Harpers Bizarre – Record-facts…

by Record Facts

Harpers Bizarre was an American sunshine pop band of the 1960s, best known for their Broadway/sunshine pop sound and their remake of Simon & Garfunkel‘s “The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy).”

Anything Goes is an album by Harpers Bizarre, released in 1967.
It’s not easy to figure what Harpers Bizarre had in mind with their second album, which was highly orchestrated soft rock on the verge of pre-rock pop. Rock for the kiddies, perhaps, or rock for the old folks, especially considering that a few of these tunes (Cole Porter‘s “Two Little Babes in the Woods,” “Chattanooga Choo Choo”) were pre-rock standards. It gave producer Lenny Waronker (and Harpers Bizarre member Ted Templeman, who became a producer himself and helped with the vocal arrangements) some experience, but it’s way too twee to make for meaningful music. Perhaps you can hear a wee bit of the kind of L.A. pop/rock-schmaltz dished out by Randy Newman (whom Waronker would produce), Nilsson, and Van Dyke Parks at times, but in a much dumbed-down fashion. There are some interesting cover choices, though: David Blue‘s “You Need a Change” (arranged by Ron Elliott of the Beau Brummels), Parks‘ “High Coin,” and Newman‘s “The Biggest Night of Her Life” and “Snow,” which must have generated enough royalties to feed the parking meter for a few hours.

Two bonus tracks were added to the 2001 CD issue of this title: the 45 version of “Cotton Candy Sandman” by Kenny Rankin, and the theme to the TV series “Malibu U.” by Don and Dick Addrisi.
The title track was used in the opening montage of the 1970 film Boys in the Band.

Tracklist

“(Intro) This Is Only the Beginning” (Ted Koehler, Harold Arlen) – 1:44
“Anything Goes” (Cole Porter) – 2:00
“Two Little Babes in the Wood” (Cole Porter) – 3:45
“The Biggest Night of Her Life” (Randy Newman) – 2:25
“Pocketful of Miracles” (Sammy Cahn, Jimmy Van Heusen) – 2:47
“Snow” (Randy Newman) – 2:39
“Chattanooga Choo Choo” (Mack Gordon, Harry Warren) – 2:35
“Hey You in the Crowd” (Dick Scoppettone, Ted Templeman) – 2:25
“Louisiana Man” (Doug Kershaw) – 2:36
“Milord” (Georges Moustaki, Marguerite Monnot) – 3:07
“Virginia City” (Dick Scoppettone, Ted Templeman) – 2:08
“Jessie” (Mike Gordon, Jimmy Griffin) – 3:45
“You Need a Change” (David Blue) – 2:43
“High Coin” (Van Dyke Parks) – 2:35

Bonus Tracks
   15. “Cotton Candy Sandman (Sandman’s Coming)” (45 Version) – 2:50
           Arranged By – Nick DeCaro
   16. “Malibu U.” – 2:15
           Arranged By – Don Adrissi

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