Harpers Bizarre 4 CD

Recorded in Hollywood, California in 1969. Originally released on Warners (1784). Includes liner notes by John Peterson.

Digitally remastered by Bob Irwin (Sundazed Studios, Coxsackie, New York).

The final Harpers Bizarre album before the band split in 1969 (they reunited briefly six years later for the album TIME GOES BY) contains more self-penned songs than their previous collections, and fewer of their trademark baroque arrangement flourishes. Highlights include the agreeably loopy "I Love You, Alice B. Toklas," from the movie of the same name, and the beautiful, country-flavored "Cotton Candy Sandman (Sandman's Coming)." This expanded set also includes bonus versions of Harry Nilsson's "Poly High" and the group's take on gospel composer Thomas Dorsey's "If We Ever Needed the Lord Before."

Harpers Bizarre bounced back from their worst album, The Secret Life of Harpers Bizarre, with an effort that was similar in its fussy sunshine pop production, but had a better selection of material. "Knock on Wood," the Beatles' "Blackbird," the Barry Mann-Gerry Goffin collaboration "Something Better," John Denver's "Leaving on a Jet Plane," Kenny Rankin's "Cotton Candy Sandman," and (most unexpectedly) jazzman Jim Pepper's "Witchi Tai To" were all given the group's smooth harmony veneer and mock-rococo production. Also on board were four bouncy, inconsequential group originals, and the theme to the movie I Love You, Alice B. Toklas. It still didn't add up to anything special -- not many groups could have stripped so much of the grit from "Knock on Wood" -- but was a soft rock marshmallow that was easier to swallow than their gooiest previous concoctions. Ry Cooder played occasional bottleneck guitar. The 2001 CD reissue on Sundazed added two bonus tracks, both from non-LP singles: Harry Nilsson's "Poly High," which is actually one of the group's better recordings, and Thomas Dorsey's gospel composition "If We Ever Needed the Lord Before." ~ Richie Unterberger

Re-Issue Plus Bonus Tracks

Personnel: Ted Templeman (vocals, guitar, drums); Dick Scoppettone (vocals, guitar); John Petersen (vocals, drums, percussion); Dick Yount (vocals); Eddie James (electric guitar); Ry Cooder (bottleneck guitar).

Liner Note Author: John Petersen.

Photographers: Steve Besch; Clark Besch.

Arrangers: Dick Scoppettone; Bob Thompson; Jack Nitzsche; Perry Botkin, Jr.; Ted Templeman.

Harpers Bizarre: Dickie Scoppetone (vocals, guitar, bass); Ted Templeman (vocals, guitar, drums); Dick Yount (bass, background vocals); John Petersen (drums, percussion, background vocals).

Additional personnel: Eddie James (guitar); Ry Cooder (slide guitar).

Mojo (Publisher) (3/02, p.120) - "...Whether drawing on folk, country, soul, Roaring Twenties or baroque influences, they liked to put the 'shh!' into kitsch....Hostorically they are fascinating....Their lush vocals and elaborate orchestrations are strangely affecting....highly enjoyable..."