Da Capo: Stephanie Knows Who

[silentseason]

"Stephanie Knows Who"
From: Da Capo, side one, song one
-Running time: 2:33
-Recorded: October 2, 1966 RCA Studio B, Hollywood
-Written by: Arthur Lee
-Lead vocal: Arthur Lee
-Lead guitar: Johnny Echols
-Rhythm guitar: Bryan MacLean
-Bass: Kenny Forssi
-Drums: Michael Stuart
-Saxophone: Tjay Cantrelli
-Harpsichord: Alban 'Snoopy' Pfisterer
-The first song on the band's second album and right away it is obvious that this is a brave, new LoVE. The sound is radically different from the debut album, with emphasis now on a jazzier free-form feel. It was arguably the most stark sonic change ever made by the band.
-New line-up changes: Snoopy has moved from drums to keyboards, and new recruits Tjay Cantrelli (old acquaintance of Johhny and Arthur) on sax/flute and ex Sons of Adam member Michael Stuart on drums now complete a seven member group.
-The subject of the song was Stephanie Buffington, who Arthur and Bryan were both vying for at the time the album was recorded.
-Quotable: Michael believes that one of the seeds of the groups eventual dissolution had to do with the rivalry between Arthur and Bryan for Stephanie:

"We're onstage at the Whisky, debuting Da Capo. We're playing the first cut on the "A" side, "Stephanie Knows Who". Stephanie is standing at the edge of the stage looking up with loving eyes... at Bryan. That is all, because Arthur loved Stephanie, and in the end it was a crushing defeat by a subordinate, and one he could neither forget nor forgive."

-IMHO: If you wanted to convert someone into a LoVE fan, I believe out of all their recorded output Da Capo is the one specific recording to start with.
-Fun fact: Another name in Arthur's pantheon of females named in a song he wrote. I am counting four. They are: Pretty, Virginia, Stephanie, and Plastic Nancy.

Lyrics:

What's in your life, dear Stephanie
What's in your life for me
Aches and pains they cloud your sight
But tired you did you said you did

What can I say, dear Stephanie
Who shall I next inform
Of love and poetry that you bring
Your eyes, your hair, your everything

What am I now, dear Stephanie
Am I you in disguise
The words they come so naturally
I save them all for Stephanie

Hey, all right
Talk to me all the time
From A to B and in between
Say it sweet all the time
All the time, yeah ...