Love › Four Sail [Bonus Tracks]

Personnel: Arthur Lee (vocals, harmonica, piano, congas); Jay Donnellan (guitar); George Suranovich (drums, background vocals); Drachen Theaker (drums); Frank Fayad (background vocals).

Audio Remasterers: Dan Hersch; Andrew Sandoval.

Liner Note Author: Andrew Sandoval.

Recording information: Elektra Sound Recorders (09/1968-10/1968).

Illustrator: Peter Schaumann.

Photographer: Ed Caraeff.

By the time Love was creating what's widely considered their crowning achievement, FOREVER CHANGES, the band was unraveling. After a nearly two year absence Arthur Lee returned in 1969 with a new line-up, introduced on this album. What had previously been an ensemble with considerable input from more than one writer and singer (the importance of Bryan MacLean on Love's first three albums cannot be discounted) had now become more-or-less a one-man show. Lee's new rhythm section and lead guitarist made for a solid band, however.

Lee took advantage of the new sound and started the album off with "August," a powerful blast (introducing and contrasting the quieter body of the song) heretofore unheard on a Love record. The new band had shifted away from the tightly arranged structures that previously tied them to such Los Angeles cohorts as The Byrds and consequently had more in common with the San Francisco ballroom bands, with longer solos and more emphasis on grooves.

Genre:

• Country & Bluegrass

Music Categories:

• Rock & Pop: Country Rock