Reel to Real (Love album)
Encyclopedia
Reel to Real is the seventh album by the American
rock
band Love
, released in 1975.
. It follows the release of Lee's solo album, Vindicator
(1972).
Featuring the same musicians that played on Lee's second solo record, the unreleased Black Beauty and originally intended to become a two album deal through RSO, Reel to Real would be the only release with Robert Stigwood's label. Through the efforts of Skip Taylor who had been a long time admirer of Arthur Lee, he approached the label and convinced Stigwood to give the previously commercially unsuccessful Lee the largest advance he would ever receive. The biggest touring opportunity any incarnation of Love would ever embark on, Love opened for acts such as Lou Reed and Eric Clapton. The tour was a disaster due to Arthur's increasing erratic behavior. By this point Arthur had developed a bad track record for blowing big advances and slacking off during the recording process, and failing to tour for most of his post Blue thumb efforts. This would be the last major tour, and major label deal Arthur Lee would have for a long time.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
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...
band 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 1975.
Background
The first Love album in four years and the final Love album for nearly twenty years, Reel to Real has only one direct link to any of the previous albums by the group, bandleader 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:...
. It follows the release of Lee's solo album, Vindicator
Vindicator (album)
Vindicator is the first solo album by Arthur Lee, formerly of the rock band Love, released in 1972.-Track listing:#"Sad Song" – 2:20#"You Can Save Up to 50%, But You're Still a Long Ways from Home" – 0:17#"Love Jumped Through My Window" – 2:56...
(1972).
Featuring the same musicians that played on Lee's second solo record, the unreleased Black Beauty and originally intended to become a two album deal through RSO, Reel to Real would be the only release with Robert Stigwood's label. Through the efforts of Skip Taylor who had been a long time admirer of Arthur Lee, he approached the label and convinced Stigwood to give the previously commercially unsuccessful Lee the largest advance he would ever receive. The biggest touring opportunity any incarnation of Love would ever embark on, Love opened for acts such as Lou Reed and Eric Clapton. The tour was a disaster due to Arthur's increasing erratic behavior. By this point Arthur had developed a bad track record for blowing big advances and slacking off during the recording process, and failing to tour for most of his post Blue thumb efforts. This would be the last major tour, and major label deal Arthur Lee would have for a long time.
Track listing
All tracks written and arranged by Arthur Lee, except where noted- "Time Is Like A River"
- "Stop the Music"
- "Who Are You"
- "Good Old Fashion Dream"
- "Which Witch is Which?"
- "With A Little Energy"
- "Singing Cowboy" (Lee, Jay Donnellan)
- "Be Thankful For What You Got" (William DeVaughnWilliam DeVaughnWilliam DeVaughn is an American R&B singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known for the hit song "Be Thankful for What You Got".-Biography:...
) - "You Said You Would"
- "Busted Feet" (Lee, Charles Karp)
- "Everybody's Gotta Live"
Personnel
- Produced by Arthur Lee
- Arthur Lee: rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, vocal
- Melvan Whittington: guitar
- John Sterling: guitar
- Sherwood Akuna: bass
- Joe Blocker: drums
- Bobby LyleBobby LyleBobby Lyle is a jazz, soul jazz, and smooth jazz pianist. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee but grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota in a home near the corner of Park Avenue and 32nd Street. His father, reportedly, was a sports writer for the Star Tribune newspaper.He had his first gig at 16 and...
: keyboards - Gary Bell: synthesizer
- Herman McCormick: conductor
- Wilber Brown, Fred Carter, John Clauder, Alan DeVille, Clifford Solomon and Billy Sprague: horns
- Vanetta Fields, Jessica Smith and Carlena Williams: vocals
- Robert Rozelle: bass (6, 7, 10)
- Buzzy FeitenBuzz FeitenHoward "Buzz" Feiten is a North American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and session musician.He is best known as a lead and rhythm electric guitarist, and for having patented a unique, scientifically designed tuning system which re-configures its stringboard / neck for more accurate tonality...
: lead guitar (3) - Art Fox: acoustic guitar (5)
- Harvey "The Snake" MandelHarvey MandelHarvey Mandel is an American guitarist known for his innovative approach to electric guitar playing. A professional at twenty, he played with Charlie Musselwhite, Canned Heat, The Rolling Stones, and John Mayall before starting a solo career...
: electric guitars (5) - Joe Deaguro: vocal, vibes (8)