Customer Reviews

Paint America Love

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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

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.

Lou Christie at his finest! This is Lou's "Sgt. Peppers"....A true classic! Not a weak cut on this treasure! Get it now! You won't be sorry!

I enjoy Lou Christie's music. I am a big fan and have listened to everything he has ever done.

Some of the tunes on this album are spectacular. It is definitely his best album. I don't give it five stars because I feel that the two Tony Romeo songs are something he should have given to The Partridge Family because they are so sugary sweet. They don't really fit in with the artistic songs that were written by Lou and his partner, Twyla Herbert. They do fit in with the "Americana" theme, but they were obviously done in a different studio and were produced with a very different sound. Also, a few of the songs drag on too long. Lou would get into a groove and do it to death, while building up the instrumentation to a crescendo. It was artistic in 1971 but it sounds dated today.

There is an unusual yin-yang dichotomy between the light pop songs and the serious "artistic" statements. After the opening artistic statement of "Wood Child", the rest of the first side (as it appeared originally on LP) is light pop music. On the second side, it is all "serious" music. I do enjoy Lou's lighter tunes on the first side, "Chuckie Wagon" and "Paper Song". They would have worked great on Sesame Street, and I think Lou even sang "Paper Song" on that show, which I loved as a kid back then. "Chuckie Wagon" is related in the notes of the Glory River CD as being autobiographical, telling a bit about Lou's childhood growing up near the Ohio River downriver from Pittsburgh.

"Campus Rest" was originally released as a B-side in 1969 and was titled "Saints of Aquarius", but it fits in very nicely on this album. This was probably Twyla Herbert's most creative song. It leads in beautifully to "Lighthouse", which is a rewrite of his 1966 single release, "Painter", and is a definite improvement. This song and the title track have a majesty to them, which is rather unique. The title track is really very special and deserves a wide audience. It might be Lou's crowning artistic achievement, and makes you sad that all most people will ever know him for is "Lightning Strikes".

Lou's singing on this album is tremendous. It is a shame that the album did not connect with the public, as Lou really worked hard on this and created some special music.

BTW, can anybody tell me what a "Wood Child" is?