Released on August 6, 1991, the self-titled debut from Toronto-based Harem Scarem
remains a cornerstone of Canadian melodic hard rock. While the band later moved toward a heavier sound with their 1993 masterpiece Mood Swings
, their debut is defined by a polished, AOR-influenced style characterized by massive vocal harmonies and Pete Lesperance’s tasteful guitar work. The 1991 Era and Sound
Entering the scene just as the grunge explosion began to dominate airwaves, Harem Scarem’s debut captured the peak of the melodic rock era. The album’s production is notably smooth, leaning heavily into power ballads and mid-tempo anthems that made it a success on Canadian charts (peaking at #68) and a massive hit in Asian markets like Indonesia and the Philippines.
The Harem Scarem self-titled debut album was released in August 1991 via WEA/Warner Music Canada. A staple of the melodic hard rock and AOR (Adult Oriented Rock) genres, the album helped establish the band's reputation for lush vocal harmonies and technical guitar work. Album Overview Genre: Melodic Hard Rock, Arena Rock, Glam Metal, and AOR.
Production: Produced by Kevin Doyle, Harry Hess, and Pete Lesperance.
Charts: The album peaked at No. 68 on the Canadian charts and spawned five singles.
Notable Success: The power ballad "Honestly" became a major hit in Canada, significantly boosting the band's profile. Track Listing The standard edition consists of 10 tracks: Hard to Love (4:28) Distant Memory (4:29) With a Little Love (4:00) Honestly (4:02) Love Reaction (3:53) Slowly Slipping Away (3:45) All Over Again (3:07) Don't Give Your Heart Away (3:29) How Long (5:03) Something to Say (4:42)
Note: Some Japanese imports and remastered editions include acoustic bonus sessions for tracks like "Slowly Slipping Away," "How Long," and "Hard to Love". Band Personnel Harry Hess: Lead vocals, keyboards, guitar. Pete Lesperance: Lead guitar, backing vocals. Mike Gionet: Bass, backing vocals. Darren Smith: Drums, backing vocals. Harem Scarem – CD (Album), 1991 [r4499111] - Discogs
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By Request: A Deep Dive into the Canadian Melodic Rock Masterpiece
Every so often, a request pops up in the deep corners of melodic rock forums, private trackers, and audiophile Facebook groups. It’s not for a Def Leppard or Bon Jovi album—those are everywhere. It’s for a specific, elusive digital ghost: HAREM SCAREM - Harem Scarem 1991 FLAC - by request-.
To the uninitiated, that string of text looks like technical jargon. To the devoted fan of late ‘80s/early ‘90s hard rock, however, it represents the holy grail of Canadian melodic rock. You requested it. Here is the long-form answer.
Command-line example to convert WAV to FLAC:
flac --best "01 - Song.wav"
Tools:
Recommended metadata fields:
Batch tagging workflow:
Embed replaygain (optional) using mp3gain/foobar2000 or ReplayGain tags in your tagger for consistent playback volume. HAREM SCAREM - Harem Scarem 1991 FLAC - by request-
So, to the anonymous user who typed "HAREM SCAREM - Harem Scarem 1991 FLAC - by request-" into the search bar—this article is for you.
You are not just looking for a file. You are preserving a piece of rock history. You are ensuring that the dynamic range of Harry Hess’s scream at 2:45 in "Slowly Slipping Away" hits your eardrums exactly as the producer intended in 1991.
Seek the lossless rip. Bypass the YouTube conversions. Find the original CD or a verified FLAC copy. Crank the volume. And remember that when the world went grunge, Harem Scarem chose to write hits.
Request filled.
Suggested Tags: #HaremScarem #MelodicRock #FLAC #LosslessAudio #1991Rock #CanadianRock #ByRequest #Audiophile #HarryHess #PeteLesperance
It was a dark and stormy night, and the radio station was playing a bizarre mix of songs. The DJ, a quirky individual with a penchant for obscure rock bands, had just introduced the latest track: "Harem Scarem" by Harem Scarem.
As the music began to play, the station's engineer, a gruff but lovable man named Joe, looked up from his console and raised an eyebrow. "Harem Scarem, eh?" he thought to himself. "Those guys were a real thing back in the 90s. I wonder what happened to them."
The song, "Harem Scarem", was a frenetic, guitar-driven track with soaring vocals and a catchy chorus. As it played, Joe couldn't help but tap his foot along with the beat.
Just then, the phone rang. It was a listener, calling in to request another song by the band. Joe answered, and a voice on the other end said, "Hey, can you play 'Harlem Scarem' by Harem Scarem? I've been looking for that song for years!" Released on August 6, 1991, the self-titled debut
Joe chuckled. "Actually, buddy, the song is called 'Harem Scarem', not 'Harlem Scarem'. And it's by Harem Scarem, a Canadian rock band from the 90s."
The listener laughed. "Oh, my bad! I've always gotten that wrong. But I love that song. It's from their 1991 album, right?"
Joe was impressed. "That's right! The album is self-titled, and it's a great one. I'll see what I can do about playing another track from them."
As Joe searched through the station's archives, he stumbled upon a FLAC file of the band's 1991 album. He smiled, thinking that this was going to be a great night for music.
The rest of the evening was a blur of guitar-driven rock and roll, with Joe and the DJ playing track after track by Harem Scarem. The listeners loved it, calling in to request more songs and sharing their own memories of the band.
As the night drew to a close, Joe reflected on the power of music to bring people together. It didn't matter that Harem Scarem was a relatively obscure band; what mattered was that their music had touched people's lives, and that it continued to resonate with listeners to this day.
And so, as the storm outside subsided and the sun began to rise, Joe smiled, feeling grateful for the chance to share some great music with the world. The Harem Scarem marathon had been a success, and he knew that he would always treasure the memories of that strange and wonderful night.
Harem Scarem self-titled debut album (1991) is widely considered a masterpiece of Canadian melodic hard rock and AOR (Album-Oriented Rock). Released on August 6, 1991, through
. The album is highly sought after by audiophiles in high-fidelity formats like due to its lush harmonies and precise production. Musical Profile and Impact Artist — YYYY — Album — TT Title
Harem Scarem - 1991 FLAC: A Hard Rock Legacy Uncovered
For fans of 90s hard rock and hair metal, the name Harem Scarem might not be as instantly recognizable as some of their more famous peers, but their music and legacy hold a special place in the hearts of many who lived through the vibrant music scene of that era. One of their most celebrated works, their 1991 album released simply as "Harem Scarem," has garnered a dedicated following, and today, we explore why this album, especially in its high-quality FLAC format, is a treasured find.