All You Need Is Love

We go back to the sixties and back to California to meet another historical band: The Love, from Los Angeles. Leaded by the great composer, singer and guitarist Arthur Lee, this multi-racial combo has exposed in some memorable records a perfect combination of different styles like rythm 'n' blues, folk, pop with beautiful and fancyful arrangements. A rocking version of Burt Bacharach's song My Little Red Book, that they presented with this mimed performance on the TV program American Bandstand, was one of the gems included on the 1966 self-titled debut album. The Love's golden period continued in 1967 with the next two albums Da Capo and Forever Changes. This last one is a collection of marvellous folk-pop songs with very refined orchestral arrangements, and it's considered by many as one of the best rock album ever.
Due to Lee's despotic attitude and drug-related problems, the band began to dissolve. In the following decades Arthur Lee appeared a very few times on the musical scene, also because of some health problems, but in 2003 he reformed Love with some new fine musicians (the other singer and composer Bryan MacLean died in '98) for a tour on which they played the whole Forever Changes album, and some more old tunes. He was in great shape, as documented also by this DVD. On this clip the "New Love" play a compelling version of 7 And 7 Is, originally included on Da Capo.

Added on august 04: I've just read on the Sonic Pollutions blog that Arthur Lee has died. I didn't imagine that this post could turn into an obituary so soon. As I wrote about Syd Barrett, the man has gone but his music will still remain for a long time.

Love - My Little Red Book (1966)

Love - 7 And 7 Is (2003)

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Bye

Mirco