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Spirit — Aren't You Glad
Album: The Family That Plays Together
Avg rating:
6.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 373









Released: 1968
Length: 5:29
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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Aren't you glad you're glad you're glad baby
Yes I'm glad so glad I'm that baby

Don't you know you know you know baby
Yes I know I know it's so baby

Heard you say you needed direction
But in your house the word is correction

Aren't you glad you're glad you're glad baby
Yes I'm glad so glad I'm that baby

Don't you know you know you know baby
Yes I know it's got to go baby

Streets are yours you're feeling much bolder
But summer has gone we're all a bit older
Now

Yep!

Aren't you glad you glad you glad baby
Yes I'm glad so glad I'm glad baby
Aren't you glad you glad you glad baby
Yes I'm glad so glad I'm glad baby
Aren't you glad you glad you glad baby
Aren't you glad you glad, baby

Oh

Nana nana nana nana

One two three
Hey!
Comments (93)add comment
Thank you my Family!

Love to you all!!! 
Posted 6 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
 dragon1952 wrote:
I guess you had to be there. I mean seriously, Spirit was pretty much a period-specific band, although a few of their songs transcend the era. They were an excellent band, excellent musicianship, lots of roots there. California played with (and was named by) Hendrix prior to the Experience, bassist Mark Andes went on to play in several decent bands...Firefall and Heart to name a couple. Jay Ferguson had a solo career as well as a stint as Jo  Jo Gunne with Andes. And John Locke went on as a member of Nazareth. If you don't like them, fine....but they are not "crap"

 
When I heard a friend's older brother playing "12 Dreams" I was transfixed - they just spoke to me. At that point 12 Dreams and a Best Of were their only albums in print and I really enjoyed hunting down their back catalog.

Of their later stuff I recommend "Farther Along". The entire band save for Ferguson were back for that album, plus Mark's brother Matt.
Give the song "Diamond Spirit" a listen. Hauntingly beautiful song by Randy written when he was homeless living on a beach in Hawaii.

Also a great piece of trivia is that Ferguson wrote the theme for the American version of the T.V. show "The Office".

A wonderful, ernest and flawed band. Way ahead of their time IMHO.

Love them. 
Posted 8 years ago by Propayne    [ Reply ]
I rarely turn down the volume on RP, but I had to do it on this one.
Posted 8 years ago by suzzan    [ Reply ]
I guess you had to be there. I mean seriously, Spirit was pretty much a period-specific band, although a few of their songs transcend the era. They were an excellent band, excellent musicianship, lots of roots there. California played with (and was named by) Hendrix prior to the Experience, bassist Mark Andes went on to play in several decent bands...Firefall and Heart to name a couple. Jay Ferguson had a solo career as well as a stint as Jo  Jo Gunne with Andes. And John Locke went on as a member of Nazareth. If you don't like them, fine....but they are not "crap"
Posted 8 years ago by dragon1952    [ Reply ]
Yes, very bad. Awful, in fact. Horrible. Dreck. Crap.
Posted 8 years ago by stalfnzo    [ Reply ]
 moonridge2001 wrote:
Hurts head, make it stop...

 
Sorry MoonUnit, but I guess I'll have to jump out of my Microbus and beat you with my surfboard when I see you. Don't act surprised

.


Posted 8 years ago by misterbearbaby    [ Reply ]
You'll find this stretches your limits of credibility-  I made a Freedom of Information Act inquiry and found the X-File stating that both Bill and Randy California were abducted by UFOs near Modesto, in the same month in 1973. In case you were wonderi'n why you her so much Spirit... Don't get me wrong,  I think it was a good thing!
Posted 8 years ago by misterbearbaby    [ Reply ]
Hurts head, make it stop...
Posted 9 years ago by moonridge2001    [ Reply ]
I am a square, too.  Just not quite old enough to have caught it first time round, I expect.
Posted 9 years ago by DaidyBoy    [ Reply ]
 Catalytic wrote:
Utter shit, never been happier for the PSD button.

