Alone Again Or (3:14)

“Alone Again Or”
2:49 length in edited single version
Writer: Bryan MacLean | Producer: Bruce Botnick and Arthur Lee
Recorded in Los Angeles, between June and September 1967
Released in January 1968 as a 7” single by Love from the album “Forever Changes”
B-side “A House Is Not A Motel” (USA) | “Bummer In The Summer” (UK)
Genre Psychedelic rock, baroque pop
Label Elektra | EK 45629 (USA) | EKSN 45024 (UK)

“Alone Again Or” is a song originally recorded in 1967 by rock group Love, written by band member Bryan MacLean. It was the opening track on the album “Forever Changes”, and was also released as a single in the USA, UK, Australia, France and Holland.
Two demo versions by MacLean himself were released in 1997 on his album “Ifyoubelievein”.
Bryan MacLean originally wrote the song, then called “Alone Again”, in 1965 for Love’s debut album. However, he did not complete it until the recording of Forever Changes in summer of 1967. The song was inspired by his memory of waiting for a girlfriend, and the melody drew on Prokofiev’s Lieutenant Kije Suite. The essence of the song is the contrast between the positivity of the tune and the bleakness of the lyrics, with the chorus “And I will be alone again tonight, my dear.”

For the recording session, arranger David Angel worked with MacLean, adding a string section and a horn part for a mariachi band whom co-producer Bruce Botnick had recently used on a Tijuana Brass album.