Biography
In the acclaimed folk-rock and psychedelic ensemble Love, Bryan MacLean served as a secondary songwriter behind the principal figure Arthur Lee, despite his roles as guitarist and vocalist. Nevertheless, he succeeded in placing several of his compositions on the band's initial trio of releases, namely "Softly to Me," "Orange Skies," "Old Man," and "Alone Again Or." MacLean's pieces exhibited a brighter, more accessible quality compared to those of Lee, while sharing an elusive, otherworldly aura amplified by his distinctive quivering delivery. Notably, "Alone Again Or" stands as perhaps Love's signature track, opening the landmark Forever Changes LP with its otherworldly blend of vocal harmonies, mariachi trumpet, and orchestral strings.
Under ambiguous conditions, MacLean departed Love in 1968 soon after Forever Changes appeared. Although Elektra proposed a solo contract, the label ultimately withheld any material after reviewing the proposed songs, which Jac Holzman deemed "too fragmented" based on MacLean's account. MacLean abandoned the music industry in 1970 midway through recording a solo effort for Capitol. He participated in occasional performances alongside Arthur Lee with a reformed lineup of Love during the late 1970s, yet had largely shifted his focus from entertainment to Christianity. His half-sister, Maria McKee, gained recognition as a country-rock performer throughout the 1980s and 1990s, both via Lone Justice and her individual career.
Sundazed issued ifyoubelievein in 1997, compiling MacLean's solo acoustic demo recordings primarily from Love's 1966-1967 peak period, incorporating additional tracks from 1972 and 1982. These tracks, mostly unreleased by Love, offer a compelling glimpse into the cult band's history, showcasing MacLean's mysterious approach to melody and rhythm through irregular time signatures and modulations. Furthermore, his wavering singing voice emerges as a possibly stronger influence on the vocal style Lee utilized across Forever Changes than earlier assessments suggested. Candy's Waltz, another collection of comparable solo acoustic archival pieces recorded from 1971 to 1984—though numerous compositions originated between 1966 and 1970—came out via Sundazed in 2000. MacLean did not live to witness this issuance, passing away on Christmas Day, 1998.
Under ambiguous conditions, MacLean departed Love in 1968 soon after Forever Changes appeared. Although Elektra proposed a solo contract, the label ultimately withheld any material after reviewing the proposed songs, which Jac Holzman deemed "too fragmented" based on MacLean's account. MacLean abandoned the music industry in 1970 midway through recording a solo effort for Capitol. He participated in occasional performances alongside Arthur Lee with a reformed lineup of Love during the late 1970s, yet had largely shifted his focus from entertainment to Christianity. His half-sister, Maria McKee, gained recognition as a country-rock performer throughout the 1980s and 1990s, both via Lone Justice and her individual career.
Sundazed issued ifyoubelievein in 1997, compiling MacLean's solo acoustic demo recordings primarily from Love's 1966-1967 peak period, incorporating additional tracks from 1972 and 1982. These tracks, mostly unreleased by Love, offer a compelling glimpse into the cult band's history, showcasing MacLean's mysterious approach to melody and rhythm through irregular time signatures and modulations. Furthermore, his wavering singing voice emerges as a possibly stronger influence on the vocal style Lee utilized across Forever Changes than earlier assessments suggested. Candy's Waltz, another collection of comparable solo acoustic archival pieces recorded from 1971 to 1984—though numerous compositions originated between 1966 and 1970—came out via Sundazed in 2000. MacLean did not live to witness this issuance, passing away on Christmas Day, 1998.
Albums
