Put Spirit into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
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As the 2009 nominees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame were announced, a group that made a seminal contribution to the music of the late 60вand early 70вs has once again been slighted. Spirit (Randy California, guitar and vocals , Jay Ferguson, vocals, John Locke, keyboards, Mark Andes, bass, and Ed Cassidy, drums), the groundbreaking band founded in Los Angeles in the 1960вs, has been virtually neglected by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since itвs original eligibility in the mid 90вs This petition aims to right that situation.
Spirit has never gotten the acclaim the group deserves. While other west coast groups like the Doors, the Byrds, and Buffalo Springfield, have gone on to more popular recognition, Sprit remains an underground but vital phenomenon. The four albums this LA quintet cut between 1968 and 1971 (and a fifth soundtrack for motion picture Model Shop) certainly rank among the best albums of that period. Their final album in their original configuration, вThe Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus,в is viewed as one of the first concept albums, a вdiverse yet cohesive effort, and long considered by fans, critics and musicians alike to be one of the finest albums ever recorded.в It extended the experimentalism of Spiritвs earlier albums with new elements that anticipated the rock trends of the 70вs . As one critic notes вSpirit should be remembered as one of the half-dozen best American bands of the 60sв
If music is the universal language, Spirit was its rock n roll translator. Like other innovative groups of the 60вs, Spirit set out to create new musical forms. Mixing influences from free form and small group jazz with improvisation, psychedelia, hard rock, blues and even pop sensibilities, they aimed to create more universal musical forms. They often succeeded, creating music with the widest range of musical expression of any rock group before or since. Another critic writing in 1968: вSpirit makes use of all the variables available to modern music; in form, style, tone color, dynamics, rhythms, lyric subjects, modes, scales, feelings, everything.в Spirit was among the earliest and most successful fusion groups. Spirit also displayed an early ecological sensibility and a concern for social justice, and critical and adventurous lyrical spirit that captured the sense of the times. Californiaвs вNature's Wayв and Fergusonвs вFresh Garbage,в illustrate their early environmental concerns.
In a spirit retrospective Jim Washburn wrote: вThe Doors were alright but for many rock fans in the late 60вs the band that really mattered was Spirit,в Spirit is the forgotten super group of the 60вs. They headlined for groups like Led Zeppelin and the Police and were it not for an unfortunate management decision would have been featured at Woodstock.
Though the original Spirit lineup broke up in1971, Spirit continued until Randy Californiaвs death in 1997, centered around the virtuoso musicianship of drummer Ed Cassidy and guitarist Randy California. California is recognized by many as one of the premier guitarists of rock. Exposed early on to blues and to the influence of Jimi Hendrix, California not only could master almost any style from smooth jazz to blues to psychedelic, he possessed a strong melodic sense, Spirit kept writing music and producing albums that challenged conformity, record company executives, and received ideas, in times of political quietism. (Potatoland, Spirtofв76, Further Along, for example) Spiritвs last studio album, California Blues, is a thoughtful return to Californiaвs blues roots. It is infused with an underlying sense of the community of mankind that can be traced back to Californiaвs early work with Spirit.
If youвre a fan of Spirit please sign this petition and show the rock establishment that Spirit still lives. If you havenвt listened to Spirit for a while or at all, take a chance to listen to one of rockвs neglected treasures. Then sign on to the petition.
Spirit has never gotten the acclaim the group deserves. While other west coast groups like the Doors, the Byrds, and Buffalo Springfield, have gone on to more popular recognition, Sprit remains an underground but vital phenomenon. The four albums this LA quintet cut between 1968 and 1971 (and a fifth soundtrack for motion picture Model Shop) certainly rank among the best albums of that period. Their final album in their original configuration, вThe Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus,в is viewed as one of the first concept albums, a вdiverse yet cohesive effort, and long considered by fans, critics and musicians alike to be one of the finest albums ever recorded.в It extended the experimentalism of Spiritвs earlier albums with new elements that anticipated the rock trends of the 70вs . As one critic notes вSpirit should be remembered as one of the half-dozen best American bands of the 60sв
If music is the universal language, Spirit was its rock n roll translator. Like other innovative groups of the 60вs, Spirit set out to create new musical forms. Mixing influences from free form and small group jazz with improvisation, psychedelia, hard rock, blues and even pop sensibilities, they aimed to create more universal musical forms. They often succeeded, creating music with the widest range of musical expression of any rock group before or since. Another critic writing in 1968: вSpirit makes use of all the variables available to modern music; in form, style, tone color, dynamics, rhythms, lyric subjects, modes, scales, feelings, everything.в Spirit was among the earliest and most successful fusion groups. Spirit also displayed an early ecological sensibility and a concern for social justice, and critical and adventurous lyrical spirit that captured the sense of the times. Californiaвs вNature's Wayв and Fergusonвs вFresh Garbage,в illustrate their early environmental concerns.
