Search - Love :: Out There

Best of out here and false start

Stephen F Mulcahy | United States | 11/10/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"this is a compilation of tracks from love's albums for blue thumb records out here and false start. while a quibble could be made over some of the tracks, i believe that the post forever changes band is quite good in its own right. sometimes its written as if the band became lousy or mediocre after forever changes and it is simply not true. the later stuff is not as good as the earlier stuff but dont ignore the later band, for one thing it was a lot harder and louder. for example, i think the version of signed d.c. on out here is actually better than the one on their debut album. of the two albums compiled here , both are patchy and out here is the better of the two, if you're not a huge fan of love like i am you probably won't want to hear all their stuff so i'd suggest comes in colors if you don't think you need their excellent 2 cd set love story . if you are , and can't find out here and false start, i'd suggest getting this compilation. love were one of america's greatest bands of the era in my opinion along with the velvet underground and moby grape."

People who think Love ended with Forever Changes are idiots

terry r koppel | New York | 02/08/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"After Forever changes was released the next album was "Four Sail". This had some great songs on it like August, Nothing, You Will Always See My Face, Singing Cowboy, and Good Times. After that, Love moved to Blue Thumb Records and although not as consistant in quality, it had GREAT songs. This is truly the best of both recordings Arthur Lee/Love did for Blue Thumb. Idiotic Love fans who wanted Arthur to stagnate in the folksy/psychedelic beauty of Forever Changes (granted a true masterpiece) were selfish that they would want to refuse someone the right to grow and experiment with other types of music. These albums ROCK! If the best of "Four Sale was included on this compilation" it would be a definite 5 star CD. To hell with all the idiots who think Post Forever Changes material is trash. This is a must buy for TRUE Love fans. Someone should release "Four Sail" on CD as well."

A Combination of the Two

PHILIP S WOLF | SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA. USA | 09/02/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Not being from LA, I have the opportunity to hear the music of the great band Love, until late 69. That was when, I found the double LP: "Out Here" in a cut-out bin. With it's painted blue man, raparound cover all for a whopping 99 cents. I had never heard a note of this music, but this sure looked interesting. Was this a Pink Floyd knockoff? An early edition of Bloodrock? Well, I took my 99 cent gamble and bought this strange record.



"Out Here" was really different and that is due to Arthur Lee, or as he wanted to be called at the Time: "Arthurlee". Lee, a veteran of the LA music scene since 1964, formed the first version of Love in 1965, with Bryan "Snoopy" MacLean. By 1969, the band had not broke through with a hit single or bestselling album release, so, outside of Los Angeles, they were not well Known.



Many critics, have labeled, Love's short time with Blue Thumb Records as the band's: "Heavy Metal" period. One listen to this CD, and you know that this is not the case..."Heavy Metal," this ain't! "Stand Out" is flat-out rock, "I Still Wonder" is CSN meeting The Allman Brothers, "Listen to my Song" goes into "Tiny Tim" territory with Arthur's falsetto & whistling. The great: "Everlasting First" features Jimi Hendrix, it was born out of a much longer jam session {featured on many "Bootlegs", the jam is over 10 minutes in length} but, this song is three minutes long, and pales to what goes on during the original session.



Some of the tracks here sound unfinished and/or bad edits of something greater; "Love is Coming", "Listen to my Song", "Nice to Be", all fade out before they really get going. Two Tracks featured on this disc are exended 'work-outs', the first is: "Doggone." That one starts off as a nice little ditty, but it soon turns into a overlong drum solo, ALA: Ginger Baker of Cream & Blind Faith. Next, comes: "Love is More than Words or Better Late Than Never" with a waa-waa pedal guitar gore-fest, that SCREAMS 1969. These two tracks, would be HIGHLIGHTS at The Filmore East shows when Love played between The Allman Brothers and The Grateful Dead in early 1970, but for The studio record, they just end up being filler { but, well played filler.}



The two standout tracks of this CD are: "Signed D C" & "Willow, Willow".

The revised version of: "Signed D C" is the best song of Love's long history, and this is the most intense performance of the band...PERIOD! The guitars are loud & brash, and the singing is of a man over the edge, it's so good, it sends a chill! Somebody (or band) with guts, should do a cover of this classic...(betcha, it wouldn't be as good as this!). "Willow" is a fine song, the guitars echo the best of The Byrds, but, because of the tune's jazz flavor, it is better than the feathered ones....let's just call this a lost classic.



There are flaws over the course of this CD, but that was Arthur in general. He shows lot's of "flashes" of genius here as well. This is a good peek into the 1969-70 period of this great band. Back at The Whiskey in 1965, Jim Morrison had just watched Love's last set of the night and told Ray Manzarek "That's My Goal...To be Bigger than Love!!!

Three Stars."