Love

[SchnappM]

Not the emotion, the band....

Has anyone here heard Forever Changes? I started listening to it about the same time that I started listening to In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, and I almost like it as much. They're not really like NMH (nothing is, really, and if you're expecting to ever find another band that does what they do as well as they do, you're going to be forever disappointed), but if you're into psychadelic/folk/pop with horns and a string section, this record might be right up your alley.

I highly recommend it to any fan of NMH. It's a fantastic CD.

[Edited on 9-9-2003 by SchnappM]

[raydavies02]

"Forever Changes" is one of the greatest albums of all time. All of the songs are just absoluetly fabulous on that album. Fantastic orchestral pop that is still ahead of its time......

My favorite song on the album is "Maybe the People Would Be the Times or Between Clark and Hilldale" followed closely by "Alone Again Or" (However, it is extremely difficult to pick favorites on that album)

I would also suggest the slef titled first Love album as well as "Da Capo"......if you cant find either of these and you want more Love then I would suggest the "Love Story" 2 cd set......

One of the most fullfilling days in music for me was when i purchased both "Forever Changes" and the 2 cd reissue of "underwater Moonlight" by the Soft Boys on the same day......

[Edited on 9-9-2003 by raydavies02]

[SchnappM]

As far as I know, I have the newest remastered version, with 7 bonus tracks, and I think it's pretty recent.

The thing is, I got it from a record store when I was on vacation in Italy. I'd heard of them and the album was interestingly cheap (I got it for 10.50 Euros, which is actually kinda expensive in American dollars [about 13.00], for a CD, but in comparison the new Radiohead CD was like 22 Euros), and they were also selling a few "Forever Changes - In Concert CDs, which I, unfortunately did not buy. When I get back to the States, hooked on this album, I find out that the "In Concert" CD is an import-only. Maybe the release they told you about for the 28th is an American release of Forever Changes in Concert.

In any case, when I went to Best Buy looking for CDs they had one copy of the Forever Changes re-release. I don't think it's really that hard to find, you can get it on eBay with relative ease, if that's your thing. I just checked, and Amazon has it, too.

Also, when I was on Amazon, they had more information on the Live CD. Turns out it's very new- the performance is from January 2003. I wouldn't be too surprised if it was slated for an American release sometime soon.

I'd have to say my favorite track is the closer, You Set the Scene. I also like the single they tacked on at the end of the re-released CD, "Your Mind and We Belong Together b/w Laughing Stock."

[acrobat]

Originally posted by GrossDaddy57
Finally, a point I forgot to mention in my previous post: from the same discussion group, Love was an interracial band at a time when that was forbidden. This is an aspect that makes them a head of their time too.


whoa--I guess people don't know much about Love. Has no one here heard of Arthur Lee? (note: this is NOT meant as a "you guys don't know anything" post, I just thought Love/Arthur Lee was more well known--please don't hurt me!)

[heel27]

Very fine band.

[acrobat]

Originally posted by GrossDaddy57
It is my fault. I just picked up the album Yesterday 9-9-03. I have listened to the album straight through 4 times. With that said, I am extremely embarrassed on not knowing about Arthur Lee sooner, and more about Love’s music in general. Oh well, that is the ropes of discovery and learning.

The quote of mine that you mentioned is simple an example of Love being ahead of their time. Do you have any other viewpoints on the topic of Love’s music created ahead of their time? Anything other vital and interesting facts on Love you wish to contribute.


Thanks,

DRG

[Edited on 9-10-2003 by GrossDaddy57]

you know, I read my post again, and I do sort of sound like a punk!--you have nothing to apologize about!! I'm sorry!

I actually find it very hard to come by Love's stuff--Forever Changes is the only one I've been able to find. As far as Arthur Lee goes--he's an interesting cat indeed--it seems he was really one of the leaders in catching both the beautiful part and the ugly side of some aspects of the 60s--and that is what I come to appreciate most from the music of Love. Whenever I listen to the record, I don't come away feeling especially happy, but I DO feel the understated beauty of the music, and I appreciate the honesty of the approach. Such good stuff, and that's neat that you're hearing it!

ttyl!

[SchnappM]

The liner notes that come with the rerelease are fantastic, I would recommend reading them.

Still here's some info that I've gleaned from them, and other various sources:
-You said it sounds like a themed album... although it's not necessarily a concept album, per se, most of the songs are about changes in life. For some reason (drugs, probably) Arthur Lee had this notion that he was going to die just after he finished making the album, so in a way it's supposed to be his final statement to the world. To me, the record feels like when you're making a big transition in life, like making a major decision, along with some nostalgia. But that's just me.
-Lee was arrested in the 80's and, under California's Three Strikes law, he was sentenced to like 20 years. He just got out this year, or last year, and he pretty much went on tour soon after.
-Love made two CDs prior to Forever Changes, but when time to record Forever Changes came around, the plan was to record it using session instrumentalists with just Lee or the other songwriter in the group, Brian MacLean playing along with the songs they wrote. The other members of the band were majorly pissed and they eventually convinced Love to record as a band, and so they did (two tracks, the Daily Planet and Andmoreagain were the only tracks recorded with session instrumentalists but were later overdubbed to sound more like a band). However, after Forever Changes, Lee kicked everyone else out of the bands and released a slew of Love records by himself with other people. Some of them are supposed to be good, although not as good as Forever Changes, and I would assume that it would be REALLY hard to get your hands on some of those.

[SchnappM]

Also, the DC band The Make-Up released an EP entitled "Free Arthur Lee," and the new drummer from We Ragazzi quit the band to play with the new incarnation of Love. As of now, We Ragazzi is playing with their original drummer.

[nervesandgel]

i got the vinyl reissue of this album, but i have had a lot of trouble getting into it, i find it quite silly at times, and dated at others. there are a couple great songs on the album but as a whole it doesn't do it for me. oh well

but on another not, the cover of "the make up" albume "sound verite" is a rip off of the cover for "forever changes"

[vacantmoon]

yo la tengo has covered at least 2 songs off 'forever changes' which to me says a lot. Love's first 3 albums are definately worth a lot of invisible things.

[friend]

i love this album. once and a while it sounds dated. i saw broadcast oblivion play a song from that album live last month.

[Freakboy]

love? what a wonderfully original name for a band!

i couldnt find anything on em.

[SchnappM]

You weren't looking that hard.

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=CASS80309111711&sql=Bnx2m968o3epc

[Freakboy]

cool.