If It Ain't Baroque...

 

 "American Baroque" is a collection of chamber pop music released last year in the U.K. by Ace Records. As per usual with most compilations, there are winners and losers. But there were enough tracks and artists that were new to me to keep me digging for a few hours. 

That's where I discovered Chris & Peter Allen. Yes, it's that Peter Allen about ten years before he went to Rio. Chris Allen is not his brother. His real name is Chris Bell, but not that Chris Bell. Their 1967 long player "Album #1" is an odd mix of solid sunshine pop and strange medleys, like pairing "Come Rain Or Come Shine" with The Cowsills hit, "The Rain, The Park & Other Things," or even stranger, "The Wizard Of Oz (We're Off To see The Wizard)" with everyone's favorite "Puff, The Magic Dragon." Ace chose the best track, "My Silent Symphony" for the CD

 

You'll find familiar tracks on the CD, too, like The Merry-Go-Round, Eternity's Children, and The Stone Poneys, plus deep cuts from The Association and Left Banke singer Steve Martin. 

 

I was more intrigued by what I didn't know, like John Randolph Marr and The Fun & Games. Overall, "American Baroque" played beautifully, especially if you're into this sound.