Newly discovered old rock: Randy California - Beyond Tiki

D donhonyc Tiki Socialite The Quiet EAST Village Joined: Jan 13, 2003 Posts: 1196	D donhonyc Posted posted on Wed, Apr 14, 2004 10:30 PM Just when things seem to get a little boring something comes down the pike that gets the old blood flowing again. After reading a very interesting article on Randy California and his band Spirit in the 'Acid!' edition of the very fine rock magazine MOJO, I was once again introduced to something very interesting that, unbeknownst to me, has been floating around in the universe for the last 30 years or so. I never knew much about Spirit but was always curious. The fact that they had a bald guy in the band during the height of the long hair revolution was always strange and intriguing to me, but I mostly just dismissed these guys as another lame hippie band similar to say The Youngbloods. I love music from the 60s, but I try to steer clear of the stuff that makes everybody look at the hippie movement as some kind of nostalgic joke. If you have gotten this far reading this, all I can tell you is if you don't know about Spirit, you may want to check them out. Something of even greater interest, and the point I'm really trying to make here is about Randy California's first solo album from 1972 called 'Kaptain Kopter and his (Fabulous) Twirly Birds'. As MOJO stated in their reccomendation of this album 'Stoner Rock fans start here'. As destiny would have it I was able to find a near mint LP copy of this amazing piece of music yesterday. All I can tell you is that this album, recorded in 1972, is light years ahead of it's time. This is what every neo-rock band of today wants to sound like. Jet comes to mind as the main offender of trying to capture this same kinda flame, but can't. I also would point the finger at The Datsuns, but I actually like those guys. This post is already too long and getting longer. If you are a serious rock fan, and feel a strong allegiance to the original originals. I strongly suggest you find a copy of this LP somewhere and play it ...LOUD. Here's a link to the LP artwork: http://tralfaz-archives.com/coverart/C/california.html They just don't make 'em like this anymore. They can try, and they do, but it's all just recycled re-hash. This is the real deal. Rock on brothers and sisters!!! [ Edited by: donhonyc on 2004-04-14 22:43 ]

Just when things seem to get a little boring something comes down the pike that gets the old blood flowing again. After reading a very interesting article on Randy California and his band Spirit in the 'Acid!' edition of the very fine rock magazine MOJO, I was once again introduced to something very interesting that, unbeknownst to me, has been floating around in the universe for the last 30 years or so.

I never knew much about Spirit but was always curious. The fact that they had a bald guy in the band during the height of the long hair revolution was always strange and intriguing to me, but I mostly just dismissed these guys as another lame hippie band similar to say The Youngbloods. I love music from the 60s, but I try to steer clear of the stuff that makes everybody look at the hippie movement as some kind of nostalgic joke. If you have gotten this far reading this, all I can tell you is if you don't know about Spirit, you may want to check them out.

Something of even greater interest, and the point I'm really trying to make here is about Randy California's first solo album from 1972 called 'Kaptain Kopter and his (Fabulous) Twirly Birds'. As MOJO stated in their reccomendation of this album 'Stoner Rock fans start here'. As destiny would have it I was able to find a near mint LP copy of this amazing piece of music yesterday. All I can tell you is that this album, recorded in 1972, is light years ahead of it's time. This is what every neo-rock band of today wants to sound like. Jet comes to mind as the main offender of trying to capture this same kinda flame, but can't. I also would point the finger at The Datsuns, but I actually like those guys. This post is already too long and getting longer. If you are a serious rock fan, and feel a strong allegiance to the original originals. I strongly suggest you find a copy of this LP somewhere and play it ...LOUD.

Here's a link to the LP artwork:
http://tralfaz-archives.com/coverart/C/california.html

They just don't make 'em like this anymore. They can try, and they do, but it's all just recycled re-hash. This is the real deal. Rock on brothers and sisters!!!

[ Edited by: donhonyc on 2004-04-14 22:43 ]

Post #86282 by donhonyc on Wed, Apr 14, 2004 10:30 PM