Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
I have mentioned on these threads before that one of my best friends owns a record store in the Philly area.
The name of his store is Forever Changes. It was named after the Love album, which is one of his favorites. And he has always identified with Arthur Lee because like Lee, he is a black man who has spent most of his life in white circles, and who has been misunderstood because his priorities are different from most people’s.
Today he made this post on his business Facebook page, and it encapsulates the album better than I can:
Forever Changes was an album released in 1967 by the LA rock band Love. It was their third album and a huge sonic shift from their more garage rock sound. Major 7th chords abound giving it that “Laurel Canyon sound”. It is a shimmery glistening blue sky summertime record…but with a very heavy undertone. Y’see, while musically delicate, acoustic guitars accented at times with strings and brass, hidden in what sounds like psychedelic wordplay, the lyrics are reflections on war, racism, injustice, environmental issues, superficiality, and materialism. Its a heavy record. But, because of the wordplay and vocal cadence, its easy to miss the message…its a “for those with ears to hear” tone poem.
And then there’s this: the band’s leader and key songwriter, Arthur Lee, is African American. The band’s lead guitarist Johnny Echols is also African American. So, here we have an integrated rock band in 1967 lead by a young Black man. Through this lens, the album takes on a whole nuther level.
The album is important to say the least. In the times we’re in now, I listen to this 58 year old album at least once or twice a week. It provides me with a vehicle for reflection and meditation.
The name of his store is Forever Changes. It was named after the Love album, which is one of his favorites. And he has always identified with Arthur Lee because like Lee, he is a black man who has spent most of his life in white circles, and who has been misunderstood because his priorities are different from most people’s.
Today he made this post on his business Facebook page, and it encapsulates the album better than I can:
Forever Changes was an album released in 1967 by the LA rock band Love. It was their third album and a huge sonic shift from their more garage rock sound. Major 7th chords abound giving it that “Laurel Canyon sound”. It is a shimmery glistening blue sky summertime record…but with a very heavy undertone. Y’see, while musically delicate, acoustic guitars accented at times with strings and brass, hidden in what sounds like psychedelic wordplay, the lyrics are reflections on war, racism, injustice, environmental issues, superficiality, and materialism. Its a heavy record. But, because of the wordplay and vocal cadence, its easy to miss the message…its a “for those with ears to hear” tone poem.
And then there’s this: the band’s leader and key songwriter, Arthur Lee, is African American. The band’s lead guitarist Johnny Echols is also African American. So, here we have an integrated rock band in 1967 lead by a young Black man. Through this lens, the album takes on a whole nuther level.
The album is important to say the least. In the times we’re in now, I listen to this 58 year old album at least once or twice a week. It provides me with a vehicle for reflection and meditation.
and Clapton but the 
goes to ms Carlisle.
It's too early for me to be able to handle hearing that, but I'll look it up later. It stands a good chance of being absolutely obscene 
