Barclay James Harvest News Archive 2006

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

Berlin Radio Broadcast

11th January 2007

BJH's legendary Berlin "concert for the people" will be broadcast by German radio station Deutschlandradio Kultur on January, 31st 2007. It's not clear whether this is a playback of the album, or a more complete recording of the actual concert. The programme can be heard over the Internet or via Astra satellite. Here's the web-link for further information (in German):

http://www.dradio.de/dkultur/sendungen/inconcert/570344/



Barclay James Harvest Convention

21st November, 2006

Many thanks to all those who took part in the first ever Barclay James Harvest Convention at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall Complex on Sunday, November 12th. The afternoon was a great success, with around 150 people enjoying vintage BJH TV footage and promo videos, taking part in a trivia quiz superbly organised by Mike Adams and firing questions at original BJH members John Lees and Woolly Wolstenholme. A charity raffle of BJH memorabilia also raised the sum of £250.00 for the Isabel Hospice in Welwyn Garden City (http://www.isabelhospice.org.uk/), with the first prize of an Octoberon promotional mirror being won by Barry Kent, who with his friend Millard had travelled all the way from Nova Scotia! Congratulations, too, to Sue Curtis, who won the first prize of an autographed hardback copy of The Barclay James Harvest Story for her impressive knowledge of the band in the quiz.

Now available, a ten-minute (5Mb) mp3 audio extract from the question and answer session with John and Woolly.



Remasters In Stock

19th October, 2006

The Eclectic remastered CDs of Live Tapes, Eyes Of The Universe, Berlin, Face To Face and Welcome To The Show are now in stock for immediate despatch, almost a week before they are available in shops or other online outlets. There is a £3.00 discount if you order all five remasters in one go.

Also available to pre-order now, a remastered version of Woolly Wolstenholme's Maestoso album, which is scheduled for release on November 6th with two bonus tracks recorded live in Vienna in 1982 - "Even The Night" and "Has To Be A Reason". The existing CD of Maestoso on the Brimstone label (without the bonus tracks) will still be available for a while at a reduced price.

See the secure form on this site for details of both these offers, and to order using PayPal, credit card, cheque or Postal Order.



Full Details of Remasters

7th September, 2006

We now have confirmed tracklistings for all of the forthcoming BJH remasters, as follows:


LIVE TAPES (2CD set)

CD ONE:

Child Of The Universe
Rock 'N' Roll Star
Poor Man's Moody Blues
Mockingbird
Hard Hearted Woman
One Night
The World Goes On **Bonus track**
Medicine Man **Previously unreleased bonus track**


CD TWO:

Taking Me Higher
Suicide?
Crazy City
Polk Street Rag
Hymn For The Children **Previously unreleased bonus track**
Jonathan
For No One
Hymn



EYES OF THE UNIVERSE

Love On The Line
Alright Down Get Boogie (Mu Ala Rusic)
The Song (They Love To Sing)
Skin Flicks
Sperratus
Rock 'N' Roll Lady
Capricorn
Play To The World

**Bonus tracks**:
Sperratus (previously unreleased single edit)
Rock 'N' Roll Lady (previously unreleased single edit)
Capricorn (single edit)
Play To The World (previously unreleased single edit)


The version of "Medicine Man" on Live Tapes is not the same one as on the Live EP and was recorded at Liverpool Empire in 1977.

The single edits on EOTU were all considered as potential singles, and "Play To The World" is a different mix.



BERLIN - A CONCERT FOR THE PEOPLE

Love On the Line
Mockingbird
Rock 'N' Roll Lady
Nova Lepidoptera
Sip Of Wine
In Memory Of The Martyrs
Life Is For Living
Child Of The Universe
Berlin
Loving Is Easy
Hymn


In spite of a lot of effort going in to looking at what extra material could be rescued of the Berlin concert, it proved impossible, as the recordings available were simply not good enough. However, the remastered version features the original limited edition 11-track, with "Love On The Line" and "Rock 'N' Roll Lady", in the original running order, which was more like the actual running order on the day. Apparently, the 11-track is a slightly different mix all the way through, too, and it's that one which will be used. The remastering has, we're told, has brought new clarity to it, and it sounds much more "live" than the 9-track Polydor CD.



