Reel to Real (album)

Reel to Real is the seventh album by the American rock band Love, 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 Lee. 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.

Track listing

All tracks written and arranged by Arthur Lee, except where noted

1. "Time Is Like A River"
2. "Stop the Music"
3. "Who Are You"
4. "Good Old Fashion Dream"
5. "Which Witch is Which?"
6. "With A Little Energy"
7. "Singing Cowboy" (Lee, Jay Donnellan)
8. "Be Thankful For What You Got" (William DeVaughn)
9. "You Said You Would"
10. "Busted Feet" (Lee, Charles Karp)
11. "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 Lyle: 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 Feiten: lead guitar (3)
• Art Fox: acoustic guitar (5)
• Harvey "The Snake" Mandel: electric guitars (5)
• Joe Deaguro: vocal, vibes (8)

References