Love - Out Here (17 tracks) +Album Reviews

A Combination of the Two

PHILIP S WOLF | SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA. USA | 09/02/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Not being from LA, I did not have the opportunity to hear the music of the great band Love, until late 69. That was when, I found the double LP: "Out Here" in a cut-out bin. With it's painted blue man, raparound cover all for a whopping 99 cents. I had never heard a note of this music, but this sure looked interesting. Was this a Pink Floyd knockoff? An early edition of Bloodrock? Well, I took my 99 cent gamble and bought this strange record.

"Out Here" was really different and that is due to Arthur Lee, or as he wanted to be called at the Time: "Arthurlee". Lee, a veteran of the LA music scene since 1964, formed the first version of Love in 1965, with Bryan "Snoopy" MacLean. By 1969, the band had not broke through with a hit single or bestselling album release, so, outside of Los Angeles, they were not well Known.

Many critics, have labeled, Love's short time with Blue Thumb Records as the band's: "Heavy Metal" period. One listen to this CD, and you know that this is not the case..."Heavy Metal," this ain't! "Stand Out" is flat-out rock, "I Still Wonder" is CSN meeting The Allman Brothers, "Listen to my Song" goes into "Tiny Tim" territory with Arthur's falsetto & whistling. The great: "Everlasting First" features Jimi Hendrix, it was born out of a much longer jam session {featured on many "Bootlegs", the jam is over 10 minutes in length} but, this song is three minutes long, and pales to what goes on during the original session.

Some of the tracks here sound unfinished and/or bad edits of something greater; "Love is Coming", "Listen to my Song", "Nice to Be", all fade out before they really get going. Two Tracks featured on this disc are exended 'work-outs', the first is: "Doggone." That one starts off as a nice little ditty, but it soon turns into a overlong drum solo, ALA: Ginger Baker of Cream & Blind Faith. Next, comes: "Love is More than Words or Better Late Than Never" with a waa-waa pedal guitar gore-fest, that SCREAMS 1969. These two tracks, would be HIGHLIGHTS at The Filmore East shows when Love played between The Allman Brothers and The Grateful Dead in early 1970, but for The studio record, they just end up being filler { but, well played filler.}

The two standout tracks of this CD are: "Signed D C" & "Willow, Willow".

The revised version of: "Signed D C" is the best song of Love's long history, and this is the most intense performance of the band...PERIOD! The guitars are loud & brash, and the singing is of a man over the edge, it's so good, it sends a chill! Somebody (or band) with guts, should do a cover of this classic...(betcha, it wouldn't be as good as this!). "Willow" is a fine song, the guitars echo the best of The Byrds, but, because of the tune's jazz flavor, it is better than the feathered ones....let's just call this a lost classic.

There are flaws over the course of this CD, but that was Arthur in general. He shows lot's of "flashes" of genius here as well. This is a good peek into the 1969-70 period of this great band. Back at The Whiskey in 1965, Jim Morrison had just watched Love's last set of the night and told Ray Manzarek "That's My Goal...To be Bigger than Love!!!

Three Stars."

An underrated masterpiece from Love *

Hoagie Mike | Sacramento, CA | 04/16/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Yes indeed, this is a different band than was behind the beloved Forever Changes, but that's ok, because this is a great record, a truly underrated gem. Sure, this record is all over the dang place with long psychedelic guitar jams, drum solos, short novelty tunes, 3 minute pop songs-sung with much love, soul and passion by Arthur Lee, down and out blues, and acoustic folk songs. But for music nerds who enjoy stuff like that-this is a buried treasure. Yes, maybe it could have been cut down to a single record, but then why not just let this band do their thing and indulge, after all this was 1968! Indeed the sister album to this, "Four Sail", is the superior of the two, but Out Here is really good and kinda Out There...far out man! No kidding, this Love band was a tight, versataile group. Don't compare it to the first 3 Love records and just enjoy it for what it is. Arthur Lee's "White album", ya know -like the Beatles!. A sprawling 2 LP monster full of melodic, half-crazed, blues/rocking/funk/folk, short, medium, long, quiet, loud, funny, serious, sad, happy and big songs. Gary Rowles' lead guitar solo on "Love Is More Than Words..." is amazing, beyond words.

