Deep Dive: Lazarus, A FOOL’S PARADISE

Today’s Deep Dive takes us into the realm of Bearsville Records, the label founded in 1970 by Albert Grossman, but while you may be familiar with some of the bigger names on their roster, like Todd Rundgren and Foghat, do you remember…Lazarus?

Originally known as Shiloh, Lazarus hailed from Abilene, Texas, and they got their big break when they met Peter Yarrow at a Peter, Paul, and Mary concert and gave him a copy of their demo tape. In short order, the band were signed to Bearsville, and Grossman quickly got them into the studio to record an album with Yarrow and Phil Ramone co-producing the LP.

The self-titled album was released in 1971, with the single “Warmth of Your Eyes” turning into a minor hit the following year. In ’73, Lazarus returned with their sophomore album, A FOOL’S PARADISE, which was another Yarrow / Ramone co-production. Although the single “Ladyfriends I (Sing a Song to Your Lady)” got some attention, it wasn’t enough to put the band over the edge in terms of major success.

That said, Lazarus did end up delivering a major earworm into households all over America: they performed the song in this classic Lifesavers commercial.

If you’ve never heard either of Lazarus’s albums (they ultimately broke up a few years after the release of A FOOL’S PARADISE), we’ve put them both into one convenient playlist for your listening enjoyment. Give it a listen and learn what you’ve been missing!