Jimmie Spheeris was one of my favorite artists in the 70s. His fresh, unique style was a departure from mainstream rock. It almost defined a new genre. Prodigious, acoustic guitar work, delicate piano solos, lush violin and flute work, and his smooth, articulate tenor / baritone voice just perfectly drawing you into his stories. Simply exquisite song-crafting.

He produced four albums in his short career, before being killed by a drunk driver at the age of 34 while riding his motorcycle.

His first record was cleverly entitled ‘Isle of View’. Take some time and enjoy a few beautiful examples of his music here, along with a couple old standards that he lovingly covered:

The Nest

come to me now – dove on your shoulder
white flame of love burns on your breath
I am ready for flight
oh my wings are so ripe
come wake me
take me from the nest

the scarlet ships sail sacred oceans
where tides of love have laid to rest
quiet water by night
oh my sails are so ripe
come wake me
take me from the nest

and weave your beauty
fire lacing thru me
trip the light and know that I am waiting for you

unlock the treasure of stolen pleasure
breathe in the light that blinds the pain that we once knew
wake me
take me

come to me now – dove on your shoulder
white flame of love burns on your breath
I am ready for flight
oh my wings are so ripe
come wake me
take me from the nest
from the nest

For Roach

harmony and honesty, like seeds in the ground
sprout up in butter cups, since you’ve been hangin’ around
I woke from a dream and I held you
rich with understanding
and there was no space between us
only love that was lightly landing down

a love rush on clear trust, it keeps me high
sirens sing and traffic screams, and death drifts in these skies
but love seems to keep on shining
even in the storm
when waves of fear come blinding us
only love is gonna keep us warm now
mend the hearts that have torn away

Monte Luna

the birds fly, weaving beauty all around these mountains
once their freedom knew me, and held my dreams
upon their wings of gold

the sun comes silently, and the church bell wakes the sparrow
he drinks the pure white rain that softly falls
as morning calls my name

calling me to come returning to the mountain of the moon
on wings that sing their freedom’s mirth
with every passing of the winter’s sun, I know that soon
peace will finally blossom on this earth

it’s been a long long time
oh such a long long time

Seeds of Spring

the winter is worn and the springtime is born
the city children storm thru the square
pigtailed girls and baby squirrels
in the whole wide world the children share

and this old world is truly their friend
it’s gonna take care of their needs
thru the smog comes some god on a velvet wind
to scatter the seeds of spring

trinity chimes echo in my mind
the evening city shines – its gettin’ lazy
church bells toll, echo in my soul
and I want you to bear my baby

and this old world is gonna be our friend
it’s gonna take care of our dreams
thru the smog comes some god on a velvet wind
to scatter the seeds of spring now

to scatter the seeds of spring
to scatter the seeds of spring
of spring

I Am The Mercury

I cannot go anymore to the marshes
where the gatekeeper smiles at the poisons that he’s made
for my heart belongs to the one on the mountain
where the doves build their nests in the sun-ripened glade

for I am the mercury – light of the morning
looking for shelter in this thunder and this rain
and you like some windmill weave light where its storming
your love like a potion for the hunger and the pain
Let it rain

I have been bought, I have been sold in the city
I’ve dined with the demons and I drank of their fear
but you, you have known and waited in silence
come cradle my heart in a homecoming tear

and we are the mercury – light of the morning
looking for shelter in this thunder and this rain
and he like some windmill weaves light where its storming
his love like a potion for the hunger and the pain

let it rain – let it rain
let it rain on the mountain
let it rain

Long Way Down

I do not have the time of day for you
I only know I wanna stay with you
and it’s a long way down, baby, if you wanna slide
you’re down, baby, you’re down
down down on the ground

I just stopped by the other day
you always seem to be on your way
you tell me that you gotta go a little downtown
and then I watch you run around
look you up and down

I’m looking out the window of your bedroom
just a wondering what in the world I just might do
you’re listening to a voice that came on your wire
and then I watch you run around
look you up and down

you lay it down hard and you move me down slow
and once again I die
I die

Let it Flow

would you love to love me baby
in a way they’d say was crazy
in innocence, the essence of us all
would you love to love me naked
let it ride and we can make it
can’t you hear every moment’s new born call?

and love me without thinkin’ it over
love me like the sun loves clover
when it grows
let it flow

I watch the waves down at the shoreline
they come like thought rolling in moretime
love me like the force that makes them grow
pure and free in all directions
naked sea in our reflection
somewhere so high above these gates you know I know
glory grows

and love me without thinkin’ it over
love me like the sun loves clover
when it grows
let it flow

Come Back

we spent the night and the morning here
we talked… and once I even kissed you
I felt your feelings get all choked up by fear
and yes, I’m sorry that I missed you

come back… come here… come back here
come back… come here… come back here

you left me here and took a cab uptown
you left me with my feathers and my wine
I told you there were two ways to go: you can go up or go down
and when the time wasn’t making you, you were making time

come back… come here… come back here
come back… come here… come back here

maybe some day when worlds are done
and the sky is but a memory
then we can slide into each other’s love
you know… just like the thunder does, to the golden sea

come back… come here… come back here
come back… come here… come back here

living is a little game of give and take: gather and shed the time
what you’re gonna give, you’re surely gonna take
gather and shed the time