Search - Hearts & Flowers :: Now is the time for Hearts & Flowers Collection

Little known and long forgotten country-tinged folk-rock gem

hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 09/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This Los Angeles based trio is among a handful of '60s groups to turn out stellar major-label releases to little or no acclaim, and only faint memory among the few who heard them at the time. Their two Capitol albums of West Coast country-inflected folk-rock predated or paralleled many which found fame, such as efforts from The Beau Brummels, Byrds, Dillards and Flying Burrito Brothers, and matched them in quality and innovation. This is a perfect storm of folk and rock, with country touches, sunshine-pop production and age-of-Aquarius sensibilities that lends both albums the magic glow of 1960's social awareness and utopian hope.



The band's debut, 1967's "Now is the Time For... Hearts and Flowers," combines light-psychedelic touches with Nik Venet's crystal-clear production across a combination of originals and songs selected from the pens of Donovan ("Try for the Sun"), Tim Hardin ("Reason to Believe," popularly recorded by Rod Stewart), Hoyt Axton ("10,000 Sunsets"), Goffin & King ("Road to Nowhere" - the B-side of their first single), and a fine cover of the Merle Haggard hit "I'm a Lonesome Fugitive." The entire album balances folk and country influences similarly to Brewer & Shipley's best work. Sadly, despite prominent opening slots on tours by The Doors and Simon & Garfunkel, the album went nowhere commercially.



Before recording their second album, 1968's "Of Horses, Kids and Forgotten Women," guitarist/vocalist Rick Cunha departed and was replaced by future Eagle, Bernie Leadon. This sophomore LP includes a more generous helping of originals (including a reprise of the title track from the debut!), along covers of Arlo Guthrie's "Highway in the Wind" and James Lee Kincaid's "She Sang Hymns Out of Tune." The band's original "Two Little Boys" would become a hit for Rolf Harris a couple of years later. Nik Venet added more orchestration to the second release, resulting in heavier psychedelic influence on cuts like "Ode to a Tin Angel." Though more in line with popular LPs of '68, the band still found little commercial success, and were drifting apart by the time the album hit the stands. One could argue that they left the stage set and the amplifiers warmed up for The Byrds' "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" and Gram Parson's post-Byrds recordings.



Edsel's 1995 and Rev-Ola's 2002 CD issues collect all twenty-two tracks from the original pair of albums. Collectors' Choice 2003 CD issue adds a second disc with thirteen previously unreleased tracks that are well worth having. [©2005 hyperbolium dot com]"