Clear (Spirit album)

Clear
Studio album by Spirit
Released October 1969
Recorded February 9, 1968 - August 27, 1969
Genre Psychedelic rock, progressive rock
Length 42:25 (original)
55:00 (1996 reissue)
Label Ode
Producer Lou Adler
Spirit chronology
The Family That Plays Together
(1968)		 Clear
(1969)		 Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus
(1970)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
ChristgauC+ [2]

Clear was the third Spirit album, written largely in the wake of their work on the soundtrack to the 1968 film Model Shop. Several of the band members have said that they felt there wasn't enough time for developing the album after releasing two albums in 1968, recording a soundtrack and constantly touring, but a growing number of fans feel that it is one of the finest, if not the finest, album the group would ever make. Possibly because of the rushed work on the album, there is a larger reliance upon instrumental work and the jazz backgrounds of several members than any of their other albums, perhaps most exemplified by the three instrumental pieces penned by John Locke. It also features their sound gaining depth and sprawling out even more than it previously had, as they even attempt everything from the bluesy "So Little Time To Fly" to tightly constructed multi-part songs like "Dark Eyed Woman" and "New Dope In Town". Stylistically, "Clear" is a precursor to the band's next album, Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus.

"So Little Time To Fly" was covered by legendary British rockers Status Quo as "Time to Fly".

The original Ode Records recording of Clear would be later restored by Sony in 1996. The second edition includes both sides of the 1984 single, the song "Fuller Brush Man" (which hasn't appeared elsewhere), and a piece entitled "Coral", which is also available on the Model Shop soundtrack but is present here in an elaborately produced version. "Coral" is a dedication to groupie Coral Shields, the 11-year-old sister of Sable Starr whom Randy California was dating at the time.

Track listing

Side one
No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Dark Eyed Woman"  California, Ferguson 3:07
2. "Apple Orchard"  Andes, California, Cassidy 4:07
3. "So Little Time to Fly"  California, Locke 2:49
4. "Ground Hog"  Ferguson 3:04
5. "Cold Wind"  Ferguson 3:24
6. "Policeman's Ball"  Ferguson 2:21
Side two
No. TitleWriter(s) Length
7. "Ice"  Locke (Instrumental) 5:52
8. "Give a Life, Take a Life"  Adler, California 3:23
9. "I'm Truckin'"  Locke 2:25
10. "Clear"  California, Ferguson (Instrumental) 4:09
11. "Caught"  Locke (Instrumental) 3:10
12. "New Dope in Town"  Andes, California, Cassidy, Ferguson, Locke 4:24
Total length:
 42:10
Bonus tracks on the 1996 reissue
Bonus tracks
No. TitleWriter(s) Length
13. "1984 (a-side of Ode single ZS7 128) †"  California 3:37
14. "Sweet Stella Baby (b-side of Ode single ZS7 128) †"  Ferguson 2:55
15. "Fuller Brush Man †"  Ferguson 3:19
16. "Coral (includes a commercial for the album during the last minute of the track) †"  Cassidy, Locke (Instrumental) 3:05
Total length:
 55:00

Personnel

Spirit

Production

Charts

Album

Year Chart Position
1969 Billboard 200 55

References

  1. ↑ Greenwald, Matthew. "Clear - Spirit". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
  2. ↑ link
  3. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/Spirit-Clear/release/6537610
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