LoVE: A Message To Pretty

[silentseason]

"A Message To Pretty"
From: LoVE, side one, song three
-Running Time: 3:10
-Recorded: January 27, 1966 Sunset Sound. Last session for first album.
-Written by: Arthur Lee
-Lead vocal, harmonica: Arthur Lee
-Lead guitar: Johnny Echols
-Rhythm guitar: Bryan MacLean
-Bass: Kenny Forssi
-Drums: Alban 'Snoopy' Pfisterer
-B side to "My Litte Red Book".
-One of only three recorded songs to feature Arthur's harmonica playing.
-Written by Arthur about a girlfriend he had named Anita Billings, who he nicknamed "Pretty".
-One of two songs from debut album over three minutes in length.
-Arthur wrote the song on the organ, which was then translated to guitar by Johnny and Bryan.
-Cover of this song recorded by at least 12 different groups.
-Quotable: The first album was the most guitar laden of the group's three. Johnny has this to say about how they created this sound:
"I played all of the lead guitar parts, and flourishes, and Bryan did the finger picking. We would begin with us both playing acoustic guitar on the basic tracks. Afterwards, the two of us would work out a natural rhythmic counterpoint. We would play off each other, in effect, orchestrating cello, and viola parts on the guitars. He had a way of weaving in and around the song, giving it a more intricate feel. Bryan had an innate ability to hear harmonic balance, and was a supremely gifted musician, who was integral to the sound of the group."
-IMHO: First recorded instance of Arthur's "vindictive" lyrical musings as he wistfully expresses his regrets at ever seeing his tormentor's face. This theme would surface again in "Your Friend And Mine" and "Doggone". Maybe not a pleasant aspect of Arthur's personality but undeniably part of the edginess that made him a genius.
-Fun Fact: Group appeared on "Where The Action Is" to promote the song, their second and last mainstream media appearance. Apparently there was a small controvery regarding Bryan's trousers as they would only shoot him from the waist up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYNPWMku ... re=related

Lyrics:

People try to tell me
What they think is right
I don't listen to them
Don't know day from night
I go through life searchin'
Tryin' to find the one
I go slip, slip, you go slip, slip
Away

And I don't need you to help me find my way
I can make it if I just don't see your face

Once I had a problem
Didn't know what to do
Now I've got no problems
All I had was you
Guess I'll keep on searchin'
And try to find the one
'Cause I go slip, slip, you go slip, slip
Away

[jamestkirk]

Thanks, SS. A great tune!!

[BallroomDays67]

A great tune indeed, and what an amazing debut single.