Rating: 
Summary: A treat for Love fans
Review: I saw Arthur Lee and Love live twice in 2002 (once in San Francisco & once in LA) & despite the fact that Arthur was somewhat hoarse at one show & limping from a bathtub accident at the other, they were both outstanding, high-energy shows that left me very well-satisfied. The concert on this DVD was very different (though no less satisfying) than either of those shows - due to the addition of strings & horns, the fact that Arthur's voice was much stronger and purer, and that the band was much tighter and more in control. In Dolby 5.1 surround (& yes, played LOUD), the sound quality is superb - crystal clear & very lush. As a matter of fact, except for the audience's very enthusiastic response, it sounds more like a fine studio recording than a live show. And while it's not a note for note replication of the classic Forever Changes album, it comes very, very close. Though "You Set The Scene" has always been my favorite song from the original album, I found "The Red Telephone" to be the most moving & spirited song on the DVD. It's remarkable that the tag lines - "They're locking him up today & throwing away the key, I wonder who it will be tomorrow, you or me?" are so chillingly resonant in light of the "Patriot" Act and the current anti-terrorist hysteria. The visuals are fine - nothing flashy or especially innovative, just a document of the show done in a very straightforward way that complements the honesty of the music appropriately. As far as the bonus materials go, the extra tracks are mostly very good (though I found "7 & 7 is" to be a little too low energy, which is a shame for such a fierce, powerful song), the interview with Arthur (primarily about his youth & early days with the original Love lineup) provides some insights into a very unique & creative talent, & the tour documentary gives us a perspective from the other folks involved (the band, their manager, etc.). It would have been nice to have included some audience reaction too, but that's a very minor quibble. Who would have thought that Arthur Lee could come back after more than 30 years, find the perfect band and treat his longtime fans to such an incredible recreation of his masterpiece? Forever Changes was one of the most beautiful, honest & creative works to come out of the psychedelic era and this DVD gives it fresh new life. A must-have for any fan & a great opportunity to discover a unique talent for those unfortunate enough to never have experienced Love before.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Performance....
Review: I saw this DVD in a store by accident & upon seeing the famous red 'Love' logo on a DVD sleeve......well, er, um...I got a lump in my throat! FINALLY the new technology (with help from the folks at Snapper) Arthur Lee is available on HOME VIDEO! Not only does this DVD hold a great re-creation of Love's highest rated album, it is THOROUGHLY ENJOYABLE as a 'new' piece of work! Aside from the complete 'Forever Changes' song set, there are nice bonus items: interview with Arthur, band members & some behind the scenes shots [oh, and more re-creations of songs from the 1966 - 69 period.] I first heard of LOVE in summer of 1987 & thanks to 'Rhino Records' [& thrift stores!] I was able to make a good beginner's collection of their long-since [& unfortunately ignored by THAT time] unavailable albums. I was able to SEE Arthur perform at "My Place" in LA in 1991, thanks to a mutual friend and THAT was a great show too. Two years later Arthur came & performed IN my HOME TOWN(!) for one night only, but stupidly I was unable to go. Anyway, THIS DVD more than makes up for that, and really helps restore my faith in the modern 'music biz'. Folks, you better buy this DVD because crummy run-down "MTV" & "VH1" will NEVER show it. [Get hip!]
Rating:
Summary: A Great Performance....
Review: I saw this DVD in a store by accident & upon seeing the famous red 'Love' logo on a DVD sleeve......well, er, um...I got a lump in my throat! FINALLY the new technology (with help from the folks at Snapper) Arthur Lee is available on HOME VIDEO! Not only does this DVD hold a great re-creation of Love's highest rated album, it is THOROUGHLY ENJOYABLE as a 'new' piece of work! Aside from the complete 'Forever Changes' song set, there are nice bonus items: interview with Arthur, band members & some behind the scenes shots [oh, and more re-creations of songs from the 1966 - 69 period.] I first heard of LOVE in summer of 1987 & thanks to 'Rhino Records' [& thrift stores!] I was able to make a good beginner's collection of their long-since [& unfortunately ignored by THAT time] unavailable albums. I was able to SEE Arthur perform at "My Place" in LA in 1991, thanks to a mutual friend and THAT was a great show too. Two years later Arthur came & performed IN my HOME TOWN(!) for one night only, but stupidly I was unable to go. Anyway, THIS DVD more than makes up for that, and really helps restore my faith in the modern 'music biz'. Folks, you better buy this DVD because crummy run-down "MTV" & "VH1" will NEVER show it. [Get hip!]
Rating:
Summary: Nearly Perfect!
Review: I viewed this DVD immediately after purchasing it and was struck by the fidelity of the performance to the original studio recording! What a piece of work! If anything, bandleader Arthur Lee's years in prison sharpened his focus and provided the impetus for his musical and professional revival after years (80s and early 90s) of sloppy and aimless recordings and performances.
Though the new Love features all new backing musicians to Lee, nothing is lost in the translation as the new group has learned this material inside and out. Lee and the new lineup perform with an enthusiasm that hasn't been heard in his work for years.
Fans of the original album will notice immediately that the tracks are played in the order of the original. Highlights are Alone Again Or, Old Man, The Red Telephone and Live and Let Live. Lee augments the originals on only a few cuts and these bring an enthusiastic audience to its feet.
