Spirit: The Complete Potatoland: 4CD Remastered and Expanded Boxset Edition

• A NEW OFFICIAL REMASTERED 4 CD CLAMSHELL BOXED SET FEATURING ALL OF THE RECORDINGS MADE FOR THE POTATOLAND ALBUM PROJECT BY SPIRIT, ALONGSIDE A HOST OF PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED LIVE RECORDINGS FROM 1972
• INCLUDES BOOKLET WITH NEW ESSAY
• REPLICATES THE ORIGINAL “ADVENTURES IN POTATOLAND” COMIC BOOK

Esoteric Recordings is pleased to announce the release of a 4 CD clamshell boxed set that gathers together all the recordings made for the classic “Potatoland” album by SPIRIT. The album was born in 1973 following the release of guitarist Randy California’s “Kaptain Kopter and the Fabulous Twirlybirds” album (made shortly after his departure from Spirit). To promote his solo album California assembled a band to tour featuring original Spirit drummer Ed Cassidy and bass guitarist Larry “Fuzzy” Knight. Initially playing concerts in the Los Angeles area, the trio recorded two live performances at the studios of KPFK-FM in September 1972. Soon after the trio reverted to the name Spirit to undertake live work in Europe. Following these concerts Randy California and Ed Cassidy began work on the album “The Adventures of Kapt. Kopter and Commander Cody in Potatoland”.

The recordings were offered to Epic Records (who had released the Spirit albums) but they were rejected by the label. The recordings remained consigned to the vaults whilst a reactivated Spirit recorded a series of albums for Mercury Records between 1975 – 1978. Whilst in England on a subsequent solo tour, a fan presented Randy California with a petition of 5000 signatures requesting the release of “Potatoland”. Inspired by this, California revisited the original master tapes and overdubbed new parts to the music and the album saw a release in this form in 1981 on Rhino Records in the USA and Beggar’s Banquet in the UK, where it peaked at number 40 in the album charts.

This new edition of “Potatoland” gathers together both the original 1973 version of the album and the 1981 release, along with 2 CDs of the complete KPFK-FM radio concerts from 1972, all newly re-mastered. The set also features 21 bonus tracks comprising studio out-takes, demos and two songs recorded live on the BBC TV “Old Grey Whistle Test” show in 1973. The set also features an illustrated booklet with an essay by Spirit official archivist Mick Skidmore and a replica of the “Adventures in Potatoland” comic book included with the 1981 album release.

DISC ONE: CD

THE ORIGINAL POTATOLAND

1. INTRODUCTION

2. 1984
3. EXIT 27
4. TURN TO THE RIGHT
5. EVERYTHING TALKS TO ME (DONUT HOUSE)
6. FISH FRY ROAD
7. NATURES THEME
8. INFORMATION
9. MY FRIEND
10. WALKING THE DOG
11. GIANT POTATOES
12. LONELY IN POTATOLAND
13. NATURE’S WAY
14. SALVATION: MATTER OF TIME SUITE
15. 1984 (REPRISE)
16. OIL SLICK-MILLION YEARS: SUITE
17. INFORMATION REPRISE
18. IT’S TIME NOW

BONUS TRACKS
19. YOU KNOW (BONUS TRACK)
20. DONUT HOUSE (ALTERNATE VERSION) (BONUS TRACK)
21. WALKIN’ THE DOG (ALTERNATE VERSION) (BONUS TRACK)
22. AIN’T THAT TOO BAD (BONUS TRACK)
23. MR. SKIN (LIVE - BBC TV OLD GREY WHISTLE TEST 10TH APRIL 1973) (BONUS TRACK)
24. TURN TO THE RIGHT (LIVE - BBC TV OLD GREY WHISTLE TEST 10TH APRIL 1973) (BONUS TRACK)
25. INTERVIEW WITH RANDY CALIFORNIA AND ED CASSIDY - 9TH APRIL 1973 (BONUS TRACK)
26. FISH FRY ROAD (LIVE AUSTIN TEXAS 7TH MAY 1979) (BONUS TRACK)
27. DAY TRIPPER (LIVE AUSTIN TEXAS 7TH MAY 1979) (BONUS TRACK)

DISC TWO: CD

POTATOLAND – THE 1981 VERSION

1. WE’VE GOT A LOT TO LEARN
2. POTATOLAND THEME
3. OPEN UP YOUR HEART
4. MORNING LIGHT
5. POTATOLAND PRELUDE
6. POTATOLAND INTRODUCTION
7. TURN TO THE RIGHT
8. DONUT HOUSE
9. FISH FRY ROAD
10. INFORMATION
11. MY FRIEND
BONUS TRACKS
12. SALVATION (BONUS TRACK)
13. MORNING LIGHT (ALTERNATE VERSION) (BONUS TRACK)
14. WE’VE GOT A LOT TO LEARN (ALTERNATE VERSION) (BONUS TRACK)
15. POTATOLAND MARCH - MIDNIGHT TRAIN (BONUS TRACK)
16. TURN TO THE RIGHT (ALTERNATE VERSION) (BONUS TRACK)
17. POTATOLAND THEME (ALTERNATE VERSION) (BONUS TRACK)
18. 1981 INTERVIEW WITH RANDY CALIFORNIA (BONUS TRACK)

DISC THREE: CD
KAPT KOPTER LIVE ON KPFK FM RADIO,
LOS ANGELES, 13TH SEPTEMBER 1972

1. INTRODUCTION DIALOGUE (LIVE KPFK FM 13.09.72)
2. VERUSKA (LIVE KPFK FM 13.09.72)
3. MISS THIS TRAIN (LIVE KPFK FM 13.09.72)
4. BAND INTRODUCTIONS DIALOGUE (LIVE KPFK FM 13.09.72)
5. GET OUT MY LIFE WOMAN (LIVE KPFK FM 13.09.72)
6. WALKIN THE DOG (LIVE KPFK FM 13.09.72)
7. HI- HEEL SNEAKERS (LIVE KPFK FM 13.09.72)
8. FIXIN’ TO DIE (LIVE KPFK FM 13.09.72)
9. AIN’T THAT TOO BAD (LIVE KPFK FM 13.09.72)
10. LIVE FOR THE DAY (LIVE KPFK FM 13.09.72)
11. HAPPY (LIVE KPFK FM 13.09.72)
12. FREE AS THE WIND (LIVE KPFK FM 13.09.72)
13. I DON’T WANT NOBODY (LIVE KPFK FM 13.09.72)
14. DEVIL (LIVE KPFK FM 13.09.72)
15. SHOTGUN (LIVE KPFK FM 13.09.72)
16. MELTING INTO THE FURNITURE (LIVE KPFK FM 13.09.72)

DISC FOUR: CD
KAPT KOPTER LIVE ON KPFK FM RADIO,
LOS ANGELES, 6TH SEPTEMBER 1972

1. VERUSKA
2. MISS THIS TRAIN
3. WALKIN’ THE DOG
4. GET OUT MY LIFE WOMAN
5. AIN’T THAT TOO BAD
6. JAM / HAPPY
7. HI-HEEL SNEAKERS
8. DOWNER
BONUS STUDIO TRACKS AND REHEARSALS
9. SUNRISE (STUDIO CUT)
10. MAN IN LOVE (DEMO)
11. BRIAN BERRY BLUES (REHEARSAL)
12. ECDAB (REHEARSAL)
13. Z (REHEARSAL)
14. BOOGIE WOOGIE ALL NIGHT LONG (STUDIO CUT 1972)