FACE TO FACE

Prisoner Of Your Love
He Said Love
Alone In The Night
Turn The Key
Guitar Blues
African
Following Me
All My Life
Panic
Kiev
You Need Love
On The Wings Of Love

**Bonus tracks**:
Panic (German 12 inch single remix)
He Said Love (single edit)
On the Wings of Love (single edit)



WELCOME TO THE SHOW

The Life You Lead
Lady Macbeth
Cheap The Bullet
Welcome To The Show
John Lennon's Guitar
Halfway To Freedom
African Nights
Psychedelic Child
Where Do We Go
If Love Is King
Origin Earth
Shadows On The Sky

**Bonus tracks**:
John Lennon's Guitar (live)
Alone in the Night (live)
Poor Man's Moody Blues (live)


The live tracks on Welcome To The Show are all taken from the UK CD singles of "Stand Up", and were recorded live at London's Town And Country Club on 16th February, 1992.



The remastered CDs are scheduled for release at the end of October, and can be pre-ordered with immediate effect:

Full details and a discount when ordering all five CDs.



Pre-Ordering Remasters

4th September, 2006

The Eclectic Discs remastered CDs of Live Tapes, Eyes Of The Universe, Berlin, Face To Face and Welcome To The Show are now scheduled for release at the end of October, and can be pre-ordered with immediate effect.

Full details and a special offer when ordering all five CDs.



First Details of Remasters

21st August, 2006

We now have confirmed tracklistings for two of the forthcoming BJH remasters, as follows:


LIVE TAPES (2CD set)

CD ONE:

Child Of The Universe
Rock 'N' Roll Star
Poor Man's Moody Blues
Mockingbird
Hard Hearted Woman
One Night
The World Goes On **Bonus track**
Medicine Man **Previously unreleased bonus track**


CD TWO:

Taking Me Higher
Suicide?
Crazy City
Polk Street Rag
Hymn For The Children **Previously unreleased bonus track**
Jonathan
For No One
Hymn



EYES OF THE UNIVERSE

Love On The Line
Alright Down Get Boogie (Mu Ala Rusic)
The Song (They Love To Sing)
Skin Flicks
Sperratus
Rock 'N' Roll Lady
Capricorn
Play To The World

**Bonus tracks**:
Sperratus (previously unreleased single edit)
Rock 'N' Roll Lady (previously unreleased single edit)
Capricorn (single edit)
Play To The World (previously unreleased single edit)


The version of "Medicine Man" on Live Tapes is not the same one as on the Live EP and was recorded at Liverpool Empire in 1977.

The single edits on EOTU were all considered as potential singles, and "Play To The World" is a different mix.


We should have confirmation of the other titles' track listings next week.



More Remastered CDs to Come

21st July, 2006

Long-awaited remastered CDs of more of the classic Barclay James Harvest albums are in the pipeline, and are expected to be released by Eclectic Discs around the end of October. Five albums get the makeover treatment, as follows:

Live Tapes

Eyes Of The Universe

Berlin - A Concert For The People

Face To Face

Welcome To The Show


All of the CDs are expected to feature bonus material (in the case of Live Tapes and Berlin these should include previously unreleased tracks), superior remastered sound quality and expanded booklets with liner notes. Full details will be published here as soon as they are confirmed.



Barclay James Harvest Convention

15th June, 2006

The first ever Barclay James Harvest Convention will take place in the Wolverhampton Civic Hall Complex on Sunday, November 12th, 2006, in the afternoon before the John Lees' Barclay James Harvest concert at the Wulfrun Hall that evening. Founder members John Lees and Woolly Wolstenholme will be the star guests, taking part in a question and answer session and signing autographs during the afternoon. Other attractions will include showings of rare videos and TV footage, a records and rarities fair and a charity raffle.

