| Spreading from the Ashes | |
| Type: | Compilation |
| Artist: | The Peanut Butter Conspiracy |
| Cover: | Spreading from the Ashes.jpg |
| Released: | May 11, 2005 |
| Recorded: | 1966–1967 |
| Length: | 1:11:39 |
| Label: | Big Beat |
| Prev Title: | For Children of All Ages |
| Prev Year: | 1969 |
| Next Title: | Living Dream - The Best of the Peanut Butter Conspiracy |
| Next Year: | 2005 |
Spreading from the Ashes is a compilation album by the Los Angeles psychedelic rock band The Peanut Butter Conspiracy (PBC). In total, there are 26 tracks composed of early work, from when the band was known as The Ashes as well as their beginnings as The Peanut Butter Conspiracy.[1]
The Ashes were a folk rock group that briefly existed from 1965 to 1966. They released some singles on the Vault label that met with little success before disbanding in 1966.[2] Three ex-members Alan Brackett, Barbara Robison, and John Merill along with newcomers Jim Foigt and Lance Fent formed the PBC in late 1966.[3]
The compilation is composed of seven official releases by the PBC that were recorded within the years 1966 and 1967. This includes their time with Vault Records and the jump to the larger Columbia Records label. Another seven, both released and unreleased, were recorded under the group's previous band, The Ashes. This compilation marked the first time The Ashes' recordings are distributed on compact disc. The Ashes' recordings are more folk rock oriented compared to the PBC's psychedelic style that is associated with them.[4] Remaining are out-takes, demo recordings, and live takes of PBC recordings that were not yet officially released. The one live track, "You Should Know", was recorded in 1967, and gives a different perspective on the band that their studio albums could not capture.[5]
A twenty-page booklet of interviews and quotes from band members was written by Alec Palao and included in the album.[4] The compilation was digitally re-released in 2013 by Ace Records.