Hip-O Select; June 2007
The late Arthur Lee was one of the 1960s’ greatest psychedelic music geniuses. His oeuvre rightfully belongs alongside those of Lennon, McCartney, and Brian Wilson, yet it remains woefully underappreciated by most. Hopefully, this three-CD setwhich contains more than two-and-a-half hours of music from Love’s first two post-Elektra recordings, as well as previously unreleased live material from its 1970 U.K. tourwill rectify the situation. The live tracks are exquisite and completely indicative of Love’s mutation from psych-pop to funky jam band. Particularly sweet is “The Everlasting First,” which was cowritten and arranged by special guest guru of groove, Jimi Hendrix, who also played lead guitar on the track. Forever Changes may forever remain Lee’s magnum opus, but The Blue Thumb Recordings is a gorgeous coda.