GARY & STU Harlan Fare '71 LP Lennon Beatles pop psych

$

41

Original VERY RARE 1971 popsike LP by ex-March Hare members Gary and Stu, their sole LP “Harlan Fare” on the UK Carnaby label.  The same small British label that gave us a handful of really, REALLY obscure popsike treasures like Jawbone, Wake, Smokey Circles and the Spirit of John Morgan – this one’s always been the toughest to find – and that’s saying something for this label.  You want a Beatles butcher cover?  I know a guy who can get you two dozen of ‘em – if you got the cash, you can pick the one you want to take home.  Don’t ask him to find this album, however – he says they NEVER turn up.  Actually, the Beatles comparison is fitting from a musical standpoint as well – Gary and Stu sound an awful lot like the late Beatles – but whereas the Beatles had the complimentary force of a McCartney and a Lennon, both Gary and Stu really wanna be Lennons.  Now I don’t have a problem with that at all if you’re gonna be good at it, which they are, thankfully, and besides, that means there’s no Gary and Stu version of “Octopus’s Garden.”  “Hey Man” is practically a homage to John, rocking in that pounding, primal way that Plastic Ono Band Lennon did – it’s got yer basic heavy blues rock melody, a punishing raw visceral guitar riff, and lots of echo on the vocals just like John liked it.  Only difference – Gary and Stu add in some blaring horns – which, for all you instant horn haters, do NOT detract from the song but instead ADD to the already-shoulder-high wall of noise.  Same thing with “Long Long Line”, which captures the Mind Games era Lennon sound even better than Julian.  Of course, John had a softer side too, and so do Gary and Stu – on the title track, they go for the big sweeping orchestrated sound of “Mind Games” or “Number 9 Dream” with a nifty little singalong coda that sounds like something Paul might’ve added later in the studio.  Okay, so some Paul actually DOES creep into Gary and Stu’s album occasionally, or more like Paul’s pop legacy actually.  Especially on the power pop paean “Rainbow Coloured Morning”, which rocks hard in the Big Star/Badfinger tradition.  With soaring harmonies that might remind you of the other Beatles protégés the Raspberries.  Yet just when you thought you finally had Gary and Stu pigeonholed, they go and throw something like “Peek-A-Boo” at you – a KILLER simplistic pounding glam rocker that has absolutely NOTHING to do with the Beatles and absolutely everything to do with vintage T. Rex.  It’s a bejeweled and bell-bottomed glam goldmine that sounds like a leftover from “The Slider” sessions, and hasn’t been comped by the recent glut of Velvet Tinmine and likeminded glam rock comps because, seriously, who would ever think to look HERE?  But it’s one of many pleasant surprises on this unknown little gem of an album – obscure because it hasn’t been unreissued, and rare because it’s more elusive than the image of Christ’s face on a a slice of toasted wheat bread.  And if you’re one of those who believed Lennon was God, then it’s got a whole lot more spiritual value too.  Original 1971 UK pressing on the Carnaby label, in stereo.  Beautiful textured color cover is in VG minus condition thanks to some moisture damage along the bottom edge which has unfortunately resulted in some small tears (see pics).  The spine is also split, about 1 inch.  Besides these flaws, the colorful cover image is quite clean and looks beautiful.  Vinyl plays VG to VG+ with scattered pops and some crackle, it looks bright and shiny with no surface marks at all, so it may need a good cleaning. 

Winning bidder pays $4.00 media mail shipping in the US, $8 air mail to Canada, $12 everywhere else.  Paypal, Bidpay, cash, checks and money orders accepted.  Please be sure to check out my other auctions for more vinyl obscurities, and I will gladly combine shipping costs on multiple wins.