by Richie UnterbergerIt's not easy to figure what Harpers Bizarre had in mind with their second album, which was highly orchestrated soft rock on the verge of pre-rock pop. Rock for the kiddies, perhaps, or rock for the old folks, especially considering that a few of these tunes (Cole Porter's"Two Little Babes in the Woods,""Chattanooga Choo Choo") were pre-rock standards. It gave producer Lenny Waronker (and Harpers Bizarre member Ted Templeman, who became a producer himself and helped with the vocal arrangements) some experience, but it's way too twee to make for meaningful music. Perhaps you can hear a wee bit of the kind of L.A. pop-rock-schmaltz dished out by Randy Newman (whom Waronker would produce), Nilsson, and Van Dyke Parks at times, but in a much dumbed-down fashion. There are some interesting cover choices, though: David Blue's"You Need a Change" (arranged by Ron Elliott of the Beau Brummels), Parks'"High Coin," and Newman's"The Biggest Night of Her Life" and"Snow," which must have generated enough royalties to feed the parking meter for a few hours.