Bryan Maclean (Love) BARBER JOHN 1967 & ALONE AGAIN OR 1972

[carlodave9]

What a treasure of an upload! The Barber John recording better taught me how to like the Love version. And that it sounds like it was recorded yesterday... Unbelievable.

[AbsintheDream]

Bryan really was a great songwriter & unique talent i think, great to see he is getting the appreciation he deserves.

Thanks for the great music Bryan RIP

[slogans777]

Love's first hit, My Little Red Book, was written by an up-and-coming artist named Burt Bacharach.

[osiruskat]

I'm a huge Arthur Lee fan but I like Bryan's versions more because of the tenderness and feelings of introspective in his playing. Arthur wrote a lot of great songs but on the album credit is given to Bryan Maclean for "Alone again or".

[Flunder]

Ive never heard two guys. one voice and one guitar. just go in and nail such a heavy vibe as this. wonderful.

[jaysonvalentine]

@Flunder This is one person playing in real time.

[Flunder]

after hearing this. Im getting my acoustic back out.

[Flunder]

my gosh what lovely music.I never heard this and Im a huge Love fan. thanks.

[piafounet]

Lee is the author of "Alone again or", right?

[3WS]

I have all bryans albums, they were released by his parents after his passing and there an extremely sad radio interview on the end of one album wich i ask all LoVe and maclean fans to go search out

[Zepster77]

This guy really was quite an amazing and creative guitarist.... never have heard anyone mention his guitar skills though. By the way - I really love the video you made.

[JasonTryp]

@Zepster77

Thanks, next month when i get a new laptop I am going to return to making videos of this sort again.

[rainriders]

>11 xzxzxz "@rainriders It's your opinion not based on fact and for lot of reasons I think you are really wrong about it."

Most of my sources are "the castle" magazine (UK) that I was subscribing during 1990's. I'm a life time Arthur Lee fan and I I've met Arthur a few times thus he knows me too. I don't make up shit on my own.

[alhthia34]

Alone Again or by Maclean. Best version ever!!!

[modelworker1]

Magic...and then some. Incomparable!

[KOSMICKEN09]

How sad an ending for him, to die on Christmas Day.......

[11xzxzxz]

Bryan you are so cool and you wrote my favorite quirky song of all time .. Sofly to Me.

Bryan, RIP, this first song is a little reminiscent of the Who .. or a song I think I hear from them first. Followed of course with Alone Again Or.. never heard this version .. great too!

[jowabro]

When did he get that amazing vibrato? He didn't have it in 1967.

[shaneshaky1]

arthur lee didnt let him !!!!HE ALWAYS HAD IT !!!!! sadly both dont get their dues ! ! ! THEY ARE THE TRUE GREATEST !!!! BETTER THAN LENNON AND MCARTNEY IN MY LITTLE RED BOOK !!!!

[jowabro]

@shaneshaky1 But if you listen to "Old Man" on Forever Changes (1967), or even "Barber John" here, he doesn't sound at all like the 1972 performance of "Alone Again Or". I love how he sings "I won't forget" at the beginning. His singing had obviously improved a lot.

[BIGHANDEDDIE]

This is like a brand new group to me. I was looking for a song on grooveshark when up came this group. It was like finding a pearl.

[thedreadedhair]

thanks lots

[tjb9693]

He couldn't continue because of the heroine, not because of Lee. Can they both not rip?

[bluroroasis]

Does anyone know where Barber John was released? single or album? thanks

[Patfaki]

Both Bryan and Arthur suffered pretty badly from bi-polar disorder (manic depression). Maria McKee (Bryan's half-sister) too, is afflicted with this disorder. None of these people, talented as they certainly were or are, would have been best equipped to cope in the music business - given how harsh it is and how thick-skinned you need to be to get by.

[C0NTR4B455]

Of course gotta give B Maclean credit...Love wouldn't be Love without those haunting songs like 'Old Man'...

[Byrontheone]

Magnifico, you don't get talent like this man everyday

[JoeChrisMorris]

Thank you posting my "Kathleen" (off ifyoubelievein on Sundazed) cover. Good to see someone posting great tracks like "Barber John" on Youtube

LoVE lives!

[hhhaller]

great songwriiter from Love-thanks fr this

[silverspaceflyer]

one of my all-time favorite musicians . . and bands !!! . . . ever !!!

[a1974h]

Thanks for this

[a1974h]

Thanks for posting this is amazing

[a1974h]

Thanks for posting this.

An absolute gem of a recording.

[Jamonmyguitar]

bryan did sing alone again on foreverchanges didn't he?

man i miss arthur and bryan.

