You saw them play in L.A. back in the 1960's? That's awesome. When were they playing arena shows? Around the time of Dr. Sardonicus?
I saw Spirit in Phoenix, Az. at least a couple of times. I probably saw them in L.A. earlier in a smaller venue but can’t remember the details of that. I went to a show they did at the Ariz. Memorial Colusium, which holds about 15,000 or so for concerts. If I remember correctly it was a co-headlined type of show with Country Joe and the Fish and Ten Years After in 1970 or 1971. I think 10 Years After closed the show, (they were quite popular at the moment riding the wave of their performance of “I’m Going Home” that was in the Woodstock movie) but Spirit was hardly a warm up act. They played an excellent full set and were well received. “I’ve Got A Line On You” and “Natures Way” were pretty well known hits in my parts. They were great and had a lot of energy. I especially admired Cassidy (even as a younger person) - An older guy out there playing in a rock band with his son. He didn’t hold anything back either. Very inspiring.
From what I've read (wouldn't know first hand 'cause I wasn't alive), Love was pretty unknown outside hipster L.A. circles
They were known. Love’s singles did pretty well. People that I knew (and most didn't have hipster badges) also liked the first 3 albums and several of the deep tracks but they never came around to back it up live. Arthur did what he had to do I guess.
Would you say Spirit was as well known as the Doors or Jefferson Airplane?
No, probably just a little below that of the JA though overall – in my estimation. The Doors initial peak popularity period, while very high, actually fell off fairly quickly and substantially. Then after Morrison died they had no real buzz at all for several years. When “The End” was placed in ‘Apocolypse Now’ though Morrison was suddenly red hot again - figuratively anyway. (Sorry, I’m always reminded of the Rolling Stone: headline “He’s Hot, He’s sexy, He’s Dead” for an article concerning that revival). I consider that song, in that movie to have been the start of what is called the “Classic Rock” format. It’s hard to believe because currently you get the idea that acts like the Doors or Jimi Hendrix, have been in the rotation, so to speak, continuously since they came out. But there was a period of years where relatively few listened to their music. It wasn’t played on the radio anywhere and there was no idea that the “Classic Rock” format would come into being and help revive some of that music.
Fortunately there are at least few people around, like you, that listen to a lot of the worthy music that has kind of fallen through the cracks - that maybe didn't make the classic rock playlist for one reason, or no reason, and you keep it alive.
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