Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus

Last updated
Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus
Spirit - Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 27, 1970
RecordedApril–October 1970
Genre Psychedelic rock, progressive rock [1]
Length38:58
Label Epic
Producer David Briggs
Spirit chronology
Clear
(1969)
Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus
(1970)
Feedback
(1972)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [2]
Christgau's Record Guide B [3]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [4]

Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus is the fourth album by the American rock band Spirit. It was produced by David Briggs, who is best known for his work with Neil Young. The original LP was released in November 1970 by Epic. The band's lowest charting album to that point, it peaked at #63 on the Billboard 200 in February 1971, spending only fourteen weeks on the chart. However, it sold well as a catalog item and became the band's only album to ultimately attain a RIAA gold certification in the U.S., achieving that status in 1976. [5] On the Canadian RPM Magazine Top 100 charts, the album reached #49 and was in the top 100 for 10 weeks. [6]

Contents

"Nature's Way" became one of Spirit's signature songs, but was not a big hit at the time, peaking at #111 on the Billboard pop charts in 1971. To capitalize on the album's enduring appeal, "Mr. Skin" (the B-side of "Nature's Way") was released as an A-side in 1973 and also charted, peaking at #92. It was voted number 332 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums 3rd Edition (2000). [7]

Despite these commercial limitations, Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus enjoyed significant airing on college FM radio. The album was re-issued on CD in 1988 by MFSL, without bonus tracks, and in 1996 by Sony in remastered form, with bonus tracks. A 2022 two-CD release by Cherry Red Records also included several bonus tracks and a 1970 performance at the Fillmore West.

Reception

Writing in Rolling Stone , Nick Tosches opined that the album was a "blockbuster" despite some shortcomings. [8]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Randy California, except where noted

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Prelude – Nothin' to Hide" 3:41
2."Nature's Way" 2:30
3."Animal Zoo" Jay Ferguson 3:20
4."Love Has Found a Way"
2:42
5."Why Can't I Be Free" 1:03
6."Mr. Skin"Ferguson3:50
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
7."Space Child" (instrumental)Locke3:26
8."When I Touch You"Ferguson5:35
9."Street Worm"Ferguson3:40
10."Life Has Just Begun" 3:22
11."Morning Will Come" 2:58
12."Soldier" 2:43
Total length:38:58
1996 reissue bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
13."Rougher Road" 3:16
14."Animal Zoo" (mono single version)Ferguson3:10
15."Morning Will Come" (alternate mono mix) 2:58
16."Red Light Roll On" 5:40
Total length:52:22

Personnel

Spirit

Additional personnel

Production

Charts

Chart (1970-71)Peak
position
Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [9] 49
UK Albums (OCC) [10] 29
US Billboard 200 [11] 63
Chart (2022)Peak
position
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [12] 38
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) [13] 10

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [14] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

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References

  1. "Sir Robbo's Double Dipped Dozen: a psychedelic summer selection" (PDF). Cyclic Defrost . November 1998. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
  2. Unterberger, Richie. "Spirit – Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus". AllMusic . Retrieved 2013-02-20.
  3. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: S". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies . Ticknor & Fields. ISBN   089919026X . Retrieved March 13, 2019 via robertchristgau.com.
  4. Larkin, Colin (2011). Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN   978-0857125958.
  5. RIAA Database
  6. title RPM Magazine
  7. Colin Larkin, ed. (2000). All Time Top 1000 Albums (3rd ed.). Virgin Books. p. 133. ISBN   0-7535-0493-6.
  8. Tosches, Nick (4 March 1971). "Spirit: Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  9. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 5226". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
  10. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
  11. "Spirit Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
  12. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
  13. "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
  14. "American album certifications – Spirit – Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus". Recording Industry Association of America.