I just bought a 2-CD import of Time Circle (1968-1972), which to my ears is the best anthology of Spirit's music ever compiled. Evidently this import version I now possess is a bit tough to find. It is copyrighted 2008 by Yellow Label under a licensing agreement with Sony. Yellow Label is a division of SPV and the 2-disc set was made in Germany. The spine on the gatefold jewel case reads "SPV 42402 2 CD."

I tell you all this stuff because this particular Spirit compilation has been issued before, going back nearly 20 years. Mastering/remastering has come a long way since then. A long way.

This is something like the fourth or fifth different compilation of this eclectic band I've bought during the digital age, each time hoping for a career-spanning disc (or discs) that featured improved sound and some freakin' volume to go with it. I think this import finally rings my chimes.

Nowhere on the back cover or in the liner notes does it say "alternate take" or "remix" or "mono" for any specific song, yet a number of songs sound decidedly different (and better, to my ears) from any previous compilation (including earlier incarnations of this particular 2-disc set). For example, "I Got A Line On You," the band's most successful foray into the weird land of Top 40 radio, definitely has more punch than the one on the expanded version of the single-disc The Best Of Spirit (2003, Sony/Legacy).

Look, I'm not a Spirit authority by any stretch, but I ALWAYS dug their music. And as the liner notes point out, via a quote from Jay Ferguson, it wasn't until Spirit disbanded that the press as a whole started to champion the band's vision. My point is, if you Spirit diehards out there, you audiophiles and music historians who can put me to shame, were to ask me, "But does this compilation have the original mixes, the original sound, of my vinyl?", I honestly couldn't say. I'm sorry. I just don't know. (If I had to venture a guess, I'd say "No.") But I can say that, in listening to this import, I am enjoying hearing nuances in the band's music that I did not, or could not, pick up from other comps. Nor am I suggesting you can simply pop this comp into your sound system and expect to be dazzled without first adjusting the tone or tweaking the equalizer to attain sound reproduction that meets YOUR needs.

The other point I want to stress is this: THIS version (again, "SPV 42402 2 CD"; copyright 2008 on Yellow Label) has four bonus tracks rarely if ever listed for Time Circle. They are "Soldier," "Ground Hog," "She Smiles," and "Space Child." In all, there are 45 tracks on this import version of Time Circle. It has succinct, well-written liner notes and good individual pics of the guys. (Otherwise, the booklet itself is kind of cheesy, as it includes four pages devoted to other albums on Yellow Label.)

Of course, those of you who can pop for CDs of the band's original handful of albums that this comp covers may choose to go that route. They may feature mixes closer to your original vinyl records (or at least approximate the music as you remember it). Again, I wouldn't know. I'm okay with this comp. In fact, I'm more than okay with it.

If you're considering purchasing the import version of Time Circle that I have listed here, I hope my review helps, one way or the other.

Spirit were a very underrated band. They were pretty much masters when it came to experimenting with different styles (sometimes drastic ones) and different sounds. This collection shows you just what the band was capable of at one time. While I'm sure there's some stuff on here you won't like, the fact they switch between soft acoustic, to straight up loud pop, to pretty ballads, to hard rock is downright amazing. For people who like diverse 60's rock similar to the Beatles, give this band a try and see what you think about them. This collection is wonderful for showcasing the bands diversity.

All these other reviews speak well of this excellent 2-cd collection. My purpose here is to advise those interested that THIS 2008 re-release of the original 1991 'Time Circle 1968-72' by Spirit has been digitally remastered for 2008.

So, if you choose the 2-cd Spirit compiliation over the remastered individual releases (either choice is grand), you can now experience the same improved sound quality with this 2008 release (not that the 1991 version is bad at all, it just pales in comparison).

Whether you are new to Spirit or a long time fan, Time Circle is a stellar collection that belongs in any serious music lover's library. It contains most of the material from their first four records along with some excellent outtakes, b-sides and rare tracks. Because this collection is so extensive, and the tracks so thoughtfully selected, I would go as far to say that this is the only Spirit CD you will ever need. That said, it's also probably wise to pick up a copy of their masterpiece Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus since Time Circle omits two essential tracks from this album, including the beautiful closing track "Soldier".

Spirit were truly in a class by themselves. Every member was (is) a highly talented, original and versatile musician. When Randy California drowned off the shores of Hawaii a few years back, the world lost a truly gifted songwriter and guitarist. R.I.P. Randy, and thanks for all the great music.

If you're looking to cover most of the Spirit catalog in one CD this is the real deal. All of the hits are here as are many other songs that bear listening. The range of music produced by this band is really quite remarkable. They were very much a band that was technically and musically far more advanced than most of its contemporaries.

Why some of the songs made this collection is beyond me as some of them must be songs only a long time fan can really tolerate. I've discovered some songs that are really good but never reached a hit status. The problem is that I still find myself skipping a few songs. The answer is that to burn one great CD that has all the hits and some of the other discoveries I have made and leave the rest for musical discovery days. Maybe the rest will grow on me.

One last note is that the remastering is really quite good. The original tapes were pretty good to begin with, since the band largely recorded in LA at the time that it had some of the best studios, but the remastered result is remarkable.

This is the buy for anyone who is interested in the band and who has a CD burner.