Harmony Grass Discography

TRACK TITLE		COMPOSER	PRODUCER	RELEASED	LABEL

a	MOVE IN A LITTLE CLOSER BABY	Capitanelli / O’Connor	Chris Andrews	1968	RCA 1772
b	HAPPINESS IS TOY SHAPED	Tony Rivers-Kenny Rowe	Tony Rivers	1968	RCA 1772

a	FIRST TIME LOVING	Howard-Blaikley	Tony Rivers	1969	RCA 1928
b	WHAT A GROOVY DAY	Tony Rivers	Tony Rivers	1969	RCA 1928

a	I REMEMBER	Wright-Redway	Tony Rivers	1969	RCA 1885
b	SUMMER DREAMING	Tony Rivers	Tony Rivers	1969	RCA 1885

a	MRS. RITCHIE	Tony Rivers-Kenny Rowe	Tony Rivers	1970	RCA 1928
b	TEACH ME HOW	Sedaka-Bayer	Tony Rivers	1970	RCA 1928

a	CECILIA	Paul Simon	Tony Rivers	1970	RCA 1932
b	MRS. RITCHIE	Tony Rivers-Kenny Rowe	Tony Rivers	1970	RCA 1932

Harmony Grass had already arrived before their first single
‘Move In A Little Closer Baby’ hit the charts.
They were acknowledged as Britain's leading vocal harmony act and had a string of work lasting for many months.
Although Harmony Grass came into existence at the end of 1968, most people realised that the group, led by Tony Rivers, was a revitalised Tony Rivers and the Castaways.
As the Castaways, the group were in a class of their own, achieving almost every form of success as a group, with the exception of a hit single. They’d even received an award from a National Student body as the most popular British act currently performing in colleges and Universities.
Their manager Colin Johnson, however, realised that a chart hit could only enhance the group’s career and thus changed their name.
The gamble paid off. Their hit brought them offers on an International scale and they were frequently off to the Continent where their tight harmonies and exuberant style earned them accolades. They even went as far afield as Canada where they consolidated their success.
Harmony Grass “live” are a joy to watch. If you’ve never had the pleasure, then this album will give some indication of their talent.. Recorded at four separate sessions, the L.P. spotlights the new talents of Tony Rivers - as a songwriter. “My Little Girl”, “What A Groovy Day”, “I’ve Seen To Dream”, “Mrs. Richie”, “Summer Dreaming”,
“I Think Of You”, and “Ballad Of Michael” are all Rivers’ compositions.
“I Think Of You” spotlights Tony Harding on vocals - and he also arranged the intriguing version of “Tom Dooley.”
U.S. songsmiths Capitanelli & O’Connor penned both
“Move In A Little Closer Baby” and “Good Thing” and the remaining numbers “Bird Avenue” and “Chattanooga Choo Choo” are from the boys stage act.
Talent aside, Harmony Grass have earned respect because of their professionalism. This professionalism was forged through hard work and dogged perseverance during their early career.
As for the future? Grass grows. Bill Harry.

This text is from the back of the album, and was written by Bill Harry, a man of some repute from Liverpool and a ‘pop music’ journalist from the 1960’s.

EM Records CD
with the ‘original’ RCA album design
(pix by Kenny Rowe)

RPM Records CD design

This was the RCA design,
which was rejected by the band.

TRACK TITLE	COMPOSER	PRODUCER
Side One
MOVE IN A LITTLE CLOSER BABY	Capitanelli-O’Connor	Chris Andrews
MY LITTLE GIRL	Tony Rivers	Tony Rivers
WHAT A GROOVY DAY	Tony Rivers	Tony Rivers
I’VE SEEN TO DREAM	Tony Rivers	Tony Rivers
(IT AIN’T NECESSARILY) BYRD AVENUE	Tony Rivers	Tony Rivers
CHATTANOOGA CHOO CHOO	(Warren-Gordon)	Tony Rivers
Orchestra on tracks 1,3 and 4, arranged by Johnny Arthey, Vocal arrangements tracks 1-6, Tony Rivers

Side two
GOOD THING	Capitanelli- O’Connor	Tony Rivers
MRS. RITCHIE	Tony Rivers-Kenny Rowe	Tony Rivers
SUMMER DREAMING	Tony Rivers	Tony Rivers
I THINK OF YOU	Tony Rivers-Pat Thompson	Tony Rivers
BALLAD OF MICHAEL	Tony Rivers	Tony Rivers
TOM DOOLEY	Traditional-arranged by Tony Harding	Tony Rivers
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN LOVE DIES?	Weiss- Ubonsky	Tony Rivers
Orchestra on tracks 1 and 4, arranged Johnny Arthey
Vocal arrangements 1-5 and 7, Tony Rivers
Vocal arrangement of Tom Dooley by Tony Harding.

HARMONY GRASS ‘This Is Us’ Released on EM Records EM 1001CD (JAPAN). Album has 22 Tracks, including all original album tracks plus, 9 bonus tracks........	PRODUCER
‘HAPPINESS IS TOY SHAPED’ (Tony Rivers)	Tony Rivers
‘FIRST TIME LOVING’ (Howard-Blaikley)	Tony Rivers
‘I REMEMBER’ (Wright-Redway)	Tony Rivers
‘TEACH ME HOW’ (Sedaka- Greenfield)	Tony Rivers
‘CECILIA’ (Paul Simon)	Tony Rivers
‘IT TAKES A LOT OF LOVING’ (Myers-Holder )	Myers
‘TE LO RICORDI’ (Wright-Redway)(‘I Remember’with Italian lyrics).	Tony Rivers
‘MOVE IN A LITTLE CLOSER BABY’ (Capitanelli-O’Connor) This version was recorded ‘live’at Polydor Studio for radio shows, by Harmony Grass, without any orchestra.	Tony Rivers
‘WALK ON BY’ (Bacharach-David) taken from a ‘live’ BBC radio performance 1969.	-

HARMONY GRASS 'The Tony Rivers Collection Volume 2'. Released on RPM 194 (UK label). All original album tracks, plus 8 bonus tracks, as follows,	PRODUCER
“During the mid 1960’s Tony Rivers and the Castaways established themselves as the UK’s top harmony vocal group. By 1968, the final line-up had changed their name to Harmony Grass and with it secured a top 30 hit. RPM presents the complete studio recordings of this line-up from 1968-1970. This package includes a fold out poster inlay with photos and memorabilia, plus the second part of a specially commissioned essay on Tony Rivers by Kingsley Abbott”. (From RPM CD sleeve notes).
‘I CAN GUARANTEE YOU LOVE’ (Potter-Dee) (Tony Rivers and the Castaways)	Tony Rivers
‘PANTOMIME’ (Tony Rivers-Kenny Rowe) (Tony Rivers and the Castaways)	Tony Rivers
‘TURN OF THE CENTURY’ (Gibb) (For Robert Stigwood-un-released).	Tony Rivers
‘HAPPINESS IS TOY SHAPED’ (Tony Rivers)	Tony Rivers
‘FIRST TIME LOVING’ (Howard-Blaikley)	Tony Rivers
‘I REMEMBER’ (Wright-Redway)	Tony Rivers
‘TEACH ME HOW’ (Sedaka-Greenfield)	Tony Rivers
‘CECILIA’ (Paul Simon)	Tony Rivers