1971: Barclay James Harvest y otras historias cortas

Contenido de esta entrada:

Introducción

El álbum Once Again

Créditos

Entrada anterior de Barclay James Harvest: 1971: Barclay James Harvest una vez más

Entrada siguiente de Barclay James Harvest: 1972: Baby James Harvest

Sitio oficial de Barclay James Harvest: Barclay James Harvest (bjharvest.co.uk)

Facebook de Barclay James Harvest:  John Lees' Barclay James Harvest | Facebook

Portada del tercer álbum de BJH

Introducción

En el anterior artículo comentamos el segundo álbum de Barclay James Harvest, Once Again, publicado el 5 de febrero de 1971. Las ventas tampoco acompañaron como el primer álbum y no entró en las listas.

Barclay James Harvest es un grupo británico de rock progresivo fundado en Oldham en septiembre de 1969 por el bajista / vocalista Les Holroyd (n. 1948), el guitarrista / vocalista John Lees (n. 1947), el baterista / percusionista Mel Pritchard (1948-2004), y el tecladista / vocalista Stuart "Woolly" Wolstenholme (1947-2010).

Actualmente el grupo está en activo, pero con otros nombres desde 1999 llamados: Barclay James Harvest featuring Les Holroyd y John Lees' Barclay James Harvest.

En este artículo continuamos su historia hasta la publicación de su tercer álbum Barclay James Harvest and Other Short Stories. Tras el lanzamiento de su segundo álbum, iniciaron una gira acompañados de una orquesta completa bajo la dirección de Robert Godfrey. La gira no animó las ventas y llevar una orquesta costaba mucho dinero que acarreó deudas las cuales incrementaron las tensiones en el grupo.

BJH

El álbum Barclay James Harvest and Other Short Stories

Tras la gira Godfrey abandonó por una disputa por los créditos de composición del tema Mockinbird por lo que tuvieron que buscar otra persona para supervisar el trabajo orquestal de su tercer álbum, Barclay James Harvest and Other Short Stories. Para ello se contrató a Martyn Ford. Años más tarde, Godfrey presentó una demanda alegando que se le debían créditos de composición y las regalías correspondientes en varias de las canciones de Barclay James Harvest. 

Aunque el tercer álbum no ha sido tan valorado como el anterior Once Again, incluye temas como After the Day o Medicine Man, que forman parte del repertorio clásico de BJH.

El álbum fue publicado a principios de noviembre de 1971. Como el álbum anterior no llegó a las listas y las ventas no acompañaron. La portada diseñada por Barry Honeyford mantiene el tono austero de las anteriores con unas fotografías de los componentes sobre un fondo negro. 

Contraportada del álbum

El álbum se edito en forma de carpeta incluyendo en el interior fotos, las letras de las canciones, los créditos y un comentario de Roy Hollingworth, crítico musical del Melody Maker. Las fotografías fueron realizadas por Barrie Wentzell y Peter Vernon.

Interior de la carpeta.

Once Again fue remasterizado y reeditado por Harvest en 2002 con varios bonus tracks.

Contraportada de la edición en CD de 2002

Lista de canciones: 

CARA 1

A1. "Medicine Man" (John Lees ) – 3:52

Se incluyó como cara B del sencillo Thanks You publicado el 20 de octubre de 1972 en el Reino Unido. Versión del sencillo: 

Barclay James Harvest - Medicine Man Single Version (the best version of the song)

Portada del sencillo en Alemania

Enlaces:

Barclay James Harvest - Medicine Man

Medicine Man

Medicine Man [2020 Remaster]

Letras:

Didn't anybody see his hand move faster

Than the lightning in his eyes

Oh! what a cold surprise the flying horses cried

And didn't anybody want to ask the calliope

To call the tune

The flying horses crooned but did not know

The Medicine Man sits on the stage

Eats fire and water, earth and air while we all stare

The silver blade burns bright

And tells us to beware

Of mirrored passages that throw a thousand images

Of younger days

The wheel spins slower as it calls us back to play

Round and round now we go

Shout your name to the wind

As it spins by your side

Coloured lights echo as the sound slips on by

Could that have been me?

