"The Harvest Years 1969-1973" by EDGAR BROUGHTON BAND (2011 Parlophone/Harvest 4CD Reissue Set with 2004 Peter Mew Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 100s Of Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT 1970... - Exceptional CD Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"...Out Demons Out..."

Re-listening to Warwick's EDGAR BROUGHTON BAND in 2017 and their five-strong haul of albums between 1969 and 1973 is like hearing two different bands – the first lot are a bunch of imps let loose in the studio with too many Smarties and funny cigarettes - the second is a more reflective trio of grown-up men with beards who’ve woken up to real music and its message to the masses.

The barking-mad and lippy debut "Wasa Wasa" and it’s 1970 follow-up "Sing Brother Sing" remind you of Captain Beefheart's "Trout Mask Replica" - both challenging listens with moments of brilliance amidst the lunacy - while the later albums like "Edgar Broughton Band" and especially "In Side Out" show serious songwriting maturity and real depth on top of the wit and snarl of old.

I'd be lying if I didn't say that all their records are hard work in some ways – and portions of the first two albums swerve dangerously close to period-dross that's tough to take no matter how fondly you may remember them. But there's much to love and admire here too - there really is...

This Parlophone/Harvest 4CD Anthology with five full albums, rare non-LP singles and Previously Unreleased live stuff on Disc 4 is seriously great value for money – sounds the aural business (Peter Mew Remasters from Abbey Road done in 2004) and makes available in one easy package incredibly rare British LPs on that darling label of all things Alternative and Prog Rock – England’s Harvest Records. Here are the Homes Fit For Heroes...

UK released January 2011 - "The Harvest Years 1969-1973" by EDGAR BROUGHTON BAND on Parlophone/Harvest 949 4882 (Barcode 5099994948820) is a 4CD Anthology with 2004 Peter Mew Remasters (Six Previously Unreleased Tracks) and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (74:23 minutes):

1. Death Of An Electric Citizen

2. American Boy Soldier

3. Why Can't Somebody Love Me?

4. Neptune

5. Evil

6. Crying

7. Love In The Rain

8. Dawn Crept Away

Tracks 1 to 8 are their debut album "Wasa Wasa" - released July 1969 in the UK on Harvest SHVL 757.

9. Out Demons Out - Non-Album UK 7" single released April 1970 on Harvest HAR 5015, A-side

10. Up Yours! - Non-Album UK 7" single released May 1970 on Harvest HAR 5021, A-side [B-side is the album track "Officer Dan"]

11. Freedom - Non-Album UK 7" single released November 1970 on Harvest HAR 5032, B-side to "Apache Dropout" - Track 6 on Disc 2

12. There's No Vibrations But Wait!

13. The Moth (a) The Moth (b) People (c) Peter

14. Momma's Reward (Keep Them Freak's A Rollin')

15. Refugee

16. Officer Dan

Tracks 12 to 16 are Side 1 of their 2nd studio album "Sing Brother Sing" - released June 1970 in the UK on Harvest SHVL 772

Disc 2 (74:53 minutes):

1. Old Gopher

2. Aphrodite

3. Granma

4. Psychopath: (A) The Psychopath (B) Is For The Butterflies

5. It's Falling Away

Tracks 1 to 5 are Side 2 of their 2nd studio album "Sing Brother Sing" - released June 1970 in the UK on Harvest SHVL 772

6. Apache Drop Out - Non-Album UK 7" single released November 1970 on Harvest HAR 5032, A-side [B-side "Freedom" is Track 11 on Disc 1]

7. Evening Over Rooftops

8. The Birth

9. Piece Of My Own

10. Poppy

11. Don't Even Know Which Day It Is

12. House Of Turnabout

13. Madhatter

14. Getting Hard/What Is A Woman For?

15. Thinking of You

16. For Dr. Spock (Parts 1 & 2)

17. Call Me A Liar

Tracks 7 to 18 are their 3rd studio album "Edgar Broughton Band" - released May 1971 in the UK on Harvest SHVL 791

Disc 3 (69:15 minutes):

1. Get Out Of Bed/There's Nobody There/Side By Side

2. Sister Angela

3. I Got Mad

4. They Took It Away

5. Homes Fit For Heroes

6. Gone Blue

7. Chilly Morning Mama

8. The Rake

9. Totin' This Guitar

10. Double Agent

11. It's Not You

12. Rock 'n' Roll

Tracks 1 to 12 are their 4th studio album "In Side Out" - released July 1972 in the UK on Harvest SHTC 252

13. Someone - Non-Album 1st B-side on the UK 7" single to "Gone Blue" released March 1972 on Harvest HAR 5049

14. Mr. Crosby - Non-Album 2nd B-side on the UK 7" single to "Gone Blue" released March 1972 on Harvest HAR 5049

15. Hurricane Man/Rock 'n' Roller

16. Roccococooler

17. Eviction

18. Oh You Crazy Boy!

19. Things On My Mind

Tracks 15 to 19 are Side 1 of their fifth studio album "Oora" - released May 1973 in the UK on Harvest SHVL 810.

Disc 4 (65:29 minutes):

1. Exhibits From A New Museum/Green Lights

2. Face From A Window/Pretty/Hi-Jack Boogie/Slow Down

3. Capers

Tracks 1 to 3 are Side 2 of their fifth studio album "Oora" - released May 1973 in the UK on Harvest SHVL 810.

