Future Games/Spirit of '84

2 LP's on 1 CD: FUTURE GAMES (1977)/SPIRIT OF '84 (1984).
Personnel: Jay Ferguson, Matt Andes, Randy California, Bob Welch (vocals, guitar); Mark Andes (vocals, bass guitar); Curly Smith (vocals, drums, percussion); Alan Gratzer, Bruce Gary (vocals, percussion); Gary Myrik, Howard Lesse, Jeff Baxter (guitar); Jerry Jumonville (saxophone); John Locke, Neal Doughty (keyboards); Ed Cassidy, Keith Knudson (drums, percussion); Joe Lala, Bobby LaKind (percussion); Terry Anderson (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: David DeVore; Jay Ferguson; Michael Verdick; Mike Nocito; Randy California.
Audio Remasterer: Andrew Thompson .
Liner Note Author: Alan Robinson .
Recording information: A&M Records "Charlie Chaplin" Soundstage, Hollywood, CA; Studios 70, Tampa, FL; Yamaha R&D Studios, Glendale, CA.
Author: Doctor Sardonicus.
Photographer: Tony d'Orio.
This two-disc reissue from BGO combines two of Spirit's more self-indulgent and quirky releases: 1977's Future Games and 1984's aptly titled The Spirit of '84. With Future Games, Randy California let his imagination run wild on this 22-song cycle, with erratic results. While the sound effects and production are a nice touch, the songs meander from one to another without a sense of full development. On top of that, the combination of science fiction, Hawaii, and numerous Star Trek references meshes about as well as carpenter's nails and frogs on a slice of pizza. Translation: it just doesn't. On the flip side, The Spirit of '84 does much better at redeeming California, but this is one of the more misleading releases in the catalog. Essentially a reunion album with Spirit's founding members, over half the songs are re-recordings of their back catalog's finest moments. And while the performances are noteworthy, the updated synth sounds and production values make them inferior to the originals. It's not the best work in the Spirit catalog, but far from the worst, either. ~ Rob Theakston