...

Videos:

Grabación en directo en Drury Lane 1974:

Barclay James Harvest "Medicine Man" 1974 - YouTube

En directo en Berlín en 1987:

Barclay James Harvest - Glasnost - 07 - Medicine Man (HQ).mp4 - YouTube

En directo en el Town & Country Club, 1992):

Barclay James Harvest - Medicine Man (Town & Country Club, 1992) - YouTube

Actuación en los Metropolis Studios el 4 de diciembre, 2010:

John Lees' Barclay James Harvest - Medicine Man - YouTube

Versiones en directo:

Grabado en el programa de la BBC Radio 1, Bob Harris Show, el  3 de abril de 1972 (disponible en el álbum ...BBC In Concert 1972 (2002):

Medicine Man [BBC Radio 1, Bob Harris Show, 3 April 1972]

Del álbum Live (1974):Medicine Man (1974 Live Version)

Del álbum "Live Tapes" - 1978 (solo como bonus track en las últimas reediciones en CD): 

Barclay James Harvest Medicine Man Live

Del álbum Glasnost - 1988: Medicine Man

Portada del álbum Live

Mi opinión personal: 

Suena mejor en las versiones en directo que la original de estudio.

A2. "Someone There You Know"(Woolly Wolstenholme) – 3:43

Enlaces:

Someone There You Know

Barclay James Harvest:-'Someone There You Know'

Someone There You Know [New Stereo Mix]

Someone There You Know [2020 Remaster]

Someone There You Know

Letras:

I've been looking for a place that I know well

It's a long long way from here and when I get there

I will tell, I will tell

I've been looking for a time that I once knew

I could spend some happy hours just being there with you

It doesn't matter where you go

As long as there is someone there you know

So if you need a friend you can depend on me

'Cause I know what it feels to be alone

And in the darkest night you need a light to see

Your shadow's sinking low

Just like a stone

Feels like a broken bone

Guess I'll go on home

I've been looking for someone I know so well

She's a long long way from me and when I find her

I will tell her

It doesn't matter where she goes

As long as there is someone there she knows

  Mi opinión personal: 

   Buen tema rockero.

A3. "Harry's Song" (John Lees) – 3:49

Enlaces:

Harry's Song

Harry's Song [2020 Remaster]

Harry's Song

BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST-Harry's Song (vinyl)

Barclay James Harvest:-'Harry's Song'

Letras:

There's a little bit of you and some of me

There's a little bit of everything you see

But you don't know why Harry cried

There's a time right after love when you feel low

Like a bird with perfect wings denied the sky

But you don't know why Harry cried

Take a look at the common man

He can talk with the use of his hands

Pass you on by with a smile

Like he just don't care

Take a look at yourself in the light

People see by the look in your eyes

Either you're deaf or you're blind

Or you just don't care

Well something stirred today

Young Harry he passed away

Someone moves and a leaf falls to the ground

Morning comes and he is not around

But you don't know why Harry cried

Well you pick him up and you put him in your hand

And he slips on through like tiny bits of sand

But you don't know why Harry cried

Take a look at the common man

He can talk with the use of his hands

Pass you on by with a smile

Like he just don't care

Take a look at yourself in the light

People see by the look in your eyes

Either you're deaf or you're blind

Or you just don't care

Well something stirred today

Young Harry he passed away

Bye bye

  Mi opinión personal: 

  Pop-rock.

