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Hearts & Flowers: "Of Horses, Kids, and Forgotten Women", Full Album (1968)

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• published: 18 May 2016
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Side 1: 01: Now Is the Time for Hearts and Flowers (0:00 – 1:25) 02: Highway in the Wind (1:25 – 5:30) 03: Second-Hand Sundown Queen (5:30 – 9:11) 04: She Sang Hymns Out of Tune (9:11 – 12:16) 05: Ode to a Tin Angel (12:16 – 16:39) Side 2: 06: When I Was a Cowboy (16:39 – 20:14) 07: Legend of Ol’ Tenbrookes (20:14 – 23:26) 08: Colour Your Daytime (23:26 – 27:18) 09: Two Little Boys (27:18 – 30:27) 10: Medley: Extra, Extra/Rock & Roll Gypsies/Extra, Extra (30:37 - 34:20) Tracks 1, 3, & 5 were composed by Larry Murray Track 2 was composed by Arlo Guthrie Track 4 was composed by Jesse Lee Kincaid Tracks 6, 7, & 9 were composed by Larry Murray, David Dawson, & Bernie Leadon Track 8 was composed by James Flemming Tracks 10a & 10c were composed by Larry Murray & Bernie Leadon Track 10b was composed by Roger Tillison Personnel: Larry Murray: rhythm guitar, harmonica, lead vocals, harmony vocals David Dawson: autoharp, harmony vocals Bernie Leadon: lead guitar Additional Personnel: Jimmy Bond: string arrangements Rick Cunha: acoustic guitar & co-lead vocals on “Rock & Roll Gypsies” Unknown: pedal steel guitar, bass guitar, drums, organ, piano, harpsichord Rick Cunha left Hearts & Flowers shortly after the release of their first album and was replaced by Bernie Leadon, who had previously played with Larry Murray in the Scottsville Squirrel Barkers. While the addition of Leadon gave the trio a more upfront Country sound onstage, it was still largely underplayed for the most part in the studio. Yet, on their second album, they managed to sneak a few bona fide Country tracks into the final cut. While the dominant sound of the album is bogged down by horrendous over production, the Country songs are done so well that I’d consider this album an improvement over their first. Several songs on this album have so much unnecessary strings and overdubs that I find them irritating. Seriously, the strings are so upfront in the mix that I can hardly hear the guitars and vocals. It renders some of the songs virtually unlistenable, at least to me. I hate strings. I really hate them. Most people who review this album (like that retard Richie Unterbeger) will say that “Ode to a Tin Angel” is the standout track, and many consider it to be the definitive Hearts & Flowers song. Don’t listen to these people. This song is a prime example of the horrid overproduction of this album, and it’s not even indicative of the group’s signature sound. The real standouts on this album are “She Sang Hymns Out of Tune”, “When I Was a Cowboy”, “Legend of Ol’ Tenbrooks”, “Two Little Boys”, & “Medley: Extra, Extra/Rock & Roll Gypsies/Extra, Extra”. “She Sang Hymns Out of Tune” was apparently a favorite of everyone in the L.A. club scene and was covered by a multitude of artists onstage. This version is a small masterpiece and inspired The Dillards’ recording later in the year. “When I Was a Cowboy” is the first bona fide Country song on a Hearts & Flowers record. It’s a breath of fresh air coming right after “Ode to a Tin Angel”. Folks turning over to side 2 must have been very confused at what they were hearing. The next song, “Legend of Ol’ Tenbrooks”, is a reworking of the traditional Bluegrass song "Molly & Tenbrooks", detailing a horse race. Murray & Leadon reworked the lyrics and changed up the story, allegedly so they could get songwriting/publishing royalties for it. Bernie’s guitar playing on the song is reminiscent to that of Mother Maybelle Carter’s, for whom he dedicated the song to in the original liner notes. “Two Little Boys” features some pedal steel by an unknown musician (thanks a lot Richie, you turd). The ending medley includes a snippet of “Rock & Roll Gypsies” straight off the first album and excerpts of a new song, “Extra, Extra”, which features Bernie’s electric guitar picking. “Second Hand Sun Down Queen” would have been listed as a standout if not for it being a victim of the annoying string bug. This was the group's last album, as they went their separate ways after its release. It's such a shame that the live Country sound that made the group a local favorite in the very early Country Rock scene was never properly conveyed on record. The handful of songs on this album where the Country sound is dominant are so darn good. It's irritating that a full album of such material was never made, all because of the stupidity of record producers. It would not be until 2002 that the group's Country Rock outtakes were released. Those outtakes represent the group's strongest material. But that's for another time.