The bulk of Da Capo was recorded between September 27 and October 2, 1966 in RCA Studios, Hollywood. "7 and 7 Is" was recorded on June 20, and had been released as a single in July 1966backed with "No. Fourteen", an outtake from their debut album. After the recording of "7 and 7 Is", Love's line-up expanded to include Michael Stuart-Ware on drums and Tjay Cantrelli on saxophone and flute, moving previous drummer Alban "Snoopy" Pfisterer, a classically trained pianist, to harpsichord and organ. Guitarists Johnny Echols and Bryan MacLean, bassist Ken Forssi and vocalist and leader Arthur Lee retained their respective positions. Da Capo encompasses the psychedelic rock and baroque pop genres. The album's first half is a departure from the group's debut, and in some ways anticipates the group's third album, Forever Changes, with its detailed, delicate arrangements. Abrasive, proto-punk rockers like "7 and 7 Is" and the harpsichord-driven "Stephanie Knows Who" are balanced by lighter fare such as MacLean's florid "Orange Skies", and playful, barely classifiable pop tunes like "¡Que Vida!" The album's second half is a single track, among the first rock songs to take up an entire LP side. The 19-minute jam, entitled "Revelation", began life as a live showcase for the group. The introduction to the piece is the Giga from the Partita No. 1 BWV 825 by J. S. Bach. Some sources claim it evolved out of their interpretation of Howlin' Wolf's "Smokestack Lightning", yet its original title was "John Lee Hooker". The song/jam bears a resemblance to the Rolling Stones' "Goin' Home", recorded at the same studio and released earlier in the year, on Aftermath. Arthur Lee is quoted on the back cover of Rhino's 1980 LP compilation "Best of Love": "The song 'Revelation' was a long jam we did so the musicians could express themselves. The Rolling Stones saw us play at the Brave New World, and they recorded a long song on their next album. After our album came out, I got the blame for copying them!"
Critical reception
Reviewing the album in 1967 for Esquire, Robert Christgau said its first side sounds jumbled and lacking in force, possibly because Lee's voice is "more often too sweet for his material", although he deemed "7 and 7 Is" a "perfect rocker". Of "Revelation" on the second side, Christgau wrote that "it includes excellent guitar and harmonica work and great screaming... It also includes some mediocre alto sax and a protracted drum solo. A brave stab at a target somewhere between rock and jazz, I think it fails, but it may prove prophetic." In 2000 it was voted number 331 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums.
Track listing
All tracks composed by Arthur Lee, except where indicated.
2001 reissue
The 2001 reissue presents both monaural and stereophonic mixes, as well as a stereophonic tracking session for "7 and 7 Is".
Personnel
Musicians
Arthur Lee – lead vocals, harmonica, guitar, drums, percussion
