HEARTS AND FLOWERS: Now Is the Time For, CAPITOL RECORDS, 1967 Psych/folk, NM lp

$

49

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What you are bidding on is a stunning NM pressing of HEARTS AND FLOWERS: NOW IS THE TIME FOR. This rock rarity is on the CAPITOL RECORDS label from the USA. This is the first pressing, promo copy (with the words "FREE" stamped in the top right side).  If you need this lp, this is the one.  Own a piece of history.

An excellent and still underrated group from Los Angeles, Hearts and Flowers produced two albums mixing folk rock with Californian harmonies and country folk.
Born in Weycross, Georgia, Larry Murray moved to Los Angeles in the late '50s and joined the Scottsville Squirrel Barkers, one of the several Bluegrass groups playing the Southern California circuit. The personnel of the Barkers fluctuated and included future Byrd Chris Hillman, Kenny Wertz and Bernie Leadon. The group disbanded in 1962 after releasing an album for the Crown label, Bluegrass Favorites, which is now extremely rare.
Murray temporarily retired from the music scene, became a TV actor and worked at the Troubador Club in L.A.. In 1965 he met a folk/rock duo formed of David Dawson and Rick Cunha and they started working together and playing live without a drummer. They secured a deal with Capitol and their first album was released in June 1967. Masterfully produced by Nick Venet (Fred Neil, Stone Poneys, Euphoria, Mad River), Now Is The Time For Hearts And Flowers is a real gem. The choice of material is outstanding, with excellent covers of Tim Hardin's Reason To Believe, Hoyt Axton's 10,000 Sunsets, Carole King's Road To Nowhere and Donovan's Try For The Sun, plus two songs of contemporary groups: Please, the Kaleidoscope song and Rock And Roll Gypsies by Gypsy Trips. Their original songs were penned by Murray, Cunha and Marty Cooper. The vocals are brilliant and Venet added some good production tricks, with some effects, violin, electric bass
The sales were unfortunately extremely poor and Capitol decided to give them a push: two new members, Terry Paul and Dan Woody, were drafted to reinforce their live impact and a promotion campaign began at the end of 1967; with limited results.
Murray and Dawson started working on their second album. Cunha, Paul and Woody left and Bernie Leadon arrived. Of Horses, Kids and Forgotten Woman was released in July 1968 and got the same results as the first album: critical acclaim but low sales. It notably contains She Sang Hymns Out Of Tune, a song originally recorded (but not released) by Jesse Lee Kincaid with the Rising Sons.
Due to their unsuccess, the group disbanded and their records sank into obscurity before being rediscovered in the mid-80s by Bam Caruso.
Larry Murray went on to record a good country folk/rock album, Sweet Country Suite (Verve Forecast FTS 3090) 1969, with backing by Swampwater, Paul Parrish, JD Souther and two Nitty Gritty members, Fadden and McEuen). He also worked with Kris Kristofferson and Jessi Colter in the early '70s. Rick Cunha would later work with Linda Ronstadt, have a career as a songwriter and sesionman and also released two decent country rock albums: Cunha Songs (GRC GA 5004) 1973, with Dave Dawson and Moving Pictures (CBS ) 1977.


TRACKS

Side One

1. Now Is The Time (Larry Murray) 1:28
2. Save Some Time (Marty Cooper) 2:40
3. Try For The Sun (Donovan Leitich) 2:42
4. Rain, Rain (Larry Murray) 2:33
5. The View From Ward 3 (Marty Cooper) 3:00
6. Rock & Roll Gypsies (Roger Tillison)2:20

Side Two

1. Reason To Believe (Tim Hardin) 2:10
2. Please (Mark Freedman/David Feldthouse) 3:00
3. 1-2-3 Rhyme In Carnivour Thyme (Rick Cunha) 2:10
4. I'm A Lonesome Fugitive (Liz Anderson-Casey Anderson) 2:45
5. Road To Nowhere (Gerry Goffin-Carole King) 3:28
6. 10,000 Sunsets (Hoyt Axton) 2:33

SLEEVE: VG+ (looks great)
RECORD: NM (unplayed)

LOW STARTING PRICE, NO RESERVE

CAPTIOL RECORDS ST 2762, STEREO 1967