Margo Guryan’s impact has repeatedly touched the mainstream, but as an artist she has yet to become a household name. Even after working with superstars Harry Belafonte, Ornette Coleman, Miles Davis, and Neil Diamond, Guryan kept a low profile.
Captivated by jazz, Guryan studied composition at Boston University. She played piano and loved the process of writing and arranging. Shortly after signing to Atlantic Records, Guryan’s approach to music was shifted completely by the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds. Deeply inspired by the intricate harmonies, Guryan createdTake a Picture, her first full-length album. Despite poor record sales, this album has captivated listeners, gaining a cult-like following, for almost 60 years. It’s been described as “full of love songs draped in Sgt. Pepper-ish splendor: orchestral strings, psychedelic guitar, Dixieland brass, harp, harpsichord, [and] flutes.”
SubPop’s Like Someone I Know: A Celebration of Margo Guryan, is a 12-track cover album breathing new life into her brilliant songwriting. Many of these covers bring out the eerie quality of Guryan’s music. Although her vocals are often relaxed, the songs themselves seem quite urgent. She sings softly, but it always feels like there’s something bubbling under the surface.
Clairo’s cover of “Love Songs”is one of my favorites from this project. Her version shifts into a more reflective tone, rather than Guryan’s observational singing style. “Today I was cryin’ in the sunshine,” she sings, “when someone said, ‘is something wrong?’ and I said, ‘no, it’s just a song,’ and I can’t tell you why love songs always make me cry.” The writing styles of both Clairo and Guryan are so personal that it often feels like reading a diary entry you forgot you wrote. Clairo absolutely embodies Margo’s quiet strength, while still remaining true to her personal musicianship.
June McDoom also surprised me with her cover of “Thoughts.” It drifts in between feeling totally disorienting and completely peaceful. “Nobody hears me / No one hears me” is repeated throughout the chamber of sound. As a listener, you can’t help but to wonder if you’re interrupting a private moment. Should I be hearing this right now?
Another standout is “Take a Picture” with Frankie Cosmos and Good Morning. “Take a picture so we can remember how it feels to love each other just in case of cloudy days to come,” the lyrics chirp. From Guryan’s version, it feels like she’s almost pleading, bargaining not to lose the good things in her life. But with Frankie Cosmos and Good Morning splitting the vocals between verses, this cover shifts the meaning of the song. It becomes more about the relationship between two people, both afraid to give each other up.
“Can You Tell Me”is perhaps the most beautiful cover on this album. Syrian-American folk musician, Bedouine, has been on my personal music rotation for quite some time. Her voice is so classic, yet fits snugly into the music of today. Bedouine’s stunning vocals turn this tune into a lullaby, reminding me of a child being sung to.
“Love” is one of Guryan’s best instrumental pieces. The original is dark, unsettling, and almost trancelike, before breaking into a jazz groove. Barrie’s version is similarly suspenseful, but her vocals are so unique. The instrumental flows between looped sounds, droning notes, and even some strings as Barrie wows with her layered harmonies.
These are just a few of my favorites, but every song on Celebration Like You is special in its own way. This album introduces modern elements to Guryan’s work, but still remains a touching tribute to her legacy. There’s something so intriguing about her unique approach not only to music, but to life. It’s exciting to hear her spirit captured in a new way.
Listen to Margo’s original songs side-by-side these covers here.