Paint America Love [Import]

Lou Christie | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 18, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Rev-Ola [Cherry Red]
• ASIN: B001FYUDMA
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #217,735 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Wood Child

2. Paper Song

3. Best Way To See America

4. Chuckie Wagon

5. Waco

6. Campus Rest

7. Lighthouse

8. Look Out The Window

9. Paint America Love

Editorial Reviews

2008 reissue of this long-lost Pop masterpiece, originally released on the Buddha label in 1971. On Paint America Love, Lou collaborated with Twyla "The Gipsy" Herbert and Bubblegum maestro Tony Romeo to provide a lush, near-definitive statement of American Pop... a must-have for anyone who has a heart! You know, 1971 might just be THE top pop year. A lot of people would probably go for 1966 or '67 or even '77 as the ultimate vintage year for Rock and Pop but today we're sticking with 1971. 1971 brought us many classics: Carole King's Tapestry, David Bowie's Hunky Dory, Sly & the Family Stone's There's a Riot Goin' On, Serge Gainsbourg's Histoire de Melody Nelson, Paul McCartney's Ram, Marvin Gaye's What's Going On, The Beach Boys' Surf's Up and Runt, The Ballad of Todd Rundgren. But way up near the top of that pile of mighty classics born in 1971 is an album that has almost been forgotten about by one of pop's great overlooked giants. Here at last on CD for the first time is Lou Christie Sacco's majestic Paint America Love. Rev-Ola.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Masterpiece, January 19, 2009

By 

vintageboy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Paint America Love (Audio CD)

Simply put, this album is a masterpiece. I am so thrilled to see it finally released on CD in its original complete form. Previously, I had only seen tracks from it available on the Christie compilation "Glory River". Strangely, however, that CD did not include two of the best tracks from the album. Though really, it's very difficult to decide which are the best tracks from this album...they are all so wonderful.

The album opens with the haunting and gorgeous "Wood Child". A beautiful track that starts out softly before building to a tremendous climax. This is followed by the glorious sing-songy "Paper Song". These two tracks by themselves offer a good idea of what this album is like, alternating between sensitive and lush anthems bordering on psychedelia, mixed with bubblegummy pop diversions. It all flows so well together and is such a pleasure to listen to. The writing of Lou Christie and Twyla Herbert, along with the sumptuous production, and Lou's soaring vocals just leave me in awe every time I hear it. It's just too hard to believe this album has not received more recognition.

I could name off each of the other titles individually, but really all of them are masterpieces. I love the wistfulness of "Waco", the wanderlust of "Best Way to See America", the sweeping majesty of "Campus Rest", the infectious pop charm of "Chuckie Wagon", the immediacy of "Lighthouse", the thoughtfulness of "Look Out the Window", and of course the incredible title track which just leaves me feeling a little more humble, and likewise impressed by this amazing work of art. It's surely Christie's crowning achievement and I am so glad Rev-Ola had the good sense to release it on CD.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a landmark in music..., November 23, 2008

By 

pietro cacozza - See all my reviews

This review is from: Paint America Love (Audio CD)

i've listened to this piece of art for many,years.jjust as long as sargent pepper.as long as pet sounds.just as long as any true classic creation..On the road by kerouac,the grapes of wrath by steinbeck.the lone existance of Johnny Cash or Hank Willians(the demon fighters).there is music that is good great then greater PAINT AMERICA LOVE falls into the latter.perhaps as great as PEPPER.perhaps as great as PET SOUNDS...but just then it may be GREATER.Listen to PAINT AMERICA LOVE and tell me of it's relevence today...Kerouac,steinbeck,cash and williams would know...you will also

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lou's Concept Album, November 22, 2009

By 

Strange Dave "strangedaveshow.com" (New York) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Paint America Love (Audio CD)

Recorded while Lou was battling his soon to be defeated drug addiction, "Paint America Love" is an album filled with heart, love, soul, pain, and yes great vocals. Without abandoning his falsetto style, Lou gives us some of his best material on this conceptual album which is VERY DIFFICULT to listen out of sequence. It's almost as if Lou wanted one very long song cut up into individual tracks. It's hard to explain just how good this album is but let me say this: "Paint America Love" is Lou Christie's "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band" album. It's perfect in every way. My only criticism is that it has not been digitally remastered - THAT'S IT. The vocals are great, the lyrics are great, the studio musicians are great, and the feeling you get after listening to it is GREAT!. I have listened to this album in it's entirety at least twenty five times and it's amazing to me how much it gets better with each and every listen.