A Fool's Paradise Explained

A Fool's Paradise
Type:studio
Artist:Lazarus
Cover:A Fool's Paradise - Lazarus album cover artwork.jpg
Released:1973
Studio:A & R Recording, Bearsville Studios, Sound 80
Genre:
Producer:
Prev Title:Lazarus
Prev Year:1971

A Fool's Paradise is the second studio album by the American band Lazarus. It was released in January 1973 by Bearsville Records, distributed by Warner Bros. Records.[1] All of the songs were written by Bill Hughes with the exception of "Oklahoma Boy" written by Carl Keesee.[2] The album was produced by Peter Yarrow and Phil Ramone.[3] It received significant national airplay on leading progressive FM stations.[4] [5] [6] [7]

"Ladyfriends I (Sing a Song to Your Lady)" was issued as the first single. It is included, with "Baby, Baby", in the Bearsville Bear Pack No 1 compilation of tracks considered collectors' items released as a Vinyl LP by WEA, originating in the UK in 1977. The album featured Bobby Charles, Hungry Chuck, Paul Butterfield, Jesse Winchester and Lazarus.[8]

The album was released by Pony Canyon in Japan on September 6, 1995.[9] It was reissued by Rhino Records on CD and digitally.[10]

Critical reception

Billboard's Top Picks reviewer declared “Beautifully done in every aspect, from fine songs, beautiful harmony vocals to superb instrumental arrangements”…remarking that Hughes and Keesee “have excellent voices and Hughes, who penned all the material, is a top writer”.  The reviewer praised the group's ability “to combine rock and orchestral instruments without gimmicks and without sounding pretentious,” “condense its material so it doesn't drag” and its authenticity, opining “A bit of many styles but a copy of none.”[11]

Credits and personnel

As listed in the liner notes.

Lazarus

Production

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2009-06-20. Bearsville Records. 2021-05-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20090620013312/http://www.bearsvillerecords.com/artists/lazarus.html. 2009-06-20.
  2. Web site: Album Search for "a fools paradise". 2021-06-01. AllMusic. en.
  3. Web site: October 20, 1973. New Releases. live. RPM. 13. https://web.archive.org/web/20210503192412/https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RPM-IDX/IDX/70s/RPM-1973-10-20-OCR-Page-0013.pdf . 2021-05-03 .
  4. September 29, 1973. FM Action Picks. Billboard.
  5. October 6, 1973. FM Action Picks. Billboard.
  6. October 13, 1973. FM Action Picks. Billboard.
  7. October 20, 1973. FM Action Picks. Billboard.
  8. News: June 11, 1977. Music Week, Collectors' items from Bearsville and Grapevine. 3. Dooley News.
  9. Web site: Lazarus Biography & History. 2020-08-17. AllMusic. en-us.
  10. Web site: Deep Dive: Lazarus, A FOOL'S PARADISE Rhino. 2021-05-03. www.rhino.com. en.
  11. 29 September 1973 . Top Album Picks . . 55.