In a spirit retrospective Jim Washburn wrote: вThe Doors were alright but for many rock fans in the late 60вs the band that really mattered was Spirit,в Spirit is the forgotten super group of the 60вs. They headlined for groups like Led Zeppelin and the Police and were it not for an unfortunate management decision would have been featured at Woodstock.
Though the original Spirit lineup broke up in1971, Spirit continued until Randy Californiaвs death in 1997, centered around the virtuoso musicianship of drummer Ed Cassidy and guitarist Randy California. California is recognized by many as one of the premier guitarists of rock. Exposed early on to blues and to the influence of Jimi Hendrix, California not only could master almost any style from smooth jazz to blues to psychedelic, he possessed a strong melodic sense, Spirit kept writing music and producing albums that challenged conformity, record company executives, and received ideas, in times of political quietism. (Potatoland, Spirtofв76, Further Along, for example) Spiritвs last studio album, California Blues, is a thoughtful return to Californiaвs blues roots. It is infused with an underlying sense of the community of mankind that can be traced back to Californiaвs early work with Spirit.
If youвre a fan of Spirit please sign this petition and show the rock establishment that Spirit still lives. If you havenвt listened to Spirit for a while or at all, take a chance to listen to one of rockвs neglected treasures. Then sign on to the petition.
481 Signatures
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Fred F
- Comments
- what a dyanamic group
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Colin B
- Comments
- One of the great bands of the 60's and beyond.
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Stan R
- Comments
- first rate band
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Chuck R
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- One of rock's forgotten greats.
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Fred R
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Clive T
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- Spirit should be given honour where it is due and it has been a long time in coming
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Steve V
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- very deserving band
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steve
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- Spirit's albums have been experimental, jazzy, rock, spiritual, and high quality from the first album to rnadys solo albums, to california blues. Every member who has existed in spirit deserves to be in the rock and roll fame.
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Herbert F
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- best group ever
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Matt R
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- So glad to see this petition. A few years back I sent an e-mail to Ed Cassidy about this very subject and to my surprise he wrote back to me saying how thrilled he would be to see this happen as a fitting tribute to the surviving members of the group. Its time. Spirit needs to be in the Hall!
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Craig B
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Tara H
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nick c
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- This is an excellent idea.One of the best bands from the 60's
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francois
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- don't share my info
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Johan B
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- My all time favorite band! The most underated band ever?
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Kevin S
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- It was my pleasure to roady for this band in 1974 and it would be an equal pleasure to see them in the R&R HOF. SPIRIT LIVES!!
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CHRIS W
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- Still listening to Spirit daily since 1972
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forrest
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- Spirit & Randy were GREAT @ Fillmore West 1971
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mike w
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- SPIRIT were the best and most ignored group in the 1960's.Great musicians, fantastic songs... and they still sound unique..and ahead of the field today.Long live SPIRIT...
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Greg
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- The Spirit lives on!!..Dr. Sardonicus deserves a place here...and without "Taurus" there would be no Stairway To Heaven
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Davina W
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Dieter M
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Dana B
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- Spirit was one of the best rock groups from their era
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richard b
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Laura M
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- Spirit Rocks!!!
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Robert G
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- Groundbreaking! Can't believe they are not in yet!
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Steven S
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ray n
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- Spirit lives on in Texas. The HOF is long overdue
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Will N
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- come on...spirit defined the late 60's and early 70's
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Robert R
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- It's long overdue
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Frank C
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- best group of its time
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ramon
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- One of the best
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Rolf O
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- The spirit lives on forever
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MATT R
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TERRY R
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- i have 12 dreams and one of them is to seeSPIRT in THE ROCK & ROLL HALL of FAME
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norm r
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- my all-time favorite band-period!
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David P
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- Should Have Been Inducted Years Ago!!!!!!!
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Fabio T
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- Great, great, great band
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Joe O
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- What a band....come on put them in! (Alice too).
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John Lynn P
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Hank M
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- Borrowed from often (ask a certain Mr James Page), but never bettered !!
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Glenn S
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- This group helped define what is possible with rock and roll. They deserve a place in the HOF.
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lance K
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- Long overdue !
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Clive T
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- About time!
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jwdol
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Douglas G
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- After catching the Family that Plays Together and Clear I was already a real fan of California rock band Spirit. From my bedsit in England I tried to copy Randy California's wonderful guitar. Then came 12 Dreams of Dr Sardonicus which was years ahead of its time and still sounds timeless. First sythensiser on rock album first eco song, first class influential rock that still finds new listeners today, a true classic. There were lots of fantastic west coast bands but Spirit were the best, 40 years on I still love them and listen to them whilst forgetting most others. They have really stood the test of time, now it's time for 2010 Hall of Fame for this truly seminal band. It's gotta happen sometime make it now.
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Fergal C
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Bryan
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- Randy California's unique guitar playing is very underrated. Looking at their first album there is a wide range of genres being played. Even though Spirit has not be the most popular band in the past, their songs deserve to be recongnized by the Rock n' Roll hall of fame.
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calvin t
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- Great group they have to be in the hall
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Kevin M
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- Spirit may be under-appreciated still, but their influence over the years is undeniable.
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481
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