Album of the Day

With second album DA CAPO, Love was well on its way to the sublime synthesis of folk-rock, psychedelia and baroque pop it would achieve with FOREVER CHANGES. In fact, the requisite elements are all here: the driving “7 & 7 Is” is as fiery as anything on the L.A. group's debut, lyricist Arthur Lee is at his elliptical best on “Stephanie Knows Who” and “Orange Skies” shines a spotlight on Bryan Maclean's songwriting skills. And with the addition of drummer Michael Stuart and saxophonist Tjay Cantrelli on this album, Love's lineup was its strongest ever (there was impressive talent behind the boards as well – producer Paul Rothchild and engineer Bruce Botnick would soon find fame recording The Doors). Also including one of the first side-long songs in rock, DA CAPO is a brilliant encapsulation of the magic sounds of the Sunset Strip circa 1966, and an ideal way to remember Lee, born on this day in 1945.