We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago…..
They were not well known in this country but better received in their native England where they mined the proggy vein previously visited by many including the Moody Blues with whom they are often compared. “Barclay James Harvest and Other Shorts Stories” was the 2nd LP of 1971 released by the band Barclay James Harvest and,while not as good as the previous “Once Again”, it did have moments of goodness.
The band was made up of John Lees on guitars and vocals, Les Holroyd on bass and keyboards, Stuart “Woolly” Wolstenholme on keyboards and vocals and Mel Pritchard on drums. They augmented the mellotrons and other keyboard effects by employing a full orchestra, not only in the studio but on the road as well.
This LP is bookended by the best cuts…leading off with “Medicine Man” which they would turn into a rousing rocker on their really good “live” lp a few years later….
There are some other notable beauties including “Ursula and Song With No Meaning”…..but it is the combo that finishes the LP that stands out. “The Poet” is another quiet one accompanied by only the orchestra which then morphs into “After The Day” , a powerful climax to the record.
If you are just discovering Barclay James Harvest…don’t start here. But it’s another stop along the journey that had them releasing albums for almost 30 years
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