Live At Hyde Park, London, 18 July 1970 (Previously Unreleased)

4. Love In The Rain

5. Silver Needle

6. Drop Out Boogie

7. Refugee

8. American Boy Soldier

9. Out Demons Out

Band: 

EDGAR BROUGHTON - Lead Guitar and Vocals

VICTOR UNITT - Guitars (on "Edgar Broughton Band", "In Side Out" and "Oora")

"In Side Out" and "Oora")

ARTHUR GRANT - Bass

STEVE BROUGHTON - Drums and Vocals

Guests:

Vocalists The Ladybirds are on the "Edgar Broughton Band" album  

Mike Oldfield (Mandolin) and David Bedford (Piano) on the "Edgar Broughton Album"

David Bedford Arranged Strings and Wind Instruments on the "Oora" album 

Vocalists Doris Troy, Lisa Strike and Madeline Bell are on the "Oora" album

The 8-page booklet feels miserly and the recording/discography on the leaves beneath the see-through CD trays at the front and rear of the double jewel case is more of a hassle to access than a joy to read (microscopic print). There are some photos of the boys and new interviews by HUGH GILMOUR with the brothers Edgar and Steve about the band's history as a power trio (later joined by Guitarist Victor Unitt) with anecdotes about Harvest Records - backing Blind Faith in front of a huge crowd in London's Hyde Park - praising Peter Mew's Abbey Road Remasters (the whole set sounds amazing). I can’t help thinking it could have been done much better...

Sounding not unlike Captain Beefheart with a rage at society - "Wasa Wasa" contains very dated material like "American Soldier Boy" where they stick in a few jabs at the mindless Vietnam War and the young minds being sent there but still end up sounding like their slagging of kids with no choice. The single "Out Demons Out" has become a signature for them. The very Psychedelic 2nd platter features the ad-nauseam repetition of the word 'negative' on "There's No Vibrations But Wait!" but the clever lyrics bludgeon rather than hammer home the point. "The Moth" though shows real growth - a brilliant acoustic beginning goes wild after a while only to return to the opening acoustic refrain. Beefheart and even The Stooges get channelled in the angry "Momma's Reward..." while "Refugee" is just crap to me. Edgar goes the full Trout Mask Beefheart on Side 2's "Psychopath" - weird sounds accompanying his strangulated 'my dream...you should have heard her scream...' lyrics against a discordant rhythm (oh dear).

But the 3rd self-titled album is an altogether different beast – a long way from 1968 to 1971. The "Edgar Broughton Band" album is accomplished ("Even Over Rooftops" which features The Ladybirds on Backing Vocals) – has hard-hitting social commentary in "The Birth" - acoustic Brinsley Schwarz whimsy in "Piece Of My Own" where they long for a house of wood in the hills as the American fiddles play and a big black eagle flies in the sky above. Both the acoustic "Poppy" and the Richard Thompson guitar chug of "Don't Even Know Which Day It Is" display world-weariness that feels real - lost in the 'new confusion' - fantastic guitars carrying the 'crying inside'. There's even prettiness in "Thinking Of You" (Mike Oldfield and David Bedford contribute Mandolin and Piano respectively) and clever guitar parts in the very Kevin Ayers "Getting Hard/What Is A Woman For?" that goes all Bluesy halfway through and grows to a huge string-ending (shame about that crappy title though). "Hotel Room" asks would you give me your assistance even though you don't know my name - the acoustic strums and toned back voice sounding not unlike David Gilmour and Pink Floyd circa "Obscured By Clouds" - ending on the T. Rex guitar-funk of "Call Me A Liar" - a great groover with a catchy chorus that would have made a potential chart single (in edited form) akin to say Blackfoot Sue or John Kongos.

"In Side Out" came in 1972 when few were listening - which is a shame – because it’s stab at Social Welfare Britain deserved ears. "Get Out Of Bed..." is a three-part song that finds our boys once again searching - down a tunnel without light - emerging into another morning hoping their guitars and harmonica will lift the mood. After an acoustic ditty about comrade "Sister Angela" – we get another angry Edgar vocal in "I Got Mad" – a no-more-war song to a backdrop of melodic guitars. There’s an almost Rock ‘n’ Roll sloppiness to the guitars of "They Took It Away" as everything from furniture to free speech gets taken away. "Homes Fit For Heroes" is the kind of fighting-for-their-rights acoustic ballad Ray Davies would have written for The Kinks – depressing in subject matter (shafted soldiers) – but poignant. Someone thought "Gone Blue" would make a single (Harvest HAR 5049 in March 1972) – but its ‘hole in the back of her head’ and needle references might have put the squids up the BBC. Far better is the lonely guitar and distant vocals of "Chilly Morning Mama" – the kind of song that stays with you even though it initially feels slight (brilliant little tune).

The elaborate plastic outer sleeve artwork to the final album "Oora" from 1973 is nowhere to be seen – but we audible progress in the group’s sound. David Bedford arranged the Strings and Woodwinds and the Soulful trio of lady backing singers add a lot of weight to the walls of acoustic guitars - Doris Troy, Lisa Strike and Madeline Bell. Highlights include "Hurricane Man/Rock ‘n’ Roller" and "Things On My Mind" where the music feels more Richard Thompson than the Beefheart of old. The near eleven-minute "Face From A Window..." suite that opens Side 2 is ambitious stuff – once again the ladies giving it a very Bowie feel as the guitars strum and funk.

