Comments on: Sevens :: Arthur Lee, Everybody’s Gotta Live

By: Amanda

Amanda — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:37:36 +0000

What is captcha code? I’m kinda new at this so I’m sorry if I don’t understand. Thanks in advance.

By: Grant

Grant — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:48:28 +0000

Forever Changes, despite the criticism it’s getting from several bloggers, is (from the tracks I’ve heard – have it on my iPod so a full listen will occur soon) a phenomenal album – a superb remnant of the late 60s Los Angeles music scene. An overlooked track from Forever Changes is “Maybe The People Would Be Times Or Between Clark And Hilldale”. Something draws me to this track, and it is frequently listened to. Love – along with the Byrds – defined the music scene in Los Angeles in the late 1960s.

By: mike

mike — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:02:18 +0000

the link doesn’t seem to be working. I can’t play the songs/ download the file? anybody else can’t hear these great tunes?

By: Molly

Molly — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 07:51:46 +0000

I own almost all of the Love albums as well as a copy of Vindicator, in original vinyl, bought many many years ago.
You failed to mention that Hendrix appeard on one of their albums. They had a much greater following in England than they did in the U.S.
And yes, the later albums are backup players, but Arthur Lee pulled all of it together into one wonderful groove. Truly great stuff, and I’m glad that you posted this on the blog. You’ll like Vindicator I think, one of the songs totally cracks me up although I found it very offensive when I was in high school, I’m sure you’ll know which one it is when the album arrives!

By: stewart

stewart — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 23:05:41 +0000

When playing this song live Arthur Lee used to seemlessly introduce a chunk of John Lennon’s Instant Karma in the middle section.

By: Kaley

Kaley — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 04:07:56 +0000

never heard either version of this gem before, thanks once again ad. it was a welcome addition to my walk to work.

in a related note – i saw the sadies a few weeks ago and they do a mean cover of ”a house is not a motel”. it’s almost as great as their flaming groovies cover.

By: Daily Dose - Thursday Linkage | Radio Exile

Daily Dose - Thursday Linkage | Radio Exile — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 23:21:16 +0000

[...] Check out this primer if you’re not familiar with the work of Arthur Lee of Love fame [AD] [...]

By: aaron kyle

aaron kyle — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 21:16:15 +0000

Everybody’s Gotta Live is a great tune. Awesome post!

By: j. crosby

j. crosby — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:04:28 +0000

@ mccormack
Thanks for the tip. I’ll have to check it out. (Got the confirmation email this morn that le record is en route.)

By: mccormack

mccormack — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:40:29 +0000

For me the standout track on Vindicator has to be “You want change for your rerun”.

By: j. crosby

j. crosby — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:20:02 +0000

@ notrust
Just a coincidence. Is the Oxford American’s pick the “Love” acoustic version from Reel to Real?

@ dan
No crow-eating necessary. If you don’t dig, you don’t dig. But I’d definitely agree that his R&B talent was largely neglected in Love. Something we may discuss within these pages once the whole of Vindicator has been paid its due in my speakers.

@ j. crosby
Why are you commenting on your own post?

By: notrust

notrust — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:21:54 +0000

Any coincidence that this track is featured in American Oxford’s 10th Annual Southern Music Issue?

By: dan

dan — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:51:29 +0000

Thanks for the tune, it’s quite good, and certainly one that many folks would never have stumbled across, which is really unfortunate.

OK, I’m going to eat crow for this, but I think the reason that Forever Changes doesn’t garner as much widespread respect is that it really isn’t that good. I know that it’s a critical favorite and a shibboleth in some camps, but I’m always been flummoxed by the devotion and hushed tones that it inspires. I’ve tried to like it. Seriously, I’ve tried. I’ve read countless articles dripping with hyperbole and superlatives. I’ve watched documentaries. Every few months I give it a spin, and I still can’t get into the songwriting or the textures. It always sounds of a piece with other indulgent, late-60s music to my ear, drunk or sober. Listening to music, like reading, should be, above all things, pleasurable. If something is boring, there’s too much other music out there to expend too much time on it trying to “get it.”

To be sure, “7 and 7 Is” and “Alone Again Or” are undeniable classics, but I don’t feel the rest of the output, with some exceptions, always delivers on those innovations. It’s the same feeling you get when you expect every tune by the 13th Floor Elevators to kick as much ass and emit as much energy as “You’re Gonna Miss Me.” So, in sum, a breakthrough, certainly. Influential, yes. Important, without a doubt. But, Top 10 or 20 of the late 60’s, nope.

It’s kinda funny, when I come across other music obsessives, and Forever Changes comes up, they seem almost relieved that they’re not alone in the world in not immediately worshiping it. I think that today’s track is kinda ironic in that it highlights Lee’s obvious talent with R&B, which really could have benefited his earlier watershed work.

If you hold the contrary opinion, any insights about what you hear in the music, aside from Lee hagiography or The Importance of Love as an Historical Multicultural Entity, etc. etc. please pass along. I’m totally open.

By: patrick

patrick — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:21:07 +0000

Great tune. I think we’ve pinpointed one of Gene Ween’s vocal influence’s…You know other than scotchgaurd.