The Family That Plays Together

The Family That Plays Together, the second of four albums released by the original Spirit lineup, was marketed by Ode Records in December 1968. More than its predecessor, Spirit, their self-titled and surreal debut, The Family That Plays Together displays the band's ability to play beyond the genre of psychedelic rock. Tracks such as "It Shall Be" and "Silky Sam" demonstrate the ease with which the ensemble can incorporate jazz into their idiosyncratic form of rock, while "Jewish" and "Aren't You Glad" show the band's competence in exploiting both world music and jam rock. "Poor Richard," "Jewish," and "All the Same" feature double track lead breaks by guitarist Randy California. The album's title was inspired by the stepson-stepfather relationship between guitarist Randy California and percussionist Ed Cassidy. It alludes to the slogan "The family that prays together stays together," created by ad-writer Al Scalpone for the Family Rosary Crusade and popular in American and British rhetoric beginning in the 1940s.

Contents

• I got a line on you spirit
• Track listing
• Spirit
• Production
• Charts
• Songs
• References

The album's arrangements were created by Marty Paich, who also arranged and conducted Spirit's eponymous debut album and their third album, Clear, as well as Model Shop (the soundtrack to a film of the same name, which was recorded after "Family" but not released until 2004).

At some point after "Family's" first issue, the final mixes for the album were lost. Because of this, all subsequent CD releases by Sony, as well as the recent vinyl re-issue by Sundazed Records, are taken from new mixes made from the original multi-track tapes (the tracks that appeared on the Time Circle compilation were re-mixed as well, though the mixes differ) by Bob Irwin, Randy California and Ed Cassidy in 1996. Liner notes on the 1996 CD version state that it was "mixed and mastered by Vic Anesini, Sony Music Studios, New York." There are substantial differences in some places between the original LP and the 1996 CD reissue.

The 1996 compact disc reissue also contains five bonus tracks. Two of these appeared on the 1991 Time Circle compilation, while the other three are previously unissued.

The album cover was shot at the Sunset Highland Motel, located at 6830 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California, just across from Hollywood High School.

"Jewish" is performed with Hebrew lyrics that are taken from the traditional song "Hine Ma Tov", based on King David's Psalm 133. California's sole credit in this instance is problematic.

Ed Cassidy's drum solo in "All the Same" is similar to Joe Morello's solo in the Dave Brubeck Quartet song "Castilian Drums".