Love Forever Changes-45RPM Vinyl Review

Originally Recorded 1967 – Love Forever Changes – 2016

Vinyl surface noise: 4+  (not pops and clicks)

Dynamic Range: 4+

Stereo Imaging: 4-

Image depth/perspective: 3

Overall frequency response: 4

Side One

1. Alone Again Or
2. A House is Not A Motel
3. Andmoreagin

Side Two

1. The Daily Planet
2. Old Man
3. The Red Telephone

Side Three

1. Maybe The People Would Be the Times Or Between Clark and Hilldale
2. Live and Let Live
3. The Good Humor Man He Sees Everything Like This

Side Four

1. Bummer in the Summer
2. You Set the Scene

Originally recorded primarily at the Sunset Sound Recorders, and Western Recorders Studio 1, Hollywood, California, June 9 – September 25, 1967. This special limited edition 180 gram, 45 RPM, double album, (serial number #001008) was re-mastered in 2016 by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab using the Gain 2 Ultra Analog System and half speed mastering. Originally released by Electra Records in November 1967, it was not a commercial success. However, it is now ranked #40 on Rolling Stone‘s 500 Greatest Albums of all time, and was named by Mojo as the second greatest psychedelic recording in history.

It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008 as well as being added to the National Recording Registry in 2011.

For further historical information see here.

Forever Changes was performed by:

• Ken Forssi – Bass
• John Echols – Guitar
• Bryan Maclean – Guitar and vocals
• Arthur Lee – Guitar and vocals
• Michael Stuart – Percussion

The moment the needle hit the vinyl I was a teen again back in the 60’s. Yes, this musical performance is totally reminiscent of those days of Woodstock, drugs, and the ‘Make Love Not War’ era. For many, this psychedelic rock performance may not be your musical cup of tea, but the sentiments, musical performance and raw studio sound takes you right back to those days.

I am sure that with only two or three tracks per side the vinyl catches the entire dynamic range of what the master tapes had to offer. However, this is not a demo recording in the true sense. The recording is extraordinarily flat and lacking in ambience with slight reverb only being heard on some vocals and the horn sections. The instruments are mostly hard panned left or right, even the kit is mostly in the left hand speaker, the vocals dead center, and only the horn sections with their reverb provide any sense of depth. So a good stereo image? Not really!

Technically, and from an audiophiles perspective, this is not a demo recording. So what do you get for you money? What it is, is a nostalgic trip down memory lane, a memorable musical experience by some fine musicians of the time, playing some great tracks. The vinyl is nice and quiet, there is plenty of detail, solid dynamics and good clean vocals with lots of presence. Musically complex ….well, not in my book.

Many people, magazines and organizations have highly commended this rock performance as being a “seminal work of art” that defined a moment in history.

So here it is straight from the Mobile Fidelity web site:

“Any discussion about the finest psychedelic rock record ever recorded is incomplete if it doesn’t grant consideration to Love’s Forever Changes. Ranked by Rolling Stone as the 40th greatest album ever made, and named by Mojo the second-greatest psychedelic set in history, the effort is an internationally recognized seminal work of art. Transcending language and convention, its magnitude and magnificence need to be heard again and again. For here is an effort whose mind-boggling acoustic complexities and kaleidoscopic nuances are tailored for high-fidelity playback.

Nearly unlimited headroom, vast instrumental separation, transparent clarity, artifact-free atmospherics, and faithful balances appear out of jet-black backgrounds. The music appears to float on clouds, with the woody tones emanated by the acoustic guitars and brassy signatures of horns emerging with lifelike detail. Turn it up as loud as you want; the sole limitation will be your system’s potential.

Commercially ignored upon release in November 1967, Forever Changes confronts the alienation, paranoia, violence, and strife that would soon plague the countercultural movement and send the Summer of Love into a tailspin. Apart from its lyrical themes and prescient malaise, the record’s enduring nature equally owes to intertwined arrangements sewn together with Latin guitar-picked lines, finessed folk harmonies, mariachi-inspired horn charts, and subdued strings…………………………………….”

Seriously?

Possibly someone hasn’t left the summer of love. What are they smoking?

If you feel the need to be overcome with an abundance of adjectives…..read this eloquent and verbose review in full here.

This vinyl recording has:

• Good dynamic range
• Extended frequency response
• Good HF detail
• Excellent imaging
• No real depth perspective
• Clean open sound with prominent guitars and horns
• Good vocals with enormous presence and no hard edges or sibilance
• A tight clean bass line
• AND last but not least good musicianship, music and lyrics.

The Tracks

With only three tracks per side the entire dynamic range of what the analog master tapes had to offer is clearly preserved. My vinyl was very quiet, but definitely not ‘black’. It was however completely devoid of any pops and clicks. There is nothing that I can add to the above Mo-Fi review that hasn’t already been said! Do I think that it is a little OTT? Well, yes. But, it is a musical experience that drives a stake into that point in time.

This recording is not an audiophiles technical dream. It is a work of art that takes you back to those early days of recording, and immerses you in the music of the time. There is a certain musical sameness to many of the tracks, but that doesn’t detract from their message. Despite this album not being a Direct To Disc cut, significant care and attention has been given to both the mastering and cutting processes. The result being an excellent rendition of the original master tapes with good dynamics and frequency response. All rounded off by some competent musicianship and enjoyable tracks.

My wife who is a classically trained pianist, and who loves popular music, asked me to add her comment to this review:

“If you are a lover of 60’s music and psychedelia this might be the trip down memory lane that you need or want. However, what is worth pointing out before you purchase this album is the review from Mobile Fidelity Lab does not, in my opinion, represent an unbiased review. The overdose of superlatives is not objective. While it may be enjoyable this is not the stuff musical legends are made of.”

If this is your style of music then you should probably own it.

Available on vinyl from Mobile Fidelty.

Available on vinyl from Discogs.

See my other vinyl reviews here.