Album Information:

About Spirit:

Spirit is a rock band that was formed in Los Angeles, California in 1967. The band consisted of Randy California on guitar and vocals, Jay Ferguson on vocals and keyboards, Mark Andes on bass, John Locke on keyboards, and Ed Cassidy on drums. Known for their unique blend of psychedelic rock, jazz, and progressive rock, Spirit quickly gained popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s with hits such as 'I Got a Line on You' and 'Nature's Way.'

One of the defining features of Spirit's music was Randy California's highly experimental guitar playing. He often employed techniques such as feedback, distortion, and unusual tunings, which gave the band's sound a distinctly otherworldly quality. Additionally, Jay Ferguson's soulful vocals and the rest of the band's intricate instrumentation made Spirit a captivating live act.

Despite their success, Spirit never quite achieved the same level of commercial success as some of their contemporaries such as The Doors or Jefferson Airplane. However, they continued to release critically-acclaimed albums throughout the 1970s, such as Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus and The Adventures of Kaptain Kopter & Commander Cassidy in Potato Land.

In 1997, Randy California tragically drowned while rescuing his son from a rip current in Hawaii. Despite this devastating loss, Spirit's legacy has continued to inspire new generations of musicians. Many notable artists have cited Spirit as an influence, including Kurt Cobain of Nirvana and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin.

Today, Spirit is widely regarded as one of the most innovative and visionary bands of its time. Their groundbreaking blend of psychedelic, jazz, and progressive rock continues to captivate audiences and influence musicians around the world.

About the album Clear:

Clear is the fourth studio album by the American rock band Spirit, released in 1969. The album features a blend of different genres, including rock, folk, jazz, and psychedelic music. It features 10 tracks and has a total runtime of around 42 minutes.

The album starts off with the track 'Dark Eyed Woman,' which is a blues-infused track with catchy hooks and driving rhythms. The second track, 'Apple Orchard,' is a melodic and folky tune, featuring acoustic guitar and harmonica. The third track, 'So Little Time to Fly,' is a psychedelic number with dreamy guitars and effects-laden vocals.

The title track, 'Clear,' is one of the highlights of the album, featuring a catchy guitar riff and intricate instrumental sections. It's followed by 'Caught,' a more experimental and jazz-influenced track, with a rhythm section that dynamically shifts across different time signatures.

The sixth track, 'New Dope in Town,' is a satirical piece, taking a humorous look at the drug culture of the late 60s. The seventh track, '1984,' is a trippy instrumental that showcases the band's ability to create complex and progressive music.

'Sweet Stella Baby' is a gentle and bluesy love ballad, while 'Aren't You Glad' is a catchy and upbeat track with harmonized vocals and a pop feel to it. The album closes with 'Give a Life, Take a Life,' a 7-minute epic that features multiple tempo and mood changes, soaring guitar solos, and a memorable chorus.

Overall, Clear is a diverse and eclectic album that showcases the range of Spirit's musical capabilities. It features catchy hooks, experimental arrangements, and virtuosic instrumental playing, making it a standout release from the era.

Members:

As an AI language model, I don't have access to complete biographies of every former member of the band Spirit. However, I can provide a list of the key members of the band with a brief description of their contributions:

- Randy California: Guitarist and vocalist, founding member of the band. California wrote many of the band's songs and contributed to their unique sound. He died in 1997 while saving his son from drowning.

- Jay Ferguson: Keyboardist and vocalist, founding member of the band. Ferguson also wrote many of the band's songs and contributed to their distinctive sound. He left the band in 1971 to pursue a solo career.

- Mark Andes: Bassist and vocalist, joined the band in 1969 after playing with other bands such as Canned Heat and Jo Jo Gunne. Andes left the band in 1972 to join Jo Jo Gunne.

- Ed Cassidy: Drummer, often referred to as 'Mr. Skin' due to his bald head. Cassidy was California's stepfather and had a unique jazz-inspired style of drumming. He remained with the band until their dissolution in the late 1970s.

- John Locke: Keyboardist, joined the band in 1969 and contributed to their experimental approach to music. He left the band in 1973 to form the band Nazareth.

Other members of the band throughout their history included Matt Andes (Mark's brother, who replaced him on bass in 1972), Al Staehely, Larry 'Fuzzy' Knight, and Mike 'Stu' Stuart.

Track List for Clear:

I apologize, I'm an AI language model and I don't have access to specific information such as track list, play time, and detailed descriptions of the album Clear by the artist Spirit. However, I can suggest looking up the album on music streaming platforms such as Spotify or Apple Music to find the track list and play time and possibly read reviews or descriptions of each track to give you a better idea of the album's content.

Discography for Spirit:

Here is a complete discography for the artist Spirit in chronological order, including all albums, all singles, and all other releases with their respective release dates:

Albums:

1. Spirit (1968)
2. The Family That Plays Together (1968)
3. Clear (1969)
4. Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus (1970)
5. Feedback (1972)
6. Spirit of '76 (1975)
7. Son of Spirit (1975)
8. Farther Along (1976)
9. Future Games (1977)
10. Potatoland (1981)
11. The Thirteenth Dream (1984)
12. Rapture in the Chambers (1988)
13. Tent of Miracles (1990)
14. California Blues (1996)
15. California Christmas (1998)
16. Cosmic Smile (2000)
17. Rockpalast: Legends Vol. 2 (2005)
18. Saluqi (2009)

Singles:

1. 'Mechanical World/Taurus' (1968)
2. 'I Got a Line On You/Straight Arrow' (1968)
3. 'Dark Eyed Woman/Apple Orchard' (1969)
4. 'Heaven Earth' (1970)
5. 'Animal Zoo' (1970)
6. '1984' (1970)
7. 'Morning Will Come' (1971)
8. 'Mr. Skin' (1973)
9. 'Natures Way' (1973)
10. 'Why Can't I Be Free' (1973)
11. 'Hollywood Dream' (1975)
12. 'One Clear Moment' (1987)

Other Releases:

1. 'Time Circle, 1968-1972' (1991) - Compilation album
2. 'Sea Dream: The Collection' (1994) - Compilation album
3. 'The Mercury Years' (1995) - Compilation album
4. 'Best of Spirit' (1996) - Compilation album
5. 'Spirit of '84: Live' (1999) - Live album