[barjakkkk]

@Jamonmyguitar Nope, Arthur Lee was singing is backing vocals louder on Forever Changes because Bryan couldn't reach the notes then.

[JoeChrisMorris]

don't know about Bryan not being able to hit the notes. Maybe on "Orange skies" ?

more of Arthur getting his way in the band, really, and singing Bryans songs. Why Bryan left the band I guess (the most songs he had on an album were 2)

not that Arthur did a bad job singing Orange skies, or helping on "Alone again or"'s vocals - its probably the best song on Forever Changes (on an album literally full of best songs..

[Modes9]

It is an album full of best songs indeed! "Alone Again Or", "Old Man", and "You Set the Scene" are my current favorites...but they're all amazing.

[JoeChrisMorris]

I tried a cover of "Kathleen" and "Alone again or"

"You set the scene" is tricky for one guitar, though I have the chords for it in a UK songbook (!)

[shaneshaky1]

bryan did write alone again or!

[JoeChrisMorris]

Very cool of you to put this track up - great start off track for the ifyoubelievein album!

just posted a video response reviewing Bryans last solo cd (intra muros)

[nmbigbird]

I knew and was friends with Bryan,, He wrote "You light up my life"......He passed away a few years ago.....

[JoeChrisMorris]

Don't think he wrote that song

Just posted a Bryan cd review as a response to this great video

[11xzxzxz]

If Lee blocked a lot of Bryan's songs - what are those songs as I'd like to know their names. This song is just OK. I love "Softy to Me" from an early Love record.

[jaysonvalentine]

"Love Will Be Here" by Bryan MacLean was arranged to be recorded on Forever Changes, but Arthur said no at the last time. And this song is more than just OK.

[11xzxzxz]

Thanks .. too bad I can't find it here. Also Old Man is good.

[11xzxzxz]

Oh I did listen to a 30 sec promo of it. I'm not sure it's quite up for a Love record. Thanks anyway.

[shaneshaky1]

love arthur lee! he is a legend but he blocked a lot of bryans songs that should have and could have been in changes!! buy his solo albums!! now!! masterpieces!! he was a prodigy!! he thought he couldnt measure up to barbara streisand!! cmon bryan!! was that a joke bud?? you are a diamond! god rest your soul! i and many others will listen to you forever!! humble sensitive man!! your star will shine on always!!!

[kelvinkloud]

beautiful soul this dude had at his best... alone again is so beautifully haunting. ranks w/ the doors crystal ship as the most melacholy soulful ballads to come out of calif in the '60's.

[HurinSteadfast]

I think that is absolutely spot on.

[burgersoft777]

I finally bought a copy of ifyoubelivein by Bryan which both these tracks come from.

Its a collection of demo's so the sound quality is a bit poor (tape hiss). However it is well worth getting as you get to hear some of Bryan's other compositions from the love period. I normally don't enjoy poorly produced records but this is the exception. If you are at intrested in Love you should get a copy.

[HurinSteadfast]

Old man has got to be one of the most outstanding songs I have heard. Takes me back in time and space whenever I hear it.

[burgersoft777]

Well I don't know if shadows have anything to do with Junk. The natural reaction to LSD in many cases was to get into smack to smooth out the troubled mind afterwards. I think acid did way more damage that opiates (which are basically produced by the body in any case). Well thats my experiance for what its worth. Bryan certinly wrote great songs both with and without Arthur. I must say that his praise and worship songs don't sound like a man in the shadows.

[javajax0987]

He was great.

[shaneshaky1]

is there a more moving song than this? its a crime that love are not in the rock n roll hall of fame! everything you need and want from music are distilled in love! so many people think its all beatles this n that! bryan and arthur stand on the shoulders of the giants!

[PitaLeCatt001]

Bryan Mclean was brilliant and talented.

'The Old Man' and 'Alone Again' shows exactly how far out of sync Love were with their peers in the late 60s.

Put this with Da Capo and Forever and people may realise that they were not a "psychedelic" band, but a creative and lyrically based force.

'7 and 7' pre-dated punk by 10 years.

'Four Sail' pre-dated stadium rock showbands by 10 years.

Love were the FIRST multi racial band in US rock, they were worshipped in Europe and ignored at home...WHY ?

[phddddd]

how about "rap" in Bummer in the Summer!

[rainriders]

Mclean wrote "Alone Again" and Lee added "Or". O'Sullivan removed "Or" for his own song.

In my opinion, "Forever Changes" was basically created upon Mclean's drafts and brainstorming. I mean both A&B sides. Lee came up with lyrics and finalized the songwriting process that Mclean and Forssi were previously working on.

Arthur Lee's most influential musical figure back then was his mate, Bryan Mclean, not McGuinn any more by the time they recorded "Da Capo".

