Kapt. Kopter & The (Fabulous) Twirly Birds

Kapt. Kopter & the (Fabulous) Twirly Birds was Randy California’s debut solo album after leaving Spirit, and thus, expectations were high. California, still only 21, opted to return to the influence of his early mentor, Jimi Hendrix, who had died in 1970. California wailed through a series of tunes in a style more reminiscent of the extended arrangements of Electric Ladyland than the tight psychedelic pop singles on Are You Experienced? Beatles songs like “Day Tripper” and “Rain” became almost unrecognizable frames for California’s improvisations. At least the covers were actual songs, which was more than you could say for the originals. Kapt. Kopter ended up proving that California was not ready to be promoted from a group guitarist who sang and wrote occasionally. – William Ruhlmann