Da Capo (Love album)
Encyclopedia
Da Capo is the second album by American rock
group Love
, released in January 1967 by Elektra Records
. The bulk of Da Capo was recorded between September 27 and October 2, 1966. "7 and 7 Is
" was recorded on June 20, and had been released as a single in July of 1966 backed with "No. Fourteen", an outtake from their debut album. After the recording of "7 and 7 Is", Love's line-up expanded to include Michael Stuart on drums and Tjay Cantrelli on saxophone and flute, moving previous drummer Alban "Snoopy" Pfisterer, a classically trained pianist, to harpsichord and organ. Guitarists Johnny Echols
and Bryan MacLean
, bassist Ken Forssi
and vocalist and leader Arthur Lee
retained their respective positions.
The album's first half is a departure from the group's debut, and in some ways anticipates the group's third album, Forever Changes
, with its detailed, delicate arrangements. Abrasive, proto-punk rockers like "7 and 7 Is" and the harpsichord-driven "Stephanie Knows Who" are balanced by lighter fare such as MacLean's florid "Orange Skies
", and playful, barely classifiable pop tunes like "¡Que Vida!".
The album's second half is a single track, notable for being among the very first rock songs to take up an entire LP side (Bob Dylan
's "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands
" from Blonde on Blonde
predated it by a few months, and Frank Zappa
's "The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet
" suite, on the Freak Out!
album, followed Dylan's by just over a month). The 19-minute jam, entitled "Revelation" began life as a live showcase for the group. Some sources claim it evolved out of their interpretation of Howlin' Wolf's "Smokestack Lightning", yet its original title was "John Lee Hooker." The song/jam bears a resemblance to the Rolling Stones' "Goin' Home," recorded at the same studio (RCA) and released earlier in the year, on Aftermath. Arthur Lee is quoted on the back cover of Rhino's 1980 LP compilation "Best of Love":
The song "Revelation" was a long jam we did so the musicians could express themselves. The Rolling Stones saw us play at the Brave New World, and they recorded a long song on their next album. After our album came out, I got the blame for copying them!
The album's critical reputation has suffered as a result of the inclusion of this track, and many blame producer Paul Rothchild for failing to capture the group's live energy and truncating their performance. It is interesting to note, though, that in a contemporary review of the album, critic Robert Christgau
praised "Revelation" faintly for its "excellent guitar and harmonica work and great screaming by a lead singer (I don't know his name; the new style in record jackets is to reveal nothing)".
Though "7 and 7 Is" had been a minor hit for the group, the album, like its predecessor, was a comparative flop peaking at #80.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
group Love
Love (band)
Love was an American rock group of the late 1960s and early 1970s. They were led by singer/songwriter Arthur Lee and lead guitarist Johnny Echols...
, released in January 1967 by Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
. The bulk of Da Capo was recorded between September 27 and October 2, 1966. "7 and 7 Is
7 and 7 Is
"7 and 7 Is" is a song written by Arthur Lee and recorded by his band Love on June 20, 1966, at Sunset Sound Recorders in Hollywood. It was produced by Jac Holzman and engineered by Bruce Botnick....
" was recorded on June 20, and had been released as a single in July of 1966 backed with "No. Fourteen", an outtake from their debut album. After the recording of "7 and 7 Is", Love's line-up expanded to include Michael Stuart on drums and Tjay Cantrelli on saxophone and flute, moving previous drummer Alban "Snoopy" Pfisterer, a classically trained pianist, to harpsichord and organ. Guitarists Johnny Echols
Johnny Echols
Johnny Echols is an American singer/songwriter and guitarist. He has played in bands with performers such as Little Richard, Billy Preston and Jimi Hendrix, and was the guitarist on many recording sessions with Miles Davis...
and Bryan MacLean
Bryan MacLean
Bryan MacLean was an American singer, guitarist and songwriter, most known for his work with the influential rock band Love. His famous compositions for Love include "Alone Again Or" and "Old Man".-Early life:...
, bassist Ken Forssi
Ken Forssi
Kenneth Raymond Forssi, known as "Kenny" early in life and then "Ken" , was an American musician. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the oldest child of Raymond B. and Lola G. Forssi. When he was about 9 years old, his family moved to Siesta Key, on the Florida west coast, and then, shortly moved on...
and vocalist and leader Arthur Lee
Arthur Lee (musician)
Arthur Lee was the frontman, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist of the Los Angeles rock band Love, best known for the critically acclaimed 1967 album, Forever Changes.-Early years:...
retained their respective positions.
The album's first half is a departure from the group's debut, and in some ways anticipates the group's third album, Forever Changes
Forever Changes
Forever Changes is the third album by American rock band Love, released by Elektra Records in November 1967. In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Forever Changes 40th in its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time...
, with its detailed, delicate arrangements. Abrasive, proto-punk rockers like "7 and 7 Is" and the harpsichord-driven "Stephanie Knows Who" are balanced by lighter fare such as MacLean's florid "Orange Skies
Orange Skies
"Orange Skies" is a song written by Bryan MacLean and originally recorded in 1966 by the band Love for their second album Da Capo . It was first released in December 1966 as the B-side to the band's single "She Comes in Colors"...
", and playful, barely classifiable pop tunes like "¡Que Vida!".