Tickets for the JLBJH concert in the evening include free entry to the convention, which will begin at 2 p.m, and are available from the Civic Hall Box Office on 01902 552121 or www.wolvescivic.co.uk.



Web Site Changes

15th June, 2006

Following requests from Les Holroyd's manager, changes have been made to this site, which will now cover only the "classic" Barclay James Harvest from 1967 to 1997, plus news of any CD or DVD issues relating to that period.

The new John Lees' Barclay James Harvest site will bring you comprehensive news and information about the current band and John and Woolly's work together from 1998 to date.

In order to make information as easy to find as possible with the new set up, the "classic" site will have prominent links to the new JLBJH site and to the existing Woolly Wolstenholme/Maestoso page. We have also offered to include similar reciprocal links to the Barclay James Harvest Featuring Les Holroyd site.

Whilst we would have preferred to keep the original site as a one-stop source of information for all things BJH-related, we didn't wish to do so against the wishes of a band member.



John Lees' Barclay James Harvest UK Tour

4th June, 2006

The list of confirmed concerts for the John Lees' Barclay James Harvest 2006 UK Tour now reads as follows:


DETAILED MAPS OF VENUES


Singer/songwriter Jim Leverton and multi-instrumentalist Geoffrey Richardson will be supporting JLBJH on the UK tour.

A duo with great stagecraft and presence as befits musicians with 38 year pedigrees, their show features a mix of original material and covers. Currently both integral members of well loved 70’s band CARAVAN, they have strong musical pedigrees in their own right.

Jim Leverton’s career began in the mid 60’s and he has plied his craft with a wide range of artists, from Frankie Miller and Englebert Humperdinck through to Juicy Lucy, Savoy Brown, Blodwyn Pig, Fat Mattress, Joe Brown and of course, Steve Marriott’s Packet of Three.

Geoffrey Richardson is a highly regarded multi instrumentalist and has been an integral member of Caravan since the 70’s. He is also known for his work with the Penguin Café Orchestra, the Bob Geldof band and Murray Head. Utilising electric viola, cello, flute and even electric spoons, he truly is an eclectic musician.



BJHFLH Tour Dates

22nd May, 2006

The latest dates for Barclay James Harvest Featuring Les Holroyd:

Without orchestra:

17/06 Worpswede, Musichall
18/06 Kiel, Kieler Woche
19/06 Mülheim an der Ruhr, Freilichtbühne (tbc)
21/06 Marcq-en-Baroeul, Hippodrome (nr. Lille) - free concert, with Uli Jon Roth and Revival.



Japanese Card Sleeve Remasters

30th April, 2006

Japanese remastered CDs with promo box The remastered CDs of Everyone Is Everybody Else, Time Honoured Ghosts, Octoberon, Gone To Earth and XII have been issued in Japan as limited editions in miniature card sleeve reproductions of the original vinyl LP sleeves. Each one comes with the same bonus tracks as the UK remasters, a fold-out insert containing all the text and pictures from the UK booklets, plus copies of the inner sleeves where the original UK LP had one and extras such as Gone To Earth's die cut cover and reversible inner sleeve, or a double-sided lyric poster with XII. One Japanese outlet is also offering the set of five CDs in an Octoberon-design promotional box.

The CDs won't be available direct from us, as it's difficult for us to source Japanese issues, and impossible for us to offer them at a reasonable price! However, they can be bought individually through the Japanese HMV web site (which has an English-language version) at www.hmv.co.jp, and the sets with promo box are appearing on auction sites such as eBay.




