Secret Life of Harpers Bizarre

• Artist: Harpers Bizarre
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1968
• Genre: Rock

Review

Harpers Bizarre's third album continued their mildly eccentric soft rock direction, remaining as mildly eccentric ever, but growing ever softer. In truth, this skirts adult contemporary Muzak almost as it does anything that could be considered rock music, and is rather a dark day in the annals of sunshine pop. The covers are a motley assortment of largely pre-rock standards given ornate arrangements and the group's trademark high, measured harmonies. What call there was for remakes of "Battle of New Orleans" (a real low point), Bacharach-David's "Me, Japanese Boy," "Sentimental Journey," and the Gershwins' "I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise" by a pop band in 1968 is questionable. Anachronism wouldn't matter so much if the results weren't so damn prissy. Ted Templeman and Dick Scoppettone's few originals are a little less objectionable, but no more memorable. The melancholy "Bye, Bye, Bye" is about the best, segueing strangely into Randy Newman's "Vine Street." Several half-minute interludes connect the tracks to give it a suite-like feel and create the impression that the work is more important than it is. Beau Brummels fans might want to note the inclusion of a so-so good-time Ron Elliott composition, "I Love You, Mama," which Elliott also arranged (as he did two other tracks). The 2001 CD on Sundazed adds two bonus tracks, the 1968 non-LP single "Small Talk" (written by Bonner-Gordon of "Happy Together" fame) and a cover of Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now." ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Look to the Rainbow	E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, Burton Lane	Harpers Bizarre
The Battle of New Orleans	Jimmie Driftwood	Harpers Bizarre
When I Was a Cowboy	Ian Tyson, Sylvia Fricker	Harpers Bizarre
Sentimental Journey	Les Brown, Bud Green, Ben Homer	Harpers Bizarre
Las Mananitas		Harpers Bizarre
Medley: Bye, Bye, Bye­Vine Street		Harpers Bizarre
Me, Japanese Boy	Burt Bacharach, Hal David	Harpers Bizarre
I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise	George Gershwin, Buddy DeSylva, Ira Gershwin	Harpers Bizarre
Green Apple Tree	Dick Scoppettone, Ted Templeman	Harpers Bizarre
Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat	Frank Loesser	Harpers Bizarre
I Love You, Mama		Harpers Bizarre
Funny How Love Can Be	John Carter, Ken Lewis	Harpers Bizarre
Mad	Dick Scoppettone, Ted Templeman	Harpers Bizarre
Look to the Rainbow	E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, Burton Lane	Harpers Bizarre
The Drifter	Paul Williams, Roger Nichols	Harpers Bizarre
Reprise		Harpers Bizarre

Credits

Harpers Bizarre (Main Performer), Dick Scoppettone (Guitar), Ted Templeman (Guitar), Ted Templeman (Vocals), Dick Yount (Bass), John Petersen (Drums), Eddie James (Guitar)

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