Alone Again Or

Last updated
"Alone Again Or"
Alone Again Or cover.jpg
Single by Love
from the album Forever Changes
B-side "A House Is Not a Motel"
ReleasedJanuary 1968 (1968-01)
RecordedSeptember 10, 1967
Studio Sunset Sound Recorders, Hollywood, Los Angeles
Genre
Length3:16
Label Elektra
Songwriter(s) Bryan MacLean
Producer(s)
Love singles chronology
"¡Que Vida!"
(1967)
"Alone Again Or"
(1968)
"Your Mind and We Belong Together"
(1968)

"Alone Again Or" is a song originally recorded in 1967 by the rock group Love and written by band member Bryan MacLean. It appears on the album Forever Changes , and was released as a single in the USA, UK, Australia, France and the Netherlands. [2]

Contents

Original version

MacLean originally wrote the song, then called "Alone Again", in 1965 for Love's debut album. However, he did not complete it until the recording of "Forever Changes" in the summer of 1967. The song was inspired by his memory of waiting for a girlfriend, and, according to Barney Hoskyns, the melody drew loosely on Sergei Prokofiev's Lieutenant Kije Suite . [3] The essence of the song is the contrast between the positivity of the tune and the bleakness of the lyrics, with the chorus "And I will be alone again tonight, my dear" finishing with a lone acoustic guitar, closing the song with the opening melody that sounds anything but ecstatic, [4] ending with an E minor plus 2 chord.

For the recording session, which took place on September 10, 1967 at Sunset Sound Recorders in Hollywood, arranger David Angel worked with MacLean, adding a string section and a horn part. MacLean later said, "That was the happiest I ever was with anything we ever did as a band - the orchestral arrangement of that song". [3] However, Botnick, with co-producer and band leader Arthur Lee, remixed the track to bring Lee's own unison vocal to the forefront of the song, at least partly on the grounds that MacLean's own vocal lead was too weak. [3] Lee also added to the mystery of the song by changing the title to "Alone Again Or".

According to the band's guitarist Johnny Echols,

Arthur wasn't even at the studio when we recorded "Alone Again". When he heard everyone saying what a great song it was, and how great Bryan's voice sounded. Arthur became jealous and decided to feature his voice on a record he had absolutely nothing to do with. To make matters worse Arthur changed the title of Bryan's song. That was basically the beginning of the end for the group. [5]

With Lee now on co-lead vocals, "Alone Again Or" became the opening track of Forever Changes. It was the sole single released from the album to reach the Billboard singles chart. Its 1968 B-side was Lee's "A House Is Not a Motel", although the 1970 reissue of the single featured "Good Times" from the 1969 Four Sail album instead. [6] "Alone Again Or", in an edited version in early 1968, initially peaked nationally at No. 123 (and at No. 7 on both Los Angeles station KHJ-AM and San Diego station KGB-AM), while the longer, original album version spent three weeks on the singles chart in 1970, peaking at No. 99, according to Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles: 1955–2010.

MacLean's composition (as well as the recording itself) has come to be considered a classic. In 2004, "Alone Again Or" came in at No. 436 in the Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs of All Time poll. [7] In the magazine's 2010 version, the song ranked at No. 442. [8]

The song has been featured in several films, most notably the 1996 films Bottle Rocket and Sleepers . It appeared at the close of the 2009 British comedy movie Bunny and the Bull , playing as the lead character finally breaks free of his obsessions. Alone Again Or was also featured in the climactic parade scene ending the last episode of season one of the 2019 Netflix series Russian Doll .

The Damned version

"Alone Again Or"
Damned AloneAgainOr.jpg
Single by the Damned
from the album Anything
B-side "In Dulce Decorum (Live)"
Released13 April 1987 [9]
Recorded1986
Studio Hammersmith, Denmark
Genre
Length3:38
Label MCA
Songwriter(s) Bryan MacLean
Producer(s) Jon Kelly
The Damned singles chronology
"Gigolo"
(1987)
"Alone Again Or"
(1987)
"In Dulce Decorum"
(1987)

"Alone Again Or" was released as a single by English rock band the Damned on 6 April 1987 by MCA Records. They recorded it as an acknowledgement of Love being one of their influences. Boosted by multi-format releases (including the band's first CD single, which included the first release of their version of "Eloise" on this format) and a surreal music video directed by Gerard de Thame, the single peaked at No. 27 in the UK, the Damned's final Top 40 hit to date. The UK B-side "In Dulce Decorum" was recorded live at the Hammersmith Odeon on 12 November 1986.