 
Why don't you just say "I am a square"?
Posted 9 years ago by dragon1952    [ Reply ]
 KaraokeVox wrote:
a family that prays together....stays together.

cute title...whats the difference between praying and singing?  not much. 
 
I don't know if you're being facetious or not....I'll assume not so it's "plays together" not prays. Drummer Ed Cassidy was Randy's stepdad......not sure if that's what the reference is to but probably.
Posted 9 years ago by dragon1952    [ Reply ]
Spirit

fuckin' awesome

(yeah, I can hear a tinge of Blood Sweat and Tears, and some quality Zappa-like jammin' by Randy, love it  : ) 
Posted 9 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
Nice tune and guitar line. I've never heard this. RP does it again. 
 
Posted 9 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
 or Blood Sweat & Tears RandomousJam wrote:
raw, beautiful - bit like the beatles.

 


Posted 10 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
This one hasn't aged so well, imo.  Thanks RP, though, for keeping  Spirit alive  in the present (even though, as I recall, all of its members are not).
Posted 10 years ago by ScottN    [ Reply ]
Glad to hear this
Posted 10 years ago by GeminiGirl    [ Reply ]
a family that prays together....stays together.

cute title...whats the difference between praying and singing?  not much. 
Posted 10 years ago by KaraokeVox    [ Reply ]
The basic riff, very good as it is, seems to have a long history. RC of Spirit prolly heard this riff somewhere (not saying he deliberately knicked it).
I tend to be less generous to Ted Nugent and Stranglehold.
Posted 10 years ago by ScottN    [ Reply ]
Yum.
Posted 10 years ago by Propayne    [ Reply ]
Yuck. 
Posted 10 years ago by catffeine    [ Reply ]
I'm So Glad - Cream {#Cheesygrin}
Posted 10 years ago by moodfood    [ Reply ]
 tgapen wrote:
HA! Looking at this I was thinking it looked like somebody made a mock-up of a retro rock poster, as if Spirit would be playing at the Grande on July 19, 2021.
Grew up listening to Spirit but didn't see this gig. But went to the old Grande Ballroom for many others who used to play there a lot including the Stooges, Frigid Pink, Seger, SRC and MC5.
Fantastic place!

jagdriver wrote:


1968: 'Twas a great concert!
 
See, now you're the toothless old guy saying "I saw all the GREAT bands, sonny..." but that's cool.


 


Posted 10 years ago by misterbearbaby    [ Reply ]
I haven't heard this playing in my house in,,,  damn...  nearly 24 hours! Spirit is one of those "soundtrack of your life" bands.
Posted 10 years ago by misterbearbaby    [ Reply ]
 bachbeet wrote:
"A terrific example of Randy California's guitar chops."

I think there was some kind of connection between Jimi and Randy but I don't remember what it was.  I just remember hearing of something like Randy jamming with Jimi. etc.

 
Jimi asked a very young Randy to play with him.  Jimi already had another player named Randy who was from I think Texas?  So Randy became Randy California.  Jimi wanted Randy to go to London with him, but I think his folks/someone else figured he was too young.  I think he was 15 or something. 


Posted 10 years ago by lemmoth    [ Reply ]
 bachbeet wrote:
clipped  I think there was some kind of connection between Jimi and Randy but I don't remember what it was.  I just remember hearing of something like Randy jamming with Jimi. etc.
 
According to some sources, Jimi wanted Randy in the band but was overruled by his (Mr. Hendrix's) manager.  Mr. California died in 1997 at age 45, saving his then-12-year-old kid from a riptide off the Molokai coast.
Posted 10 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
The late great Randy California on guitar.  Love how he got his nom du guitar.
Posted 10 years ago by lemmoth    [ Reply ]
Utter shit, never been happier for the PSD button.
Posted 10 years ago by Catalytic    [ Reply ]
raw, beautiful - bit like the beatles.
Posted 10 years ago by RandomousJam    [ Reply ]
TEN.
Posted 11 years ago by mgtom    [ Reply ]
This group did not recieve the notice it was very deserving of !
Posted 11 years ago by QuestionMark    [ Reply ]
This ain't make me glad...
Posted 12 years ago by vanmas    [ Reply ]
Thank you my Family!
Love to you all!!! 
Posted 12 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
wow. i love this.
Posted 12 years ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
NICE.
Posted 12 years ago by johnnieboy    [ Reply ]
HA! Looking at this I was thinking it looked like somebody made a mock-up of a retro rock poster, as if Spirit would be playing at the Grande on July 19, 2021.
Grew up listening to Spirit but didn't see this gig. But went to the old Grande Ballroom for many others who used to play there a lot including the Stooges, Frigid Pink, Seger, SRC and MC5.
Fantastic place!

