Da Capo: Que Vida

[silentseason]

"Que Vida"
From: Da Capo, side one, song three
-Running time: 3:37
-Recorded: September 28, 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
-Flute: Tjay Cantrelli
-Organ: Alban 'Snoopy' Pfisterer
-Translation of song's title to english means "What A Life". Was originally titled "With Pictures and Words".
-The band made use of Elektra's extensive collection of sound effects catalogue to insert the popping champagne cork and sleigh bells into the song.
-An edited version was the A side of single EK 45613, issued in 1967. B side was 'Hey Joe'.
-Quotable: Michael on the musical chemistry developed during his time in the band:

"The chemistry I developed with Bryan and Johnny and Kenny and Arthur probably wasn't as profound as it would have been if, either, 1.) I had been been with the group from the beginning, or, 2.) we had played more often after I joined. I would say, as a rough estimate, 80% of the live gigs I played with Love were in the first 6 months after I joined. So, that's not very good.

It's really hard to develop a musical chemistry if you don't play, or ... "generally speaking, the more often musicians play together (especially live onstage in front of an audience) the better the opportunity for a musical chemistry to develop between them." That's Michael's Law of Musical Chemistry."

-IMHO: No great controversy here but between Snoopy and Michael the best drummer was Michael by a large margin. The later incarnations of LoVE had good drummers as well, but again I would list Michael as the best percussionist in the long history of the group.
-Fun fact: Michael describes how the back cover photo of Da Capo was received by some of the band:

"I believe those back cover shots were taken in the office upstairs at The Whisky by Guy Webster. He was standing up on a 6 foot ladder shooting down and placing us in different poses. Later, when we saw the final product, Snoopy said he thought his picture made him look like a penguin... and Bryan said he thought he looked like a little kid playing in a sandbox. Bryan says, "I look like a real badass there, don't I?"

-Lyrics:

With pictures and words
Is this communicating? The sounds that I've heard
The growling voice then fading
And yes my heart was beating
Or was it just repeating

With nickels and dimes
You soon will have a dollar
Am I in your time
I see no need to swallow
Or catch a plane to travel
My mind's not made of gravel

Can you find your way
Or do you want my vision
It's dark there, they say
But that's just superstition
And in my last inspection
Is this the right direction

I once had a girl
She told me I was funny
She said in your world
You needed lots of money
And things to kill your brother
But death just starts another

[Dragonfly]

Another huge fav but then ALL Love & Arthur Lee songs are huge favs.