Artist: BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST
Album: EVERYONE IS EVERYBODY ELSE RE-MASTERED (CD)

Release date: 1974/ 2003
Media type: CD

This was BJH’s first album for the Polydor label, who must have been delighted with what the band delivered. The album represents a subtle change of direction, with the heavier opening tracks “Negative earth” and “Child of the universe” indicating that the symphonic and orchestral influences apparent in their previous albums had been largely set aside in favour of a more rock orientated feel. This meant that the often cited Moody Blues similarities of their early albums were also less apparent.

“The great 1974 mining disaster”, appears to be a “tribute” to the Bee Gees song of very similar name, with both lyrics and melody being uncomfortably close to that of the Brothers Gibb. “Crazy city” was one of their most commercial tracks to date (not a criticism!), and was therefore released as a single.

The album ends with a trilogy of tracks which join together to form a single piece. “Poor boy blues” and “Mill Boys” cleverly reverse 2 themes between their vocal and instrumental sections. These almost folk like songs give way to one of BJH’s great powerful tracks, “For no one” (no relation to the Beatle song). The track crashes in, in similar fashion to “After the day” from “..and other short stories”, with John Lees pleading vocals lifting the song to an impassioned climax. “Everyone’s a loner till he needs a helping hand, everyone is everybody else”.

A very complete album, which moved BJH’s standing significantly further up the ladder.

TRACKLIST:

1. Child Of The Universe (5:02)
2. Negative Earth (5:28)
3. Paper Wings (4:14)
4. The Great 1974 Mining Disaster (4:35)
5. Crazy City (4:05)
6. See Me See You (4:32)
7. Poor Boy Blues (3:05)
8. Mill Boys (2:47)
9. For No One (5:08)

Total Time: 38:56

Bonus Tracks on Polydor remaster (2003):
10. The Great 1974 Mining Disaster (original mix, previously unreleased)
11. Mжstoso (A Hymn In The Roof Of The World) (unreleased 1974 recording)
12. Negative Earth (original mix, previously unreleased)
13. Child Of The Universe (alternative recording)

LINE-UP:

- Les Holroyd / vocals, bass, guitars,
- John Lees / vocals, guitars
- Mel Pritchard / drums, percussion, vocals
- Woolly Wolstenholme / keyboards, vocals