jagdriver wrote:


1968: 'Twas a great concert!
 


Posted 12 years ago by tgapen    [ Reply ]
"A terrific example of Randy California's guitar chops."

I think there was some kind of connection between Jimi and Randy but I don't remember what it was.  I just remember hearing of something like Randy jamming with Jimi. etc.
Posted 12 years ago by bachbeet    [ Reply ]
Man, this feels real good right now.

Thanks.
Posted 12 years ago by kurtster    [ Reply ]


1968: 'Twas a great concert!
Posted 12 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
A terrific example of Randy California's guitar chops.
Posted 12 years ago by ocbrander    [ Reply ]
Randy California, Jay Ferguson and Ed Cassidy are gods. Love this record. Silky Sam got a line on me, for sure.

Posted 12 years ago by Bobert_ParkCity    [ Reply ]
"I'm So Glad" ripoff....haha...

10
Posted 12 years ago by bluedot    [ Reply ]
The post below is classic. Read that 1 instead of this post. Yeap, this song is fun and i am Glad i caught it!
Posted 12 years ago by GrooVy    [ Reply ]
Hippy trippin to the cosmic wave of perpetual light waves coming off that crazy guitar riff in my mind... love it... {#Cool}
Posted 12 years ago by SpamNRice    [ Reply ]
By accident, I met Ed Cassidy, the drummer for this band while having breakfast at a diner in Arroyo Grande, CA.
Very cool guy
 
Posted 13 years ago by alvarorb    [ Reply ]
Wow, does this take me back. Thanks for the jolt from the past!
Posted 13 years ago by salzburg4321    [ Reply ]
 annie_fannie wrote:
i don't know exactly why, but i really love the album cover.
 
Maybe you have a thing for cheap motels ?

Posted 13 years ago by drewd    [ Reply ]
i don't know exactly why, but i really love the album cover.
Posted 13 years ago by annie_fannie    [ Reply ]
If you weren't around when a band like Spirit was in its heyday, you only hear the same 1-2 chestnuts of their work on FM radio. I only knew Spirit from "I Got a Line On You" and "Nature's Way." This is really fun!  
Posted 13 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
 unclehud wrote:
A Spirit album I don't have, and a tune that's not on the two compilations I have.  Learn something new every day, thanks, Bill!

PS:  The Cream song must be the reply in their clever trans-oceanic collaboration:  "Aren't you glad?"   "I'm so glad!  I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad!"
 

I always kinda thought that, too.  That was part of what made the time and music actually fun back then.  I'm sure I heard them played back to back at least a couple of times back in the day in the wee hours, when there were no playlists and the DJ's could f*ck with your mind in a playful way.

It was and still is all about the segue. 
Posted 13 years ago by kurtster    [ Reply ]
Such an awesome album - I listened to it over and over and over when I was 11 and 12. Remember when I moved to LA, one of the first things I noticed while driving down Sunset Blvd was the hotel where the album cover was shot.


Posted 13 years ago by rtkmusic    [ Reply ]
Wow, i had to get up to see, who is this?! Very nice tune!

Posted 13 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]
 just_me wrote:

I think that was "I'm So Glad", but they do sound a little similar.
 
Cream indeed performed "I'm So Glad" on their debut album, Fresh Cream. The song was written by bluesman Skip James around 1930. There used to be a CD around called, at least as I recall, Roots of Rock'n'Roll with "I'm So Glad," "When the Levee Breaks" by Kansas City Minnie and Memphis Joe, "Rollin' and Tumblin'" and others.

