Spirit (8) – Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus

1970 issuance - my recommendation is to source the OG from 1970 with yellow Epic label - this is a masterpiece (IMHO) and is worth paying a bit more

This said the music matters most - buy whatever pressing you can get

The bio states that this album was released in 1971, but all pressings state the original release year as 1970.

Odd fact: every copy that I have seen of this awesome album credits J. FURGESON as a songwriter instead of J. FERGUSON. As I look through the listings on Discogs this seems to apply to all subsequent pressings as well as those from other countries. If I had to pick, this is probably my favorite SPIRIT album, but it would be easy to say the same thing about each of their albums before this one. Great album, great band!

Rad album. Excellent mastering nice separation. This is underrated still. Just found this through my mother in law’s vinyl collection.

I bought this LP when it first came out in 1970 and I loved it !! This album featured RANDY CALIFORNIA ( born RANDY CRAIG WOLFE - guitar ) , MARK ANDES ( bass ) , JOHN LOCKE ( keyboards ) , ED CASSIDY ( drums ) , and JAY FERGUSON ( vocals , percussion ) . " TWELVE DREAMS OF DR. SARDONICUS " was SPIRIT's fourth LP. Their other LP's were "SPIRIT" (S/T) (1968) , "CLEAR" (1968) , and "THE FAMILY THAT PLAYS TOGETHER" (1969) . This was their best album but it would take several years to go gold ( 5000,000 copies ! ) ! The initial slow sales of this album caused JAY FERGUSON and MARK ANDES to leave SPIRIT and form the group JO JO GUNNE . The single songs from this album were "NATURE'S WAY" , "MR. SKIN" , and "ANIMAL ZOO" . I was in college at the time and I made a cassette tape of it to use as my "study tape" at the time . "SPACE CHILD" is a great instrumental MOOG synthesizer tune !
Later on when CD's were coming out , I bought the CD version of this album . This group has NOT been inducted into the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME as I far as I know of and should very well be there !!!

Great music and well recorded album. Mine has a little too much surface noise, but that’s my problem.

Easily their creative masterpiece and one that they should have become a household name with. However, poor management as always, got in the way. Spirit were asked to play Woodstock, yet their manager recommended they turn that festival down and focus on touring this album instead. Had they played that one gig in upstate, NY it may have changed the direction of the band forever (as it did for Santana and Ten Years After). The first four Spirit albums are essential and on reflection far better than so many other bands output at the same time. Sadly, when '12 dreams' didn't make an impact it devastated Randy California as he put his heart and soul into the album and believed it too was a creative masterpiece and Art with a capital A. So sorry Randy, but if the masses of public sheep choose not to see and hear fine art then maybe it is best left int he hands with those who do.

If you don't know this album and are here because you heard something about Led Zeppelin ripping them off (which they did as they did with so many black musicians as well) - do yourself a favor and buy this album and then buy their 1st S/T, their 2nd ('The Family That Plays Together') and their 3rd ('Clear'). You won't be disappointed. Incredible band who blended top rate lyricism with Wes Montgomery inspired jazz guitar blended with west coast psychedelic rock, jazz drumming and classical keys.

Why the hell hasnt Analog productions or MFSL picked up the tapes to this bad boy and Press an AAA Version on virgin vinyl at 45rpm,, I can see it now MFSL 1step 12 dreams, UHQR 12 dreams,,,, Only problem? it will never happen because no body knows about this record,,,,,

I have an issue looking for the release i own. The cover features a CBS logo instead of the EPIC logo i saw in most release. Hoever on the back, it says manufactured by Epic Records/CBS with a NY address. The record itself features a crimson red label with AL 30267 printed. Any help?

Got this at a record store for 10 bucks, great condition for that price. The mixing on this is perfect: vocals and instrumentals spaced out and clear, percussions crisp, and all the spectacular weirdness of Spirit up front and loud to enjoy.