HAREM SCAREM – Acoustic Sessions [1991-92 Limited EP] + Live and Acoustic [Japan Edition] (1994)

With the recent feature here of HAREM SCAREM‘s complete box-set, many asked for the band’s rare acoustic CD’s from the Nineties: 1991-92’s “Acoustic Sessions” strictly limited to 500 copies, and Live and Acoustic [Japan Edition] (1994), featuring acoustic versions + Live tracks recorded January 22, 1994 at RPM, Toronto, Canada.

”Acoustic Sessions” features acoustic recordings of selected songs from their self-titled album and was only sold in Canada, having just 500 units available. Seems there was an early 1991 version, only promo.
“Live and Acoustic” includes songs from the first studio albums also acoustically reworked, plus live tracks recorded January 22, 1994 at RPM- Toronto, Canada.
These are must have discs for HAREM SCAREM &d melodic rock fans, and collectors.

“Acoustic Sessions” opens with an edit version of “Something To Say”, the fifth single from Harem Scarem’s self-titled debut album. It’s a ballad, pleasant enough, acoustic. It has a really nice acoustic guitar solo courtesy of virtuoso Pete Lesperance. This same version later officially released on ”Live and Acoustic”.

Then there’s exclusive acoustic tracks. These three songs were only available here, or the 1994 Japanese import version of the debut album. The debut single “Slowly Slipping Away” (co-written by songsmith Marc Ribler) is rendered in acoustic form first. These acoustic sessions were recorded at Cabin Fever studios and self-produced by Lesperance and singer Harry Hess. The band’s incredible harmony vocals are just as powerful as ever.
“How Long” is next, a great album track in acoustic form. The chorus is just as big and dramatic as the album version, thanks to the band’s trademark harmonies.

“Hard To Love” was not a single, but it works really well acoustically and maybe should have been a single after all. Once again the harmonies soar, with drummer Darren Smith vocals in particularly standing out. This is a great track, radio ready and full of hooks.
The fifth and final track is just the regular album version of “Something To Say”, with the full (intricate) acoustic intro.
For a five song EP, this one is a winner.

Harem Scarem collected some rare stuff and released the ”Live and Acoustic” EP to tide fans over until album #3. A strong album like Mood Swings deserved a little follow-up, to present some of its material live.
Recorded in Toronto, “No Justice”, “Hard to Love” and the instrumental “Mandy” kick it hard. Here is the proof that Harem Scarem could pull of their thick harmonies live. Having four singers in the band didn’t hurt, and Pete Lesperance’s guitar flourishes add the necessary pyrotechnics.
His solo spot on “Mandy” is a nice moment to spotlight a very under appreciated player. Accompanied by drummer Darren Smith, “Mandy” is transformed live into something a little bigger. “Hard to Love” is beefier than the version from the band’s first album, thanks in no small part to Smith’s ample backup singing.

The three live tracks and the included single edit of the ballad “If There Was a Time” are all taken from the CD single for that song. “If There Was a Time” is one of the band’s most complex ballads, so an edit probably made it a bit more digestible to the masses.
For added value, two acoustic versions and one more single edit “Something to Say” (from the first album) are also included. The single for “If There Was a Time” is much rarer, so it was nice of Warner to release these things on something with better distribution.

The acoustic tracks are fantastic: “Jealousy” always seemed like it would be great in the fully-acoustic format. It’s a great little acoustic jam, with Harry Hess showing off his impressive pipes much more so than the album version. The other acoustic version is “Honestly”, which is cool, because that hit ballad was original arranged for piano and keyboards. This version is done for acoustic guitars, which makes it less lush but more ‘honest’.

Looking back to 1994, it was reassuring to see new Harem Scarem product on the shelves at a time when there was no certainty for bands of their ilk. ”Live and Acoustic” was no exploit EP, as was unfortunately common. It presented a smattering of rarities collected together in one easy package.
Highly Recommended

Acoustic Sessions [1991 Limited Edition EP 500 copies]
01 – Something to say (Edit)
02 – Slowly Slipping Away (Acoustic Version)
03 – How Long (Acoustic Version)
04 – Hard To Love (Acoustic Version)
05 – Something To Say (Album Version)

Live and Acoustic [Japan Edition] (1994)
01 – Honestly (Acoustic)
02 – If There Was A Time (Edit)
03 – No Justice (Live)
04 – Mandy (Live)
05 – Hard To Love (Live)
06 – Jealousy (Acoustic)
07 – Something To Say (Edit)

Lead Vocals – Harry Hess
Bass, Backing Vocals – Mike Gionet
Guitar, Backing Vocals – Pete Lesperance
Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Darren Smith

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