The American Four

The American 4 made one obscure single in 1964 for Selma, a subsidiary of Del-Fi, “Luci Baines”/”Soul Meals.” The group is mainly notable for offering Love head Arthur Lee as vocalist and songwriter, in addition to Appreciate guitarist Johnny Echols, before Appreciate had been produced. According to articles in Goldmine, another American Four member was John Fleckenstein, who briefly performed bass in Appreciate, although he was from the music group by enough time they released their initial album. The one is derivative however, not without its exciting characteristics. The A-side, motivated by then-president Lyndon Johnson’s little girl, is an full of energy rip-off of “Twist and Shout” with an Arthur Lee vocal; the turn, compiled by Lee and Echols, is really a soul-rock instrumental within the design of Booker T. & the MG’s. Both edges of this incredibly rare one are on the Compact disc bootleg of Appreciate and Love-associated rarities Dark Beauty & Rarities. That bootleg also offers a third monitor, “It is the Marlin, Baby,” that is credited towards the American Four. That is hook, forgettable pop-R&B dance melody with thin, also poor creation, indicating it could have also been documented live. It had been issued over the Tx LSD label and acknowledged to Love, list Lee and Echols on vocals, although Lee informed Goldmine that he does not have any memory of taking part in this documenting. The flip of this single, “Home of the Increasing Sunlight,” was mistakenly acknowledged to Like but is normally (again, according compared to that same Goldmine content) in fact another group, the Hurrikanes.