Artist: BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST
Album: BABY JAMES HARVEST RE-MASTERED (CD)

Year: 1973/ 2002
Media type: CD

“Baby James Harvest” is felt by many to be the weakest of their first four albums which were all released on the Harvest Label. This would be their last album for that label. This album is more of an acquired taste than their previous, more accessible releases. I remember being disappointed with the original LP release due to both the music and to the rather uninspired baby in a flowerpot cover, and lack of a gatefold sleeve. In retrospect however, the album was well worth getting to know.

The album contains just six tracks in all. There is the prog rock classic “Summer soldier”, surely one of the most underrated prog epics by anyone. Constructed in two distinct parts, it has passing similarities with Uriah Heep’s “July Morning”. The final track “Moonwater” has a classical sound and structure, with delicate vocals and significant orchestration.

The diversity of the band’s first album returns, with the rocking “Thank you”, (a tribute to their road crew and literally everyone else), and the brass backed “Delph town morn”. Elsewhere, “One hundred thousand smiles out” has more than a hint of “Space Oddity” to it.

The tracks are generally longer than those on previous albums allowing the band to develop them slightly more. The remastered version has some interesting bonus tracks, including the excellent non-album single “The Joker”.

TRACKLIST:

1. Crazy (Over You) (4:09)
2. Delph Town Morn (4:43)
3. Summer Soldier (10:23)
4. Thank You (4:23)
5. One Hundred Thousand Smiles Out (6:04)
6. Moonwater (Poco Adagio) (7:22)

Total Time: 37:04

Bonus Tracks on EMI remaster (2002):

7. Child of Man (single B-side, April 1972)
8. I'm Over You (single A-side, April 1972)
9. When The City Sleeps (single B-side, September 10. 1972, under the pseudonym "Bombadil")
11. Breathless (single B-side, September 1972, under the pseudonym "Bombadil")
12. Thank You (alternative version, Old Grey Whistle Test soundtrack)
13. Medicine Man (single version - released October 1972 as B-side of Harvest HAR 5058)
14. Rock and Roll Woman (single A-side, May 1973)
15. The Joker (single B-side, May 1973)
16. Child of Man (BBC Session 15th March 1972, previously unreleased)
17. Moonwater (2002 remix - previously unreleased)

LINE-UP:

- Les Holroyd / basses, keyboards, Mellotron, lead vocals, guitar
- John Lees / guitars, lead vocals, special effects
- Mel Pritchard / drums, percussion
- Woolly Wolstenholme / keyboards, Mellotron, bells, lead vocals (6)

- 60 piece Symphonic orchestra, conducted by Martyn Ford (6)
- Brass orchestra arranged and conducted by Brian Day (2)