For the prog rock peeps
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Barclay James Harvest are an obscure, yet extremely tenacious, Seventies/Eighties art-rock band that has always been very nice, very friendly and very much hurt by the public feeling, churning out a commercially friendly sound that nobody wanted because it wasn't too catchy, too original, too atmospheric, too energetic, too anything. It just sounded nice. The band's catalog is consistently solid and just as consistently unremarkable, yet as it usually happens, the more 'mediocre' you are the less the chance of your actually going directly down the drain some day or other.
This is a tune from there self titled first album released in 1970.
Comments (8)
I am thoroughly enjoying this music. Its unfortunate they did not receive more recognition. I understand the "too original and not too catchy"... they were true to their music and themselves.
As "proggy" as I am, this is one band I've never heard before. Thanks for posting this. This ain't bad at all.
Thanks for sharing! Love BJH! :-)
Not bad, thanks for posting and sharing.
thanks for listening and caring.
you know inrum, this is a band I've heard of and seen records by since the mid-seventies - but shame on me for never giving them a spin. this is the second spin I've given this today - that first quarter (and even through the other breaks) is very reverential and gives off a very spiritual vibe. and while there's slight comparison to maybe Procol Harum or The Moody Blues, it's not that significant and only appears in flashes. I find this to be a very unique sound I need to hear more of...thanks for the intro!!!
Barclay James Harvest is a very interesting band indeed. They had a symphonic orchestra of their own, but unfortunately, this was way too expensive, so i guess they did not perform very often with a full orchestra. I happened to hear them in the seventies (according to BJH's website on 22 May 1971) in Bern in Switzerland with an impressive Berne symphonic orchestra. Their 'She Said' on the 'Once Again' album never sounded better. The swelling beginning was just perfect at the ice stadium. Later on, i found another LP with their earlier work like the well-known 'Early Morning' which is still one of my favorite songs of them all - so simple, so convincing, so enticing. In these beginnings they earned the label 'Progressive Rock Band' for sure.
Their "Live Tapes" album is a sought after and sort of rare record that is superb. Great post!