FROM THE ARCHIVES
From The Archives, 2020
Cross country
The story of Entertainment Lawyer/Rockstar’s whirlwind double life begins at his UT Law School Graduation in 1970. In honor of the 50th anniversary of his bar certification, Al Staehely —who traveled from Austin to LA in 1971 to join Spirit— is pleased to announce the surprise release of a previously unheard, solo demo recording of Cross Country. The track is available on streaming services now.
HOT RODS AND COOL WOMEN
When I think of Mill Valley in the ‘70s, I remember my trips up from L.A. crashing at Marty Balin's house on Blithedale Ave. The one with the pyramid meditation room on top you could see from the street. The first time I ever heard "Miracles" was when Marty sang and played it for me in his living room shortly after he had written it. I played him "Mercy of the Moon," and I was honored when he later recorded it on one of his solo LPs. My other Jefferson Starship pal is Pete Sears - I wrote "Hot Rods and Cool Women" at his house. Marin County had plenty of both.
Polydor Records, 1980
Epic Records, 1972
CADILLAC COWBOYS
“Cadillac Cowboys” has a rich history, spanning five decades. The beloved track was written in 1970, right before Al relocated to California to join Spirit. It was first recorded together with Spirit and subsequently released under Epic Records as the first single for the band’s third studio album, “Feedback,” produced by David Briggs. Al Staehely & the Explosives re-recorded the track in 2013 in the home studio of longtime friend, collaborator, and client, Mark Younger-Smith. Austin-based Steady Boy Records released the Cadillac Cowboys EP in 2013.