Seems unlikely given his recently reported disdain for covers. Nonetheless, so reports Liz Smith:

http://www.huffingtonpost...46313.html

PEOPLE ARE talking about Prince's new CD, now in its planning stages. Prince is a great fan of the 1960s group Love. This band -- headed by Arthur Lee and Bryan Maclean -- was the first racially mixed rock band. They mixed a lot of styles -- classical, flamenco guitar, blues and hard-driving rock. Some feel Love was the forerunner of the much more successful The Doors. There were dramatic problems within the band, and the original group broke up in 1968. Their three albums are cherished by music aficionados. Now, Prince wants to cover all of Love's great songs in a tribute album. Well, it would a profitable, smart way to introduce it all to a new generation that seems completely in the dark about the pleasures of Love.

Actually this seems more possible than you're letting on.

Prince has no problems with covers - as long as its him covering other people's music. Its when they do it to him that he gets mad.

have we ever once heard, from him or any of his associates or biographers, of "Love" being one of his favorite acts or that he even has any knowledge of their existence or their music?

errant said:

have we ever once heard, from him or any of his associates or biographers, of "Love" being one of his favorite acts or that he even has any knowledge of their existence or their music?

I know right? That's why this report is so odd. Plus the fact that, if my recollection serves me, he is not keen on releasing CDs anytime soon?

I have never heard of that group from the 60s. So far, this is what I found on Wikipedia about them.

Love was an American rock group of the late 1960s and early 1970s. They were led by singer/songwriter Arthur Lee and lead guitarist Johnny Echols. One of the first racially diverse American pop bands, their music reflected different influences, combining elements of rock and roll, garage rock, folk and psychedelia.

[Edited 2/9/13 11:33am]

2elijah said:

I have never heard of that group from the 60s. Have to go find some info on them now.

"Forever Changes" is considered their most critically acclaimed album.

NuPwrSoul said:

2elijah said:

I have never heard of that group from the 60s. Have to go find some info on them now.

"Forever Changes" is considered their most critically acclaimed album.

Thanks, I'm going to see if I can find that song on the net to see if I recognize it. Maybe because his focus seems to be on 'rock' at the moment, with this 3-female band, that he is probably exploring the music of some groups from that time period.

Okay, found it.

Not sure I like the song. Does remind me of a Simon and Garfunkel sound though.

I think I like this one better:

[Edited 2/9/13 11:52am]

I wouldn't be surprised if this was one of the 60s albums that Wendy/Lisa shared with P in what would become the ATWIAD sessions.

Or maybe he discovered them before that? I mean lets admit it, a racially diverse band? Prince created his own, and this unique development back in the 60s which he wasn't aware of or inspired by? Interesting.

Well, I love Love, but I have trouble imagining Prince sing their music

RRA said:

I wouldn't be surprised if this was one of the 60s albums that Wendy/Lisa shared with P in what would become the ATWIAD sessions.

Or maybe he discovered them before that? I mean lets admit it, a racially diverse band? Prince created his own, and this unique development back in the 60s which he wasn't aware of or inspired by? Interesting.

It's quite possible, given the state of MPLS radio when he was growing up. They may have escaped popular historians of the era, but if they made a splash in their day, he may have grew up listening to them as much as he had other rock bands that got played in the MPLS market.

RRA said:

I wouldn't be surprised if this was one of the 60s albums that Wendy/Lisa shared with P in what would become the ATWIAD sessions.

Or maybe he discovered them before that? I mean lets admit it, a racially diverse band? Prince created his own, and this unique development back in the 60s which he wasn't aware of or inspired by? Interesting.

(Bolded part)Very true. There was plenty of racially-diverse bands in the 1960s through the majority of the 70s in America.

Ok, I'll step in....

Listen to:

Alone again or

7&7 is

Singing Cowboy

I Still Wonder

The Everlasting First (recorded with Jimi Hendrix)

and especially...Gather Round

then let me know....