Posted 13 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
 FrankMc wrote:
You must be a Brit. "Spirit have been..."

MinMan wrote:  
The release of this tune preceded Nugent's Stranglehold by 8 years.
Spirit have been the inspiriation for many others too.
Nope - but close - "third culture kid" due to 6 years in north London during 1970's.
Posted 13 years ago by MinMan    [ Reply ]
A Spirit album I don't have, and a tune that's not on the two compilations I have.  Learn something new every day, thanks, Bill!

PS:  The Cream song must be the reply in their clever trans-oceanic collaboration:  "Aren't you glad?"   "I'm so glad!  I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad!"
Posted 13 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
I am glad this is playing....
Posted 13 years ago by Propayne    [ Reply ]
I hear a hint of "Heaven is in your mind" by Traffic.
Posted 13 years ago by PA1749    [ Reply ]
 spindrift wrote:
Didn't Cream do this?  I like it, no matter who.
 
I think that was "I'm So Glad", but they do sound a little similar.


Posted 13 years ago by just_me    [ Reply ]
I just finished "Roomful of Mirrors", the Jimi Hendrix biography that came out a few years ago.

Randy California figures in that story also.
Posted 14 years ago by Propayne    [ Reply ]
Didn't Cream do this?  I like it, no matter who.
Posted 14 years ago by spindrift    [ Reply ]
 jagdriver wrote:
Led Zep opened for Spirit on one tour. There are claims that Jimmy P., uh, "borrowed" a Spirit riff to form the basis of Stairway.

I heard this band in the summer of '68 at Detroit's fabled Grande Ballroom. Fever Tree was a support act.
 
I'm reading the new Led Zep book; you can find out what everyone was borrowing back then in all its detail. And a lot of artists did it; but maybe not to the extent that he did.

Posted 14 years ago by Giselle62    [ Reply ]
 MinMan wrote:
 Papernapkin wrote:
This sounds so much like Ted Nugent's 70's song, Stranglehold. I wonder whose came first.
The release of this tune preceded Nugent's Stranglehold by 8 years.
Spirit have been the inspiriation for many others too.
 
Thanks. I doubt Ted will fess up to stealing their riff.
Posted 14 years ago by Papernapkin    [ Reply ]
 Jazbo wrote:
Gary MaGaths' basement, Leather drapes, black lites, hooka, Spirit.....Ahh.. 9

 
the DEA is still looking for that MaGath fellow

Posted 14 years ago by k_trout    [ Reply ]
 swoeller wrote:
Spirit is one of the bands that went missing from my life when I sold all my vinyl in the 80's. RP has reminded me of so many important pieces of my musical life history including these guys. Great sounds and melodies, use of studio tools, etc! thanks RP. sw
 
Funny... I was just thinking about this album the other day and wondering where I could find a copy.  I love this song!

Posted 14 years ago by samiyam    [ Reply ]
Now why is this following Gave Dixon Band's "And the World Turned". Similar chord progressions on the piano?
Posted 14 years ago by FlatCat    [ Reply ]
Gary MaGaths' basement, Leather drapes, black lites, hooka, Spirit.....Ahh.. 9

Posted 14 years ago by Jazbo    [ Reply ]
Spirit is one of the bands that went missing from my life when I sold all my vinyl in the 80's. RP has reminded me of so many important pieces of my musical life history including these guys. Great sounds and melodies, use of studio tools, etc! thanks RP. sw
Posted 14 years ago by swoeller    [ Reply ]
very Beatles like!!
Posted 14 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]
wonderful song....
Posted 15 years ago by DaveInSaoMiguel    [ Reply ]
Deserved a higher rating so I gave it an 8.  Always dug Spirit and always dug this song.
Posted 15 years ago by bachbeet    [ Reply ]
I am so glad, I am so glad baby... to be hearing more Spirit on RP!
Posted 15 years ago by jadewahoo    [ Reply ]
Led Zep opened for Spirit on one tour. There are claims that Jimmy P., uh, "borrowed" a Spirit riff to form the basis of Stairway.

