Love: The Forever Changes Concert CD Track Listing

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Love The Forever Changes Concert (2003)
Originally Released September 9, 2003 or September 23, 2003\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: "Arthur! You don't know how long we've waited!" shouted one enthusiastic female member of the audience after Love had finished performing their first song. "But you know how long I've waited," Arthur Lee playfully tossed back, eliciting sharp cheers from the crowd. Such was the spirit at the Royal Festival Hall, where, on January 15, 2003, Lee and Love recreated the Forever Changes album live in London for the first time. What could have been a pathetic display -- Lee, the onetime star, performing old hits by rote -- actually becomes a transcendent experience through two virtues: inspired string and horn accompaniment from a Scandinavian eight-piece, and the sheer shock and relief that Lee is able to hold himself together despite his years of well-documented self-abuse. The Forever Changes Concert does not take any liberties with the content of the legendary Forever Changes album, preferring note-for-note replication over re-imagining. While this may be disappointing to some listeners, others will revel in the impressiveness of how well those strings and horns blend in with Baby Lemonade, the backing band that, with Lee, comprises the touring version of Love. Meanwhile, Arthur Lee himself cuts a sympathetic and winning figure throughout the show. While he misses a note or two on "The Daily Planet," and can't quite touch Bryan MacLean's graceful high notes on "Old Man," he acquits himself vocally quite nicely, and retains the precisely measured diction that made the album such a psychedelic peculiarity upon its initial release. Age has taken away the punk gruffness of tracks like "Bummer in the Summer," though. The interplay between Lee, his band, and the small orchestra is nothing short of breath-taking in certain spots, particularly when the show hits its crescendo on "You Set the Scene," the closer to the original album. The second half of that song is an unqualified triumph, instruments blending beautifully and Lee demonstrating clear elation at the fact of simply having made it through. When it's done, the instinct is to cheer much as one would for a sports underdog who's unexpectedly won a big game. That the bonus tracks -- renditions of selected well-known cuts from the rest of Love's erratic history -- are anticlimactic and less powerful hardly takes away from the success of this live set. Fans of Love will be impressed that Lee and his group are holding together so well, while listeners less familiar will find a sterling recapture of one of rock's greatest albums. -- Joseph McCombs\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nFinally LOVE is back, October 10, 2004\nReviewer: Mark Swank (Hollywood CA)\nI'm not into Classic Rock or nostalgia. However LOVE is the one band that when they play live actually brings you as close to the Sixties excitement and all out vibe as possible. This performance seals it, the band made up of former members of Baby Lemonade are tremendous players. I will correct another review, someone stated that the current band is superior to the original lineup. First, they have had years to practice, we'll never know how good those guys were, its like comparing sports eras. Alone Again or should have been played on a an acoustic guitar, I agree, but the horns are awesome and bring the music alive. Old Man was well done, I think Arthur sang his heart out on it, and dedicated it to Bryan. \nAll in all an excellent Live album.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nLee Sets The Scene, March 4, 2004\nReviewer: Kurt Harding "bon vivant" (Boerne TX)\nIt was the cover which caused me to give this CD a second glance. After all, I already own the original recording of Forever Changes, and though the colors and psychedelic style are similar to the original album cover, something was strangely different. On closer examination I discovered the happy news that the recently freed Arthur Lee is back on track with a grand new project.\nOK, so I bought the DVD first and after viewing it, gave it my highest recommendation. So why did I buy this too? The extras made me open my wallet and as it turns out, the extras are well worth the additional money.\nThis CD features Lee and his new band in England performing music from the legendary sixties Forever Changes album. Often this sort of project flops. Not here. Lee's new band has learned the music inside out and plays it with astounding authority. Fans of the original should have no reservations about getting this. From the first notes of Alone Again Or to the fading sounds of You Set the Scene you will be mesmerized at the quality of this CD. The performance is inspired from start to finish.\nMy favorite cuts are A House Is Not A Motel, featuring some blistering guitar by Mike Randle;The Red Telephone, which energizes both the listener and the crowd; ...Between Clark and Hilldale, again with some great guitar work; the timeless Live and Let Live; and finally a command performance of You Set the Scene.\nWhat about those extras? Well, a couple of the songs here are different from the extras that come with the DVD. The band's rendition of Signed DC alone makes it worth the extra cash. This is Lee's best take on a song he originally wrote back in 1965 and has reworked twice. The guitar and harmonica work on this arrangement are stupendous. There are some other extras that you can view on your computer, I have not yet sampled those.\nYou might think that with all these superlatives there would be at least one negative. If there is, I have not found it.\nWith his return to the stage, Arthur Lee has set the scene once again. Forever Changes In Concert is a recording that should one day attain the legendary status of its namesake. Get this one soon, you won't be sorry.