MARGO GURYAN – 29 DEMOS (GOLD VINYL)

Back in print on gold vinyl! Margo Guryan’s honeyed voice and gorgeously sweet songwriting has become a favorite of the soft-pop set. As a successful songwriter, her compositions have been recorded by the likes of Jackie DeShannon, Spanky & Our Gang, Astrid Gilberto, Claudine Longet, Oliver, Cass Elliot, Glen Campbell, Saint Etienne and Harry Belafonte. Her only solo album, the magnificent Take A Picture (featuring the hit ‘Sunday Morning”), has become a cult classic since its release in 1968, and no wonder: its combination of marvelously funky sunshine arrangements and Margo’s delicious melodies are a heady combo. She’s influenced everyone from the Wondermints to Belle and Sebastian to Oscar-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody (who listened to Take A Picture while writing Juno). In 2001, Margo released 25 Demos, a collection of fully-fleshed out demos from her personal collection. Most people’s demos are mere sketches — Margo’s are little baroque masterpieces, featuring string arrangements, circus organ, chamber-pop rhythm sections and tons of glorious echo. Now, Modern Harmonic presents the biggest collection yet, 29 Demos, all lovingly wrapped in a gorgeous gatefold jacket loaded with liner notes. Finally, an album worthy to follow Take A Picture’ two LP’s worth of magnificent soft-pop.