Forever Changes Arthur Lee And The Book Of Love Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Forever Changes Arthur Lee And The Book Of Love? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Forever Changes Arthur Lee And The Book Of Love. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Forever Changes Arthur Lee And The Book Of Love ReviewSoft yet substantial cover. Two page Preface,eight page Introduction,three hundred pages of text,five page index,thirteen pages of period color and b&w photographs,mostly of Lee and various band members. Each chapter has a b&w photo on the heading page,including Lee's earliest group,which are interesting to see. The author,John Einarson,has written a number of other books on musicians/groups,such as Gene Clark,THE FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS,and BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD. He has also written for a number of music publications such as MOJO,UNCUT,and GOLDMINE.
This wonderful book covers the life of Arthur Lee from boyhood (in Lee's own words we learn,for example,that the combination of listening to blues on the radio,spirituals in church and the music played by the local high school band is what started him in music,and that he would set his mean dog,Sissy,on neighborhood people),through his various LOVE groups,and ends with Lee's death from leukemia,in 2006. The author interviewed many people,including family members,friends from throughout his life,band members and managers,and girlfriends,in order to have enough first hand, correct information to tell Lee's story. But what puts this book a notch above any others is the use of Arthur Lee's memoirs,that Lee told a friend,who copied it (for eventual publication) all down. Although there were gaps in the history (which were then invented and filled in by mostly,writers) Lee gave,Einarson,through in depth,extensive interviews,was able to fill in the gaps for a more complete,straightforward,honest picture of just who Arthur Lee was.
Where it was fitting,the author wove edited parts (in italics) of Lee's memoirs throughout the information obtained in his research. This gives the book a real authenticity and even more depth to Lee's story. Not only is a bright light shed on Lee's life,but key members of his most famous (and best) LOVE group also are included. Band members such as Johnny Echols and Brian Maclean are looked at and their contributions and observations give added depth to the story during this period. Lee's music is looked at in detail,from his earliest groups,to the various LOVE groups until Lee's death. Particular emphasis is on Lee's mid 60's LOVE group,and the folk-rock movement in Los Angeles. Their albums for Elektra Records (including their masterpiece "Forever Changes",which can essentially be played on acoustic guitars and still sound great) during the folk-rock era (which included THE BYRDS,who influenced Lee's approach to his own series of albums) are put in proper perspective with Lee's thoughts,which give an inside view of both how things unfolded for the group,and give an inside look at the times.
This album was never very popular except regionally when it was released. It was largely overlooked and ignored by most people,who didn't understand what Lee was conveying about life in L.A.,his own life,and life in general. England (where Lee's popularity never waned) was one of the few areas where the album was widely heard and discussed since its release. The album has gone on to be both Lee's masterpiece and albatross,with his subsequent work always being compared to it. This book delves into all of this in some detail.
If this book does nothing else,it proves that Lee was a survivor-well known on the Sunset Strip on the 60's,drugged out in the 70's/80's,and imprisoned in the 90's,only to resurface with his musical chops and identity intact. Lee was almost always overshadowed by his bands masterpiece,"Forever Changes" (there is even a reproduction of the album cover on Lee's headstone),and this book looks not only at that album,but Lee's music in general,and how Lee,the man,was intertwined with his music. This book delves into all of these areas (again using Lee's memoirs) and more,and the depth of detail is very enlightening,and sometimes harrowing.
The author's combination of information through interviews along with Lee's personal thoughts,give this book an immediate,visceral,and an almost "you are there" feel to the events throughout Lee's life. Reading information researched by the author,along with Lee's remembrances put a number of rumors and "facts" to rest. Did two band members serve jail time for robbing donut shops? Did Arthur Lee fry his brain with daily use of LSD? Was he part American Indian? Did Lee shoot himself? Did Lee collect pigeons and dye them,so he could watch all the colors fly through the sky? Did Lee take the rap for someone else shooting a weapon? Did Lee die in prison in a knife fight? Having listened to LOVE since their first (vinyl) album,and on through to his solo works,I've heard/read all these rumors over the years. Once and for all its great that someone of Einarson's intelligence,writing skill,and perseverance has shed a bright light on all these rumors (and more) and has given us this highly readable,informative,and (at times) highly entertaining book,which will be the only book needed for a deep look into the life and music of a true original-Arthur Lee.Forever Changes Arthur Lee And The Book Of Love Overview

Want to learn more information about Forever Changes Arthur Lee And The Book Of Love?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now