Description

Spirit – Time Circle (1968-1972) – Double Compact Disc

Spirit – Time Circle (1968–1972) is a beautifully curated two-disc anthology that captures the creative peak of the eclectic and visionary American rock band Spirit, covering their most influential years from 1968 to 1972. Released in 1991, this compilation isn’t just a greatest hits package—it’s a deep, chronological journey through the band’s early work, highlighting their unique fusion of psychedelia, jazz, blues, folk, progressive rock, and orchestral elements. With remastered tracks, rare mixes, and previously unreleased material, Time Circle offers both a comprehensive overview and a treasure trove for longtime fans.

The collection focuses on Spirit’s original and most acclaimed lineup:

Randy California (guitar, vocals),

Jay Ferguson (vocals, percussion),

Mark Andes (bass),

John Locke (keyboards), and

Ed Cassidy (drums),

whose musical synergy and willingness to push boundaries helped define the West Coast psychedelic sound while carving a space entirely their own.

Disc One spans the band’s first three albums—Spirit (1968), The Family That Plays Together (1968), and Clear (1969)—offering standout tracks like:

“Fresh Garbage” – a jazzy, organ-driven social commentary that became an underground hit,

“I Got a Line on You” – their biggest single, full of psychedelic energy and proto-hard rock grit,

“Uncle Jack,” “Mechanical World,” and “Dark Eyed Woman”, along with rare mono mixes and alternate takes that give new life to familiar songs.

Disc Two delves into Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus (1970), arguably Spirit’s magnum opus. Tracks like:

“Nature’s Way” – a haunting environmental ballad with stark beauty and resonance,

“Animal Zoo” and “Mr. Skin” – fusions of funk, satire, and intricate arrangement, as well as deeper cuts like “Life Has Just Begun” and “Morning Will Come”,

reveal a band at the height of their artistic and philosophical ambitions. The disc also includes unreleased demos and selections from the shelved Potato Land sessions, giving insight into the group’s creative direction before lineup changes and industry struggles began to splinter their momentum.

Time Circle stands out for its attention to sound quality and historical context. The remastering brings clarity to Spirit’s richly textured music, while the liner notes (in the original CD release) offer background on the songs, albums, and evolving dynamics of the band. The compilation reveals how Spirit was often ahead of their time, blending rock with jazz improvisation, classical flourishes, and spiritual searching in ways that would influence later artists across genres.

For newcomers, Time Circle is perhaps the best single entry point into Spirit’s early catalog, offering both familiar highlights and deep, rewarding cuts. For longtime fans, it’s a lovingly assembled retrospective that honors the complexity, ambition, and magic of a band that never fit neatly into any single category.

Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic

Track Listing
Fresh Garbage
Uncle Jack
Mechanical World
Taurus
Girl In Your Eye
Straight Arrow
Topanga Windows
Gramophone Man
The Great Canyon Fire In General
I Got A Line On You
It Shall Be
Poor Richard
Silky Sam
Sherozode
All The Same
Dream Within A Dream
Aren’t You Glad
Eventide
Model Shop Theme (The Moving Man)
Green Gorilla
Rehearsal Theme
Fog
Now Or Anywhere
Dark – Eyed Woman
So Little Time To Fly
Ground Hog
Ice
I’m Truckin’
New Dope In Town
1984
Sweet Stella Baby
Prelude – Nothin’ To Hide
Nature’s Way
Animal Zoo
Love Has Found A Way
Why Can’t I Be Free
Mr. Skin
When I Touch You
Street Worm
Morning Will Come
Turn To The Right