There’s very little information to be found on this 1991 “documentary” on Arthur Lee. The three key people involved in its creation are dead or, in the case of Crimson Crout, nowhere to be found. Directed by the mysterious Crout from a concept by Arthur Lee and compiled by Los Angeles writer, deejay and garage/punk/psychedelic promoter Frank Beeson, the video has amateur production values overall but is redeemed by laid back interviews with Lee (conducted by a barely present Beeson) and some decent live footage of Lee performing with latter day Love members Melvan Whittington and Joe Blocker as well as two members of The Knack, Bruce Gary and Berton Averre.

The film was made during Lee’s tentative re-emergence as an artist after a long dormant period during the 1980s. His return to the public eye was interrupted when he was incarcerated in 1995 for possession of a hand gun.

The live footage is taken from a series of gigs in 1989, during which Lee was regaining his footing as a performer.

The documentary, like Lee, is a bit ramshackle. The good news is that a decade after it was shot, a re-invigorated Arthur Lee returned to the stage for some of the best live shows of his incredible life, receiving the accolades he so richly deserved.

I can’t find anything on director Crimson Crout other than he released a 45rpm record in 1975 with two songs, “10,000 Years” and Redneck Ways.” John Einarson, author of the excellent Arthur Lee biography Forever Changes Arthur Lee And The Book Of Love was unable to track down the “elusive” Crout in researching his book. Who is this mystery man? Beeson?
 

 
Photo: Andy Willsher.

I was lucky enough to see Arthur Lee perform live twice before he passed away.  The second time with Johnny Echols on guitar!  I was blown away by what a great harp player he was!  Looking forward to watching the video!

I’m glad I drove up to SF to see Love at the Filmore when they played “Forever Changes” in 2004 or 5 whatever it was.

this was a popular film when it came out. Not as mysterious as is written here. It was easily bought and available form the usual collector circles- ie Goldmine etc. All in the review is true the performances are fine. God bless all of us who made the effort to see Arthur when he reappeared. He deserved our recognition. I met him in 1994- what a sardonic prick!- glad I understood it. He deserved to be bitter but the world had long gone la la. His legacy is almost hidden but if you understand music & hear his music you will know- no doubt. Also saw him again in 2002. When I wear the shirt from that tour stranger will come up to me- its important to them to let me know they know.

“Not as mysterious as is written here.”

Well then Rick, please tell us who Crimson Crout is.

As I said, there is almost zero information on this documentary anywhere on the Internet. I just happen to own a copy that I purchased many years ago.

It was available from Goldmine because Frank Beeson was a contributor to that magazine.

I have probably provided more information on this documentary than you will find anywhere else. If you have more info about it, please share. As far as Internet goes, this video doesn’t exist. No mention of it on any of Arthur Lee or Love’s web pages. I can’t even find it available for sale as a bootleg.

I wonder if it ran into licensing problems or if Arthur Lee disowned it.

You say the film was “popular.” It was available 20 years ago from a source that catered to hardcore rock fans. I hardly call that popular. As hard as it is to imagine, Arthur Lee’s resurgence has been a relatively recent occurrence. It’s only been within the past decade that he has really entered the consciousness of mainstream rock fans. It took “Forever Changes” 30 years to receive the kind of wide-scale respect it deserved.

It was released on VHS and copies turn up now and again on ebay..
It was documented heavily in ‘the castle’ Love Fanzine.

IN fact: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ARTHUR-LEE-LOVE-VHS-Documentary-Interview-Live-90-PAL-/250681329936?pt=VHS&hash=item3a5dc58910

Thank you Dave-
Marc as you can see Dave more or less reaffirms what I say. I actually think you are overstating “the popularity” of Arthur Lee currently. Of course any attention is great. But there always was some. There just wasn’t an internet. And with the internet you can follow a similar path to the old concept of the underground fan network which existed through periodicals and fanzines back in the day- you had to “find your way”. It is just as cryptic and mysterious to actually find real mainstream knowledge of an “artiste” today on the internet as it was then. Search engines aren’t God. Obviously you have researched and are knowledgeable about A.L. But it is my opinion that we are living in the “post-rock and roll” era and if you look hard and meet young people of all sorts today you will actually see that some may not even know who the Beatles are. There are teenagers today whose parents NEVER listened to r&r. The parents were into r&b & rap and are now just as old & non-contemporary as Love or their fans. Their kids never heard it.

So I sit here looking at the video box which you already have as well. My copy is vhs- it was available in either format. I seem to remember that the key person was Frank Beeson- the narrator. Perhaps Crout was simply an alias for him. I remember getting it from Ice World Video- the name on the box.

