By 1972 and the release of their fourth album Barclay James Harvest had pretty much left behind the symphonic/orchestral sounds developed (with help from Robert John Godfrey) over the first three albums, Barclay James Harvest (1970), Once Again (1971) and Barclay James Harvest And Other Short Stories (1971). Baby James Harvest was very much a transitional record with the band comprising of John Lees (vocals/guitar), Les Holroyd (vocals/bass/keyboards/guitar), Stuart “Woolly” Wolstenholme (keyboards/vocals) and Mel Pritchard (drums/percussion) taking a four piece band approach to the writing and recording process which would see them leaning towards a more folk/progressive rock sound made famous by the likes of The Moody Blues. What we find on this latest re-issue of album number four are the original stereo remastered album along with its new 2023 stereo mix by Stephen W. Taylor who has worked on releases by Hawkwind, Van Der Graaf Generator and Marillion amongst others in recent years. Also included are both the mono and stereo versions of the BBC Radio One “In Concert” performance where the band performed alongside the BJH Symphony Orchestra conducted by Martyn Ford at the Paris Theatre in London. A release for the completist.
The main album very much shows that development period that BJH were going through and as such Baby James Harvest runs the gamut of styles and emotions from the lead off with the Wishbone Ash style twin guitars on ‘Crazy (Over You)’ to the out and out symphonic Disney soundtrack of ‘Moonwater’ which closes out the original set. Sure there are moments of what would come to signpost the classic BJH sound on ‘Delph Town Morn’ with its Lee/Holroyd dual vocal and distinctive brass and the slightly throw away single ‘Thank You’ but the track which really made this proghead’s ear prick up is the ten minute centrepiece ‘Summer Soldier’. Summoning the spirit of Floyd within the anti-war sentiment as it weaves its message through the gunfire opening, church bell centre section and on to the final four minute “I thought I saw a summer soldier, helmet on his brow” coda. A total progtastic treat. Bonuses here include an array of the usual non album A and B sides as well as a few alternative takes. The experimentation continues on the bonus tracks where ‘Child Of Man’ finds the band straying close to CSN territory, the T-Rex style hand clapping glam of ‘Breathless’ which was released under the Bombadil pseudonym and the ‘Thank You’ B-side ‘Medicine Man’ which finds them in the shadow of a Moody Blues cloud. There are also rockier moments for ‘Rock And Roll Woman’ as well as (on disc two) a forays into Fleetwood Mac style pop rock for the unreleased ‘Sweet Faced Jane’. As well as the two stereo mixes this set also includes a Blu-ray (not included with the review copy) containing the high resolution 5.1 Surround Sound mix for the true audiophiles in the audience.
Next up are the 1972 “In Concert” discs although unless you are a real BJH aficionado other than their slightly different running order I fail to see why mono and stereo versions are required (I probably sound like a heathen). The set includes two key tracks from the then latest release (‘Summer Soldier’ and ‘Moonwater’) which both benefit from the live orchestra but opener ‘Mockingbird’ truly sets the bar high, flying at an altogether higher altitude with this epic orchestral arrangement. Elsewhere the Tolkien inspired ‘Galadriel’ lowers the pace but not the intensity while a trio of …And Other Stories tracks (‘Medicine Man’, The Poet and ‘After The Day’) supply the backbone of the evenings entertainment. Shows of this calibre are what made the BBC and the “In Concert” series specifically so great. Baby James Harvest may be patchy and lack direction but this certainly isn’t and doesn’t. Worth the admission price on its own.
Barclay James Harvest had come off of the back of a great run of albums prior to Baby James Harvest which would be their last for Harvest before moving to Polydor where they would go on to make many more consistent albums (Everyone Is Everybody Else, Gone To Earth Time Honoured Ghosts and Octoberon) but without the trials and risks taken during the making of this album who knows what their trajectory would have been. John Lees and Les Holroyd continue to tour with their respective versions of BJH with Lees continuing his “A Farewell To Touring” dates for the remainder of 2023 and Holroyd lining up shows for 2024. Their legacy continues.
- Reviewed By Peter Brockwell.
- Barclay James Harvest (4CD/Blu-Ray Edition)is released via Cherry Red Records On 22nd September 2023.
Official Website / Facebook / John Lee’s BJH
Disc One: The Original Stereo Mixes Remastered
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Crazy (Over You)
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Delph Town Morn
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Summer Soldier
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Thank You
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One Hundred Thousand Smiles Out
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Moonwater
Bonus Tracks: -
Child of Man (A-side of single)
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I’m Over You (B-side of single)
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When the City Sleeps (B- side of single)
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Breathless (A-side of single)
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Thank You (alternative)
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Medicine Man (single version)
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Rock and Roll Woman (A- side of single)
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The Joker (B-side of single)
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Child of Man (BBC session 15th March 1972)
Disc Two: The New Stereo Mixes by Stephen W Tayler
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Crazy (Over You)
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Delph Town Morn
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Summer Soldier
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Thank You
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One Hundred Thousand Smiles Out
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Moonwater
Bonus Tracks: -
Child of Man
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Sweet Faced Jane (previously unreleased)
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When the City Sleeps
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Breathless
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Medicine Man (single)
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Moonwater (Strawberry Studios demo)
Disc Three: BBC Radio One “In Concert” 16th November 1972 with The Barclay James Harvest Symphony Orchestra – Mono UK broadcast version
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Introduction
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Mockingbird
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Medicine Man
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Galadriel
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Summer Soldier
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The Poet
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After the Day
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Moonwater
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Dark Now My Sky
Disc Four: BBC Radio One “In Concert” 16th November 1972 with The Barclay James Harvest Symphony Orchestra – Stereo version
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Introduction
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Mockingbird
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Medicine Man
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Moonwater
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Summer Soldier
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The Poet
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After the Day
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Galadriel
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Dark Now My Sky
Disc Five: Blu-Ray, High resolution 5.1 Surround Sound mix & New Stereo Mix by Stephen W Tayler & Original Stereo Mix (96kHz /24-bit)
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Crazy (Over You)
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Delph Town Morn
-
Summer Soldier
-
Thank You
-
One Hundred Thousand Smiles Out
-
Moonwater
Bonus tracks: -
Child of Man
-
Sweet Faced Jane
-
When the City Sleeps
-
Breathless
-
Medicine Man (single version)
-
Moonwater (Strawberry Studios demo)
Bonus video content: -
Thank You – Promotional video 1973, shown on BBC TV Old Grey Whistle Test – 9th January 1973