Despite Prog and Alternative dominating these seminal years - the Edgar Broughton Band didn't chart anything in their own Blighty and it's easy to hear why. But it's also obvious too as to how they engendered such cult status – the EBB made a uniquely British Prog sound – angry like Terry Stamp and Jim Avery in 1971's Third World War over on Fly Records (see separate review) - adventurous like Kevin Ayers and socially-minded like Michael Chapman (other Harvest label artists).

"The Harvest Years 1969-1973" won't be for everyone – but those who loved England's EBB will relish the great new audio and those cool rarities all in one place. A job well done...

"Shooting At The Moon" by KEVIN AYERS and THE WHOLE WORLD (2003 EMI/Harvest 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue - Peter Mew Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

  

"…Gemini Child…"

Ex Wilde Flowers and Soft Machine Bassist and Songwriter KEVIN AYERS would pump out eight eclectic and often utterly brilliant albums between 1969 and 1978 – six on EMI’s Harvest and the other two on Island Records.

Time now for the digital variants of those fondly remembered doo-dahs and you have to say that EMI/Harvest have done a totally sterling job reissuing the lot on CD. The first batch of four came in June 2003 and the remainder in September 2009 (the last two on download only) – all bolstered with great bonus tracks and quality Peter Mew Remasters.

Soft Machine's Robert Wyatt jumped ship - but October 1970's "Shooting At The Moon" continued on from the Witty/Eccentric Rock of November 1969’s debut album "Joy Of A Toy". But for that difficult platter number two they were credited as Kevin Ayers And The Whole World and the band containing such future luminaries as Lol Coxhill, David Bedford, Mick Fincher and a pre "Tubular Bells" Mike Oldfield. Here are the longhaired memories...

UK and Europe released June 2003 (reissued September 2005) – "Shooting At The Moon" by KEVIN AYERS and THE WHOLE WORLD on EMI/Harvest 07243-582777-2-2 (Barcode 724358277722) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster and plays out as follows (67:15 minutes):

1. May I?

2. Rheinhardt & Geraldine/Colores Para Delores

3. Lunatic's Lament

4. Pisser Dans Un Violon

5. The Oyster And The Flying Fish [Side 2]

6. Underwater

7. Clarence In Wonderland

8. Red Green And You Blue

9. Shooting At The Moon

Tracks 1 to 9 make up the album "Shooting At The Moon" issued October 1970 in the UK on Harvest SHSP 4005 (no US release). Produced by KEVIN AYERS and KEITH JENNER (Engineer Peter Mew) - all songs by KEVIN AYERS.

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Gemini Child - Recorded June 1970 - first released on the February 1976 UK compilation LP "Odd Ditties" on Harvest SHSM 2005

11. Puis Je? - Non-album song - B-side to the 9 October 1970 UK 7" single for "Butterfly Dance" on Harvest HAR 5027 – French language version of the A

12. Butterfly Dance - Non-album song - A-side to the 9 October 1970 UK 7" single on Harvest HAR 5027

13. Jolie Madame - Recorded November 1970 - released as an album outtake on the "Odd Ditties" LP from February 1976 on Harvest SHSM 2005

14. Hat - Previously Unreleased 'Take 4' recorded 20 May 1970

MUSICIANS:

KEVIN AYERS, DAVID BEFORD, LOL COXHILL, MIKE OLFIELD and MICK FINCHER

Guests:

ROBERT WYATT – Vocals on "Colores Para Delores"

BRIDGET St. JOHN - Duet Vocals on "The Oyster And The Fish" and the outtakes "Jolie Madame" and "Hats [Take 4]"

Compiled, researched and produced by noted Canterbury Scene genre expert MARK POWELL (of Esoteric Recordings) – the 16-page booklet is festooned with rare photos and a detailed history of the album's genesis and fruition (black and white snaps of the boys swilling beer in a pub, brooding on someone's carpet and playing live in Hyde Park between recording sessions for the album). The colour photograph variants of the snaps that turned up on the rear sleeve grace Page 8 (where did all that hair go?) along with a handwritten note and display diagram from Ayers as to where he wanted the band photos to go on the album sleeve. Powell's liner notes fill in the history gaps - original members of Pink Floyd Peter Jenner and Andrew King liking Ayers' Acoustic demos - Drummer Mike Fincher joining the ranks although Robert Wyatt did fill in on some of the live dates and how the session outtake "Hat" contained Dandelion Records folky BRIDGET ST. JOHN on vocals (Ayers would eventually re-record it as "Hat Song" for the "Rainbow Takeaway" album in 1978). But all of that is trumped by the superb Audio...

PETER MEW (who originally engineered the record back in the day) has remastered the first generation tapes at Abbey Road Studios (February 2003) and has done a typically stunning job – really beautiful Sound Quality. Mew has handled hundreds of CD reissues including Dr. Feelgood, Davie Bowie, Deep Purple, Donovan, Blodwyn Pig, Electric Light Orchestra, Free, Jethro Tull, Duncan Browne, Horslips, Man, Robin Trower (and many more) – I've reviewed all of the ones mentioned. His work here is amongst his best and Ayers specifically asked for Mew to carry out the transfers.