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nThe Return of Arthur Lee, August 29, 2003\nReviewer: Gavin the Infidel (St. Louis MO)\nArthur Lee seems to be blessed with nine lives and we all should be greatful for that. Every five or six years, Arthur has threatened a comeback, but it is enevitably derailed by Lee's extra cirricular activities, like use of controlled substances or brandishing weapons. The "Forever Changes" concert was performed earlier this year a couple of months after Arthur was released from prison on a weapons charge in a domestic dispute. The "new" Love that Arthur Lee performs with, is Baby Lemonade, an extremely competent pop group who performed as his backup in a 60 city tour of the United States. "Forever Changes" is an album released by Love 35 years ago and only reached the 200th position on the Billboard sales chart. Over the years the dazzling dark beauty of "Forever Changes" has found a wider audience and is agruably the best album produced in the sixties. Shortly after the release of "Forever Changes" the orignal members of Love called it quits, so no one has ever heard a live rendition of "Forever Changes" as Arthur Lee intended us to hear it. \n\nI am alway reluctant to plunk down hard earned money for an import album, particularly if it is a "comeback" album. In Arthur Lee's case, his false starts have been numerous and since he has become old enough to join AARP, the propects for his triumphful return were getting bleak. The results of "Forever Changes the Concert" will suprise even the most skeptical of Love fans. Rumors of a renewed Arthur Lee, with fire in his belly and passion in his playing are true. Lee is understandbly reluctant to tamper with the forumla that made "Forever Changes" a success, so he plays it pretty close to the original arrangements on the album. His voice and guitar playing have both improved. He uses the falsetto register less often and his playing on the guitar driven "Red Telephone" and "Bummer In the Summer" is much more assured than in 1968. Lee actually makes a point of adding some blazing licks to these two songs which improve on the original rendition. The string and horn arrangement on songs are dazzling and the crowd actually bursts into applause at the beginning of the mariachi trumpet solo in "Alone Again Or." This is not a pale comeback album but the return of Arthur Lee, the dark price of psychedelica, and he holds the London audience under his charismatic sway. The crowd is clearly estatic and the bond between Lee and his audience the most suprising element of "Forever Changes, the Concert" Arthur Lee is back and somebody should get him in the studio because it's rumored that he has new material that is the equal of any of Love's latter day music. I'm enterally greatful that Arthur got to finally perform "Forever Changes" in concert. Maybe there is some justice in this crazy world.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nAmazingly Good, August 7, 2003\nReviewer: A music fan\nIf it weren't for the cheering audience you might think this was a studio recording. The mixing and sound quality of the recording and the accuracy of the musicianship is that good. \nBut its so much more powerful than the 1967 lp, which, truth be told, was kind of wimpy and MOR in its arrangements. Arthur Lee's voice has gained authority without losing range. And "LOVE" (Baby Lemonade) adds some welcome muscularity to the originals, making them ROCK with newfound punch.\n\nStandout cuts are "The Red Telephone" and "You Set The Scene" - both good enough to replace the originals forever.\n\nBy the way, do you know the REAL meaning of "Forever Changes"? In Arthur Lee's typical cynical style, it's not as new-age touchy feely as you might have imagined. Instead its about the end of a relationship:\n\n"But you swore you'd love me forever!"\n"Yeah well, forever changes."\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nIncredible, rich -- a treasure and a gem., July 30, 2003\nReviewer: Pan Agnostical (Eugene, OR)\nThis double-CD will blow you away. The production and sound are crisp, clear, and professional -- easily far and away the best live recording of Arthur Lee/Love in history (and there have been some doozies out there, no?). The Swedish string ensemble gives it the classic feel of the original "Forever Changes" album; Lee's voice is compelling and alive; Rusty's vocals are right on; Randle is a god. The bonus tracks -- like "Your Mind and we Belong Together" are a fan's dream. "Forever Changes" was without a doubt the greatest album in history -- this live CD of the FC tour stop in London is essential to any music collection. Gene Kraut is a savior. Enjoy the DVD video as well -- so nicely produced and edited. Seriously, this an incredible blessing, like rain in the summer time.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nThirty Five Years of Waiting - Forever Changes Live, July 28, 2003\nReviewer: A music fan\nArthur Lee with his band Love (the current incarnation is the band Baby Lemonade when they aren't touring as Love) reproduced their 1967 classic album Forever Changes, live at Royal Festival Hall. Its a total winner and a must for fans of Love, which implies for most of us an ongoing "Love" with their third album which continues to show up in the Top 10 of many rock critics' best rock albums of all time. Complete with string and horn section they reproduce it faithfully. All the more astonishing considering that front man, Arthur Lee, is now 57 years old, singing music he originally recorded when he was just 22. The arrangements are all in tact and quite true to the originals. His voice is strong for a man his age and although he has to reach occassionally, there are moments when he sounds so much like he did in his youth that it is almost eerie. \nArthur Lee, by all accounts has had a strange and challenging life. He has been an influential cult figure since the 60s and he has survived many members of Love (literally survived as several of the original members and associates have died), critical acclaim but lack of major recognition outside of his cult audience. Add to that his release in 2001 from prison, where he resided since the mid 90s as a result of the California "3 strikes and your out" rule, and you have enough challenges to where no one could blame him if he never wanted to play again. But in this case it is perhaps his brightest moment, now captured on CD. The band deserves recognition since they weren't even around when the album was originally released, and yet they have managed to study and learn all the ins and outs of music that others produced.\n\nIn a small way this album is akin to Sgt Pepper being produced live. \n\nThere is a second CD which has some other Love classics and a video of Alone Again Or from a DVD of the concert. A correction to the above mentioned review: Singing Cowboy is not on the version I bought. There are also a couple other fun things like screensavers and a photo gallery from the concert.\n\nIf you Love, Love, you are going to want this one.\n\nHalf.com Album Notes\nRecorded live at The Royal Festival Hall (London, England).\n\nLove: Arthur Lee (vocals, guitar, harmonica, maracas, tambourine); Mike Randle, Rusty Squeezebox (guitar, background vocals); Dave Chapple (bass guitar); David "Daddyo" Green (drums).\n\nRecording information: Royal Festival Hall, London, England (2003).
This rock cd contains 17 tracks and runs 71min 47sec.
Freedb: 1410d111
Buy: from Amazon.com

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