Harpers Bi… Read Full Bio ↴Harpers Bizarre is the name of two separate musical acts.
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)."
Career
Harpers Bizarre was formed out of The Tikis, a Californian band who enjoyed some local success with Beatle-like songs in the mid 1960s. In 1967, record 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 Hot 100 chart in April 1967, far exceeding any success that The Tikis thus far had.
The success of the single prompted Harpers Bizarre to record their debut album. At this point the band consisted of Ted Templeman (vocals, drums, guitar); Dick Scoppettone (born 5 July 1945; vocals, guitar, bass); Eddie James (guitar); Dick Yount (bass, vocals) and John Petersen (born 8 January 1942; drums, percussion, vocals). Petersen had previously already enjoyed a brief spell of success as member of the Beau Brummels; James left shortly after the first recording sessions and was replaced by Dick Young. Under the guidance of producer Lenny Waronker (and Templeman, who emerged as the leader of the group), 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, resulting in a psychedelic Broadway/Baroque pop sound.
In addition to covering several old standards (including Cole Porter's "Anything Goes" and Gordon and Warren's "Chattanooga Choo Choo"), Harpers Bizarre also recorded the work of several contemporary songwriters, including Randy Newman, Van Dyke Parks and Harry Nilsson.
None of the subsequent singles, however, achieved the same level of success as their debut, and the band broke up shortly after their last album was released in 1969.
In 1976, a partial reunion of the group occurred (without Templeman) to record an album, As Time Goes By, that is often overlooked in Harpers Bizarre discographies.
Discography
Feelin' Groovy (1967)
Anything Goes (1968)
Secret Life of Harpers Bizarre (1968)
Harpers Bizarre 4 (1969)
As Time Goes By (1976)
Harpers Bizarre is also the name of an group of Harp Players from Cornwall, UK. 'Harpers Bizarre' Harp ensemble was formed in 2004 by Sarah Deere-Jones plus Sarah herself, who runs the Cornwall Harp Centre.Their first performance was at the Penventon Hotel in Redruth, Cornwall in November 2004 before going on to release their first CD 'A Cornish Pastiche' of new and traditional harp tunes.
Mad
Harpers Bizarre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So I spent the whole weekend out
I got home Monday morning
Tore up like a can of kraut
My only suit was layin' on the steps
I just picked it up and run
And I ain't been back there since
Well mad yeah she's mad
It's back to the doghouse
I know from the practice I've had
When she's mad I play a dangerous game
In the obituary column
They've already printed my name
She's five feet three
And weights about hundred and eight
She's the kind of gal don't believe
In men a makin' mistakes
She's sweet and mighty nice
But when she's mad
She's got a voice that'll cut through ice
Well mad ooh she's mad
It's back to the doghouse
I know from the practice I've had
When she's mad I play a dangerous game
In the obituary column
They've already printed my name
She's got eyes like a cat
And she watches every move that I make
An alarm clock mind
That's ringin' every time that I'm late
I'm sorry, sick and all alone
But I'll have to stick it out
'Cause it just ain't safe to go home
Well mad ooh she's mad
It's back to the doghouse
I know from the practice I've had
When she's mad I play a dangerous game
In the obituary column
They've already printed my name
In the obituary column
They've already printed my name
In the obituary column
They've already printed my name
The song "Mad" by Harpers Bizarre is a cautionary tale about the dangers of provoking a lover who has a fiery temper. The singer describes a weekend of getting high and running around, only to return home to find his angry girlfriend waiting for him. He tries to slip past her unnoticed, but she catches him and unleashes her wrath. Despite feeling sorry and alone, the singer knows he can't go home, as it's just too dangerous.
The lyrics are simple, but effective in conveying the fear and desperation the singer feels. The repetition of the phrase "she's mad" reinforces the idea that this is a serious situation that shouldn't be taken lightly. The description of the girlfriend as being five feet three and weighing only a hundred and eight pounds makes her seem small and delicate, but the reference to her voice cutting through ice suggests that she is capable of great power and strength when angry.
One interesting aspect of the song is the use of the term "doghouse," which refers to a situation where a husband or boyfriend has done something to upset his significant other and is forced to sleep on the couch or in another uncomfortable location. The idea of being sent to the doghouse is a common trope in sitcoms and other forms of popular culture, and it's interesting to see it referenced in a song from the 1960s.
Line by Line Meaning
I got about half high
I consumed a moderate amount of drugs or alcohol
So I spent the whole weekend out
I was out of my home for the entire weekend
I got home Monday morning
I returned home on Monday morning
Tore up like a can of kraut
I was in bad physical condition upon returning home
My only suit was layin' on the steps
My only piece of formal clothing was left outside my home
I just picked it up and run
I hastily retrieved my suit and left the area
And I ain't been back there since
I have not returned home since that day
Well mad yeah she's mad
My romantic partner is currently angry
It's back to the doghouse
I will face punishment or negative consequences as a result of my partner's anger
I know from the practice I've had
I am accustomed to dealing with this situation
When she's mad I play a dangerous game
I must navigate my partner's anger with caution
In the obituary column
The section of a newspaper reserved for death notices
They've already printed my name
I fear that my partner's anger may lead to my death
She's five feet three
My partner is of short stature
And weights about hundred and eight
My partner is relatively lightweight
She's the kind of gal don't believe
My partner is the type of person who does not accept excuses
In men a makin' mistakes
Men who make mistakes will not be met with sympathy by my partner
She's sweet and mighty nice
My partner is typically kind and pleasant
But when she's mad
My partner's anger can change her demeanor
She's got a voice that'll cut through ice
My partner's angry words can be very harsh
She's got eyes like a cat
My partner has penetrating, observant eyes
And she watches every move that I make
My partner is very aware of my actions
An alarm clock mind
My partner has a keen sense of time
That's ringin' every time that I'm late
My partner will become angry if I am not punctual
I'm sorry, sick and all alone
I feel regretful, unwell, and isolated
But I'll have to stick it out
I must endure this situation
'Cause it just ain't safe to go home
I fear for my safety if I return home
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TOM T. HALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind