I Got a Line on You

The Zoo Crew is spinning the classic track I Got a Line on You by Spirit, from their 1968 album The Family That Plays Together, and the Zoo Freaks are surely grooving to its psychedelic vibes. This song, Spirit’s biggest hit, climbed to number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 28 in Canada, a testament to its infectious energy. Written by guitarist Randy California, the track’s driving rhythm and fuzzed-out guitar riffs captured the West Coast rock sound of the late ’60s. Interestingly, the song was covered by the Hollywood Vampires in 2015, a supergroup featuring Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp, and Joe Perry, showing its enduring appeal. Another tidbit: during a 1984 reunion album, Spirit of ’84 (or The Thirteenth Dream outside the U.S.), the band re-recorded this track with a star-studded lineup including Jeff “Skunk” Baxter of Steely Dan and Bob Welch of Fleetwood Mac, turning it into a “super-jam” that one reviewer called “killer” for its raw power.

Behind the song’s creation, there’s a story of Spirit’s unique chemistry. Randy California, only 17 when the song was released, drew inspiration from his time jamming with Jimi Hendrix in 1966, which likely influenced the track’s bold guitar work. The album’s title, The Family That Plays Together, reflected the band’s tight-knit dynamic, with California’s stepfather, Ed Cassidy, on drums. The recording process, as noted in a Prog Archives review, saw producer Marty Paich adding string and horn arrangements, giving the album a polished yet progressive edge. Fans on Spirit Fan Group on Facebook often share how the song’s lyrics, like “I got a line on you, babe,” feel like a playful yet cosmic connection to the era’s free-spirited ethos.

Spirit’s journey began in Los Angeles in 1967, evolving from a band called the Red Roosters, which included Randy California (born Randy Craig Wolfe), Mark Andes on bass, and Jay Ferguson on vocals and percussion. The addition of drummer Ed Cassidy, a seasoned jazz musician who’d played with legends like Thelonious Monk, and keyboardist John Locke, rounded out the lineup. Originally named Spirits Rebellious after a Kahlil Gibran book, they soon shortened it to Spirit. Before forming the band, a teenage Randy California had a formative experience playing with Jimi Hendrix in New York’s Greenwich Village as part of Jimmy James and the Blue Flames. This brush with greatness shaped his innovative guitar style, blending blues, jazz, and psychedelia, which became Spirit’s signature sound.

The band’s debut album, Spirit, dropped in 1968, hitting number 31 on the Billboard 200 with its jazz-infused, psychedelic tracks like Fresh Garbage. Their follow-up, The Family That Plays Together, cemented their reputation, with I Got a Line on You as its standout single. Spirit’s music also caught the ear of Led Zeppelin, who opened for them in 1968 and later faced accusations of lifting Spirit’s instrumental Taurus for Stairway to Heaven. Despite lineup changes and tragedies—Randy California drowned in 1997 saving his son, and Cassidy and Locke passed in 2012 and 2006, respectively—Spirit’s legacy endures through posthumous releases like Cosmic Smile and fan-driven efforts to keep their music alive.

For more on Spirit, check out their official website at randycaliforniaandspirit.com. Fans can connect on social media via Spirit’s Facebook page or join discussions on the Spirit Fan Group. While Spirit doesn’t have active Instagram or X accounts, fans share memories and rare photos on platforms like Instagram under #spiritband. For deeper dives, visit fan-curated sites like Prog Archives, which offers detailed discographies and reviews, keeping the Zoo Freaks’ love for Spirit’s cosmic sound burning bright.