[JasonTryp]

That is fascinatin to know. Too bad Mclean could not continue with the band after Forever Changes 'cus of Lee.

[11xzxzxz]

@JasonTryp Jason why did Bryan leave Love .. what did Lee do?

[11xzxzxz]

@JasonTryp I did read Lee and 2 others were hooked on heroine. But do you really believe Lee was ripping off the thoughts and ideas and lyrics and ideas of Bryan?

[jaysonvalentine]

Well said.

[11xzxzxz]

@rainriders It's your opinion not based on fact and for lot of reasons I think you are really wrong about it. What don't you like about Art ? You must love Bryan who wrote a few great great great songs but was not prolific as Lee .. Lee is the genius. Yeah he was a perfectionist who could get on band member's nerves because he could play their instruments and his songs better than them. Yeah sorry I guess it was Ken Forssi who was the real genius behind Love.

[11xzxzxz]

@rainriders & Lee wrote &moregain & let Bryan sing it on the record. So Lee stole from Bryan? Funny, Bryan could only write a good song everyone once in a while. And Bryan's best I like more than Lee's but he only wrote about one song a records for Love. Lee did the 45 others before Bryan left. I guess Lee was inspired & I guess Lee kept all great Bryan songs off.. that bastard Lee! Confederate General Lee learned more from Neil Young & Buffalo Springfield than Bryan or McGuinn . my opinion.

[rainriders]

@11xzxzxz McLean/Forssi claimed that Lee did not give them the credits that they deserved. (McLean filed a lawsuit while Lee was in prison.) They physically fought to decide who gets the loyalty and Lee won all matches by brutal TKO, lol. The money crazed mulatto even demanded "100% loyalty" when he signed with Elektra. No wonder the company developed favoritism toward the Doors.

[11xzxzxz]

@rainriders I have heard not one good-great song from Bryan since he left Love , RIP, but honestly Lee lost it too. But where you get this Bryan was really greater than Arthur stuff please do tell...but with some evidence of what others say...and write.

[rainriders]

@11xzxzxz A influences B does not mean A is greater than B. I only said that during 66-67, Bryan's musical influence on Lee was greater than that of the Beatles, Miles Davis, Mcguinn or Johann Sebastian Bach whom Lee always mentioned as his greatest influence. The main difference between Lee and McLean was that Lee was more versatile and he knew how to turn great ideas into great final production.

[11xzxzxz]

@rainriders It doesn't matter because Jason Tryp doesn't allow for a difference of opinion. The first song is cute but not good.

[vintagezigg]

Thank you for posting this amazing video.Bryan deserves as much respect as the great Arthur Lee.God rest Their SOULS.

[floydbannister]

masterpiece. plain and simple

[JoeChrisMorris]

This is from If You Believe In (on the Sundazed label)

came out a year or so before Bryans passing on Christmas

[PaulsAcademy]

Wow, this is a great find for a Love lover! For all of Arthur Lee's talent, MacClean was left in his shadow, and that's a shame. Where did you find these treasures?

[phddddd]

I think shadows are where junkies end up ... that's the great shame. Bryan and the monkey on his back. I tell you, I saw these guys lots of times, and both Arthur and Bryan rocked. You cannot minimize the contribution of either. Message to Pretty is absolutely brilliant as well.

[jaysonvalentine]

Bryan is probally my favorite rhythm guitarist. I also love how he uses his voice a musical instrument. He truly was an underlooked genius, an underexposed musician, and a very humble person. RIP Bryan MacLean

[JasonTryp]

You have great taste!!!

Did you know him?

[robtho1]

Thanks so much for posting this. Those of us that know.....know. Bryan was amazing.

[littlejonnyfrost]

Away from my collection and wanting to hear Bryan's version of Alone Again... Thank you, the guy is criminally underrepresented on this ere youtube thingumy. Good work sir!

[chuckdee121]

That was real nice! Barber John would make a fantastic Jethro Tull song. Ian are you reading this!!! Ha Ha! Nice job!

[FillTheGaps]

barber john rocks!

[Humpa666]

this 2 songs are soo crazy thx for upload

[stereosign]

Wow - never heard this version till now

[Starless2012]

You are a good man for posting this.

Thank you Brian:)

[JasonTryp]

Why, thank you indeed!

[eektherigo]

amazing talent! he perfectly suited arthur lee and together they made perhaps the two greatest rock albums ever!!! thank you for the vid!! i wish he was still alive!

[menelvagor1950]

Alone Again Or. This song is holy and has been for the last forty years .This is immaculate purity from the creator of the song,evocative and iconoclastic we are blessed to be able to hear this version again.

[JasonTryp]

Nicely put. I agree.