Harlow

[SandraDee]

Sorry people, I'm here again with a query; I'm all questions, questions, questions tonight aren't I? :-? This act & the 'Take Off' track has been discussed here in the past; I noticed on GEMM that there is an LP by Harlow. Does anyone have it & if so is it good? Thanx.

[BrunoRepublic]

If it's the one called "Taking Off", then yes, it's quite good. Has the long version of "Take Off", and a track called "Movie Star" that I'm quite fond of.

I believe there is a later Harlow LP from 1982 or so. I have a 12" from this called "On The Road To Mandolay" which is excellent, although as you might expect, it's a very different sound.

[NickNack]

Man, I haven't played this lp in a long time. I'm in agreement with Graham, it is quite good. The actual title of the song he mentions is "Movie Queen", 6:15. It got significant club play if I remember. Pure disco fun:

YOU HAVE TO TRAVEL FAR / TO BE A MOVIE STAR
GET ON THE SILVER SCREEN / BECOME A MOVIE QUEEN
A LOT OF SLEEPLESS NIGHTS / TO SEE YOUR NAME IN LIGHTS
GETS HARDER EVERYDAY / TO MAKE IT IN L.A.

This last line becomes a chant and drives the record home at the end. Uptempo, lots of synth-driven rhythms and subtle percussion. No strings but still mystical and light.

Side 2 is not bad either. It has 3 songs:
"Frisco" 4:20
"Moonlight Mansion" 4:22
"Mystic Lady" 7:20

Actually, the first two songs 'mix' together making it an 8-minute+ dance piece. They are lush, string-driven disco works. "Frisco" is an instrumental which will remind you of the extended interlude in the middle of "Take Off". Similar sound, structure and a guitar-rush ending which dead-ends you into the drum beat/handclap intro of "Moonlight Mansion". This is also a fun song which will get your feet moving. It has a 'Brazilian' break which is all too short but very hot. Even features my favorite 'cuica' :) . The choral hook:

EVERYBODY GOES DANCIN' AT THE MOONLIGHT MANSION
EVERYBODY GETS HIGH WHEN THE BAND IS PLAYIN'.

Chant these words over and over at the end. Let the vocals slowly fade down along with beats and guitar leaving you with strings (violin/cello) and handclaps. A dj's wet dream to bring up one of those 4/4 beat heavy intros.

"Mystic Lady" might be the only let down. It's not bad, they just try to be a little more funky and I'm not sure they succeed. The guitar and horn rushes in the intro and breaks sound good but the body of the song just doesn't hold up, for me. It's a 'take it or leave it' affair.

I don't have the second lp either, the one with "On The Road to Mandoly" but that 12" is hot, though different. It's at that tempo I don't usually like (close to or in the 140's) but the music and vocals are so strong it catches you.

[SandraDee]

Thanx Nicky & Graham. I'm definitely going to search for that LP. From your description Nicky it sounds similar to the 'Mother Africa' side of the Tantra double LP with some tracks mixing into each other (come to think of it, there are a few LPs that do that aren't there, such as some Giorgio productions & the Poussez LP)