Sunday, May 12, 2019

Cat Stevens - "Harold and Maude" soundtrack

I suppose it made sense at the time not to release a soundtrack album to the film "Harold and Maude." There were only two original songs, and they were released as a single. Plus the rest of the songs could be easily found on Cat Stevens' albums Mona Bone Jakon and Tea for the Tillerman.

But as the years have gone by and "Harold and Maude" has become such a cult favorite, the lack of a soundtrack to the film seems to be an unfortunate circumstance. 

In actuality, a sort-of soundtrack was released in 1972 in Japan titled Harold and Maude. But it did not include the two new songs, and it instead included five Cat Stevens songs that weren't used in the film. 

Then in 2007, a vinyl-only release of 2,500 copies of an "official" soundtrack was released. But the fact that it was produced in such a limited quantity obviously didn't exactly satisfy fans. Besides the nine Cat Stevens songs, it included two instrumental versions of "If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out." Plus it was released with a 7-inch single that featured an alternate version of that song and a demo of the other original tune, "Don't Be Shy." 

But unless you were one of the lucky 2,500 people who bought the album, you're basically on your own.

SIDE A
1. Don't Be Shy
2. On the Road to Find Out
3. I Wish, I Wish
4. Miles from Nowhere
5. Tea for the Tillerman
6. I Think I See the Light

SIDE B
1. Where Do the Children Play?
2. If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out
3. Trouble
4. Don't Be Shy (demo version)
5. If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out (alternative version)

For this album, we include all the Cat Stevens songs that were used in the film, and added the demo version of "Don't Be Shy" and an alternative version of "If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out" that were released on the 2007 single.

The cover is from the 2007 release.




2 comments:

  1. Strange film but lovely. Good soundtrack Thank you, once again, for this new reconstruction.

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