Randy was born into a musical family in Los Angeles, and spent his early years studying varied styles at the family's Los Angeles folk club, the Ash Grove. Randy's Uncle was the famous founder of the Ash grove Ed Pearl.
He was 15 years old when his mother Berenice Pearl and his new stepfather Ed Cassidy, (later to become a founding member of the band Spirit, with Randy) moved to New York City in the summer of 1966 because Cassidy had a number of jazz gigs lined up. It was there, at Manny's Guitars, that Randy met Jimi Hendrix.
He played in Hendrix's band, Jimmy James & the Blue Flames, that summer. California, Cassidy and Pearl lived in apartment building whose other residents included future Steely Dan co-founder Walter Becker, who cites California's blues-based guitar style as an influence on his own playing. The stage name "Randy California" was given to him by Hendrix to distinguish him from another Randy in the band (who Hendrix dubbed "Randy Texas").
When Hendrix was invited to come to England by former bassist of British Invasion band The Animals Chas Chandler ---- who became Hendrix's manager and producer ---- Randy was not allowed to go by his parents, so that he could finish high school. So at that time the 15-year-old guitar genius did not become a member of the Jimi Hendrix Experience. By some accounts, Chandler wanted only Hendrix as the only guitarist for the band and nixed California's going to England. But Hendrix invited Randy, so they could "go find Jeff Beck."
Together with Cassidy, songwriter/front-man Jay Ferguson, bassist Mark Andes (with whom California and Cassidy initially had formed a band called the Red Roosters) and keyboardist John Locke, California founded the band Spirit ---- original name Spirits Rebellious, after Kahlil Gibran's poem ---- in 1967. The band's demo was produced by Barry Hansen, later to become Doctor Demento.
Their first, self-titled album was released in January 1968, one month prior to California's 17th birthday. He then wrote the band's biggest hit, 1968's "I Got a Line on You" for Spirit's second album, "The Family That Plays Together." He also wrote the single "1984," released in early 1970 and banned from most AM radio stations at that time. He also penned Spirit's other hit, "Nature's Way," for the band's best-selling album "Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus."
In addition to their role as the pioneers of jazz/rock-fusion, Spirit's music still stands as a unique sound mixing ethereal notes, hard beats, and a satirical view of the world. It has been said that Jimmy Page plagiarized Randy's guitar part from "Taurus" on the first Spirit album, when he wrote Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway To Heaven' although this is denied by Page. The fact that Led Zeppelin opened on the road for Spirit in 1968 fueled the controversy.
Spirit was invited to open for Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock, which would have catapulted the band into the type of fame that would have matched their musicianship and critical acclaim. However, band manager/producer Lou Adler ---- who, ironically, had been one of the founders of the rock festival movement two years earlier, as a partner (with Mamas & Papas lynchpin John Phillips) in the Monterrey Pop Festival, where Hendrix premiered in the U.S. ---- because the band was promoting their latest album, "Clear." When Ferguson and Andes left Spirit to form Jo Jo Gunne due to the slow sales of "Sardonicus," and then his friend Hendrix died, a depressed California left Spirit. He recorded "Kapt. Kopter & The Fabulous Twirly Birds," which included California and Cassidy's version of Paul Simon's "Mother and Child Reunion" and a slew of Hendrix-like tracks (also featuring former Experience bassist Noel Redding, AKA 'Clit McTorius') was released virtually simultaneous with the first Jo Jo Gunne album and a Spirit album called "Feedback," hastily put together by Cassidy, Locke, and a guitarist/bassist duo (Al and John Staehely) in 1972.
California repossessed the band name Spirit, and he and Cassidy (the only musician to appear on all Spirit albums) signed with Mercury Records in 1974. They recorded and performed as Spirit until January 2, 1997: that day, Randy California drowned in the ocean while rescuing his twelve-year-old son from a rip current near the home of Bernice Pearl at Molokai, Hawaii. He managed to push his son Quinn (who survived) towards the shore but sadly could not save himself from the strong undercurrent that swept him away.
All Along The Watchtower
Randy California Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Said the joker to the thief
There's much too much confusion
I cant get no relief
Businessman they drink my wine
Plow men dig my earth
None of them went on the line
No reason to get excited
The thief he kindly spoke
There are many here among us
Who feel that life is but a joke
But you and I we've been through that
And this is not our fate
So let us not talk falsely now
The hour's getting late
All along the watchtower
Princes kept the view
While all the women came and went
Bare foot servants too
But outside in the cold distance
A wild cat did growl
Two riders were approaching
And the wind began to howl
All along the watchtower
All along the watchtower
All along the watchtower
All along the watchtower
All along the watchtower
The song "All Along the Watchtower" by Randy California is a narrative about a conversation between a joker and a thief trying to find a way out of their current predicament. They both express their frustrations with the confusion they are experiencing and the inability to find any relief. The joker is dismayed that the businessmen drink his wine and the plowmen dig his earth yet neither side acknowledges the worth of his contributions. The thief kindly reminds him that there are others like him feeling hopeless and that life seems meaningless.
In the second stanza, the joker and the thief are asking the listener not to be deceived as they have been. They have come to accept that there is no meaning of life, and it is ultimately left up to us to create our own. They vent their anguish and warning against taking things at face value, and they ask the audience to join them in rebelling against the forces of confusion and hypocrisy.
As the song progresses, the scene shifts to an image of a watchtower where princes kept vigilance over their kingdom, but saw only the barefoot servants coming and going. In a disturbing contrast to this picturesque scene of harmony between the powerful and the powerless, the song ends with the arrival of two riders being signaled by the sound of a bellowing wildcat in the distance. The winds pick up as the two riders approach the watchtower, leaving the fate of the keeper and his guests unknown.