The first nine-minute song comes in three separate parts - (a) is "May I?" which opens with traffic and our Kevin asking some pretty girl could he sit and stare at her for a while - her looks enough to lift his dreary day (the audio here is amazing). But that soon gives way to some rather dated-sounding Jazz Rock in (b) "Rheinhardt & Geraldine" which unfortunately descends into some unlistenable backwards tapes (drunk on despair) and finally returns to the opening music in "Colores Para Delores" which supposedly features Robert Wyatt but I'm buggered if I can actually hear him. Things get all Velvet Underground Rock-Funky with a two-parter - first up is "Lunatics Lament" - think "Loaded" meets the debut with an incessant Bass and Organ and treated vocals. That's followed by the notorious "Pisser Dans Un Violon" that sounds like an eight-minute bad trip - staccato noises attacking your speakers but I'm afraid little else - it's an appalling waste of space and time.

Side 2 opens with the sea-shanty "The Oyster And The Fish" and its acoustic strums and combined vocals (Ayers and Bridget St. John) sound incredible. "Underwater" sounds like its title - pianos and bent bass notes giving it their best rendition of gurgles - more nonsense. "Clarence In Wonderland" is short but typically Ayers - a 'sitting on the beach' ditty about a woman who approaches him and makes him a 'wine' offer he can't refuse (feels like the musicians all accepted her boozy invite too). "Red Green And You Blue" is pretty but the title song "Shooting At The Moon" is more hard work than it should be.

The Bonus Tracks rescue what I feel is a patchy LP - the stand-alone "...Lady lady won't you come here quick..." 7" single of "Butterfly Dance" has a charming French language version of "May I?" on its flip-side - both way better than all of the more indulgent tracks on the album.  Even the outtake "Gemini Child" feels like a song that should have been on the LP too while Bridget St. John's French language vocals on "Jolie Madame" again feel like they were destined for the record but dropped for something more Avant Garde.

So there you have it – in 2016 "Shooting At The Moon" is awfully dated for sure and yet occasionally brilliant too and even beautiful in places (it was 1970 after all). Both David Bedford and Mike Oldfield would return for the beginning of the biggies - 1972's "Whatevershebringswesing" - and thereafter his albums would get progressively better ("Bananamour" from 1973 and "The Confessions Of Dr. Dream And Other Stories" from 1974 are truly wonderful things). And those extras are worth owning too.

"Shooting At The Moon" was and still is hard work - but it's a fantastic sounding reissue of a Kevin Ayers rarity you never see on original vinyl LP and if you've any love for the record - then start your moon shots here...

PS: see also my reviews for his other EMI/Harvest 'Expanded Edition' CD Remasters:

"Joy Of A Toy" (1969 Debut), "Whatevershebringswesing" (1972), "Bananamour" (1973), "The Confessions Of Dr. Dream And Other Stories" (1974), "Sweet Deceiver" (1975) and "Yes We Have No Mananas, Get Your Mananas Today" (1976)

"Confessions Of The Mind" 1970 LP inside 'Changin' Times: The Complete Hollies January 1969 to March 1973' by THE HOLLIES (2015 Parlophone 5CD Set with Peter Mew Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This 5CD set contains the 1970 LP "Confessions Of The Mind" 

"...Cast You Spell Over me One More Time..." 

Following on from the May 2011 six-disc clump of early HOLLIES that was "The Clarke, Hicks & Nash Years: The Complete Hollies April 1963 to October 1968" - we now get Volume 2 - "Changin' Times: The Complete Hollies - January 1969 - March 1973" - which weighs in at a paltry 5 discs.

But for my money - this second motherlode of HOLLIES melody is even more amazing that its much-praised predecessor. There's a veritable avalanche of detail to get through - so once more unto those Romany hills...

UK and USA released July 2015 - "Changin' Times: The Complete Hollies - January 1969 - March 1973" by THE HOLLIES on Parlophone 0825646336111 (Barcode 0825646336111) is a 5CD Set in a multiple-layer double-sized jewel case that plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (66:53 minutes, 21 tracks):

1. Sorry Suzanne

2. Not That Way At All

Tracks 1 & 2 are the A&B-sides of a UK 7" single released 28 February 1969 on Parlophone R 5765

3. Blowin' In The Wind

4. I Shall Be Released

5. The Mighty Quinn

6. This Wheel’s On Fire

7. The Times They Are A-Changin'

8. Quit Your Lowdown Ways

9. I Want You

10. Just Like A Woman

11. When The Ship Comes In

12. My Back Pages

13. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight

14. All I Really Want To Do

Tracks 3 to 14 are the album "Hollies Sing Dylan" - released May 1969 in the UK on Parlophone PMC 7079 (Mono) and Parlophone PCS 7079 (Stereo) and as "Words And Music By Bob Dylan" in the USA on Epic BN 26447 (Stereo only) - the STEREO mix is used (same Tracks both LPs). The Tracks on this CD are listed in 'recording date' order – so to sequence either LP as released - use the following songs (all on Disc 1):

