Spirit - Sea Dreams- Progressive Voyages Review PV107
SEA Dreams Cover
Spirit – Sea Dreams (Re-mastered and Expanded version) Progressive Voyages Review PV 107
I've been a fan of Spirit for over 40 years, Spirit – Sea Dreams (Re-mastered and Expanded version) Progressive Voyages Review PV 107
I've been a fan of Spirit for over 40 years, despite never quite managing to ever see them whilst Randy California was alive ( he sadly died on January 2nd 1997 when he was rescuing his son in Hawaii but was sadly drowned in a riptide). A truly tragic loss for the music world as Randy was a precocious talent who had experienced many ups and downs in his life from wild critical acclaim in Spirits early years to the more disparate groupings under the Spirit banner, he had also experienced some solo success with both the Capt. Copter & The Twirly Birds, Potato land project and the Euro American project and also under the Randy California banner.
He was a very prolific man who recorded masses of demos of songs that have since been realised by his friend and archivist Mick Skidmore who has committed to preserving Randy’s Musical legacy through an ongoing release programme of hitherto unreleased music. A lot of this has been done in conjunction with the great folks at Cherry Red who have released many sets in this manner. This expanded version of the previously released Sea Dreams album in 2002 in a 2 cd set.
This new version is a 4-cd set that contains a full remastering along with 2 cd’s of various live Spirit tracks that were recorded in Philadelphia, Detroit and Bloomington Indiana, San Juan and Kitchener Ontario mainly in 1984. Which means these recordings pre-date Randy’s own Restless album of 1985 that appeared on the Vertigo label and is now long deleted and certainly due for reissue in a much expanded version ?
The Sea Dreams part of the album pulled together ideas that Randy had been working on in the 1980’s and series of instrumental pieces that explored Eastern religious concepts and mixed ambient, melodic and Psychedelic Rock sounds and rooted in spiritual exploration and also deep meaningful dreams about the Ocean.
For me the real attraction of the album are the live segments and also the album notes from Mick Skidmore as he knows this music intimately and was aware of what Randy was seeking to express and convey with the music. The addition of songs that would appear on the Restless album is a real treat for me as that was a highly impressive album that I first heard in the mid 1980’s.
That Mick has been able to update and further expanded this album is very commendable as this music certainly has an audience who will willingly embrace it afresh.
As always with the Cherry Red expansions the sound is excellent and the presentation and delivery is splendid, great sleeve notes and enhanced sound all make for another impressive set to sit along the fabulous Two Sides Of A Rainbow, Tent Of Miracles, Euro- American tears and Son Of America set that have been released in recent years.
Of course one can never quite escape the thrall that Randy held for his friend and colleague Jimi Hendrix who Randy had played with in the Pre–Hendrix Experience days. As such he usually played a few Hendrix songs in his own unique style and manner, usually bringing something new to the tunes, and also allowing folks to experience Randy’s sympathetic and tasteful versions of the classic songs. On this set we have a rather blistering version of All Along The Watchtower that lasts for over 10 minutes and where Randy casts a strong groove over the song in tandem with Bassist Scott Monahan to fine effect.
I must admit that I really only came to the great music of Jimi Hendrix properly last year despite having heard lots of his material over the years, it was only last September that I really began to actually appreciate it for my myself. So Randy’s take on Hendrix material is always very welcome to me.
Another great thing about Spirit is they always like to do extended length encores as they do here after the main set. They return for a further few songs, as who really wants to go home anyway?
The album is rounded out with other live tracks recorded at Harpo’s in Detroit. So you do get a lot of great music in this fine set.
Indeed Spirit’s legacy is certainly well preserved and continued in this truly excellent 4cd set.
If you are already a fan this is an essential purchase, for the novice you may be better off with the Rainbow or Tent Of Miracles sets to start with.
Info here: Spirit: Sea Dream, 4CD Expanded & Remastered Edition https://share.google/LdeZrxxuHm4JaXnnX
never quite managing to ever see them whilst Randy California was alive ( he sadly died on January 2nd 1997 when he was rescuing his son in Hawaii but was sadly drowned in a riptide). A truly tragic loss for the music world as Randy was a precocious talent who had experienced many ups and downs in his life from wild critical acclaim in Spirits early years to the more disparate groupings under the Spirit banner, he had also experienced some solo success with both the Capt. Copter & The Twirly Birds, Potato land project and the Euro American project and also under the Randy California banner.
He was a very prolific man who recorded masses of demos of songs that have since been realised by his friend and archivist Mick Skidmore who has committed to preserving Randy’s Musical legacy through an ongoing release programme of hitherto unreleased music. A lot of this has been done in conjunction with the great folks at Cherry Red who have released many sets in this manner. This expanded version of the previously released Sea Dreams album in 2002 in a 2 cd set.
This new version is a 4-cd set that contains a full remastering along with 2 cd’s of various live Spirit tracks that were recorded in Philadelphia, Detroit and Bloomington Indiana, San Juan and Kitchener Ontario mainly in 1984. Which means these recordings pre-date Randy’s own Restless album of 1985 that appeared on the Vertigo label and is now long deleted and certainly due for reissue in a much expanded version ?
The Sea Dreams part of the album pulled together ideas that Randy had been working on in the 1980’s and series of instrumental pieces that explored Eastern religious concepts and mixed ambient, melodic and Psychedelic Rock sounds and rooted in spiritual exploration and also deep meaningful dreams about the Ocean.
For me the real attraction of the album are the live segments and also the album notes from Mick Skidmore as he knows this music intimately and was aware of what Randy was seeking to express and convey with the music. The addition of songs that would appear on the Restless album is a real treat for me as that was a highly impressive album that I first heard in the mid 1980’s.
That Mick has been able to update and further expanded this album is very commendable as this music certainly has an audience who will willingly embrace it afresh.
As always with the Cherry Red expansions the sound is excellent and the presentation and delivery is splendid, great sleeve notes and enhanced sound all make for another impressive set to sit along the fabulous Two Sides Of A Rainbow, Tent Of Miracles, Euro- American tears and Son Of America set that have been released in recent years.
Of course one can never quite escape the thrall that Randy held for his friend and colleague Jimi Hendrix who Randy had played with in the Pre–Hendrix Experience days. As such he usually played a few Hendrix songs in his own unique style and manner, usually bringing something new to the tunes, and also allowing folks to experience Randy’s sympathetic and tasteful versions of the classic songs. On this set we have a rather blistering version of All Along The Watchtower that lasts for over 10 minutes and where Randy casts a strong groove over the song in tandem with Bassist Scott Monahan to fine effect.
I must admit that I really only came to the great music of Jimi Hendrix properly last year despite having heard lots of his material over the years, it was only last September that I really began to actually appreciate it for my myself. So Randy’s take on Hendrix material is always very welcome to me.
Another great thing about Spirit is they always like to do extended length encores as they do here after the main set. They return for a further few songs, as who really wants to go home anyway?
The album is rounded out with other live tracks recorded at Harpo’s in Detroit. So you do get a lot of great music in this fine set.
Indeed Spirit’s legacy is certainly well preserved and continued in this truly excellent 4cd set.
If you are already a fan this is an essential purchase, for the novice you may be better off with the Rainbow or Tent Of Miracles sets to start with.
Info here: Spirit: Sea Dream, 4CD Expanded & Remastered Edition https://share.google/LdeZrxxuHm4JaXnnX
Author John Wenlock-Smith