BJHFLH Tour Dates

23rd March, 2006

The latest dates for Barclay James Harvest Featuring Les Holroyd:

With orchestra: [special guest, Meera Fé]

30/03 Merzig, Stadthalle
31/03 Oldenburg, Staatstheater (sold out)
01/04 Bremen, Glocke
02/04 Hannover Theater am Aegi
03/04 Leipzig, Gewandhaus
04/04 Ravensburg, Oberschwabenhalle
06/04 Amnéville Galaxie
07/04 Merzig, Stadthalle (sold out)
08/04 Iserlohn, Parkhalle
09/04 Verviers, Grand Theatre
10/04 Oldenburg, Staatstheater (sold out)



1974 'In Concert' Re-Broadcast

17th March, 2006

BBC 6 Music are planning to re-broadcast Barclay James Harvest's 1974 "In Concert" performance at London's Golders Green Hippodrome at midnight (UK time) on the night of Sunday/Monday, 26th/27th March. Check the 6Music web site, http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music, for updates.

The show can also be heard live over the web, or through the BBC's "listen again" feature for a week or so after the broadcast.



John Lees' Barclay James Harvest UK Tour

9th March, 2006

Another show has been added to the John Lees' Barclay James Harvest UK Tour; the list of confirmed concerts now reads as follows:


More shows still to be announced. The band line-up is also to be confirmed, but will, of course, include John Lees and Woolly Wolstenholme. The set will trawl the band's entire history, and John and Woolly's special guests will be Geoffrey Richardson and Jim Leverton from Caravan. Ticket ordering information will be added as we get it.



BJHFLH's Version Of "Hymn" Available For Download

28th February, 2006

Barclay James Harvest Featuring Les Holroyd's studio recording of "Hymn" is now available for sale as an mp3 download from the Tunetribe web site. To buy or listen to a short sample, go to http://www.tunetribe.com/Artist?artist_id=20316. You can also download "That Was Then...This is Now"; "Berlin"; "Love On The Line"; "Shadows On The Sky" and "Lebe Für's Leben", all from the same show as the Live In Bonn CD, but not on the CD.



BJHFLH Tour Dates

16th February, 2006

The latest dates for Barclay James Harvest Featuring Les Holroyd:

With orchestra:

30/03 Merzig, Stadthalle
31/03 Oldenburg, Staatstheater (sold out)
01/04 Bremen, Glocke
02/04 Hannover Theater am Aegi
03/04 Leipzig, Gewandhaus
04/04 Ravensburg, Oberschwabenhalle
06/04 Amnéville Galaxie
07/04 Merzig, Stadthalle
08/04 Iserlohn, Parkhalle
09/04 Verviers, Grand Theatre
10/04 Oldenburg, Staatstheater (sold out)


Without orchestra:

05/5 Bern Arena, BEA Nights 2006, co-headlining with Jethro Tull and Alan Parsons Live Project.



"Glasnost" and "Victims" on DVD

3rd February, 2006

Glasnost and Victims Of Circumstance DVD cover A single DVD comprising BJH's Victims Of Circumstance and Glasnost was released on January 30th, 2006 by Universal. The DVD is a straight transfer from the two original video releases (see the Video page on this site for details), and is in stock now - see the secure order form for more information.


Mel Tribute on Internet Radio

22nd January, 2006

The internet radio station Radiofips (www.radiofips.de) is planning a tribute to Mel Pritchard. The programme will go out on 28th January, 2006 between 12.00 and 13.00 under the title "In Memory of Mel Pritchard", und will include music from BJH and from some of Mel's favourite groups.



BJH Box Set Sells Out

15th January, 2006

Barclay James Harvest Box Set cover




The 5CD career-overview set, All Is Safely Gathered In, has been a big success, attracting excellent press reviews, and unprecedented demand meant that the entire first pressing sold out before Christmas. New supplies are now in stock.

The set covers the band's history from 1968 to 1997, including material from their time with the Harvest label as well as the later years with Polydor UK and Germany, plus a whole CD of rare demos and unreleased versions and a lavishly illustrated full-colour 60-page book.


