The Essential Barclay James Harvest? (1 Viewer)

[Peter Overduin]

I used to follow this group when I lived in Germany in the 80's, and then they went 'rock' and I lost interest. Recently heard the 'Hymn' and thought I would revisit this once awesome group when, at one time, they were ELO, Fleetwood Mac and Supertramp all rolled into one with a superbly rich ballad style harmonic and deep lyrics.

They would make a fanatastic SACD or DVD-Audio, but am interested in recommendations here. What are now considered to be their best albums? Thanks

 

[Charles Gurganus]

Gone To Earth and Octoberon from their middle period.

Everyone Is Everybody Else is kind of the record where they started going more toward the pop/rock sound on side 2. Side one is more like their earlier 4 records, which are considered there best (Barclay James Harvest, Once Again, Baby James Harvest, and BJH and Other Short Stories).

For the later period....really the only one I like all the way through is Turn Of The Tide.

If you just start with one, get Gone To Earth. I like Everyone probably the best (AMG gives it a 2 star which is just plain WRONG). If you perfer the more orcastrated sound get Baby James Harvest. These 3 plus Turn Of The Tide will give you slices of how they progressed.

The "they went rock" was just them trying to find a way to make some money or actually come up with a hit single. They lost a lot of old fans with this move (and Wooly leaving) but the earlier stuff, while they had some fans, just couldn't get it to the masses. It is a shame.