Roy Harper

The first one, which used to be on CBS, 'Come Out Fighting Ghengis Smith' I think is particularly lovely. It has delicate & wistful string arrangements which were probably foisted on him by A&R men - they never appeared again, at any rate.

Apart from that, you can't go wrong with Stormcock, HQ or Lifemask - a particulary productive period while signed to Harvest.

Sometimes I feel in total sympathy with Harper, at others he just seems a dickhead ...he increasingly began to take himself a bit too seriously, I think.


throb

Thobnorth

Thanks for those suggestions

Regards

Spock

I was never particularly keen on Ghengis Smith (used to have a vinyl copy years ago which I must've sold) but the other pre-Harvest albums are worth a listen IMHO - Return Of The Sophisticated Beggar and Folkjokeopus, the latter featuring the immortal McGoohan's Blues (re.he of 'The Prisoner') and the delighfully dippy Exercising Some Control.

I guess Stormcock would have to be my favourite Harper - in a class of its own really. I never bothered much with the later Harvest releases - my taste and listening had moved on - and I agree with Throb that he increasingly became too self important/indulgent to really take seriously.

Can't finish however without at least a mention of Flat, Baroque and Berserk - the first Harvest album - which has some gorgeous moments on songs like Tom Tiddlers Ground, Francesca and Another Day. I used to know all the words to the epic I Hate The White Man but find it a bit excruciating these days, the basic guilt trip sentiment having been done to death ad nauseum.

HTH
Jim

I have been a longtime Harper fan and have all, yes all, his albums. I would agree that he ran out of steam in the mid to late 70's. But Green Man (his latest or near latest) is a definite return to form.

Suggest looking at his website. All his albums have been remastered and are cheaper to buy than in the shops.

Personal favourites are Beggar through to Bullinamingvase. Particulary HQ as a precursor to Bullinamingvase.

BigNick

Jim, Nick

Thanks for the replies, some good suggestions here that I will be sure to check out.

Cheers

Spock

As a fellow Rusholme lad from Manchester I have most of Harper's output. You'll never find the first album on vinyl now - its worth a fortune. I'd certainly reccomend Flat, Baroque and Berserk followed by HQ and Stormcock as favourites of mine. Saw him last year in Salford for the first time in 30 years. Good evening but why he was heckled for his political views on Iraq escaped me. I mean with Roy you know what you're going to get so why turn up at the gig.

Bob

Bob,

I've only seen him once, when I was at Repton. That was an intersting gig. Roy Harper at a public school '72 or '73. He appealed to my anarchic side. (and still Does)

BigNick

Another vote for "Stormcock". Absolutely unique vibe to that album, in my experience.

jay

Flashes from the archives of oblivion is a great live album. I have it on cd but get it on vinyl if you can. It's a double album and the vinyl version has more tracks.