Get Out My Life Woman' (Live), 'MIss This Train' and an interview clip with Randy California and Bob Harris from April 1973.
This CD absolutely typifies what is meant by a "period piece". It's a musical stoner's fantasy in tune with the spirit of Frank Zappa's late 60's albums, the Firesign Theater, and of course Jimi Hendrix.
At the time this music was made, "Spirit" was a group composed of Randy California (guitarist) and Ed Cassidy (drums). California and Cassidy were touring England, where California was rightly or wrongly considered the heir apparent to Jimi Hendrix. California was doing his best to exploit that idea, going to a power trio format and jamming-out live in a fashion that resembled Hendrix ( mostly it sounded, on the evidence of the bonus tracks here, like a decidedly second-rate Hendrix...)
The " Potatoland" concept extends over 18 studio tracks, with California and Cassidy doing spacey voiceovers, speeding up and slowing down their voices (think "EXP" from Hendrix's "Axis: Bold as Love"). There is a loosely woven dystopian theme running throughout. The music is really quite good, and this album probably would have done well if it had been released in the early 70's. There are two problems. The production is hardly first rate--even with the tapes cleaned up, it still sounds as if you are listening to a bootleg. The other annoying thing is that California tried to exploit his earlier songs, "1984" and "Nature's Way" by grafting them on to this project with virtually no changes to the originals , except that he added some hokey sound effects. Beyond those quibbles, the album is really pretty enjoyable. At times the music recalls the Byrds, the Beach Boys, and Steve Miller. There is some good R&B, vibrant jangle pop, and other stuff that's as quirky as anything Brian Wilson did in his fried-out days. This material was a lost opportunity for Randy California, who was trying to build on the success of "12 Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus". This album would probably have made a similar dent, if it had been cleaned up and properly released. As it is, it's an interesting curio from another South- Californian genius or flake, depending on your outlook...P. Baklava
Codec: mp3
Bitrate: 320 kB/s
Size: 182 MB
Genre : Acid Rock
2000mustangs
Tracklist:
01. Introduction 0.43
02. 1984 3.49
03. Exit 27 (Dialogue) 1.23
04. Turn To The Right 3.44
05. Everything Talks To Me (Donut House) 3.44
06. Fish Fry Road 3.24
07. Nature's Theme 0.45
08. Information 3.11
09. My Friend 2.49
10. Walkin' The Dog 3.01
11. Giant Potatoes (Dialogue) 0.31
12. Lonely In Potatoland (Mashed Potates) 3.05
13. Nature's Way 2.38
14. Salvation: Matter Of Time: Suite 5.30
15. 1984 (Reprise) 0.44
16. Oil Slick-Million Years Suite 4.32
17. Information Reprise 1.46
18. It's Time Now 4.53
19. You Know (Bonus Track) 1.29
20. Donut House (Alternate Version) (Bonus Track) 3.40
21. Ain't That Too Bad (Bonus Track) 3.17
22. Devil (Live 9/13/72) (Bonus Track) 4.49
23. Shotgun (Live 9/13/72) (Bonus Track) 4.35
24. Get Out My Life Woman (Live 9/6/72) (Bonus Track) 5.54
25. Miss This Train (9/6/72) (Bonus Track) 3.12
26. Interview Clip 2.27
