Arthur Lee: March 7, 1945 - August 3, 2006: You Set The Scene.

Formed: 1965
Disbanded: 1974

How I became a fan

I'd heard Gruff SFA saying that he thinks Forever Changes is the greatest album ever made and had read some rabid reviews of the re-release of this classic. So, spotting it being sold for £6 and having 18 tracks, it seemed obscene to not take the gamble. I liked it immediately and the more I heard it the better and better it sounded!

Comments

Love will of course always be remembered for their masterpiece Forever Changes. It was never a success at the time but more and more critics are now hailing it as the greatest album of all time and it certainly is incredible: Quite a lot better than Pet Sounds!

Also several cuts from their first album and post-Forever Changes works are very impressive, and Da Capo has five glorious tracks which ensure that Lee's masterpiece was not just some fluke. I have also recently discovered Arthur's solo album Vindicator, which is very satisfying proof that he didn't lose his knack for songwriting after the 60's.

Bad points

Da Capo was partly excellent and a happy side of Love was something we didn't see anywhere near enough of. The bright and breezy tunes were among the best in Love's catalogue. Also, Love were inconsistent, with only Forever Changes and Four Sail being both top quality and generously portioned.

Ten songs you really should know before you judge this band

Alone Again Or (1967)
Andmoreagain (1967)
Maybe the People Would Be The Times Or Between Clark And Hilldale (1967)
My Little Red Book (1966)
Robert Montgomery (1969)
Seven & Seven Is (1967)
She Comes In Colors (1967)
The Daily Planet (1967)
The Red Telephone (1967)
You Set The Scene (1967)

Assessment

Tunes: 9/10
Accessibility: 7/10
Originality: 8/10
Diversity: 8/10
Rockability: 8/10
Balladability: 9/10
Consistency (of b-sides): 8/10
Consistency (over career): 6/10
Live show: 8/10 (I'd imagine!)
Influence: 8/10
Vocals: 9/10
Interestingness: 7/10
Lyrics: 9/10
Work ethic: 8/10
Image: 8/10

Final judgement: 8.5/10

The bottom line

Love wrote some fantastic tunes over several quite distinct styles. Their inconsistency can therefore be overlooked and a place on this list is almost warranted by the infinite depths of Forever Changes alone!