Album
Barclay James Harvest And Other Short Stories
1971 · Rock
Rare pressing on Gatefold
Barclay James Harvest And Other Short Stories is a Rock album by Barclay James Harvest, originally released in 1971. On Gatefold: 34 pressings tracked.
About
Barclay James Harvest And Other Short Stories was the third studio album by the British group Barclay James Harvest, released on November 5 1971. Like the work of Buffalo Springfield or the Moody Blues in the first go 'round, you'll need to take it on faith that the Baroque touches on Barclay James Harvest and Other Stories were effective for their time. The fuzzed guitars, Mellotron, bongos, heavy orchestration and dreamy arrangements may sound stilted today, but strip them away (or simply acquiesce to enjoy them) and a very good collection of songs reveals itself. There are obvious nods to the Beatles ("Blue John Blues," "Medicine Man") and the Moodies (the lovely "Ursula"), but that's a fait accompli on any Barclay James Harvest album. Although the album doesn't really tell any stories (an optimistic acceptance of mortality comes into play on a couple of tracks), the band does aspire to bigger things on the aptly titled "The Poet." The only knock on this album (and it pertains to Barclay James Harvest in general) is that you wish they aspired to more. The classical arrangements are stunning, and when the band musters a big orchestral ending for a song like "Little Lapwing," you can't help but wonder how much better it would have been if they'd invoked it sooner. Musically the band is solid; Mel Pritchard's Ringo-isms on the drums are especially neat, while John Lees gets in some nice distorted guitar parts and Stewart Wooly Wolstenholme steals the show when the Mellotron comes into play. The epic "After the Day" closes things on a high note, ending with an explosion that announces all bets are off. Barclay James Harvest and Other Stories is itself a high note in the band's early catalog and worth a flyer for anyone interested in the band's oeuvre.
via Last.fm
The Clerk says
The Clerk knows this whole record — the pressing quirks, the credits, the take.
Tracklist
- 1Medicine Man (2002 Remaster)3:58
- 2Someone There You Know (2002 Remaster)3:48
- 3Harry's Song (2002 Remaster)3:54
- 4Ursula (The Swansea Song) [2002 Remaster]2:54
- 5Little Lapwing (2002 Remaster)4:59
- 6Song with No Meaning (2002 Remaster)4:22
- 7Blue John's Blues (2002 Remaster)6:50
- 8The Poet (2002 Remaster)4:55
- 9After the Day (2002 Remaster)4:48
Sound DNA
- Rock
- Prog Rock
- pastoral
Credits
The people behind it.
Performers
- David WhistonORCHESTRA ORCHESTRA , LEADER
- John LeesACOUSTIC GUITAR, LEAD VOCALS, LEAD GUITAR, PERCUSSION, 12-STRING ACOUSTIC GUITAR, BASS GUITAR, PIANO, HARMONY VOCALS GUITAR, VOCALS ACOUSTIC GUITAR
- Les HolroydBASS, GUITAR, KEYBOARDS, VOCALS BASS, PIANO, LEAD VOCALS, HARMONY VOCALS, BASS ACOUSTIC GUITAR , BASS GUITAR, LEAD GUITAR, LEAD VOCALS, HARMONY VOCALS
- Martyn FordCONDUCTOR MANAGEMENT, CONDUCTOR , ARRANGED BY ORCHESTRA , CONDUCTOR
- Mel PritchardDRUMS, EFFECTS, PERCUSSION, VOCALS, DRUMS DRUMS, PERCUSSION CONGAS
- Woolly WolstenholmeELECTRIC GUITAR, MELLOTRON, LEAD VOCALS, ACOUSTIC GUITAR, 12-STRING ACOUSTIC GUITAR, ORGAN VOCALS, MELLOTRON, KEYBOARDS, GUITAR ACOUSTIC GUITAR
Rare pressing on Gatefold · 34 pressings tracked on Gatefold
Start your shelf.
Track your pressings of Barclay James Harvest And Other Short Stories, get the Clerk's take, and see what the record is worth — free.
Start your shelf →Free forever. Works with 10 records or 10,000.