Line by Line Meaning
There must be some kind of way out of here
The singer is feeling trapped and wants to find a way out of his situation.
Said the joker to the thief
This line could be interpreted literally or metaphorically - either way, it introduces a conversation between two characters.
There's much too much confusion
The singer is feeling overwhelmed by the chaos of his surroundings.
I cant get no relief
The artist is struggling to find any respite or comfort from his problems.
Businessman they drink my wine
The artist is frustrated because even those who benefit from his work still take advantage of him.
Plow men dig my earth
Even those who work with the singer don't truly understand or appreciate the value of his labor.
None of them went on the line
The singer feels alone in his struggles and wishes he had more support.
Know what it's worth, they don't know
Those around the artist don't understand the true value of what he does or what he's going through.
No reason to get excited
The thief is trying to calm the joker down and avoid any unnecessary conflict.
There are many here among us
The thief is acknowledging that there are others around them going through similar struggles.
Who feel that life is but a joke
There are some people who believe that life is meaningless or not worth taking seriously.
And this is not our fate
The artist and the thief have come to realize that they have the power to change their situation and improve their lives.
So let us not talk falsely now
The singer and the thief are urging each other to be honest and straightforward in their communication moving forward.
The hour's getting late
There's a sense of urgency to the situation - time is running out for the singer and the thief to change their fates.
Princes kept the view
There are people in power who are watching over the situation but not necessarily taking action to help.
While all the women came and went
Women in this society are treated as transient and disposable.
Bare foot servants too
Even those who are serving the wealthy and powerful don't necessarily have the support or resources to improve their own lives.
But outside in the cold distance
There are other forces at play beyond the immediate situation and location of the singer and the thief.
A wild cat did growl
This could be interpreted literally or metaphorically - it suggests that there is danger or chaos approaching.
Two riders were approaching
Some unknown figures are coming closer - this could be either a positive or negative development depending on how you interpret the preceding lines.
And the wind began to howl
The growing chaos and danger is becoming more intense and hard to ignore.
All along the watchtower
This refrain repeats throughout the song, serving as a reminder of the overarching sense of danger and urgency in the situation.
Contributed by Elliot J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@MrWadsox
In case you were wondering why they are all so good:
Randy California: Spirit
Steve Howe: The Yes
Alvin Lee: Ten Years After
Leslie West: Mountain
Pete Haycock: Climax Blues Band
Steve Hunter: session guitarist
Robby Krieger: Doors
Andy Powell: Wishbone Ash
Ted Turner: Wishbone Ash
@sinequonon007
I just stumbled upon this channel. I must say, I truly approve!!
Randy and Jimi were close friends before Jimi moved to England to be discovered. Jimi gave Randy the name..Randy California. I am convinced they borrowed thoroughly from each other given that Randy was a prodigy and Jimi an experienced dude who recognized genius when he saw it. Lore is that Randy was offered a spot in The Experience but he was too young to move to England and tour.
Great stories..amazing guitarists.
THANKS SUB!!!
WeedLaw
@toddvandell85
Definitely the funkiest version of this song I've ever heard.
I love Jimi Hendrix's version the most, as he made it completely his own.
If you've ever heard Bob Dylan's original version, you can see how Jimi's version would have left Bob's version in the dust.
And more importantly?
Jimi's version is the version Randy California and friends are covering here.
(Bob Dylan's original sounds pretty much nothing like this.)
I love the funky groove they have going here.
Definitely tasty.
And all the guitar players here were awesome.
@kathyprettyman3
In case you were wondering why they are all so good:
Randy California: Spirit
Steve Howe: The Yes
Alvin Lee: Ten Years After
Leslie West: Mountain
Pete Haycock: Climax Blues Band
Steve Hunter: session guitarist
Robby Krieger: Doors
Andy Powell: Wishbone Ash
Ted Turner: Wishbone Ash
Thank you. I couldn't hear/understand when he introduced most of them.
@The-Contractor
Randy has always been a greatly underappreciated guitarist. His playing is so sensitive and tasteful. Never too much, always just the right amount.
@CuttySX455
He played in a band in Greenwich Village in New York in 1966. He was only about 16-17. The leader of the band wanted to take him to England to be in his band, but his Mother said no, as he was too young. The name of that group was Jimmie James and The Blue Flames. Jimmie James was Jimi Hendrix. Jimi, of course went to England and the rest is music history. Randy, as you probably know, started Spirit.
@gmedeiros5748
This is epic and legendary performance by a legendary musician and hero that remains a huge influence on his fans .
Randy forever
“ when the power of love over -comes the love of power then the world will know peace “
Hendrix
@jackspry9736
RIP Randy California (February 20, 1951 – January 2, 1997), aged 45
You will be remembered as a legend.
@barryware7497
Yes
@shelll9254
You know Randy was young when he played with Hendrix,. Big influence on a boy who continues to remember the legacy!✌️💗
@thomashumphrey7395
This sounds SO good. Like a guitar candy store of master players. Thanks for posting it.
@williamalbritton1867
Great rendition.The solos were all damn good.Ive been a Spirit fan from the beginning.One of my favourite bands. Can't say enough about how great each musician was,is.See you guys in rock n roll heaven.
@ikkenhisatsu7170
It's cool to see Steve Howe playing with these guys. Really great group of musicians, all.
@dennismason3740
when I saw the ES 175 I thought, "Huh. A Gibb 175. Interesting. Just like Steve Howe.". Then comes the solo. "Huh. It is Steve Howe.".