Barclay James Harvest News Archive 2002

This page contains older stories previously posted on the web site news page. For the latest happenings, see the News page.

16th December, 2002

Another Compilation

Yet another compilation CD of selected tracks from the two Barclay James Harvest Through The Eyes Of John Lees albums has been issued by Eagle Records in Germany. The budget-price CD is called Festivale, apparently because they are under the impression that this is one of the track titles. Track listing is:-

Brave New World; New Song (live); The Iron Maiden (live); Float; Sitting Upon A Shelf; Hymn; A Devilish Intro; Festival!; Hors d'Oeuvre; Mockingbird; Harbour (live); Titles; Loving Is Easy (live); Star Bright (live)

9th December, 2002

Nigel Mazlyn Jones Reissued

Fans of Nigel Mazlyn Jones, who supported BJH on their European tours in 1980 and 1984, may be interested to know that his first album, Ship To Shore, has been reissued on CD with seven previously unreleased bonus tracks. For more information, see Nigel's web site at http://www.isleoflight.co.uk

1st October, 2002

Compilation CD

A compilation CD of selected tracks from the two Barclay James Harvest Through The Eyes Of John Lees albums is scheduled for release on October 14th. Entitled Echoes Of A Brave New World, the single CD is issued by Delta Records (47101). Track listing is:-

A Devilish Intro (live); Festival; Brave New World; Titles; The Iron Maiden; For No One (live); Hors d'Oeuvre; Mocking Bird; River Of Dreams (live); Float; Galadriel (live); Loving Is Easy; Sitting Upon A Shelf; Hymn; Star Bright

18th October, 2002

The Dogs in Bristol Benefit Gig

The Dogs, one of the stars of the tribute CD, Barclay James Harvest Through The Eyes Of Their Fans, play a benefit gig in aid of Bristol MIND next Friday. The full line-up is:

Motivate
The Dogs
Ernie Bell
Mid-Life Crisis
Elliott Hall
Hibernate

Time: Friday 25th October
Venue: "The Junction" public house, Stokes Croft, Bristol
Cost: £5.00, £2.50 concessions

Tickets and further info: Jeff 0117 914 1234

This is the 2nd annual benefit gig in aid of the Bristol MIND Sunday Drop-in, staged as part of World Mental Health Day Celebrations 2002.

5th September, 2002

Live Album Planned

The forthcoming Barclay James Harvest Featuring Les Holroyd tour of France, Germany and Switzerland will be recorded for a live CD release. The band line-up for the tour is as for the Colmar show, i.e:-

Les and Mel (obviously)
Mike Byron-Hehir on lead guitar
Ian Wilson on acoustic and electric guitar
Colin Browne on keyboards
Chris Jago on drums/percussion
Steve Butler on backing vocals and occasional keyboard/percussion

21st July, 2002

Barclay James Harvest Featuring Les Holroyd Concert Update

Les Holroyd and Mel Pritchard take their version of Barclay James Harvest on the road this year to promote the Revolution Days CD. The concerts are going ahead in spite of Les's recent tragic bereavement, when his wife, Christine Roberts-Holroyd, died after being kicked by a horse.

Dates have now been added in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and the full list to date is as follows:-

AUG 10 - COLMAR Wine Festival (Alsace) (with Uriah Heep. For tickets, see www.ticketnet.fr - "Colmar")

OCT 06 - PLOEMEUR l'Oceanis (nr Lorient, Brittany, Tel. 02 97 85 23 23)
OCT 07 - PARIS Le Bataclan (50 Bd. Voltaire, 75011 Paris, Tel. 01.43.14.35.35)
OCT 08 - NANCY Le Zenith (rue du Zenith, Carrieres Solvay, 54320 Nancy-Maxeville, Tel. 03.83.93.27.00)
OCT 09 - LILLE Theatre Sébastopol, Place Sébastopol, 59800 Lille, Tel. 03.20.57.52.00)
OCT 10 - VILLEURBANNE (LYON) Transbordeur, 1,3, Bd. Stalingrad, 69100 Villeurbanne, Tel. 04.78.93.08.33)
OCT 12 - STRASBOURG Salle Erasme, Place des Congres, Place de Bordeaux Wacken, 67000 Strasbourg, Tel. 03.88.37.67.67)

OCT 15 - LEIPZIG Gewandhaus
OCT 16 - MÜNCHEN Circus Krone
OCT 17 - day off
OCT 18 - LOSHEIM Eisenbahnhalle
OCT 19 - CRAILSHEIM Großsporthalle
OCT 20 - ASCHAFFENBURG Stadthalle NEW!
OCT 21 - day off
OCT 22 - BERLIN Columbiahalle
OCT 23 - BRAUNSCHWEIG Jolly Joker/Stadthalle
OCT 24 - HAMBURG Fabrik
OCT 25 - LUDWIGSHAFEN Eberthalle
OCT 26 - WILHELMSHAVEN Stadthalle
OCT 27 - ULM Roxy
OCT 28 - day off
OCT 29 - STUTTGART FILharmonie Filderstadt
OCT 30 - BONN Bad Godesberg Stadthalle Change of venue!
OCT 31 - MAGDEBURG AMO Kulturhaus
NOV 01 - MAINZ Phönixhalle
NOV 02 - RASTATT Badener Halle
NOV 03 - KREFELD Rudolph’s auf der Rennbahn NEW!
NOV 04 - PRATTELN Z7 (Switzerland) Change of date

Ticket hotline for all German shows: telephone 00 49 711 954 7464

The band line-up is yet to be finalised - more details when we have them. Les and Mel are now managed exclusively by Alex Rose for Mad Management Ltd (see contacts page).

