Hearts and Flowers: Pioneers of Los Angeles Folk Rock

Hearts and Flowers was an American folk rock group that emerged from the vibrant Los Angeles music scene of the mid-1960s. Though their commercial output was limited, the band is remembered for their intricate harmonies and for helping to shape the sound of West Coast folk rock during a transformative era for the genre.

Early career

The band formed in Los Angeles around 1965, initially as a folk trio featuring Dave Dawson, Larry Murray, and Terry Newkirk. They were part of a wave of young artists blending traditional folk music with the emerging rock and psychedelic influences of the time, performing on the famed Sunset Strip.

Breakthrough

Hearts and Flowers signed to Capitol Records in 1967 and released their debut album, "Now Is the Time for Hearts and Flowers," the following year. The album, produced by Nik Venet, featured a blend of original material and covers, including songs by fellow folk-rock innovators like Gene Clark, and showcased their signature vocal blend and jangly guitar work.

Key tracks

Now Is the Time - The title track of their debut album exemplifies their smooth, harmony-driven approach to the folk rock sound.

Rock and Roll Man - This track highlights the band's ability to incorporate a more driving, rock-oriented rhythm into their folk foundation.

She Sang Hymns Out of Tune - Their cover of this Jesse Lee Kincaid song became one of their best-known recordings, a staple of their live sets.

The band's second and final album, "Of Horses, Kids and Forgotten Women," was released in 1968. It featured a more polished and expansive production, incorporating elements of country and baroque pop, but failed to achieve significant commercial success. Hearts and Flowers disbanded shortly after its release, though their recordings later gained appreciation among collectors of 1960s folk rock.

Similar artists from the same era and genre include The Byrds for their foundational jangle-pop sound, The Stone Poneys which featured Linda Ronstadt, and The Dillards who also explored the blend of bluegrass and folk rock. The music of Hearts and Flowers remains a specific and cherished chapter in the story of Los Angeles folk rock.