Spirit: Animal Zoo

Our Bubbling Under Saturday selection takes us back to Spirit’s 1970 album “Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus.” While the album produced three singles, none charted within in the Top 40 and “Mr. Skin” only charted in the Hot 100 when it was re-released in 1973. Unfortunately, the album was the band’s worst charting LP to date as it only peaked at #63. This position would be tied with its follow-up, “Feedback,” and all subsequent albums did much worse including “The Best of Spirit.”

Even with the lackluster chart performance, consistent sales of “Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus” over time allowed it to be their best selling LP and their only album to be certified gold. This occurred six and half years after the album’s initial release.

“Animal Zoo,” written and sung by Jay Ferguson, was the album’s first single release. Unfortunately, it only peaked at #97. Additional singles included “Mr. Skin,” which failed to chart during its original release, and one of my favorite Spirit cuts, “Nature’s Way.” However, our mission is to play this underperforming hit by Spirit: “Animal Zoo.”