Favorites are "Gather 'Round", "Listen To My Song", "I'll Pray For You", "Doggone", "Willow Willow", "Run To The Top", "I Still Wonder", "Stand Out", and the slowed down blues version of "Signed D.C." which has one of the greatest harmonica solos ever put down on vinyl, from Arthur of course. Great stuff. If nothing else, you gotta appreciate how awesome and amazing Arthur Lee's vocals were at this point. The guy had range like no other. Believe that!

~

R.I.P. Arthur Lee

"

Great cd

Ronnie R. Allen | dayton.oh. | 06/20/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this is the orignal release of out there,if your into love,as i am,you will treasure this cd,great arthur songs,great band,on their next release false start,there is a live version of stand out,the confusion comes from a compilation released on mci,with a short version of love is more than words and doggone,with some live tracks,just to clear up some ?,enjoy,we won t get anymore arthur,god bless him"

Out HERE review - not Out THERE (which is a comp)

Joseph Morris | Elmwood Park, NJ | 11/20/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Not a great Love album

Some of the bits go on FAR too long. There are a couple tracks that are ruined by guitar solos and drum solos that go one a LONG time

Out there might be the better album - the liner notes on that recent (2004?) compilation are informative as well

This album has been recently reissued, which I haven't got. I have the MCA issue, which is not a great album (because of the 2 reasons cited above)

Also, theres a lot of junk. Abalony is terrible, and thats the second track? Discharged is rubbish, but thankfully thats only a minute and a half

One of those albums that would have been helped with some editing

"I'll pray for you" was aka "You made me come" and was changed for obvious reasons. Its a great track. Arthur plays very nice piano on that (which seems to be rare on his part - the only other track I know of with Arthur playing piano is Jimmy Cliff's "Many rivers to cross" on his second solo album Arthur Lee (due for reissue Dec 1 08)

But I digress. "Willow Willow"'s a wonderful track, and its one of my lifes regrets I never saw Arthur play that at Tramps. "Instra-mental" is pure throwaway. "I still wonder" is the best Love song not by Arthur Lee. Its short at just over 3 minutes, and one of the best songs on the best songs on the album. Go figure!

"Love is more than words" is good, but try to find it as an edit, otherwise you're listening to it for over 10 minutes, and for the guitar solo for near as long. I rarely listen to this track all the way through. Perhaps on vinyl it works better cos you don't have to change the side?

"Doggone" has a drum solo, thats 12 minutes. Try to find that as an edit. Its wearying to listen to all the way through

"Listen to my song" has a nice reference to the old Love group (Bryan, Johnny, Kenny & Michael) - its sung & played very well by Arthur and was played on some of the live Forever Changes concerts

I think this album is a very worthwhile release but Out There (the compilation of the best tracks from False Start & Out Here) might be a better way to go. That has excellent liner notes and is a better selection of tracks

This cd has no information with it really, aside from the tracks, although I don't know about the reissue (I have the 1990 MCA Out Here)

As a LoVE album though, this doesn't quite cut it. Heaven help you if you're just starting to get into the group, as some of it may hard to be hard listening indeed (the drum solos on the otherwise excellent "Doggone" is about 10 minutes!)

So this should not be a place to start if you're just getting into the group. In that regard, pick up the first 3 albums on Elektra (Love, da capo, Forever Changes)

If you MUST have a compilation, pick up Love Story, which (as promised on the tin) has the best of the group (for the most part)(it has ALL of Forever Changes, side 1 of da capo (side 2 is the worst song ever cut by the group and not worth bothering with) and the best of the MCA/Blue Thumb period

Be sure to pick up Love's Four Sail (4th Elektra album - no more original band, sadly) and False Start as those are all vastly superior albums to this. I wouldn't call this album awful, but its not all good unfortunately. And bits of it are as frighteningly flawed as side 2 of da capo ("Revelation" = rubbish!)"

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