UK and USA 12-Track LP "Hollies Sing Dylan"/"Words And Music By Bob Dylan"

Side 1: 11, 13, 9, 6, 4 and 3

Side 2: 8, 10, 7, 14, 12 and 5

15. Do You Believe In Love

16. Please Sign Your Letters

17. Cos You Like To Love Me

18. Please Let Me Please

19. Goodbye Tomorrow

20. She Looked My Way

21. My Life Is Over With You (see Disc 2)

Disc 2 (61:29 minutes, 19 tracks):

1. He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother

Track 1 is the A-side to a UK 7" single released 19 September 1969 on Parlophone R 5806 (the album-cut "'Cos You Like To Love Me" was the B-side)

2. Soldier's Dilemma

3. Marigold/Gloria Swansong

4. You Love 'Cos You Like It

5. Why Didn't You Believe

6. Look At Life

7. Louisiana Man (from the November 1988 LP and CD compilation "Rarities" on EMI Records EMS 1311)

8. Don't Give Up Easily

9. Reflections Of A Long Time Past

Tracks 15 to 21 on Disc 1 and Tracks 2 to 6 and 8 and 9 on Disc 2 is the LP "Hollies Sing Hollies" - released November 1969 in the UK on Parlophone PCS 7092 and in the USA as "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" on Epic BN 26538 with a different track list (both Stereo only). The Tracks on this CD are listed in 'recording date' order – so to sequence the actual "Hollies Sing Hollies" UK 12-track LP or the US 11-track variant as released - use the following songs (5/2 = Track 5 on Disc 2 etc.):

UK 12-Track LP "Hollies Sing Hollies"

Side 1: 5/2, 8/2, 6/2, 16/1, 21/1 and 18/1

Side 2: 15/1, 2/2, 3/2, 4/2, 9/2 and 19/1

US 11-Track LP "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" (different on Side 2 only)

Side 1: 5/2, 8/2, 6/2, 16/1, 21/1 and 18/1

Side 2: 15/1, 1/2, 4/2, 9/2 and 19/1

10. I Wanna Shout

11. Lady Please

12. Sign Of The Times (from the 1998 CD compilation "The Hollies At Abbey Road 1966-1970" on EMI 7243 4 93450 2 7)

13. Separated

14. Little Girl

15. Eleanors Castle - from the November 1988 LP and CD compilation "Rarities" on EMI Records EMS 1311

16. Confessions Of A Mind

17. Mad Professor Blyth

18. I Can't Tell The Bottom From The Top

Tracks 17 and 18 are the B and A-side of a UK 7" single released 10 April 1970 on Parlophone R 5837

19. Dandelion Wine

Track 19 on Disc 2 is the non-album B-side to "Gasoline Alley Bred" - released as a UK 7" single 18 September 1970 on Parlophone R 5862 (the A-side is Track 7 on Disc 3)

Disc 3 68:03 minutes, 18 tracks):

1. Survival Of The Fittest

2. Perfect Lady Housewife

3. Isn't It Nice

4. Too Young To Be Married

5. Frightened Lady

6. Man Without A Heart

7. Gasoline Alley Bred

Track 7 is the non-album A-side of a UK 7" single released 18 September 1970 on Parlophone R 5862 (the non-album B-side "Dandelion Wine" is Track 19 on Disc 2)

Tracks 10, 11, 13, 14 and 16 on Disc 2 with Tracks 1 to 6 on Disc 3 make up the album "Confessions Of The Mind" - released November 1970 in the UK as an 11-track LP on Parlophone PCS 7116 and as "Moving Finger" in the USA on Epic E 30255 (both Stereo only). The Tracks on this CD are listed in 'recording date' order – so to sequence the actual "Confessions Of The Mind" and "Moving Finger" LPs as released (for both countries) - use the following tracks (10/2 = Track 5 on Disc 2 - 2/3 = Track 2 on Disc 3 etc.):

UK LP "Confessions Of The Mind"

Side 1: 1/3, 6/3, 14/2, 3/3, 2/3 and 16/2

Side 2: 11/2, 5/3, 4/3, 13/2 and 10/2

US LP "Moving Finger" (different configuration on both sides)

Side 1: 1/3, 16/2, 11/2, 14/2, 4/3 and 6/3

Side 2: 3/3, 5/3, 3/2, 2/3 and 7/3

8. Hey Willy

9. Row The Boat Together

Tracks 8 and 9 are the non-album A&B-sides of a UK 7" single released 14 May 1971 on Parlophone R 5905

10. Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress)

11. You Know The Score

12. Pull Down The Blind

13. Promised Land

14. What A Life I've Led

15. Cable Car

16. Hold On

17. To Do With Love

18. Look What You've Got

Disc 4 (67:45 minutes, 18 tracks):

1. Long Dark Road

2. A Little Thing Like Love

Tracks 10 to 18 on Disc 3 and Tracks 1 and 2 on Disc 4 make up the album "Distant Light" - released October 1971 in the UK on Parlophone PAS 10005 and in the USA on Epic KE 30958 (same track list both countries). The Tracks on this CD are listed in 'recording date' order - to sequence the actual "Distant Light" LP as released use the following tracks (10/3 = Track 10 on Disc 3 - 1/4 = Track 1 on Disc 4 etc.):