So let Crout go- Keep up the good work. Perhaps the name was nothing more than a homage to “Kilgore Trout”! But for a forgotten band-  Dave Marsh picked Forever Changes as essential in 1979 in the mainstream Rolling Stone Record Guide. Certainly the Dark Ages for Love. Rhino re-released albums as well as the live 1978 reunion with Bryan during the 80’s. And that was a picture disc! There was always been a lot of product available on vinyl MCA, A&M -Many cds. Not just recently but all along.

Many have blamed Loves eventual commercial failure on Blue Thumb Records. But the band just changed- turned hard, changed personnel. At one point Arthur lost his father and left the business for several years. The moment passed- but good.

I bet Barney Hoskyns can tell you who Crout was, Or Gary Pig or Mike Stax. And they are all alive and google knows where!

“It was documented heavily in ‘the castle’ Love Fanzine.”

Dave

I couldn’t find any mention of it on The Castle’s website. If you do, let me know.

Finding a PAL COPY (not even playable on video machines in the USA) of the documentary on ebay confirms that this documentary has long been out of circulation for some reason.

Rick,

letting “Crout” go would not be “keeping up the good work.”

Do you have the sleeve?
This took 5 minutes

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I looked up the Executive Producer Dave Hall - but there are too many. One was a L.A. dj- he is likely?

The back cover photo was taken by Arthurs long time companion Diane. I think he approved the project. It is copyrighted & licenced to Grass Roots Music- which doesnt seem to exist any more

I think dropping a line to Mike Stax or Barney Hoskyns would be helpful.  Stax writes Ugly Things and Hoskyns wrote Arthur Lee “Alone Again Or” 2001   Mojo Books ISBN 184195 085 5 .
How about Torben Skott http://love.torbenskott.dk . There are over 10,000 fan comments about Love on his website.

But I still believe Crout was Beeson. And Beeson was just some fan who put a couple of bucks together & got Arthur to cooperate through chance. Or he’s just the guy on the camera - a Beeson acquaintance or hire.

My copy of Arthur Lee/Love Ice World- Outlaw 99 is VHS.

But heres the joke http://www.intelius.com/results.php?ReportType=1&searchform=publicrecords&qf=Crimson&qn=Crout&qs=CA
finds Crimson Crout living in Los Angeles age 68 at zip code 90007. For $14.95 -they’ll tell you more.

My God man the man made one film. Its mostly on a tripod in a living room & perhaps he taped some of the concert footage. It was one day off from the wedding video business.

‘But I still believe Crout was Beeson. And Beeson was just some fan who put a couple of bucks together & got Arthur to cooperate through chance. Or he’s just the guy on the camera - a Beeson acquaintance or hire.”

I’ve already floated the idea that Beeson was Crout in the piece. Beeson was more than just “some fan.” He was an L.A. deejay, he produced a bunch of Sky Saxon albums, promoted live shows and was a contributor to Goldmine magazine.

Beeson is the guy conducting the interview in the video.

John Einarson who wrote definitive biography (so far)of Arthur Lee last year tried to track Crimson Crout down and had no success. Crout did release a 45 rpm record on the Musical Arts label. The one thing that kind of blows a hole in the Crout as Beeson theory is that Einarson more than likely would know if Beeson was Crout. Otherwise, why look for someone who doesn’t exist?

For me, it’s a fascinating mystery and fun to ponder.

‘My God man the man made one film. Its mostly on a tripod in a living room & perhaps he taped some of the concert footage. It was one day off from the wedding video business.”

So this wedding photographer also released a garage rock record as well? I don’t think so.

Rick,

Your Internet search ended up essentially where mine did: a bunch of dead ends.

Anybody try talking to this guy (Keith Washington) - claims to have played bass on Crimson Crout’s country album:

http://www.myspace.com/keithwashingtonmusic

Here’s a picture of crimson crout with Johnny Echols:

https://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=lf#!/photo.php?fbid=198181790243761&set=o.117464808271721&type=1&theater;
There is no ‘castle’ website, print only: http://www.thefreedomman.com/love/thecastle.html

Perhaps you’re referring to torbens Love website:
http://love.torbenskott.dk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2724

Dave,

there most definitely IS a Castle website:

http://www.thefreedomman.com/love/thecastle.html

Well, that’s just the same link i posted in my comment..
It’s not a castle website, merely a page about the castle magazine last updated 2004, which is in print only..

thanks for the video, I posted it on TODAT IS FOREVER my Arthur webpage. If you click the title it takes you back to this page.

oops forgot to include link;

http://poisgoneforever.blogspot.com/2011/10/documentary-on-arthur-filmed-89.html

thank you for sharing this enjoyable and entertaining post.

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