Barclay James Harvest (album) explained

Barclay James Harvest
Type:	Album
Artist:	Barclay James Harvest
Cover:	Barclay James Harvest (album).jpg
Recorded:	November 8, 1969 – January 26, 1970
Studio:	EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London
Genre:	Progressive rock symphonic rock
Length:	39:42 (original LP) 1:16:53 (2002 CD)
Label:	Harvest (UK) Sire (US)
Producer:	Norman Smith
Next Title:	Once Again
Next Year:	1971

Barclay James Harvest is the first album by British progressive rock band Barclay James Harvest.^[1]

Track listing

On the original vinyl LP all songs were credited to Holroyd/Lees/Pritchard/Wolstenholme. The list below shows the actual composers.^{[2] [3]}

Side one

1. "Taking Some Time On" (John Lees) – 5:31
2. "Mother Dear" (Lees) – 3:20
   Arranged and conducted by Norman Smith
3. "The Sun Will Never Shine" (Woolly Wolstenholme) – 5:07
4. "When the World Was Woken" (Les Holroyd) – 5:50

Side two

5. "Good Love Child" (Lees) – 5:10
6. "The Iron Maiden" (Wolstenholme) – 2:43
7. "Dark Now My Sky" (Lees) – 12:01

Bonus tracks

Barclay James Harvest was remastered and reissued by Harvest in 2002 as Their First Album with several bonus tracks:^[4]

8. "Early Morning" (A-side of first single, 1968) (Holroyd, Lees, Mel Pritchard, Wolstenholme) – 2:34
9. "Mister Sunshine" (B-side of first single, 1968) (Wolstenholme) – 2:54
10. "So Tomorrow" (Holroyd, Lees, Pritchard, Wolstenholme) – 3:28
11. "Eden Unobtainable" (Holroyd) – 3:10
12. "Night" (Wolstenholme) – 3:20
13. "Pools of Blue" (Lees) – 3:29
14. "Need You Oh So Bad" (Wolstenholme) – 1:18
15. "Small Time Town" (Lees) – 2:12
16. "Dark Now My Sky" (Lees) – 3:43
17. "I Can't Go on Without You" (Out-take, 1968) (Wolstenholme) – 2:13
18. "Eden Unobtainable" (Out-take, 1968) (Holroyd) – 3:04
19. "Poor Wages" (Single B-side, 1969) (Wolstenholme) – 2:34
20. "Brother Thrush" (Single A-side, 1969) (Lees) – 3:06

• Tracks 10-16: previously unreleased
• Tracks 10-11: from the BBC Session 20 April 1968
• Tracks 12-16: from the BBC Session 30 July 1968

Deluxe edition

In 2018 a multi format re-mastered limited deluxe edition was released. Initially available in a 3 CD and 1 DVD with the full 5.1 surround sound mix and 33 bonus tracks, there is also a 2 CD edition with the remaster and a limited number of bonus tracks.^[5]

Personnel

Barclay James Harvest

• John Lees – vocals, guitars, recorder
• Les Holroyd – vocals, bass guitar, guitar, cello
• Stuart "Woolly" Wolstenholme – vocals, mellotron, keyboards, guitar, harmonica
• Mel Pritchard – drums, percussion

Additional personnel

• Jim Litherland – guitar on "Taking Some Time On"
• The Barclay James Harvest Symphony Orchestra
  • Orchestra Leader: Gavyn Wright
  • Conductor and Musical Director: Robert Godfrey
• Engineer: Phil McDonald

Cover

The original gatefold cover was designed by Ian Latimer, with photography by Richard Dunkley.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Barclay James Harvest . . 6 February 2024 . 6 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240206192117/https://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=3380 . live .
2. Liner notes for Their First Album Harvest CD 07243 538405 2 5
3. Web site: Barclay James Harvest Album Portfolio . www.bjharvest.co.uk (BJH official website). 20 August 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110719035836/http://www.bjharvest.co.uk/barclay.htm. 19 July 2011 . live.
4. Web site: Their First Album . . 6 February 2024 . 6 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240206192117/https://www.discogs.com/release/1565616-Barclay-James-Harvest-Their-First-Album . live .
5. Web site: Barley James Harvest: Barley James Harvest 3CD/1DVD Limited Edition Deluxe Box Set . CherryRed.co.uk . 2018-06-25 . 2019-09-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190906102334/https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/barclay-james-harvest-barclay-james-harvest-3cd-1dvd-limited-edition-deluxe-box-set/ . live .