Side 1: 14/3, 18/3, 16/3, 12/3, 17/3 and 13/3

Side 2: 10/3, 11/3, 15/3, 2/4 and 1/4

3. Oh Granny (Allan Clarke Vocal Version) - from the 1993 UK CD compilation "Singles A's & B's" on EMI/Music For Pleasure CDMFP 5980

4. Oh Granny (Terry Sylvester Vocal Version)

5. The Baby

Tracks 5 and 4 are the non-album A&B-sides of a UK 7" single released 4 February 1972 on Polydor 2058 199

6. Touch

7. Romany (see Disc 5)

8. Papa Rain - a Previously Unreleased track from the 2007 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster of "Romany" on EMI 094639471225

9. Indian Girl - non-album B-side to the UK single of "Magic Woman Touch" released 10 November 1972 on Polydor 2058 289

10. Blue In The Morning

11. Jesus Was A Crossmaker

12. Down River

13. Magic Woman Touch (see Disc 5 - also A-side to UK 7" single released 10 November 1972 on Polydor 2058 289)

14. Magic Woman Touch (Acoustic Version) - one of the eight bonus tracks from the 2007 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster of "Romany" on EMI 094639471225

15. Lizzy And The Rainman

16. Delaware Taggett And The Outlaw Boys

17. Words Don't Come Easy

18. Courage Of Your Convictions (see Disc 5)

Disc 5 (56:59 minutes, 16 tracks):

1. Witchy Woman - a Previously Unreleased track (an Eagles cover) from the 2007 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster of "Romany" on EMI 094639471225

2. Slow Down

3. Won't You Feel Good That Morning

Tracks 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18 on Disc 4 and Tracks 2 and 3 on Disc 5 is the album "Romany" - released November 1972 in the UK on Polydor 2383 144 and Epic E 31992 in the USA (with a different track listing on Side 1). The Tracks on this CD are listed in 'recording date' order - to sequence either the UK or USA "Romany" LP as released - use the following tracks (6/4 = Track 6 on Disc 4 - 2/5 = Track 2 on Disc 5 etc.):

November 1972 UK 12-Track LP on Polydor 2383 144

Side 1: 3/5, 6/4, 17/4, 13/4, 15/4 and 12/4

Side 2: 2/5, 15/4, 11/4, 7/4, 10/4 and 18/4

November 1972 US 11-Track LP on Epic E 31992 (different track list on Side 1 only)

Side 1: 13/4, 6/4, 17/4, 7/4, 3/5 and 12/4

Side 2: 2/5, 15/4, 11/4, 7/4, 10/4 and 18/4

The eight Bonus Tracks on the 2007 'Expanded Edition' CD of "Romany" are 5/4, 14/4, 9/3, 4/5, 8/4, 1/5, 4/4 and 16/5

4. If It Wasn't For The Reason That I Love You - from the November 1988 LP and CD compilation "Rarities" on EMI Records EMS 1311

5. Don't Leave This Child Alone

6. They Don't Realise I'm Down

7. Transatlantic Westbound Jet

8. Nearer To You

9. Pick Up The Pieces (Terry Sylvester song)

10. Slow Down - Go Down

11. The Last Wind

12. A Better Place

13. Mr. Heartbreaker

14. Out On The Road

15. I Was Born A Man

Tracks 5 to 15 is the album "Out On The Road" - released June 1973 in Germany on Hansa Records 87119 IT

16. I Had A Dream - non-album B-side to the US 7" single of "Jesus Was A Carpenter" (Judee Sill cover) release May 1973 on Epic Records 5-10989 - June 1973 German 7" single (in picture sleeve) of "Jesus Was A Carpenter" on Hansa 12 728 AT

THE HOLLIES (January 1969 to December 1971):

Allan Clarke, Tony Hicks, Bobby Elliott, Bernie Calvert and Terry Sylvester

THE HOLLIES (December 1971 to March 1973)

Tony Hicks, Bobby Elliott, Bernie Calvert, Terry Sylvester and Mikael Rickfors

The 24-page booklet features a witty and clever introduction called 'Elucidating Observations' by the band's long-standing drummer BOBBY ELLIOTT (reminiscences of Graham being rescued from the beer-swilling Hollies by David Crosby to join him on the CSNY odyssey) - a UK Discography for the singles and LP – pages of rare European, US and Japanese 7” single picture sleeves – album covers – and track by track recording details. It's well done - the colour centre pages photo sees the boys staring out of set of broken windows somewhere in Nuremberg - and for such a huge haul of music is priced cheaply too.

Across 92 tracks are the A&B-sides of eight British 7" singles, six full albums (five British on Parlophone and one European on Hansa), six LP and CD compilation exclusives, non-album European/USA single releases and the bonus tracks that came with the ‘Extended Version’ CD of “Romany”. The six albums are: "Hollies Sing Dylan" (May 1969), "Hollies Sing Hollies" (November 1969), "Confessions Of The Mind" (November 1970), "Distant Light" (October 1971), "Romany" (November 1972) and "Out On The Road" (Germany-Only, June 1973).

Like its predecessor 2011’s "The Clarke, Hicks & Nash Years: The Complete Hollies April 1963 to October 1968" - the CDS for this follow volume are sequenced in recording-date order - with the album tracks often spread across different discs. In order to sequence the original British LPs (and the one German-only release on Hansa) and all of those UK 7” singles – see the details I’ve provided above (details that aren’t in the booklet).

