Ted Templeman's bizarre past
One of those weird days... First, I'd pulled up Ted Templeman singing lead with Harper's on that cool old remake of "Knock on Wood" and then, not two hours later the bug is put in my ear from my (less than high level) bud at WB that he and Dave have been "talking" during the break.
I went back and listened to "Knock on Wood" again after that, the 2nd time in one day for an almost unknown tune I haven't listened to a single time in the past five years.
You can HEAR plain as day the touch he added to VH classics like Jamie's Cryin' and Women In Love on that ditty from so long ago, and the close musical connection/appreciation that he and Dave share.
I just smiled...
Maybe we'll get a new disk, despite it all.
For those who don't know, some background on Ted and how he came to be at WB follows-
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The eclectic pop group Harper's Bizarre was formed in Santa Cruz, CA, in 1963 by Ted Templeman (born October 24, 1944; Santa Cruz, CA) (vocals, drums, trumpet), Dickie Scoppettone (born July 5, 1945; Santa Cruz, CA) (guitar, vocals), Eddie James (born Santa Cruz, CA) (guitar, vocals), and Dick Yount (b. January 9, 1943) (guitar, bass, drums). John Peterson (b. January 8, 1945; San Francisco, CA) (drums) joined in 1966. After gaining attention as the surf-oriented Tikis in San Francisco, they were signed to Warner Bros. by producer Lenny Waronker, and they scored one of the sunniest hit singles of the 1967 Summer of Love with a version of Paul Simon's "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)." Their brand of wistful, Roaring '20s pop enjoyed only a brief vogue, roughly from late 1966 to mid-1967, but they managed to get a few more minor chart singles -- notably Van Dyke Parks' "Come to the Sunshine" and covers of "Anything Goes" and "Chattanooga Choo Choo" -- and released four albums before disbanding in 1970. Templeman went on to become one of Warner Bros.' primary staff producers. As Time Goes By (1976) marked a partial reunion of the group. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