MCA also issued the single in the United States, their first single to be issued in the territory since "Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde" in 1981. This release added the studio version of "In Dulce Decorum" in place of the live version on the UK release.

Charts

Chart (1987)Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)27
Album Rock Tracks (Billboard)50

Other Versions

Versions have also been recorded by an eclectic variety of bands and singers including UFO (1977), Sarah Brightman (1990), The Boo Radleys (1991), the Oblivians (1993), Chris Pérez Band (1999), Calexico (2004), Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs (2006), Les Fradkin (2007) and Sara Lov (2014). Two demo versions by MacLean himself were released in 1997 on his album Ifyoubelievein .

Related Research Articles

<i>Forever Changes</i> 1967 studio album by Love

Forever Changes is the third studio album by the American rock band Love, released on November 1, 1967, by Elektra Records. The album saw the group embrace a subtler folk- and baroque pop-oriented sound based around acoustic guitars and orchestral arrangements, while primary songwriter Arthur Lee explored darker themes alluding to mortality and his growing disillusionment with the era's counterculture. It was the final album recorded by the original band lineup; after its completion, guitarist Bryan MacLean left the group acrimoniously, and Lee subsequently dismissed the other members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love (band)</span> American rock group

Love is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1965. Led by Arthur Lee, the band's primary songwriter, they were one of the first racially diverse American rock bands. Their sound incorporated an eclectic range of styles including garage, folk-rock, and psychedelia. While finding only modest success on the music charts, peaking in 1966 with their US Top 40 hit "7 and 7 Is", Love would come to be praised by critics as their third album, Forever Changes (1967), became generally regarded as one of the best albums of the 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur Lee (musician)</span> American rock musician (1945–2006)

Arthur Taylor Lee was an American musician, singer and songwriter who rose to fame as the leader of the Los Angeles rock band Love. Love's 1967 album Forever Changes was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and it is part of the National Recording Registry.

<i>Anything</i> (The Damned album) 1986 studio album by The Damned

Anything is the seventh studio album by U.K. punk rock band the Damned, released by MCA Records in 1986. On the album's release, it charted in the United Kingdom, peaking at No. 40, and was certified as silver by the British Phonographic Industry. Four singles were released that all charted in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hey Joe</span> 1962 song written and composed by Billy Roberts

"Hey Joe" is an American song from the 1960s that has become a rock standard and has been performed in many musical styles by hundreds of different artists. The lyrics tell of a man who is on the run and planning to head to Mexico after shooting his unfaithful wife. In 1962, Billy Roberts registered "Hey Joe" for copyright in the United States.

<i>Da Capo</i> (Love album) 1966 studio album by Love

Da Capo is the second studio album by American rock band Love, released in November 1966 by Elektra Records. The album was recorded during September and October 1966 at RCA Studios in Hollywood, California, with the exception of lead single "7 and 7 Is", recorded the previous June. The single was a departure for the band and became their highest charting, reaching No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite the success of "7 and 7 Is", a string of well received live performances at the time and contemporary critical acclaim for the album upon its release, it peaked at No. 80 on the Billboard 200.

<i>Love</i> (Love album) 1966 studio album by Love

Love is the debut album by the Los Angeles-based rock band Love; released in March 1966 by Elektra Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In Dulce Decorum</span> 1987 single by the Damned

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<i>Light at the End of the Tunnel</i> 1987 compilation album by The Damned

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryan MacLean</span> American singer-songwriter (1946–1998)

Bryan Andrew MacLean was an American singer, guitarist and songwriter, best known for his work with the influential rock band Love. His famous compositions for Love include "Alone Again Or", "Old Man" and "Orange Skies".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Echols</span> American songwriter and guitarist