Even when you get past huge chart hits like "Sorry Suzanne" (No. 3), "He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother" (No. 3), "I Can’t Tell The Bottom From The Top" (No. 7) and less successful goodies like "Gasoline Alley Bred" (No. 14), "Hey Willy" (No. 22), "The Baby" (No. 26) and "Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress" (No. 32) and the criminally forgotten "Magic Woman Touch" (didn't chart) – the album highlights number many. Their version of Dylan's magical "My Back Pages" sticks out as a bright light on a much-derided cluster of corny covers from the "Hollies Sing Dylan" LP (the less said about the banjo-strumming "When The Ship Comes In" the better). The "Hollies Sings Hollies" LP was a welcome return to form - the jangling acoustic guitars and doubled-vocals of Allan Clarke's "Goodbye Tomorrow" and "My Life Is Over With You" both have great harmonies in them - while Side 2 highlights include the 'you ain't having me on a leash' of "Soldiers Dilemma" and the epic double-track "Marigold/Gloria Swansong" compliments the piano and strings 'theme' feel to the instrumental "Reflections Of A Long Time Past" (a Bernie Calvert creation).

Their seemed to be immense maturity in their early Seventies stuff - the Production values going through the roof too. Tony Hicks provided the jaunty "Lady Please" and the 'teardrops' of "Little Girl" on 1970's "Confessions Of The Mind" - while Allan Clarke threw in the accomplished "Separated" (I've always loved that Acoustic/Tabla combo while he shouts words. Fans will love the wickedly good B-sides too you never get to hear like "Not That Way At All" - a song that could easily have been a winning A - and "'Cos You Like To Love Me" (presented here in Mono despite the Stereo logo on the CD). Their cover of Doug Kershaw's "Louisiana Man" (first appeared on the "Rarities" CD) is good rather than great – but I've always thought the 1972 "Romany" LP with "Magic Woman Touch" and their version of Judee Sill's lovely "Jesus Was A Crossmaker" is a bit of an overlooked harmony masterpiece (it can be sequenced from this set in both its 12-track UK guise or the different 11-track US variant - see Disc 5 above).

Further glory would follow for The Hollies on Polydor with Alan Clarke taking the song-writing ascendancy ("The Air That I Breathe") - while Graham Nash went on of course to conquer the West Coast of America and then the entire world with David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Neil Young and all of the CSNY off-shoots.

"…Cast your spell upon me one more time..." - THE HOLLIES sang on the wonderful "Magic Woman Touch". Great sound, top songs and quality presentation – like its predecessor - there's so much to enjoy on here. And even after five discs - a trunk load of admiration into the bargain…

"Taking Some Time On – The Parlophone-Harvest Years (1968-73)" by BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST (2011 EMI/Harvest 5CD Box Set) - A Review by Mark Barry...

BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST and bands like them are part of my Series "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters 1970s Rock And Pop" Download Book available to buy on Amazon to either your PC or Mac (it will download the Kindle software to read the book for free to your toolbar). Click on the link below to go my Author's Page for this and other related publications:

                       http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00LQKMC6I

"…Come On Let's Get Together…"

Contains the "Their First Album" from 1970

UK released 18 July 2011 - "Taking Some Time On: The Parlophone-Harvest Years (1968-73)" by BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST features 69-tracks across 5CDs and is housed in a double jewel case (with fold-out flaps on the inside for some of the discs). Here's a detailed breakdown of EMI/Harvest 5099908378826 (SHTW 802)…

Disc 1 (60:56 minutes)

Tracks 1 & 2 are "Early Morning" and "Mr. Sunshine" – the non-album A&B-sides of the band’s debut UK 7” single released 26 April 1969 on Parlophone R 5693

3. So Tomorrow

4. Eden Unobtainable

5. Eden Unobtainable (May 1968 Version)

Tracks 3 to 5 are a 'BBC Top Gear Session' recorded live 23 April 1968

6. Night

7. Pools Of Blue

8. Need You Oh So Bad

9. Small Time Town

10. Dark Now My Sky

Tracks 6 to 10 are a 'BBC Top Gear Session' recorded live 30 July 1968

Tracks 11 and 12 are "Brother Thrush" and "Poor Wages" – the non-album A&B-sides of their 2nd UK single on Harvest HAR 5003 (released 20 June 1969)

Track 13 is "Mocking Bird" (May 1970 version at 6:17 minutes)

[Another version at 6:39 minutes is on the "Once Again" album on Disc 2]

14. Taking Some Time ON

15. Mother Dear

16. The Sun Will Never Shine

17. When The World Was Woken

Tracks 14 to 17 are Side 1 of their debut LP "Their First Album" released 5 June 1970 in the UK on Harvest SHVL 770

Disc 2 (62:42 minutes):

1. Good Love Child

2. The Iron Maiden

3. Dark Now My Sky

Tracks 1 to 3 are Side 2 of "Their First Album" (as per 14 to 17 on Disc 1)

Track 4 "I Can’t Go On Without You" was a 'Bonus Track' on the expanded 2002 CD of "Their First Album"

