Thursday, April 25, 2019

Down At The Tiki Hut

Before Harpers got Bizarre, there were The Tikis. They cut enough tracks for an album, just barely, but made a pact with Satan and shape-shifted into a Finnish despair metal band instead. Satan, unhappy with their sunny harmonies and cheerful studio banter, released them from their contract and they enjoyed international fame as the 59th Street Bridge Song [Feelin' Groovy - Ed.] hitmakers. Ted Templeman went on to produce a whole bunch of fine albums (look him up on Wiki - what am I, your typist?) and the world is a better place for having him in it. But let's raise a glass of fern-bedecked neon-sour-colored Kahaluu cocktail to this, my tribute to a Forgotten Band. Pay Attention To ... The Tikis!
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8 comments:

  1. Farquhar Throckmorton IIIApril 25, 2019 at 8:05 AM



    Kahuna Dream

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jonny ZchivagoApril 25, 2019 at 2:42 PM

    You mean there was something else before Harpers Bizarre?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Farquhar Throckmorton IIIApril 25, 2019 at 3:05 PM

    Yes! This! Them! These! Who knew?

    ReplyDelete
  4. sambgodotOctober 1, 2019 at 9:15 PM

    The difference between the Tikis and Harper's Bizarre can be illustrated by listening to the song MAD on this album and comparing it with the re-record on HB's 3rd LP SECRET LIFE. Ed James's guitar solo has disappeared and any backing is more or less drowned out by the fairly elaborate arrangement. Probably why Ed James called it a day after their 2nd album, though he did contribute to the next single COTTON CANDY SANDMAN, which probably explains his credit on HB4. That said I bought their 2nd album ANYTHING GOES when it came out and it still ranks among my top 20 albums. It was the album which introduced me to the joys(?) of the 5 string banjo and made me find out who on earth this genius Cole Porter was.
    HB split in 1970 and Templeman made a solo album (see https://www.discogs.com/The-Templeton-Twins-With-Teddy-Turners-Bunsen-Burners-Trill-It-Like-It-Was/master/616617). HB got back together in the mid 70s, minus Templeman, but welcoming Ed James back to the fold. They recorded one album https://www.discogs.com/Harpers-Bizarre-As-Time-Goes-By/master/424888) and half a dozen further tracks, four of which were released on the Canadian version of the album )https://www.discogs.com/Harpers-Bizarre-Harpers-Bizarre/release/8409799)including a new version of FEELIN' GROOVY for some reason and two on the extremely obscure 45 (http://www.45cat.com/record/irda167us)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Farquhar Throckmorton IIIOctober 2, 2019 at 1:31 AM





    Here's the 17-track version of As Time Goes By.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. sambgodotOctober 2, 2019 at 7:46 PM

      Oh, right...many thanks. Had no ideas these 4 bonus tracks existed. But do they belong to Time because the timings are basically the same as those on my Secret Life Sundazed CD? I'll have to listen closely to them.

      Delete
    2. Farquhar Throckmorton IIIOctober 2, 2019 at 8:02 PM

      I think Cody made an error during file compression here. Let me take it up with her.

      Delete
    3. sambgodotOctober 3, 2019 at 2:38 PM

      Yes, because although my hearing is not what it was (and it never was all that good) listening to these 4 and their equivalents on SECRET LIFE, they are the same.

      Delete

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