It's a "no brainer".....Prince knows Arthur Lee and Love

J-

and....oh yeah

Arthur Lee Produced the first single that Jimi ever played on

its by Rosa Lee Banks and its called "my diary"

Sorry...forgot

Doggone

and its perfect when you think about it...from the Four Sail album on

Styles said:

Ok, I'll step in....

Listen to:

Alone again or

7&7 is

Singing Cowboy

I Still Wonder

The Everlasting First (recorded with Jimi Hendrix)

and especially...Gather Round

then let me know....

It's a "no brainer".....Prince knows Arthur Lee and Love

J-

Ok, checked out one of the songs you mentioned in your post. I guess because I'm older now, it's hard to get into this type of rock vibe. If I was younger, I probably would have embraced this type of music more.

From Wikipedia:

"In August 1966 the single "7 and 7 Is", notable for the exceptional guitar work of Johnny Echols, became their highest-charting at No. 33 in the Billboard Hot 100.^[ Two more members were added around this time, Tjay Cantrelli (real name John Barbieri) on woodwinds and Michael Stuart on drums. Pfisterer, never a confident drummer, switched to harpsichord."

[Edited 2/9/13 12:01pm]

This is always interesting too

The 24-7 Spyz covered 7&7 is best....

Try The Everlasting First and then think about the girl group....makes complete sense

Jshua

Sounds a bit hard to believe that he wants to cover all of their songs.

The "Crimson & Clover" cover was a bit unexpected too, so I don't find it hard to believe that he'd be be willing to cover a single song (or two) though.

NDRU said:

This is always interesting too

Just listened to this track. I like the way Jimi Hendrix performed it much better though. I could see Prince covering this track and adding his screams in it to give it a more dramatic effect.

2elijah said:

NDRU said:

This is always interesting too

Just listened to this track. I like the way Jimi Hendrix performed it much better though. I could see Prince covering this track and adding his screams in it to give it a more dramatic effect.

Sure, Jimi's is a classic and Love's is virtually unknown. But Jimi was a fan and friend of theirs, and it's speculated that he did his version only after hearing their version

Its funny to imagine this but: Arthur Lee was the one that The Doors singed and his girlfriend was the one that eventually got with Jim Morrison....

Jshua

NDRU said:

2elijah said:

Just listened to this track. I like the way Jimi Hendrix performed it much better though. I could see Prince covering this track and adding his screams in it to give it a more dramatic effect.

Sure, Jimi's is a classic and Love's is virtually unknown. But Jimi was a fan and friend of theirs, and it's speculated that he did his version only after hearing their version

Oh I'm not saying I didn't like Love's version, as theirs is fine too, but just like sound of the way Jimi sang/performed it. Both are good.

errant said:

have we ever once heard, from him or any of his associates or biographers, of "Love" being one of his favorite acts or that he even has any knowledge of their existence or their music?

so just because he has never mentioned them that means he has never heard of them? riiiiiiiiight, brilliant logic there. do you go around announcing to people daily EVERY band you have ever heard of?

savagedreams said:

errant said:

have we ever once heard, from him or any of his associates or biographers, of "Love" being one of his favorite acts or that he even has any knowledge of their existence or their music?

so just because he has never mentioned them that means he has never heard of them? riiiiiiiiight, brilliant logic there. do you go around announcing to people daily EVERY band you have ever heard of?

you'd think in 35 years of documentation of Prince's influences and favorite music, it might have been mentioned. or at least a live cover at some point, if he's supposedly putting out an entire album of covers dedicated to an act he's never mentioned or covered previously?

Yes. Because we all know how very talkative and chatty Prince is.

Riiiiiight...

2elijah said:

NDRU said:

Sure, Jimi's is a classic and Love's is virtually unknown. But Jimi was a fan and friend of theirs, and it's speculated that he did his version only after hearing their version

Oh I'm not saying I didn't like Love's version, as theirs is fine too, but just like sound of the way Jimi sang/performed it. Both are good.

yeah I pretty much agree. I think Love's version is good, but not a rock standard like Jimi's. But how often is someone going to do better versions than Jimi? Not very often!

Prince doing a tribute album? LOL

I just can't see it! lol

Styles said: