Archive Review: Love’s Reel-To-Real (2016)

By 1974, Arthur Lee had left Love’s psychedelic roots in his rear-view mirror, forming a version of the band that had little in common with its 1960s-era origins. Love’s Black Beauty – unreleased until 2011 – displayed the talents of Lee’s new musicians, essentially the line-up Lee took into the studio to record Reel-To-Real.

Fans expecting another Forever Changes will be disappointed. Lukewarm criticisms aside, Reel-To-Real is a fine record in itself, Lee flexing his soul and funk muscles, resulting in performances that blend Sly Stone with Frankie Miller. “Who Are You?” is a red-hot slab o’ funk while “Which Witch Is Which” is a jarring trance-blues tune. The rootsy “You Said You Would” is raucous fun and, of the bonus tracks, “Graveyard Hop” stands out as a throwback rocker. Reel-To-Real provides another intriguing piece to the puzzle that was Arthur Lee. (High Moon Records, reissue released 2016)

Review originally published by The Blues magazine...