Review Summary: This is a worthy document. A very respectable live one from the 70’s.
“Barclay James Harvest Live” is officially the debut live album of Barclay James Harvest that was released in 1974. The line up on the album is John Lees, Stuart “Woolly” Wolstenholme, Les Holroyd and Mel Pritchard.
Barclay James Harvest was an English progressive rock band that was founded in Oldham in 1966. Their self titled debut album was released in the mid of the 70’s with positive reviews but few sales. Their second album, “Once Again”, gained more favourable reviews. The tour that followed was conducted with a full orchestra. Their third album “...And Other Short Stories” was an even greater achievement. By the release of their fourth album, “Baby James Harvest”, the pressures of touring were beginning to have an impact on the band, and the album’s inconsistency was noticed by both fans and critics alike. Their next album, “Everyone Is Everybody Else”, is viewed by many as their artistic highest point.
So, at the time where “Barclay James Harvest Live” was released, Barclay James Harvest already had released five studio albums, “Barclay James Harvest” in 1970, “Once Again” and “...And Other Short Stories” both in 1971, “Baby James Harvest” in 1972 and “Everyone Is Everybody Else” in 1974. However, not all those albums are represented here. Only “Once Again”, “...And Other Short Stories”, “Baby James Harvest” and “Everyone Is Everybody Else” have tracks performed here. Barclay James Harvest decided not to perform any track from their eponymous debut studio album, what was a pity. It’s true that “Barclay James Harvest” isn’t one of their best albums released in their first musical phase, the Harvest years. Still it’s an album with some nice tracks that is probably beter than “Baby James Harvest” is.
“Barclay James Harvest Live” has eleven tracks. “Galadriel”, “She Said” and “Mockingbird” were released on “Once Again”. “Medicine Man” and “After The Day” were released on “...And Other Short Stories”. “Summer Soldier” was released on “Baby James Harvest”. “Crazy City”, “The Great 1974 Mining Disaster”, “Negative Earth”, “Paper Wings”, and “For No One” were all released on “Everyone Is Everybody Else”.
“Barclay James Harvest Live” was recorded at the Liverpool Stadium and at the London’s Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Recorded shortly after the release of “Everyone Is Everybody Else”, the band takes a tasteful journey through four of their five studio albums at the time, presenting the best of them in truly rousing, rambling versions. With this recording a line was drawn under the first chapter of Barclay James Harvest, more precisely the time with the Harvest label. It represents a kind of a best-of of this phase. This album is a true celebration of joy where Barclay James Harvest acts powerfully. In my opinon, the songs are at least as good as their original studio album’s versions. Without orchestral accompaniment, recorded only in the classic four piece cast, the new recordings, reduced to the essentials, suddenly unfold their full splendour on stage. Barclay James Harvest sounds much rawer, energetic and voluptuous than ever.
The live performance is dominated by John Lee’s guitar and Wooly Wolstenholme’s Mellotron carpets. Especially due to him, this is a true joy especially to all Mellotron’s fans. He manages, in a sophisticated way, to constantly tease out new tonal refinements from the instrument, and especially in interaction with guitarist John Lees, the instrumental parts also turn into a tonal feel good orgy. Building on a symphonic panorama sound, Barclay James Harvest always remains stuck in the melodic area, but the varied arrangements open up an interesting listening impression, which has lost none of its original class. Some of the tracks stray somewhat from their studio versions, although the songwriting itself and the musicianship remain solid. For instance, “Medicine Man” is a simple song that evolves into a mostly instrumental, jazzy, jam/rock piece. “Mockingbird” is one of the all time best Barclay James Harvest songs. “After The Day” is another perennial in the band’s live and best-of compilations. If you know the original piece, you’ll find the delivery here, with guitar lines reproduced faithfully and Mellotron replacing the orchestra. It’s most impressive on this album.
Conclusion: “Barclay James Harvest Live” is one of the best live albums released by any progressive rock band in those days. For Mellotron’s lovers it’s an essential album. For a lot of Barclay James Harvest fans, this debut live album is still their finest live album because of the unforgettable interplay between Woolly’s epic keyboard soundscapes and John’s soaring lead guitar. It adds up to an exciting new spin on their previous catalogue of first class albums. Overall, this is a very solid live collection and a fine starting point for those who are new to the band’s body of work. This is the ideal entry into the early phase of this band. In reality, with their classic line up, Barclay James Harvest was a band that could do no wrong. This live album will explain the rave reviews we’ve all heard about that era. It was the album that opened up doors to their future international successes. It’s highly recommended for all Barclay James Harvest’s fans.
Music was my first love.
John Miles (Rebel)