2nd July, 2002

Win CDs With Rock Ahead

The Rock Ahead web site is running a competition to win a set of the EMI BJH remasters, plus runners up prizes of the Art School Dancing compilation CD, featuring many of the artists who appeared on the Harvest label. Hurry, though - the competition closes on July 6th! See Rock Ahead for more info.

9th June, 2002

Rock Ahead with Woolly

For those who are interested in the background to the EMI remasters, there's a long interview with Woolly, interspersed with complete songs from the CDs, available at the Rock Ahead web site at http://www.themusicindex.com/rockahead/intro.htm

Be warned, though, that the Real Audio file is nearly 6 Mb in size, and even then the audio quality doesn't do the CDs justice. However, the whole thing runs for about 50 minutes and is well worth a listen if you've got time to download it.

13th May, 2002:

EMI Reissues Out Now

The remastered CDs of the band's first four albums and the legendary BBC "In Concert" broadcast from 1972 were issued on May 27th. All of the CDs include previously unreleased material and bonus tracks, and the remastering was done at Abbey Road under the supervision of Woolly Wolstenholme. The discs can be ordered now using the secure order form on this web site.

Barclay James Harvest

Taking Some Time On
Mother Dear
The Sun Will Never Shine
When The World Was Woken
Good Love Child
The Iron Maiden
Dark Now My Sky

Plus bonus tracks:

Early Morning, Mister Sunshine [Released April 1968 as Parlophone R5693]
So Tomorrow, Eden Unobtainable [BBC Session 20th April 1968, previously unreleased]
Night, Pools of Blue, Need You Oh So Bad, Small Time Town, Dark Now My Sky [BBC Session 30th July 1968, previously unreleased]
I Can't Go On Without You, Eden Unobtainable [Recorded in 1968 – First released as part of “The Harvest Years” EN 5014 in May 1991]
Poor Wages, Brother Thrush [Released June 1969 as Harvest HAR 5003]

Once Again

She Said
Happy Old World
Song For Dying
Galadriel
Mocking Bird
Vanessa Simmons
Ball And Chain
Lady Loves

Plus bonus tracks:

White Sails - introduction only [previously unreleased]
Too Much On Your Plate [only previously released as fan club flexi]
Happy Old World, Vanessa Simmons, Ball And Chain [quadraphonic mixes – originally featured on Harvest QSHVL 788 – July 1973]

BJH and other short stories

Medicine Man
Blue John's Blues
Ursula (The Swansea Song)
Little Lapwing
Song With No Meaning
Harry's Song
Someone There You Know
The Poet
After The Day

Plus bonus tracks:

Brave New World [demo version]
She Said, Galadriel, Ursula (The Swansea Song), Someone There You Know [BBC Session – 5th July 1971, previously unreleased]
Medicine Man [BBC Session 15th March 1972, previously unreleased]

Baby James Harvest

Crazy (Over You)
Delph Town Morn
Summer Soldier
Thank You
One Hundred Thousand Smiles Out
Moonwater

Plus bonus tracks:

Child of Man, I'm Over You [released April 1972 as Harvest HAR 5051]
When The City Sleeps, Breathless [released September 1972 as Harvest HAR 5056 under the pseudonym "Bombadil"]
Thank You [alternative version, Old Grey Whistle Test soundtrack]
Medicine Man - single version [released October 1972 as B-side of Harvest HAR 5058]
Rock and Roll Woman, The Joker [released May 1973 as Harvest HAR 5068]
Child of Man [BBC Session 15th March 1972, previously unreleased]
Moonwater (2002 remix) [previously unreleased]

BBC In Concert

Limited edition double CD with mono and stereo versions.

Mocking Bird
Medicine Man
Moonwater
Summer Soldier
The Poet
After The Day
Galadriel
Dark Now My Sky

BJH + Orchestra, conducted by Martyn Ford. Radio 1 In Concert, recorded 16.11.72 at the Paris Theatre, Lower Regent Street, London

27th April, 2002

Les and Mel Interview

A message from Les and Mel's manager, Alex Rose:-

"Les and Mel will be interviewed live on the Total Rock radio station this evening between 6 and 8pm (UK time).

We have been a little unsure exactly what was going to happen with it, hence the short notice.

Total Rock broadcast only in the Digital Radio sphere but you can hear the station if you have Digital Television (from Sky for instance)."

Available on the web at www.totalrock.com, on Sky Digital satellite channel 885 and Astra 2 analogue satellite.