The album's second half is a single track, notable for being among the very first rock songs to take up an entire LP side (Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
's "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands
Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands
"Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" is the closing song on the Bob Dylan album Blonde on Blonde, which was released in 1966.-History of the song:...
" from Blonde on Blonde
Blonde on Blonde
Blonde on Blonde is American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan's seventh studio album, released in May or June 1966 on Columbia Records and produced by Bob Johnston. Recording sessions commenced in New York in October 1965, with a plethora of backing musicians, including members of Dylan's live backing...
predated it by a few months, and Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
's "The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet
The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet
The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet is a Frank Zappa composition, performed by the Mothers of Invention, released on the Mothers' debut album, Freak Out!...
" suite, on the Freak Out!
Freak Out!
Freak Out! is the debut album by American band The Mothers of Invention, released June 27, 1966 on Verve Records. Often cited as one of rock music's first concept albums, the album is a satirical expression of frontman Frank Zappa's perception of American pop culture...
album, followed Dylan's by just over a month). The 19-minute jam, entitled "Revelation" began life as a live showcase for the group. Some sources claim it evolved out of their interpretation of Howlin' Wolf's "Smokestack Lightning", yet its original title was "John Lee Hooker." The song/jam bears a resemblance to the Rolling Stones' "Goin' Home," recorded at the same studio (RCA) and released earlier in the year, on Aftermath. Arthur Lee is quoted on the back cover of Rhino's 1980 LP compilation "Best of Love":
The song "Revelation" was a long jam we did so the musicians could express themselves. The Rolling Stones saw us play at the Brave New World, and they recorded a long song on their next album. After our album came out, I got the blame for copying them!
The album's critical reputation has suffered as a result of the inclusion of this track, and many blame producer Paul Rothchild for failing to capture the group's live energy and truncating their performance. It is interesting to note, though, that in a contemporary review of the album, critic Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
praised "Revelation" faintly for its "excellent guitar and harmonica work and great screaming by a lead singer (I don't know his name; the new style in record jackets is to reveal nothing)".
Though "7 and 7 Is" had been a minor hit for the group, the album, like its predecessor, was a comparative flop peaking at #80.
Side one
- "Stephanie Knows Who" – 2:33
- "Orange SkiesOrange Skies"Orange Skies" is a song written by Bryan MacLean and originally recorded in 1966 by the band Love for their second album Da Capo . It was first released in December 1966 as the B-side to the band's single "She Comes in Colors"...
" (Bryan MacLean) – 2:49 - "¡Que Vida!" – 3:37
- "7 and 7 Is7 and 7 Is"7 and 7 Is" is a song written by Arthur Lee and recorded by his band Love on June 20, 1966, at Sunset Sound Recorders in Hollywood. It was produced by Jac Holzman and engineered by Bruce Botnick....
" – 2:15 - "The Castle" – 3:00
- "She Comes in Colors" – 2:43
Side two
- "Revelation" (Lee, Bryan MacLean, Johnny Echols, Ken Forssi) – 18:57
- Note: The 2001 reissue presents both monaural and stereophonic mixes as well as a stereophonic tracking session for "7 and 7 Is".
Personnel
- Arthur LeeArthur Lee (musician)Arthur Lee was the frontman, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist of the Los Angeles rock band Love, best known for the critically acclaimed 1967 album, Forever Changes.-Early years:...
– lead vocals, harmonica, guitar, drums, percussion - Johnny EcholsJohnny EcholsJohnny Echols is an American singer/songwriter and guitarist. He has played in bands with performers such as Little Richard, Billy Preston and Jimi Hendrix, and was the guitarist on many recording sessions with Miles Davis...
– lead guitar - Bryan MacLeanBryan MacLeanBryan MacLean was an American singer, guitarist and songwriter, most known for his work with the influential rock band Love. His famous compositions for Love include "Alone Again Or" and "Old Man".-Early life:...
– rhythm guitar, vocal - Ken ForssiKen ForssiKenneth Raymond Forssi, known as "Kenny" early in life and then "Ken" , was an American musician. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the oldest child of Raymond B. and Lola G. Forssi. When he was about 9 years old, his family moved to Siesta Key, on the Florida west coast, and then, shortly moved on...
– bass - Alban "Snoopy" Pfisterer – organ, harpsichord
- Michael StuartMichael StuartMichael Stuart is an American salsa singer and actor.- Early years :Stuart was born in New York City, to Puerto Rican parents who settled in the 1960s after emigrating from Puerto Rico. There Stuart received his primary and secondary education. He was musically influenced by his uncle Israel...
– drums, percussion (On "7 and 7 Is", either Alban "Snoopy" Pfisterer or Arthur Lee plays drums. Michael Stuart and Tjay Cantrelli do not appear.) - Tjay Cantrelli – saxophone, flute, percussion
- Dave Hassinger – engineer
- Bruce BotnickBruce BotnickBruce Botnick is an American audio engineer and record producer, best known for his work with The Doors, and with Love. He engineered Love's first two albums, and co-produced their third album, Forever Changes, with the band's singer-songwriter, Arthur Lee.In November 1970, he took over production...
– engineer
Singles from album
- 7 & 7 Is/No. Fourteen (Elektra 45605)
- Stephanie Knows Who/Orange Skies (Elektra 45608, withdrawn)
- She Comes In Colors (edit)/Orange Skies (Elektra 45608)
- Que Vida!/Hey Joe (Elektra 45613)