Bootleg Bin: Spirit – Texas International Pop Festival, Vol. 7
Happy 62nd birthday to bassist Mark Andes. He was a founding member of Spirit, and later a member of Firefall and Heart. Here’s a review of a legendary performance of which he was an important part.
People just didn’t know what do with Spirit. Their jazz aspirations made them less accessible that they would have otherwise been, yet Randy California (his surname bestowed upon him by no less a figure than Jimi Hendrix) played hard-driving rock leads. They could — and did — write succinct radio-ready pop songs (“I Got a Line On You,” “1984” and the 70s FM staple “Nature’s Way”), but live, their tendency to indulge in jamspectaculars was unleashed. So it was in September 1969 that the group found themselves onstage at the massive Texas International Pop Festival, playing a typical set of the era. The hits were there, including the tricky time signatures of “Fresh Garbage,” but there was plenty of jamming going on as well. California’s stepdad Ed Cassidy never fails to impress, even on the obligatory drum solo.
The group’s heyday would only last a few more years; after that time, California and Cassidy would hold together lesser lineups of the group while Jay Ferguson went on to much more mainstream solo success (remember “Thunder Island?”). And John Locke and Mark Andes eventually ended up in, of all places, Heart. But on this day in ’69, the stage belonged to Spirit. While a soundboard recording, this disc — as all of the volumes in the 13-disc set — is a bit on the shrill and tinny side. But the performances captured therein (including sets by Grand Funk, Incredible String Band, Sam & Dave, Herbie Mann, Canned Heat, Delaney & Bonnie, Tony Joe White, Sweetwater, Santana, Sly & the Family Stone, Ten Years After, Edgar and Johnny Winter, Janis Joplin, B.B. King, Led Zeppelin, Rotary Connection, Chicago and James Cotton) make it well worthwhile. File this under the “why hasn’t this been released officially?” category.
Difficulty to Locate: 5 out of 10
General Listenability: 7 out of 10
Disclosure of Material Connection:
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4500-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.