5. She Said

6. Happy Old World

7. Song For Dying

8. Galadriel

9. Mocking Bird

10. Vanessa Simmons

11. Ball And Chain

12. Lady Loves

Tracks 5 to 12 are their 2nd album "Once Again" released 5 February 1971 in the UK on Harvest SHVL 788

Disc 3 (66:39 minutes):

1. Introduction-White Sails (A Seascape)

2. Too Much On Your Plate

3. Galadriel (Non Orchestral Version)

4. Happy Old World (Take One)

5. Song For Dying (Full Un-edited Version)

6. Mocking Bird (Extended Non-Orchestral Version)

7. Dark Now My Sky (Live March 1971)

Tracks 1 to 7 are bonus tracks on the CD of "Once Again"

8. Galadriel

9. She Said

10. Someone There You Know

11. Ursula (The Swansea Song)

12. Medicine Man

Tracks 8 to 12 are a 'Bob Harris Session' recorded for the BBC on 29 June 1971

Disc 4 (67:06 minutes):

1. Medicine Man

2. Someone There You Know

3. Harry’s Song

4. Ursula (The Swansea Song)

5. Little Lapwing

6. Song With No Meaning

7. Blue John’s Blues

8. The Poet

9. After The Day

Tracks 1 to 9 are their 3rd album "And Other Short Stories" released 5 November 1971 in the UK on Harvest SHVL 794

Track 10 is "Brave New World (Demo Version)" – a bonus track on the "And Other Short Stories" CD of 2002

Track 11 is "Child Of Man" recorded for a 'Bob Harris Session' on 15 March 1972

Tracks 12 and 13 are "I'm Over You" and "Child Of Man" – the non-album A&B-sides of a UK 7” single released 28 April 1972 on Harvest HAR 5051

Tracks 14 and 15 are "Breathless" and "When The City Sleeps" (with the band credited as BOMBADIL) – the A&B-sides of a UK 7" single released 29 September 1971 on Harvest HAR 5056

Track 16 is "Medicine Man" – released 20 October 1972 as the non-album B-side of "Thank You" on Harvest HAR 5058

Disc 5 (60:41 minutes):

1. One Hundred Thousand Smiles Out

2. Delph Town Morn

3. Summer Soldier

Tracks 1 to 3 are a 'Bob Harris Session' for the BBC recorded 9 October 1972

4. Crazy Over (You)

5. Delph Town Morn

6. Summer Soldier

7. Thank You

8. One Hundred Thousand Smiles Out

9. Moonwater

Tracks 4 to 9 are their 4th LP "Baby James Harvest" released 10 November 1972 in the UK on Harvest SHSP 4023

Track 10 is "Thank You (Alternate Version)" is a bonus track on the 2002 expanded CD of "Baby James Harvest"

Track 11 and 12 are "Rock And Roll Woman" and "The Joker" – the A&B-sides of a UK 7" single released 4 May 1973 on Harvest HAR 5068

The discs themselves all have the distinctive 'Harvest' label logo and there are pictures of the band beneath the see-through trays (a nice touch). But its also one of those fiddly and easy to break double jewel-cases - so you need to be a tad careful handling it. The booklet has excellent liner notes by MALCOM DOME, but at 12-pages is a fairly slight affair. However it does picture concert tickets, flyers, badges, posters, small shots of the four album sleeves etc…and of course full discography info.

But the really great news is the superb new remastered sound. Done by PETER MEW at Abbey Road Studios, I've praised his exceptional transfer work before (see reviews for the Deluxe Editions of Dr. Feelgood's "Down By The Jetty", David Bowie's "David Bowie", Free's "Fire And Water" and Jethro Tull's "This Was") – here it's the same. The audio is very clear despite the denseness of the instrumentation, powerful without being over-trebled for effect and full of presence. (See the 'tag' marked "Peter Mew Remasters" above this review and it will give you a pictorial of 40 great reissues he’s been involved in).

The music as you can imagine is a mixed bag of the great and the merely good. Comparison-wise BJH were actually hard to pin down (constantly experimenting with their 'sound' as the liner notes explain). The Mellotron gives a song like the lovely "Mocking Bird" a sort Moody Blues feel with a faint hint of Nick Drake's melancholy – while the compilation’s title track "Taking Some Time On" (lyrics above) rocks it up with the best of them (albeit in a very Seventies Prog Rock kind of a way). The early BBC stuff (expertly engineered by the greatly missed BBC engineer and character BERNIE ANDREWS) is tight and impressive. It's all very inviting somehow. And you can feel them inching towards "Time Honoured Ghosts" and "Octoberon" (their popular 1975 and 1976 Polydor LPs) by the time you get to the strings and acoustic bedroom melodrama of "Medicine Man" and "Song With No Meaning" on Disc 4. 

To sum up - die-hard BJH fans will know that the 2002 remasters for the first four LPs - "Their First Album" [aka "Barclay James Harvest"], "Once Again", "And Other Short Stories" and "Baby James Harvest" - are all here along with their large number of bonus tracks (64 songs in total). So there are only 5 new additions. But for the casual buyer however - you get 4 whole albums worth, 5 rare non-album 45s (A&B-sides) and a slew of live BBC Sessions and other rarities. A huge haul in great sound and all at a very reasonable cost…