I heard this band in the summer of '68 at Detroit's fabled Grande Ballroom. Fever Tree was a support act.


Posted 15 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
 brander wrote:
Lead guitarist Randy California played with and was given his nickname by Jimi Hendrix. RIP Randy.


His guitar work certainly has some Hendrix influence....


Posted 15 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
always something new to me on here
Posted 15 years ago by mr_toad    [ Reply ]
The first four Spirit CDs are great - and the reissues have bonus tracks!
Posted 15 years ago by RedGuitar    [ Reply ]
Lead guitarist Randy California played with and was given his nickname by Jimi Hendrix. RIP Randy.

Posted 15 years ago by brander    [ Reply ]
great band, put on one hell of a concert  not best song on album still a strong one tho
Posted 15 years ago by stkman    [ Reply ]
I'd never heard of these guys until now...thanks RP!
Posted 15 years ago by peter_james_bond    [ Reply ]
The archetypical Spirit tune. Heavy fuzz, bright lead, strong drums, great Jay Ferguson voice. Thanks RP.
Posted 16 years ago by mgtom    [ Reply ]
You must be a Brit. "Spirit have been..."

I am glad that some still remember and appreciate Spirit. You may have had to have been there, but they really were good.

 MinMan wrote:
 Papernapkin wrote:
This sounds so much like Ted Nugent's 70's song, Stranglehold. I wonder whose came first.
The release of this tune preceded Nugent's Stranglehold by 8 years.
Spirit have been the inspiriation for many others too.
 


Posted 16 years ago by FrankMc    [ Reply ]
Prefer "I Got A Line On You" off this album.
Posted 16 years ago by HarrO    [ Reply ]
 Papernapkin wrote:
This sounds so much like Ted Nugent's 70's song, Stranglehold. I wonder whose came first.
The release of this tune preceded Nugent's Stranglehold by 8 years.
Spirit have been the inspiriation for many others too.
Posted 16 years ago by MinMan    [ Reply ]
I was turned on to this album (an original from the sixties which I still own) by my college roomate in 1978. I thought it was brilliant. 30 years on and my original estimation still holds.

Posted 16 years ago by cszarrella    [ Reply ]
sharkartist wrote:
Wow, so cool to hear Bill digging into this record and playing something other than "I Got a Line On You" For those who aren't familiar with this album in its entirety, it's well worth investing in the CD.


Who else but Bill would pull out something like this in 2008? 

Posted 16 years ago by bpkengor    [ Reply ]
Time to dust off some old Spirit albums. Thanks for the reminder.
Posted 16 years ago by eastcoast    [ Reply ]
This sounds so much like Ted Nugent's 70's song, Stranglehold. I wonder whose came first.
Posted 16 years ago by Papernapkin    [ Reply ]
xkolibuul wrote:
Look kids, a real Motel 6.
Yeah, and an actual telephone booth complete with a bi-fold privacy door!
Posted 16 years ago by sharkartist    [ Reply ]
Wow, so cool to hear Bill digging into this record and playing something other than "I Got a Line On You" For those who aren't familiar with this album in its entirety, it's well worth investing in the CD.
Posted 16 years ago by sharkartist    [ Reply ]
Look kids, a real Motel 6.
Posted 16 years ago by xkolibuul    [ Reply ]
Very cool song. Many, many layers. I must have been living under a rock as this is the first I recall hearing something from Spirit. Got to check it out further.
Posted 16 years ago by Ericac    [ Reply ]
AREN'T YOU GLAD? Hell yes. More Spirit, please.
Posted 16 years ago by mgtom    [ Reply ]
I saw Jay Ferguson once. He opened for Alice Cooper back in 1978...
Posted 16 years ago by junebaby65    [ Reply ]
Yow. Haven't heard this in decades. Forgot how good Spirit was....
Posted 16 years ago by chucolo    [ Reply ]
Whoa! nice!
Posted 16 years ago by oscar_driver    [ Reply ]