Originally from Nottingham in the UK, this band of virtuoso musicians under the leadership of Alvin Lee conquered the UK scene and then spread their wings to the USA. Their blend of jazz, blues and rock was initially slightly awkward but their first album provided an opening for them. In October, their 1967 self-titled debut album was released.
In 1968, after touring Scandinavia and the United States, Ten Years After released their second album, live Undead, which brought their first classic, "I'm Going Home." This was followed in February 1969 by studio issue, Stonedhenge, a British hit, that included another classic, "Hear Me Calling" (it was released also as a single, and covered in 1972 by British glam rock rising stars, Slade). In July 1969 they appeared at the Newport Jazz Festival, in the first event to which rock bands were invited. In August, the band performed a breakthrough American appearance at Woodstock; their furious-to-soft-to-furious rendition of "I'm Going Home" featuring Alvin Lee as the lead singer was featured in both the subsequent film and soundtrack album and catapulted them to star status.
During 1970, Ten Years After released "Love Like a Man", their only hit in the UK Singles Chart. This song was on their fifth album, Cricklewood Green. The name of the album comes from a friend of the group who lived in Cricklewood, London. He grew a sort of plant which was said to have hallucinogenic effects. The band did not know the name of this plant, so they called their album Cricklewood Green. It was the first record to be issued with a different playing speed on each side – one a three-minute edit at 45rpm, the other, a nine-minute live version at 33rpm. In August, Ten Years After played the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 to an audience of 600,000.
In 1971, the band released the album A Space in Time which marked a move toward more commercial material. It featured their biggest hit, "I'd Love To Change The World". But a few albums later, the band broke up after the 1974 album Positive Vibrations. They re-united in 1983 to play the Reading Festival and this performance was later released on CD as The Friday Rock Show Sessions - Live At Reading '83. In 1988, they re-united for a few concerts and recorded the album About Time (1989). Finally, in 1994, they participated in the Eurowoodstock festival in Budapest.
Alvin Lee has since then mostly played and recorded under his own name. In 2003, the other band members replaced him with Joe Gooch and recorded the album Now. Material from the following tour was used for the 2005 double album Roadworks.
Lee died on March 6, 2013. According to his website, he died from "unforeseen complications following a routine surgical procedure."[2][3][4] He was 68. His former bandmates lamented his death, Leo Lyons called him "the closest thing I had to a brother", while Ric Lee (no relation) said "I don't think its even sunk in yet as to the reality of his passing." Billboard Magazine wrote of his passing, highlighting such landmark performances as "I'm Going Home" from the Woodstock festival and his 1974 hit single "I'd Love to Change the World."[5]
Band members:
Alvin Lee – guitar, vocals
Leo Lyons – bass
Chick Churchill – keyboards
Ric Lee – drums
Joe Gooch – guitar, vocals (joined in 2003)
You can also see Alvin Lee and / or Alvin Lee & Ten Years After and / or Alvin Lee & Co and / or The Alvin Lee Band on Last.fm.
Love Like A Man
Ten Years After Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All over town
But you come on back to me
When things are down
Love like a man
Love all you can
Your satisfaction
If you come on back to me
Use my address and let you
Love like a man
Love all you can
You are the woman
You can't deny
You look so good to me, girl
You make me high
I'll tell you something
I think you know
When you flash those eyes at me
All systems go and let you
Love like a man
Love all you can
The song "Love Like A Man" by Ten Years After is a rock song about a woman who goes around town but comes back to the singer when she needs someone. The song talks about loving without any inhibitions and constantly encourages the woman to come to the singer for love whenever she needs it. The repetitive phrase "Love like a man, love all you can" is an encouragement for the woman to embrace and enjoy the pleasures of life without any fear.
The lyrics suggest that the woman may be a lady of the night, as she is seen "rolly-poly all over town" and her satisfaction seems to be decreasing with the men she is sleeping with. The singer is offering her a safe haven of sorts, a place where she can always come back to for love, and where she can feel protected and valued. The song's message seems to be that it's okay to enjoy life, to love freely and openly, and to not let past disappointments or societal norms hold us back.
Overall, "Love Like A Man" is a catchy, positive song that encourages its listeners to be bold and unashamed in their pursuit of love and happiness. The repeated lyrics are easy to memorize, and the catchy guitar riff throughout the song adds to its infectious energy.
Line by Line Meaning
You roly-poly
You keep moving around in a carefree manner
All over town
Without any particular destination or purpose
But you come on back to me
Return to me when you need me the most
When things are down
In times of trouble or sadness
Love like a man
Love with passion and intensity
Love all you can
Love without hesitation or reservation
Your satisfaction
Your contentment or happiness
Is growing less
Is decreasing over time
If you come on back to me
If you return to me
Use my address and let you
Seek comfort and love at my place
You are the woman
You are attractive and desirable
You can't deny
You cannot refuse or resist me
You look so good to me, girl
You appear extremely alluring to me
You make me high
You fill me with intense feelings and emotions
I'll tell you something
I want to share something important with you
I think you know
I believe you are aware of it already
When you flash those eyes at me
When you give me that seductive look
All systems go and let you
My senses are ignited and I am willing to give you my all
Love like a man
Love with intensity and passion
Love all you can
Love unconditionally and without hesitation
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ALVIN LEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@grantcheney5070
One of the most underrated bands ever. Makes me want to sneak off to the basement or behind the garage and spark up a doobie. Just like old times.
@robmettler2548
I just said the same thing about one of the most underrated bands These guys were awesome. I think it's a dam shame they never really got recognized in the US. They had only one hit here in the States. WTF!! I had almost all of their albums. Every song I heard was fantastic.
@janstrapina
Underrated by Who - not by me - Fucking greatest blues/hardrock Hymn!!!!!!!§🤘🤘🤘🎸🎸🎸
@questionauthority7377
Underrated your a moron they killed it at Woodstock what a fool
@grantcheney5070
@question authority I was only pointing out that they don't get the airtime and recognition that they deserve on mainstream radio in comparison to other bands of that era. My comment wasn't a criticism of the band, or you, for that matter. The only moron is the one staring back at you in the mirror.
@goa6329
I would not say underrated. Such good quality, and known by the good crowd only. Didn't need to be commercial.
Alvin Lee was one of the great guitarist of the era, and the band is one of the pillar of its time. 🤘
@skunkdad7
One of the great guitar solos of all time .
@andycrawford7541
One of THE great riffs. Simple, heavy and moody with a groove - it just rocks.
@safc5642
Whole Lotta Love, Riff
@atuliti
True that Andy