When 25 Demos was released in 2001, songwriter Margo Guryan had only recorded one album in her entire career, the 1968 minor classic Take a Picture. This collection of demos from the '60s and '70s (plus one from 2000) prov... more »es that the LP wasn't a one-off fluke. The compilation features versions of a number of songs from Take a Picture, but it also includes other fine material from the '60s: "Thoughts," "Come to Me Slowly," and the exquisite "It's Alright Now" are standouts from that period. The '70s tracks show that Guryan still had her touch during the Me decade. A version of "I Think a Lot About You," which was released as a single by Mama Cass, gets a pleasant reading here, while "I'd Like to See the Bad Guys Win" evokes the sly sensibility of early Randy Newman. Possibly the best (and definitely the oddest) '70s song is "The Hum," a piece inspired by the infamous 18-minute gap found on one of the Watergate tapes. Its nearly wordless chorus is both catchy and strange. 25 Demos is a must for Guryan fans. --Fred Cisterna« less
When 25 Demos was released in 2001, songwriter Margo Guryan had only recorded one album in her entire career, the 1968 minor classic Take a Picture. This collection of demos from the '60s and '70s (plus one from 2000) proves that the LP wasn't a one-off fluke. The compilation features versions of a number of songs from Take a Picture, but it also includes other fine material from the '60s: "Thoughts," "Come to Me Slowly," and the exquisite "It's Alright Now" are standouts from that period. The '70s tracks show that Guryan still had her touch during the Me decade. A version of "I Think a Lot About You," which was released as a single by Mama Cass, gets a pleasant reading here, while "I'd Like to See the Bad Guys Win" evokes the sly sensibility of early Randy Newman. Possibly the best (and definitely the oddest) '70s song is "The Hum," a piece inspired by the infamous 18-minute gap found on one of the Watergate tapes. Its nearly wordless chorus is both catchy and strange. 25 Demos is a must for Guryan fans. --Fred Cisterna
CD Reviews
Candy coated raindrops
lady detective | east coat | 03/18/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I love demo work- and Margo Guryan's proves to be astonishingly beautiful. It's the kind of music that makes you want to twirl around in the sunshine & if that sounds nauseating- you can just walk down the street with your headphones on, with an extra bit of swank in your step.Her voice has a bit of that candy pop appeal- but it isn't sickly sweet- if you're into The Beach Boys, Adventures In Stereo , April March or The Mamas and the Papas, then I think you can count on loving this cd!Not only does it come with the lyrics- mMrgo has made comments about each of the songs. i love how she manages to sugar infuse a song about Watergate! What charm! What fun! Highly recommended!"
Margo is Number One!
R. Riis | NY | 09/17/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Excellent! Although these tracks are demos, the arrangements are unexpectedly full (strings, woodwinds, backing vocals) and could easily pass as finished commercial recordings. Guryan's vocals are as charmingly ethereal as always and she has a rare gift for melody and nuance in her songwriting. Although many of the songs overlap with those on the terrific "Take a Picture" many are heard here in quite different arrangements, making this an essential purchase. What a joy it is to have a "new" Margo Guryan recording available!"
GREAT STUFF!!
R. Riis | 09/10/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album is amazing!!! If you love TAKE A PICTURE, you'll really love 25 DEMOS. Not only are there the original demos (they sound like records to me) of you favorite TAP songs - SUN, LOVE SONGS,WHAT CAN I GIVE YOU, SUNDAY MORNING (better than the TAP version), etc., but you get all sorts of other goodies including a brand new demo of a killer old song - GOODBYE JULY (I actually heard this song on a Japanese version of Linus Of Hollywood's LET YOURSELF BE HAPPY). Anyway, this album's killer and there's lot of it!"
Brilliant 'Demos'
Eliot Wilder | Boston, MA USA | 10/03/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Following last year's re-release of the extremely rare, legendary underground classic "Take a Picture" comes "25 Demos," a deeper trawl through the catalog of a barely known but nonetheless brilliant songwriter. Although these are demos, the sound quality is consistently high, not unlike her official recordings. But even if they were to sound like sonic sludge, nothing could mask the beauty and charm of these classy, avant-pop tunes. The Beach Boys-influenced "Think of Rain" is strong enough to place her in the pantheon that includes Brian Wilson. Not to mention "Sunday Morning," which all these years on has not aged a whit. And that's one of the amazing things about this collection: even though it traverses nearly four decades of songwriting, what Guryan was laying down in the mid-'60s remains fresh and alive today. Because her themes of love, sunshine and rain are perennial. And because her sound - the little girl voice and trippy accompaniment that's been a clear influence on everyone from Stereolab to Beck to Linus of Hollywood - is so out of sync it's in. "25 Demos" is timeless magic."
Track Listings (25) - Disc #1