CD ONE:

"With words and with pen I write…"


1. Early Morning 2:30
2. Pools of Blue (Abbey Road version) 4:55 - Previously unreleased version
3. Eden Unobtainable 3:00
4. Poor Wages 3:02
5. Brother Thrush 2:29
6. Taking Some Time On 5:31
7. The Sun Will Never Shine 5:09
8. The Iron Maiden 2:43
9. Dark Now My Sky 11:57
10. She Said 8:23
11. Song for Dying 5:03
12. Galadriel 3:14
13. Mockingbird 6:41
14. Too Much on Your Plate 5:30
15. The Poet 4:18
16. After the Day 5:18

Total Time: 79:43


CD TWO:

"Round and round now we go…"


1. Medicine Man (single version) 4:28
2. Song with No Meaning 4:23
3. Ursula (The Swansea Song) 2:51
4. Child of Man 3:18
5. When the City Sleeps 4:10
6. Summer Soldier 10:28
7. One Hundred Thousand Smiles Out 6:06
8. Moonwater (2002 remix) 7:20
9. The Joker 3:29
10. Crazy City 4:05
11. Child of the Universe 3:38
12. Negative Earth (Original Mix) 5:33
13. The Great 1974 Mining Disaster (Original Mix) 4:46
14. For No One (live) 5:44
15. Song For You 5:20
16. Sweet Jesus 3:30

Total Time: 79:09


CD THREE:

"Miles away in endless flight…"


1. In My Life 4:39
2. Titles 3:49
3. Jonathan 4:45
4. Ra 7:18
5. Rock n' Roll Star 5:17
6. Suicide? 7:56
7. Hymn (Single edit) 4:23
8. Poor Man's Moody Blues 6:55
9. Hard Hearted Woman 4:27
10. Sea of Tranquility 4:03
11. Berlin 4:47
12. The Closed Shop 3:46
13. In Search of England 4:12
14. The Song (They Love to Sing) 6:03
15. Sperratus 4:59

Total Time: 77:19


CD FOUR:

"Silver drifting on high…"


1. In Memory of the Martyrs 7:44
2. Life is for Living 3:31
3. Nova Lepidoptera (live) 6:01
4. Sip of Wine (live) 4:58
5. Fifties Child 4:18
6. Ring of Changes (single mix) 4:38
7. African 5:51
8. On the Wings of Love 5:56
9. Lady Macbeth 4:34
10. If Love is King 6:02
11. Cheap the Bullet 4:30
12. The Ballad of Denshaw Mill 9:00
13. Back in the Game 6:48
14. Children of the Disappeared 5:00

Tracks 13 & 14 previously unreleased outside of Germany, Austria and Switzerland

Total Time: 78:51


CD FIVE:

"The wheat and the chaff…"


1. Dark Now My Sky (live)
Recorded at unknown location in March 1971 - Previously unreleased

2. Medicine Man 5:21
3. Ursula (The Swansea Song) 3:03
4. Someone There You Know 3:565
5 Moonwater (demo)
Recorded at Strawberry studios, Stockport in April 1972 - Previously unreleased

6. The World Goes On (live) 6:22
Recorded on the "Octoberon" UK tour in October 1976 - Previously unreleased

7. Capricorn - single edit 3:25
A-side of single - Released as Polydor POSP 140 in March 1980 - Previously unreleased on CD

8. Love on the Line - Live 6:30
Recorded at the Reichstag, Berlin on 30th August 1980
Previously released in July 1982 as bonus track on limited edition German release PolyStar 2475 554

9. For Your Love - Live
Recorded at Wembley Arena, London on 13th October 1984 - Previously unreleased

10. Lady Macbeth - Demo 5:09
11. John Lennon's Guitar - Demo 6:29
12. Cheap the Bullet - Demo 5:33
Recorded at Friarmere studios, Saddleworth in November 1987 - Previously unreleased

13. Three Weeks to Despair 6:00
Taken from "River of Dreams" - Previously unreleased outside of Germany, Austria and Switzerland


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