Spirit - 1984

Spirit recorded the song California had written called "1984". It looked at first as though it would be the group's biggest hit yet. After being released in February 1970, it placed at No. 69 on the Billboard charts.

Besides the producer leaving Epic and some distribution problems that may have resulted in lack of sales, It has also been said that there was a tip sheet distributed to radio stations outlining the song's supposed political and social views, and opining that it might not be appropriate for air play. The song would finally see general release on The Best of Spirit in 1973.

Randy California and Spirit were aware of the way things were going and simply wrote a song based on the book, 1984. The result was no radio airplay, or at least it was discouraged enough to stop it from being a major hit and to slow down the bands success at the height of their creativity.

• Category

  Entertainment

[robulusx2]

The song was banned from AM radio for it's political lyrics. Probably the part that said: It's time you started thinking inside your head That you should stand up and fight

Oh just where will you be when your freedom is dead Won't you listen tonight?

Those classic plastic coppers, they are your special friends They see you every night Well they call themselves protection but they know it's no game You're never out of their sight

[robulusx2]

Yeah, Cassidy was the man, RIP to him and Randy

[Bliss Tew]

I heard Spirit perform this song in 1968 at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, UT. It was a great concert. Today, with the National Security Agency (NSA) now data mining all of the nine biggest national Internet companies our e-mails and social media postings are looked at by government agents. It doesn't matter if its a Republican or Democratic administration in the White House the "1984" dynamic continues. Freedom under attack.

[Bob Kuhn]

Great Song-Great Band! 

[NowaLibertarian]

Don't be so quick to let either political party off the hook. The powers that be have been working on this for a very long time, and it's not JUST the Democrats or the Republicans. There are a few honest ones, but not many. Time to sort them out. Time to clean house.... and the senate. I stand with Rand! He is leading the movement to take back our country!!!

[Al Thompson]

Looks like Randy California and Spirit knew an Obama-type of character would be attempting a future coup d' etat of the USA. Well, pilgrims... it's happening now.

[gryan0155]

Eds got some awesome snare drums there

[dopemilker]

they were warning us about the future

[dopemilker]

this is an alien band all the band members were aliens! lol

[buriedverydeep]

RIP Ed Cassidy