Also on the DVD are tour highlights, a few live bonus tracks of songs from Da Capo and Four Sail, and an interesting but abbreviated interview with Lee which is the only element that detracts at all from an otherwise nearly perfect production.
Get this today, and you'll see what I mean.
Rating:
Summary: Forever Fave Album Of All Time on DVD!
Review: I was born in the year 1967 and hence a little too young to experience the Summer Of Love and the music that blossomed during that era. Fast forward to 1988 and I had 'discovered' most of the classics from the 60s including Sgt Pepper, Pet Sounds, Surrealistic Pillow, Are You Experienced, etc. I was on the lookout for rare albums and it was during this time that I stumbled upon writeups for groups such as The Incredible String Band and LOVE. Curious, I found and purchased the Da Capo LP and ordered FOREVER CHANGES. The former whetted my appetite for the latter and when I finally got it, I was hooked by the 2nd listen. I was undergoing my own personal search for 'meaning' then and could totally relate to the content of the music - "that I could be in love with almost everyone", "and I'm wrapped in my armor but my things are material" and "this is the time that I am living". Since then, FOREVER CHANGES became my fave album of all time (Sgt Pepper was sonically and musically perfect but lacking that extra bit of depth while Pet Sounds had Sloop John B which I felt did not belong in an album of such personal beauty). Since then, I started collecting LOVE albums when they appeared on CD {among my faves are a Japanese press of Forever Changes (b4 the Rhino remasters) with transcribed English song lyrics, the LOVE STORY 1966 to 1972 double CD compilation and the Bryan Maclean solo albums}. After living with the CD version of the album for so long, I was over the moon when I heard that the FOREVER CHANGES tour would be released on DVD. As this was the first time that I was experiencing LOVE 'live', I was terribly excited and was not disappointed when I watched it. Following the album sequence, the performances were tight and rarely strayed from the original arrangements. Arthur is in fine voice 95% of the time and the band rocks. It is also in the DVD that you can experience the beauty of the string and horn arrangements to the fullest. Faults are minor and easily overlooked (the audio transitions between tracks were sometimes too sudden, some audio distortion can be heard during the documentary footage when the band was rehearsing). Otherwise, this is the perfect companion to the perfect album of all time! In answer to one of the reviewers, here's more info on the Easter Egg which is actually the performance of Singing Cowboy. It can be found on the Bonus Tracks section. I discovered that the bonus tracks have a different order than what is listed if you access them by titles ('titles' are one division above 'chapters') 7 And 7 Is (title 10)
Always See Your Face (title 11)
Orange Skies (title 12)
She Comes In Colours (title 13)
Listen To My Song (title 14)
Singing Cowboy (title 15) To access Singing Cowboy, just go to any of the bonus tracks and press the forward button to advance by title till you reach title 15! I have listened to many albums that I consider works of art but FOREVER CHANGES tops them all. It encapsulates life's highs and lows and is the epitome of concept albums (it doesn't veer towards self-indulgence like most of its peers). To appreciate it fully, some background knowledge of The Times (circa 1967-68) and The Scene (L.A., California) are needed. It also helps if you are high (or down) on Life, and questioning the meaning of it all!
Rating:
Summary: Rock on, Mr. Lee!!!
Review: I was lucky enough to be at the first show after Arthur Lee got out of jail at Spaceland in 2002 and it was actually even better than this DVD, if you can believe it! The Holy Spirit of Rock was definitely in the house that night... But the revamped version of You Set The Scene on here is mind blowingly awesome. It's worth it just for that!
"THIS IS THE TIME, TIME, TIME, TIME, TIME, TIME, TIME, TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Review: If you're familiar with Love's forever changes then you'll be treated to a 1:1 adaptation of the entire album.. Arthur & the band recreate the strings, the brass and the entire *feel* of the album on stage in this dvd!! The only downside is that his release from prison and the subsequent tour wasn't more widely publicised as i would have loved to make it to one of the gigs, or two, or three, or four. If you've never heard of love or "forever changes" then it's time
to "get hip". The album shouldn't be absent from ANY record collection.
Rating:
Summary: Arthur Lee ROCKS!!
Review: It has been great to listen to his revitalized music!! Not much more to add, but wholeheartedly support, to what has already been said.
Rating:
Summary: LOVE BROTHERS, LOVE, said Arthur's travelling salvation show
Review: It was with astonishment that I learned recently that Arthur Lee had reemerged, phoenix-like, from his troubles and had resurrected not only the group Love, but also Love's exquisite masterpiece 'Forever Changes' for concert performance. And caught on film for DVD release? This was just too good to be true. Well, captured here with excellent sound and visuals the newest incarnation of Love works beautifully with Arthur Lee as an organic unit, and complemented by a Swedish string and horn section, recreate LOVINGLY and passionately the original album's sequence of songs from start to finish. Don't worry; this is no tired, retro nostalgic rehash, but rather a spirited musical triumph, as the audience's standing ovation testifies. The marriage of string section with rock band works great live. The DVD extras feature a documentary, an interview with Arthur Lee, and several extra songs including '7 & 7 is', 'Orange Skies', 'She Comes in Colors' and others from this January 2003 concert at the Royal Festival Hall, London. A million thanks to Arthur Lee and Love and all those who made possible the release of this DVD. Hallelujah!
Rating:
Summary: There are no words!
Review: Listen to it 1000 times! Watch it a 1000 times! You will never get sick of it! This is one of the great ones! There are no other
words!
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