A4. "Ursula (The Swansea Song)"(Woolly Wolstenholme)– 2:51

Enlaces:

Ursula (The Swansea Song)

Barclay James Harvest - Ursula

Barclay James Harvest - Ursula (The Swansea Song) (Vinyl)

Ursula (The Swansea Song) (New Stereo Mix)

Barclay James Harvest:-'Ursula (The Swansea Song)'

Letras:

I once loved a lady who did change into a child

I saw the light of day shine in her eyes

I loved her like a baby and I raised her to the sky

It seems the light of day did pass me by

Now she walks along the seashore

And she listens to the sea

But I can't say if she ever thinks of me

If I were of the ocean

Or a wave upon the sand

Or just a drop of water in her hand

A pebble or a broken shell

A rock upon the shore

I doubt if I could love her any more

Now she walks along the seashore

And she listens to the sea

And I can't say if she ever thinks of me

No I can't say if she ever thinks of me

Versiones en directo:

Grabado en el programa de la BBC Radio 1, Bob Harris Show, el  5 de julio de 1971: 

Ursula (The Swansea Song) (BBC Radio 1, Bob Harris Show, 5 July 1971)

Mi opinión personal: 

Bonita balada relajante.

A5. "Little Lapwing"(Les Holroyd) – 4:54

Enlaces:

Little Lapwing

Little Lapwing [2020 Remaster]

Barclay James Harvest . Little lapwing

Barclay James Harvest:-'Little Lapwing'

Little Lapwing [New Stereo Mix]

Letras:

Bye, bye, bye

The time has come round again, my friend

A life and some time I just gotta spend

So bye bye, my friend

See you again

My mind in my pocket

The sun in my eye

There's gold in the mountains

The streams run by

So see you again

Swing low, swing high

Talk of the times, the love and the laughing

I'll come back to you in the spring, little lapwing

Till then, bye bye

Mi opinión personal: 

Bonita balada relajante.

CARA 2

B1. "Song With No Meaning" (Les Holroyd) – 4:18

Enlaces:

Song With No Meaning

Barclay James Harvest:-'Song With No Meaning'

Song With No Meaning [2020 Remaster]

Song With No Meaning [New Stereo Mix]

Letras:

Passing time in the sun

To think of things, lost and done

You wonder why she left so soon

No word or reason why

All feelings born can only die

Lazy days passing by

With memories you just can't hide

The song flows on you can't pursue

Your words don't mean a thing

The mood's too hard for you to sing

Moving on with a sigh

A silhouette against the sky

The seconds they dripped right on by

And slowly filled the day

And feelings born can only fade away

  Mi opinión personal: 

  Pop-rock.

B2. "Blue John's Blues" (John Lees) – 6:45

Enlaces

Blue John's Blues

Barclay James Harvest-Blue John's Blues

Blue John's Blues [2020 Remaster]

Barclay James Harvest:-'Blue John's Blues'

Blue John's Blues [New Stereo Mix]

Letras

Mystery is following me down that lonesome road

And I don't know my way, my way back home

There's someone on my shoulder and he will not share a load

And I don't know my way, my way back home

There's a certain something deep inside

Like a rolling sea or a river wide

As the orchestra starts playing

Get down Joe

You can see his face, you can feel his smile

Yeah, look down low and let the tears run wild

When the orchestra starts playing

Blue John's Blues

Think about me, girl, and the things I ain't said

I could not be sad, thinkin' 'bout the things that you do

While the folks around me sing on

Blue John's Blues

Band is swinging, people singing

Get down Joe

There's a place down home where people meet

They clap their hands and they stamp their feet

When the music starts and the band plays

Get down Joe

They sing out loud and they sing out clear

Turn your head round girl and you might just hear

And if you do then start down singing

Blue John's Blues

Think about me, girl, and the things I ain't said

I could not be sad, thinkin' 'bout the things that you do

While the folks around me sing on

Blue John's Blues

Band is swinging, people singing

Get down Joe

Take hold of John's blues

Must be a thousand hues[?]

