{"product_id":"spirit-clear","title":"Spirit – Clear","description":"\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpirit – Clear\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eClear\u003c\/em\u003e is the third studio album from Spirit, the pioneering Los Angeles rock band known for blending psychedelic rock with jazz, progressive experimentation, blues and melodic pop. Originally released in 1969 on Ode Records, the album finds the classic Spirit line-up exploring a more eclectic and experimental sound while retaining the inventive musicianship that had made their earlier records so distinctive. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing the success of \u003cem\u003eThe Family That Plays Together\u003c\/em\u003e and the group's breakthrough single I Got A Line On You, Spirit returned to the studio with producer Lou Adler for \u003cem\u003eClear\u003c\/em\u003e. The album arrived during an incredibly productive period for the band, following extensive touring and work on the soundtrack to the 1968 film \u003cem\u003eModel Shop\u003c\/em\u003e. Some of the material developed from those soundtrack sessions eventually found its way onto \u003cem\u003eClear\u003c\/em\u003e, helping explain the record's unusually varied mixture of full-band rock songs and instrumental pieces. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe album opens in explosive fashion with Dark Eyed Woman, one of Spirit's hardest-rocking performances. Built around Randy California's bluesy guitar riffs, the track combines heavy guitar, Latin-influenced percussion and atmospheric effects, making it an immediate highlight. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eApple Orchard follows with chiming Hammond organ and a more melodic psychedelic character, while So Little Time To Fly brings a lighter, more reflective mood. Ground Hog and Cold Wind continue the album's blues-rock influence before Policeman's Ball closes Side A with another distinctive piece of late-60s psychedelic songwriting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSide B moves further into Spirit's experimental territory. The five-minute Ice and Give A Life, Take A Life showcase the band's jazz-rock tendencies, while the playful I'm Truckin' provides a lighter contrast. The instrumental Clear and the atmospheric Caught further demonstrate the group's willingness to step outside conventional rock structures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe album concludes with New Dope In Town, a strong closing track that combines Spirit's jazz-influenced playing with a memorable melodic hook. Across the record, the band's ability to move between psychedelic rock, blues, jazz-rock, experimental instrumentation and pop songwriting makes \u003cem\u003eClear\u003c\/em\u003e a particularly interesting document of the rapidly changing musical landscape of 1969. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough \u003cem\u003eClear\u003c\/em\u003e is sometimes overshadowed by Spirit's more celebrated releases, particularly \u003cem\u003eThe Family That Plays Together\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eTwelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus\u003c\/em\u003e, it remains an important part of the band's classic period. Contemporary and retrospective reviews have highlighted both its uneven nature and its moments of brilliance, particularly the powerful opening track Dark Eyed Woman. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor collectors of Spirit vinyl, 1960s psychedelic rock, progressive rock and experimental jazz-rock, \u003cem\u003eClear\u003c\/em\u003e is a fascinating addition to any collection. It's particularly recommended for fans of The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, Traffic, Soft Machine and early progressive rock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA wonderfully eclectic late-60s album, \u003cem\u003eClear\u003c\/em\u003e captures Spirit at a point where psychedelic rock was beginning to evolve into something heavier, more experimental and increasingly progressive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTracklist\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSide A\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDark Eyed Woman – 3:06\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eApple Orchard – 4:05\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSo Little Time To Fly – 2:45\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGround Hog – 3:01\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCold Wind – 3:20\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePoliceman's Ball – 2:18\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSide B\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIce – 5:53\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGive A Life, Take A Life – 3:25\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eI'm Truckin' – 2:24\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClear – 4:08\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCaught – 3:10\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNew Dope In Town – 4:24\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/x5LVDr5yWJ4?si=OYhZ0BTSPZ9agzY2\" title=\"YouTube video player\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"CBS Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55120375021910,"sku":"S 63729","price":15.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1009\/1013\/7686\/files\/rn-image_picker_lib_temp_a15e95ca-3d3f-491d-8192-dae53e945cf4.jpg?v=1787925268","url":"https:\/\/www.sounds-grounds.co.uk\/products\/spirit-clear","provider":"Sounds + Grounds","version":"1.0","type":"link"}