30th March, 2002

German Club "Best Of"

Special thanks to Rolf Tombült and Lolli Balke for informing us about a new BJH compilation CD which is only available through record clubs in Germany. The Best of Barclay James Harvest - Hits 4 Ever is on the Polydor/Universal label in co-operation with RTL Radio, catalogue no. 543 450-2 (28), and the tracks are as follows:-

Love On The line; Titles; Victims Of Circumstance (single edit); Hymn; Cheap The Bullet; Just A Day Away (single edit); Panic (edited single remix); Hymn For The Children; Rock'N'Roll Star (Live Tapes); Our Kid's Kid; Blow Me Down; I've Got A Feeling (full length new version); Waiting For The Right Time (single edit and remix); Paper Wings; Friend Of Mine; Berlin; Rock 'N' Roll Lady (live Berlin)

25th March, 2002:

Brave New World

A repackage of Nexus and Revival has been issued on the Snapper Music/Recall label (SMDCD388). The double CD is called Brave New World and was released on March 25th. The band were concerned about this release, as they weren't consulted about it, and as a result the cover art was changed at the last minute to include the "Through The Eyes Of" tag and to replace the original design, which featured a picture of John, Les and Mel! We will not be stocking the CD, because the band are not happy about it, and we have plenty of copies of the original releases with the artwork designed by John and Woolly.

Caught Live DVD

A DVD of the historic Caught Live documentary film was released by Classic Pictures on March 11th. We must warn potential buyers that the sound quality is disappointing, as the 25-year old film copy which was recently discovered (and is the only known copy of this historic footage still in existence) needed a lot of restoring. However, the picture quality is very good. The DVD is coded "All Regions" (but is only available in PAL format - see the DVD guide on the FAQ page for more information). It includes the 50 minute 1977 documentary film of the band's German tour, plus an extra 30 minutes of material recorded at London's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in 1974. Price is £16.00 including UK postage and packing (£17.00 Europe, £18.00 elsewhere), and you can order using the secure order form on this site.

26th February, 2002:

Revolution Days Are Here!

Revolution Days by Barclay James Harvest Featuring Les Holroyd, is available now! The release was delayed very slightly, due to some mistakes in the printing of the CD booklets, which means that they all had to be reprinted, but now it is in stock. The German release date for the CD is now March 15th. For ordering details please see the secure form on this site. The CD track listing is as follows:-

It’s My Life
Missing You
That Was Then... This Is Now
Prelude
January Morning
Quiero El Sol
Totally Cool
Life Is For Living
Sleepy Sunday
Revolution Day
Marlene (from the Berlin Suite)

The album was recorded at Revolution Studios with producer Andy MacPherson, who previously worked with BJH on 1990's Welcome To The Show. Amongst the other musicians contributing to the album are Mel Pritchard on drums and percussion, Ian Wilson and Mike Hehir (ex Sad Café), Steve Piggott, Steve Butler and John "Rabbit" Bundrick. All songs are composed by Les Holroyd except for "Totally Cool", penned by Tim Green and Mike Hehir.

25th February, 2002:

North

A CD entitled North has been advertised with a release date of April 29th and an Eagle catalogue number. Whilst "North" was, indeed, a working title for the next John and Woolly studio album, work has ceased on the album at present because John doesn't feel ready to record again. This is partly because he was badly hit by the death of manager David Walker, and partly because it's not in anyone's interests to have two new BJH-related studio albums on the market so close together. There will not be a new album from John and Woolly before the autumn at the earliest.

8th January, 2002:

Tour Off

We now have confirmation from the promoter that the proposed Barclay James Harvest Through The Eyes Of John Lees tour of Germany in April 2002 will definitely not take place. Tickets should no longer be on sale, and any which you have purchased should be returned to the point of sale for a refund.

Fan Club Freebie

The latest issue of the official International BJH Fan Club magazine, Nova Lepidoptera, includes an exclusive free CD single of four live songs from John and Woolly's concerts last year in Germany. The four songs on Au Naturel were chosen on the basis that they did not appear on the Revival live CD, and three of them have not appeared on any previous BJH live album. The songs are:

Child Of The Universe
In Search Of England
Panic
Cheap The Bullet

Gregorian Hymn!

BJH's classic "Hymn" has been covered by a group of monks! The song is included on the German CD Masters Of Chant, Chapter 2 by Gregorian, which includes other rock standards such as "Stairway To Heaven", "Wish You Were Here" and "Child In Time" (!) given the tonsured tonsils treatment. You can hear an excerpt from "Hymn" at the Musicline site.

19th January, 2002:

Caught Live DVD

A DVD of the Barclay James Harvest film, Caught Live, will be issued by Classic Pictures around the end of February or early March. The disc will include not only the 50-minute 1977 documentary film, but also 30 minutes of BJH recorded at the 1974 Drury Lane concert which formed the basis for their first live album, plus 10 minutes of that night's support act, Rare Bird. The DVD will be available from us, and you will be able to pre-order it through this web site as soon as the release date and price have been confirmed.

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