Clear (Spirit album)

Clear
Studio album by Spirit
Released	October 1969
Recorded	February 9, 1968 - August 27, 1969
Genre	Psychedelic rock, progressive rock
Length	42:42 (original) 55:49 (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
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Christgau	C+ [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 their 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.

Track listing

All songs written by Jay Ferguson except noted.

• † - CD reissue bonus tracks

Personnel

Spirit

• Mark Andes – Bass, Vocals
• Randy California – Bass, Guitar, Vocals
• Ed Cassidy – Percussion, Drums
• Jay Ferguson – Percussion, Keyboards, Vocals
• John Locke – Keyboards

Production

• Lou Adler – Producer
• Vic Anesini – Mastering, Mixing
• Stachowaik – Engineer
• Steiner – Engineer
• Weinbang – Engineer
• Adam Block – Project Director
• Jeff Smith – Design
• Tom Wilkes – Design
• Guy Webster – Photography

Charts

Album

References