'Da Capo'

Da capo is the popularized musical term, in Italian, meaning “from the start.” It is also the second album for the band, Love, and the first of two in 1967. Both would make up the band’s greatest work, Da Capo and Forever Changes.

It’s notable for having the entire second side of the record be one song, which had already been done by Frank Zappa and Bob Dylan within a year of Da Capo.

Love’s guitar player was Bryan Maclean, who initially got into the Los Angeles music scene with the likes of The Byrds, who he worked with as a equipment manager and befriend David Crosby.

After unsuccessfully trying out for The Monkees, he randomly got into a car with singer Arthur Lee. He invited him to play with his band, the Grass Roots. This eventually became Love.

MacLean eventually got addicted to heroin. Strung out, he left the band and eventually Lee fired everyone and started over.

In a hotel room, MacLean allegedly had a “Saul on the road to Damascus” moment. Hitting bottom, he said he began to pray. Randomly, while imbibing at a bar, the drink turned to “sand” in his mouth. He walked outside onto the pavement and felt a “change.” He joined the Vineyard – which would later “save” Bob Dylan – and became a Christian artist.

He died of a heart attack shortly after finishing his second Christian record in a Chinese restaurant. There are worse ways to go.