Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

LOVE

Interracial progressive rock band formed in LA '65, the first to be signed to Elektra during the era when rock was taking over from folk as the hip music to be into, partly for that reason remaining a much-loved cult many years later. Guitarists/vocalists Albert Lee (b 7 March 1945, Memphis TN; d 3 August 2006 of leukemia) and Bryan MacLean (ex-Byrds roadie, b 1947 LA), lead guitarist John Echols (b 1947, Memphis) formed Grass Roots, changed the name and some of the personnel, played on the Sunset Strip and released eponymous debut LP '66 with Ken Forssi on bass, Alban 'Snoopy' Pfisterer on drums: it was their best showing, reaching the top 60 LPs, though all their albums charted. Da Capo '67 included their only top 40 hit, '7 And 7 Is', added saxophonist Tjay Cantrelli and second drummer Michael Stuart; Cantrelli and Pfisterer left and Forever Changes '68 was regarded as Love's best, including 'Alone Again Or', which barely reached the Hot 100 as a single (written and sung by MacLean). From then on the personnel kept changing with Lee the constant factor; Four Sail '69 was the last on Elektra except for compilation Revisited '70 from the first three; two-LP Out Here '69 and False Start '70 were on Blue Thumb, with Jimi Hendrix guesting on one track on the latter. Lee made solo Vindicator '72 on A&M, recorded Black Beauty (not released), Arthur Lee '81 on Beggar's Banquet, continued re-forming Love but the only subsequent albums were Reel To Real '74 on RSO and Arthur Lee And Love '92 on New Rose. The Damned revived 'Alone Again Or' for a top 30 UK hit '87. Reissues, compilations etc included two-CD Love Story on Rhino, Out There on Big Beat, Studio/Live on One Way. MacLean's early demos etc issued as ifyoubelievein '97, restoring him as half of the original architecture.