Love:
Love
Da Capo
Forever Changes (all Elektra)
Last night saw Johnny Echols, original Love lead guitarist, with Baby Lemonade touring as Love in memorium to late leader/singer/chief songwriter the legendary Arthur Lee.
This tour has had epic bad luck; originally begun as a package scheduled for larger clubs also featuring The Electric Prunes and Sky Saxon of The Seeds, it had to be cancelled mid-tour when Saxon suddenly followed Lee to that Sunset Strip in the sky. Then it was rebooked for smaller venues without the Prunes (who I've seen a couple of times in the past few years and are worth catching) but with Jerry Miller of Moby Grape added. But he apparently didn't work out so well and wound up splitting after a couple weeks.
However in the end that's OK with me; I got Love and just Love, what I really wanted to see again one last time (after catching Arthur Lee on two ocassions with Baby Lemonade, once including Echols), in a more intimate (and cheaper) setting. The singer for the versatile band mostly handles Lee's and Bryan McLean's lead vocal parts, but Echols contributed a fantastic vocal turn on a hushed "Signed DC" and was also gratifyingly more assertive on guitar than last time around.
I understand that some of the crowds have been small and the promoter (who happens to be local and was only doing this for love of the music in the first place) is losing money, but I thought turnout here was good for no longer having Lee, and would recommend all Love fans see this show if it's coming your way 'cuz it most likely ain't never gonna happen again...
"What is happening and how have you been?
Gotta go but I'll see you again
And oh the music is so loud
And then I fade into the...
Crowds of people standing everywhere
'Cross the street I'm at this laugh affair
And here they always play my songs
And me I wonder if it's...
Wrong or right they come here just the same
Telling everyone about their games
And if you think it obsolete
Then you go back across the street
Yeah, street
When I leave now don't you weep for me
I'll be back, just save a seat for me
But if you just can't make the room
Look up and see me on the...
Moon's a common scene around my town
Here where everyone is painted brown
And if we feel that's not the way
Let's go paint everybody gray
Yeah, gray"
--Arthur Lee, "Maybe The People Would Be The Times Or Between Clark And Hilldale"
