Barclay James Harvest discography [1970-1997]

 

Barclay James Harvest was, for many years, one of the most hard luck outfits in progressive rock. A quartet of solid rock musicians - John Lees, guitar, vocals; Les Holroyd, bass, vocals; Stuart "Wooly" Wolstenholme, keyboards, vocals; and Mel Pritchard, drums - with a knack for writing hook-laden songs built on pretty melodies, they harmonized like the Beatles and wrote extended songs with more of a beat than the Moody Blues. They were signed to EMI at the same time as Pink Floyd, and both bands moved over to the company's progressive rock-oriented Harvest imprint at the same time, yet somehow, they never managed to connect with the public for a major hit in England, much less America.

Barclay James Harvest - All Is Safely Gathered In (5 CD, 2005/FLAC)

 

Barclay James Harvest was, for many years, one of the most hard luck outfits in progressive rock. A quartet of solid rock musicians -- John Lees, guitar, vocals; Les Holroyd, bass, vocals; Stuart "Wooly" Wolstenholme, keyboards, vocals; and Mel Pritchard, drums -- with a knack for writing hook-laden songs built on pretty melodies, they harmonized like the Beatles and wrote extended songs with more of a beat than the Moody Blues. They were signed to EMI at the same time as Pink Floyd, and both bands moved over to the company's progressive rock-oriented Harvest imprint at the same time, yet somehow, they never managed to connect with the public for a major hit in England, much less America. 

- John Lees / guitars, recorders, vocals

- Les Holroyd / bass, acoustic guitar, piano, vocals

- Mel Pritchard / drums, percussion

- Woolly Wolstenholme / Mellotrons, organ, piano, synthesizers, guitar, vocals (1967-1979)

Guest musicians:

- Kevin McAlea / keyboards

- Colin Browne / keyboards, guitar

- Bias Boshell / keyboards

- Jeff Leach / keyboards (1977)

- Sam Brown / backing vocals

- Jan Ince / backing vocals

- Helen Chapelle / backing vocals 

 

Barclay James Harvest - Barclay James Harvest and Other Short Stories [Expanded Edition] (2 CD, 2020/FLAC)

Barclay James Harvest and Other Short Stories  features the original UK stereo mix re-mastered from the original master tapes and also includes a new stereo mix on a second CD. In addition there are 3 rare US album versions of ‘Medicine Man’, ‘Harry’s Song’ and ‘Someone There You Know’, along with 5 BBC Radio session tracks from July 1971 and March 1972, along with 2 rare John Lees demo recordings from 1971 and 3 mono reduction mixes made at Abbey Road studios in July 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.