The Red Telephone (song)

Last updated
"The Red Telephone"
Song by Love
from the album Forever Changes
ReleasedNovember 1967 (1967-11)
Recorded
  • September 25, 1967
Genre
Length4:45
Label Elektra
Songwriter(s) Arthur Lee
Producer(s)

"The Red Telephone" is a song written by Arthur Lee and first released by Love on their 1967 album Forever Changes .

Contents

Lyrics and music

According to legend, the house that the members of Love lived in had a red telephone, although the song lyrics do not relate to this. "The Red Telephone" is built on a set of folk-inspired chords. [1] The song has been compared to Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd. Themes of the song include race, imprisonment, and death. [2] It contains a harpsichord and 12-string guitar, and has an ominous feel. "Sometimes my life is so eerie," Lee sings, but then inverts the dark mood with "and if you think I'm happy / Paint me white." [3]

Reception

Allmusic's Matthew Greenwald called "The Red Telephone" "exquisite" and wrote, "it's one of the more engaging and interesting songs on Love's Forever Changes album." [1] Ken Barnes called it "bleakly philosophical" and "apocalyptic". [4] Jim Bickhart of Rolling Stone gave it a mixed review, writing "it contains both excellent and mediocre portions." [5]

Jocelyn Manchec listed the song among the 2000 songs for your MP3 Player. [6] In 2002 the Italian Rock Magazine Il Mucchio Selvaggio listed the song on its 17 Critics & Their Top 50 Songs. [7]

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References

  1. 1 2 Greenwald, Matthew. "The Red Telephone Song Review". Allmusic . Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  2. ↑ Fowle, Kyle (February 10, 2015). "Forever Changes is a stunning indictment of The Summer Of Love". The A.V. Club . Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  3. ↑ Barker, David (2006). 33 1/3 Greatest Hits, Volume 1. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN   1441112340.
  4. ↑ Barnes, Ken (August 6, 2006). "Arthur Lee, the legend rock almost forgot". USA Today . Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  5. ↑ Bickhart, Jim (February 10, 1968). "Love: Forever Changes". Rolling Stone . ISSN   0035-791X . Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Playlist Pop Rock". SensCritique. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  7. ↑ "17 Critics & Their Top 50 Songs". Il Mucchio Selvaggio. September 2, 2002.
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