Blue John's Blues

Get back Joe

Take back all of your dough

You've got no place to go

Blue John's Blues

Get back now Joe

My sweetest girl that I ever had

She's drive any poor man bad

Blue John's Blues

Well my Ma and my Papa said, Son

You'll get the KB when you're not on the run

Blue John's Blues

Well my lady and me we're gonna dance all night

Yeah yeah we're gonna dance until the broad broad light

Blue John's Blues

The sweetest girl that I ever had

Was guaranteed to drive a poor man bad

Blue John's Blues

Blue John Blues

Get back Joe

Lord, get back Joe

  Mi opinión personal: 

   Buen blues

B3. "The Poet" ( Woolly Wolstenholme) - 4:56

Enlaces:

The Poet

The Poet [2020 Remaster]

Barclay James Harvest:-'The Poet'

Letras

Here I sit watching the day out

No-one beside me who may doubt

All of the words that I could chose to say

So listen, believe, or be gone from this day

I need a friend to walk with me

And sit in the shade of an old tree

To think nothing much, just agree with my thoughts

To say nothing much, never tell what I ought

Watching the people pass by now

They just don't know why or know how

They don't seem to care about all that I've seen

They just walk on by never knowing I've been

Sitting up here where I'm wind blown

Only to ask and to be shown

Things that would make you believe what I say

I'll tell you myself and I'll show you some day

Versiones en directo:

Del álbum Live at High Voltage Festival 2011: 

10 John Lees' Barclay James Harvest - The Poet [Concert Live Ltd]

Portada del álbum Live at High Voltage Festival 2011

Mi opinión personal: 

Las dos últimas canciones del álbum que están unidas son lo más progresivo del álbum.

B4. "After The Day" (John Lees) – 4:48

Enlaces:

After The Day

After the Day [2020 Remaster]

Barclay James Harvest:-'After The Day'

BJH - After The Day(with pictures)

Letras:

The eyes of night march slowly by

The last grain falls

The kneeling man just sighs

Protected by the one great wall

Of coloured parts

He probes his clouded mind

If he takes a look around him

Is there nothing left to see

Is there nothing left at all

After the day

With trembling hands he wipes his eyes

He tries to stand

But does not feel the need

The morning sun shines on

The multicoloured cross

Left standing through it all

If he takes a look around him

Is there nothing left to see

Is there nothing left at all

After the day

If he takes a look around him

Is there nothing left to see

Is there nothing left at all

After the day

 Versiones en directo:

Grabado en el programa de la BBC Radio 1, en el Hippodrome, Golders Green, Londres, el  19 de junio de 1974 (disponible en el álbum "After The Day" (The Radio Broadcasts 1974-1976)" (2008)

After The Day (BBC Radio 1 "In Concert" Programme)

Del álbum Live (1974): After The Day (1974 Live Version)

Del álbum Live at High Voltage Festival 2011: 

11 John Lees' Barclay James Harvest - After the Day [Concert Live Ltd]

Del álbum The 50th Anniversary Concert (2018): The Poet / After the Day (Live)

Videos:

En directo en Colmar - Francia. 15 agosto - 2011.

John Lees' Barclay James Harvest - The Poet /After The Day. France - 2011. - YouTube

 Grabado en el London Shepherds Bush Empire el 5 de noviembre 2006

After The Day - YouTube

Barclay James Harvest - After The Day, live at Islington 13/10/2018 - YouTube

Mi opinión personal: 

Las dos últimas canciones del álbum que están unidas son lo más progresivo del álbum.

Mi opinión personal sobre el álbum: 

Es un álbum de escucha agradable y relajante. La primera vez que escuché a Barclay James Harvest me gustó mucho su música y sin que nadie me lo recomendará. Quizás este álbum es menos porgresivo que los anteriores.

Créditos

John Lees – voz, guitarras

Les Holroyd – voz, bajo, piano

Stuart "Woolly" Wolstenholme – voz, mellotron, teclados

Mel Pritchard – batería, percusión

Personal adicional

La Orquesta Sinfónica Barclay James Harvest

Director de orquesta:  Martyn Ford