John Marshall Echols is an American songwriter and guitarist, who was a co-founder and the lead guitar player of the psychedelic rock band Love.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">7 and 7 Is</span> 1966 single by Love

"7 and 7 Is" is a song written by Arthur Lee and recorded by his band Love on June 17 and 20, 1966, at Sunset Sound Recorders in Hollywood. It was produced by Jac Holzman and engineered by Bruce Botnick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Country Road (song)</span> 1971 single by James Taylor

"Country Road" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter James Taylor, released in February 1971 by Warner Bros. Records. It is the third single from Taylor's second studio album, Sweet Baby James. "Country Road" is also featured on James Taylor's 1976 Greatest Hits record. The song has been played at most of his concerts since 1970. Randy Meisner, later of the Eagles, played bass on the album version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange Skies</span> 1966 single by Love

"Orange Skies" is a song written by Bryan MacLean and originally recorded in 1966 by the band Love for their second album Da Capo. It was first released the same month as the B-side to the band's single "Stephanie Knows Who". The original recording features band leader Arthur Lee on lead vocals instead of MacLean.

"Funny How Time Slips Away" is a song written by Willie Nelson and first recorded by country singer Billy Walker. Walker's version was issued as a single by Columbia Records in June 1961 and peaked at number 23 on the Hot C&W Sides chart. The song has been featured in several live action films and television shows, such as in the first episode of the second season of AMC’s Better Call Saul and in the 2020 Netflix drama The Devil All the Time.

<i>Ifyoubelievein</i> 1997 studio album by Bryan MacLean

Ifyoubelievein is the first solo album by the American musician Bryan MacLean, released in 1997. It was recorded sporadically from the 1960s to the 1980s. The album is composed entirely of previously unreleased demo recordings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">She Comes in Colors</span> 1966 single by Love

"She Comes in Colors" is a song written by Arthur Lee and released by the band Love as a single in 1966 and on their 1966 album Da Capo. It was also included on a number of Love compilation albums, including Love Revisited and Best of Love and on the multi-artist compilation album Forever Changing: The Golden Age of Elektra 1963–1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Little Red Book</span> 1965 song

"My Little Red Book" (occasionally subtitled "(All I Do Is Talk About You)") is a song composed by American songwriter Burt Bacharach with lyrics by Hal David. The duo was enlisted by Charles K. Feldman to compose the music to Woody Allen's film What's New Pussycat? following a chance meeting between Feldman and Bacharach's fiancée Angie Dickinson in London. "My Little Red Book" was composed in three weeks together with several other songs intended for the movie. Musically, the song was initially composed in the key of C major, largely based on a reiterating piano riff performed. David's lyrics tells the tale of a distraught lover, who after getting dumped by his girlfriend browses through his "little red book" and taking out several girls to dance in a vain effort to get over her.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">¡Que Vida!</span> 1967 single by Love

"¡Que Vida!" is a song written by Arthur Lee and first released in 1967 by the band Love. It was released both on Love's album Da Capo and as a single, backed with "Hey Joe". It has also been included on several Love compilation albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephanie Knows Who</span> 1966 single by Love

"Stephanie Knows Who" is a song written by Arthur Lee and first released by Love on their 1966 album Da Capo. It has also been released on several Love compilation albums. It was to have been released as a single, backed with "Orange Skies", but the single was withdrawn, with "She Comes in Colors" replacing it under the same catalog number. The song was also covered by the Move.

References

  1. Barker, Emily (31 January 2014). "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time - 200-101". NME . Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  2. "Love Singles". Love.torbenskott.dk. 4 March 2002. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 Barney Hoskyns, Arthur Lee: Alone Again Or, 2001, ISBN   1-84195-085-5
  4. "Alone Again Or". Everything2.com. 3 July 2002. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  5. Johnny Echols comment on Facebook, July 20, 2023
  6. Billboard. 15 August 1970. p. 78. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  7. "The Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rock List Music. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  8. "500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 442. 'Alone Again Or'". Rolling Stone . Wenner Publishing. Retrieved 15 April 2018.[ dead link ]
  9. "New Singles". Music Week . 11 April 1987. p. 36.