Harpers Bizarre

Harpers Bizarre was an American pop-rock band of the 1960s, best known for their Broadway/choirboy sound and their remake of Simon & Garfunkel's "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)."

Related Topics:
American - Pop - Rock - 1960s - Broadway - Simon & Garfunkel

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Harpers Bizarre was formed out of The Tikis, a California band who enjoyed some local success with Beatle-like songs in the mid-'60s. In 1967, producer Lenny Waronker got a hold of the Simon & Garfunkel song "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)," determined to make it into a single. The Tikis recorded it, with the arrangement featuring extended harmonies reminiscent of the work of Brian Wilson or even the Swingle Singers. The song was released under a new band name, "Harpers Bizarre" (a play on the magazine "Harper's Bazaar"), so as not to alienate The Tikis' fanbase. The Harpers Bizarre version of the song reached #13 on the American Billboard charts in April of 1967, far exceeding any success that The Tikis thusfar had.

Related Topics:
California - Beatle - Lenny Waronker - Harper's Bazaar

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The success of the single prompted Harpers Bizarre to record their first album. At this point the band consisted of Ted Templeman (vocals, drums, guitar); Dick Scoppettone (vocals, guitar, bass); Eddie James (guitar); Dick Yount (bass, vocals) and John Petersen (drums, percussion, vocals). Under the guidance of producer Lenny Waronker, Harpers Bizarre developed a unique sound which experimented with heavy vocal layering. Most of Harpers Bizarre's recordings are cheerful and airy, both in subject matter and musical accompaniment often with string and woodwind arrangements.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In addition to covering several old standards (including Cole Porter's "Anything Goes" and Gordon & Warren's "Chattanooga Choo Choo"), Harpers Bizarre also recorded the work of several contemporary songwriters, including Randy Newman, Van Dyke Parks & Harry Nilsson.

Related Topics:
Cole Porter - Gordon - Warren - Chattanooga Choo Choo - Randy Newman - Van Dyke Parks - Harry Nilsson

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

None of the subsequent singles, however, achieved the same level of success as their debut, and the band broke up after their last album was released in 1969.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~