Vocal/Sunshine Pop: Harpers Bizarre - Harpers Bizarre 4 1968-69 (2001 Sundazed)

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."(allmusic.com)

This albumis certainly one of the better works by Harpers Bizarre. We don't have to discuss their abilities as a vocal group and musicians, but what often was missing were in my opinion really outstanding own song material and also they didn't always have a happy hand in the arrangements. They seemed to have learned from their weaknesses of the previous albums. They used a lot of foreign compositions here and sometimes arrangements were used, which gave the songs an appealing robe on the one hand and on the other hand lifted them out of the usual sound of the vocal/sunshine bands.

It certainly didn't work with the whole album, but it's probably their best album in my opinion. Certainly is ''Poly High'' a well done recording but to say it's one of the best recordings they've ever done is in my ears completely overrated. I think for a band like Harpers Bizarre it was always important to have songs with strong melodic lines. All in all they have done a good job with this album and it's well worth to give it a listen.(Frank)

Flac (zippy)                                              Flac (M)

mp3@320 (zippy)                                   mp3@320 (M)

                               pass: SB1