Monday 30, 2022 “Alone Again Or” Love
In May of 1996 Timothy Leary, an American psychologist who advocated the use of psychedelic drugs for medical treatments as well as their mind expanding abilities, apparently left this dimension and that seemed reason enough to me to dive into some psychedelic rock this week. So drop a tab and let's start tripping.
First though let’s briefly think about where and how musical terms like ‘psychedelic music’ originate. I don’t think some 60s musicians got together and said ‘hey guys let’s do something new and play some psychedelic music today’ but rather these categories come from the marketing departments of record companies, radio DJs and librarians all of whom feel the need to neatly compartmentalize music.
OK now that we have that out of the way, let’s get started.
“Alone Again Or” is included on the group Love’s 1967 album Forever Changes which appears on so many best albums of all times lists, often at the top of those lists, that you need to ask yourself right now “why don’t I know this album?”
This tune was written by Love guitarist Bryan MacLean as a tribute to his mother, who was a flamenco dancer…wait what, his mother was a flamenco dancer and more importantly just how do these lyrics pay tribute to his…mother? MacLean would eventually leave the band to join a Christian ministry.
Love was led by Arthur Lee and they had one US hit in 1966 with "7 And 7 Is" but they are most remembered for “Alone Again Or”. The band clearly had a problem completing the titles of their songs, perhaps a result of the psychedelics they were ingesting. Lee is a gentleman with a colorful past having been arrested and sentenced to twelve years in prison in 1995 for shooting at a neighbor who protested the loud noise from Lee's stereo. A totally justifiable crime in my humble opinion.
Stay safe and well…and we have visited this Later with Jools Holland video of Arthue Lee, lead singer of Love, before and I will once again recommend this BBC show as one of the best, most eclectic live music shows on TV. You can find episodes on YouTube.