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GoodHumourMan
Third Love
United Kingdom
60 Posts |
 Posted - 04/06/2008 : 19:43:53
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It has been nearly three years since I returned to America after a 10-year stint in Great Britain and two years since Arthur Lee left us.
I would have to say the greatest thing I have to say thank you to the UK is for introducing me to Arthur Lee and Love. I had never heard a thing off Forever Changes before. Now, I just can't get enough of it. It is to the 60s what Dark Side of the Moon is to the 70s.
For whatever reason, Arthur and Love were no more than a one-hit wonder in America during the peak of the British Invasion of the Beatles, Stones, Yardbirds, Animals, Kinks, etc. I remember as a kid in 1966 when Love came out with Little Red Book. That was it. I think I might have heard 7 & 7 Is a few times and nothing off FC. I figured if its not on the radio, it can't be good. I just thought Arthur was just a hanger-onner for continue to tour and record into the 70s.
A preview in the Evening Standard convinced me to attend a Love gig at the Queen Elizabeth. I was stunned. The brilliant music was one thing. But the packed crowd was another. Love was attracting bigger crowds in London than American big names, Skynyrd, the Doobie Brothers, Jefferson Starship. The crowd just was ecstatic.
I only had the Comes in Colors collection at the time, which featured about half of Forever Changes. Then I went out and bought FC, and....well, how could America have missed this?
But I've learned the worst problem for Love was Arthur himself...He was a musical genius, but a failure as a salesman. His temperment, his arrogance and his lack of motivation to tour and America just looked to the Doors, the Dead and Spirit instead. Oh well.
Arthur, you were a genius and I miss you. Your music lives on and on. Thank You Britain for overlooking Arthur's persona to discover the musical giant.
DanGerMan |
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rocker
Old Love
USA
3606 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2008 : 14:17:44
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.."how could America have missed this?"...
Great question. Arguably it looks as if without great UK interest perhaps Love's legacy would've just faded away into rock heaven. Not sure about it but the fact that there are many Brits here brings that all out. Certainly the band hit a chord with England. |
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SignedRW
Fifth Love
USA
280 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2008 : 18:16:04
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Can't really disagree with your assessment that for most of America,
Love was way underappreciated. However, those of us who were lucky
enough to be in the Los Angeles metro area around the time of those first three albums heard them (not just the singles, but many, many
various album tracks) on three pretty excellent rock radio stations,
all of which pre-dated any of the FM "underground" stations. KBLA,
KRLA, and KFWB (but not KHJ!) all played lots of Love, for a good few
years. Actually, make that a great few years! Not only were we able
to hear Love on the radio regularly, but we could also see them live
almost any weekend; pretty fine times, and I wouldn't trade having
been there for anything.... |
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lemonade kid
Old Love
USA
9876 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2008 : 17:56:35
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quote:
Originally posted by Signed RW
Can't really disagree with your assessment that for most of America,
Love was way underappreciated. However, those of us who were lucky
enough to be in the Los Angeles metro area around the time of those first three albums heard them (not just the singles, but many, many
various album tracks) on three pretty excellent rock radio stations,
all of which pre-dated any of the FM "underground" stations. KBLA,
KRLA, and KFWB (but not KHJ!) all played lots of Love, for a good few
years. Actually, make that a great few years! Not only were we able
to hear Love on the radio regularly, but we could also see them live
almost any weekend; pretty fine times, and I wouldn't trade having
been there for anything....
Ya, in the midwest (Iowa) all we got for airplay was 'Little Red Book'; no airplay
after that one hit that I can recall. We'd pick up AM stations out of Little Rock
late nite, & get complete tracks of King Crimson or 'Time has Come Today' by
Chambers Brothers etc., but nothing from LoVE. Got to see Airplane, Zep, Cream, etc
but never Love, of course. Too bad. But I'm not alone there. You guys in LA had it
the best. Many people still think the hippie/psych era started in San Fran, but we know
that LA was the source & center of the cultural revolution for the times. It just spread
to San Fran with Haight getting center stage. Don't get me wrong, SF produced
some of the greatest, but not THE greatest.
So thanks UK for keeping LOVE alive. Keep on keeping on.
And by the way, let's not forget a few folks from Netherlands (thanks Torben & Freed)
for keeping the torch lit!!!
For some reason Netherlands has embraced many of our greatest artists long after the USA has
swept them by the wayside. Gene Clark, LoVE, Dan Fogelburg (RIP) etc. (wait a minute, we've lost all
these guys!!) What a legacy......
all o' god's children gotta have their freedom |
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Thank You Britain
