Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST

UK rock band. Lineup: John Lees (b 13 Jan. '47, Oldham, Lancs), guitar; Melvyn Pritchard (b 8 Jan. '48, Oldham), drums; Les Holroyd (b 12 March '48), bass; Stuart 'Wooly' Wolstenholme (b 15 April '47, Oldham), keyboards. Lees and Wolstenholme formed band Blues Keepers at school; Lees also played recorder, flute, clarinet; Wooly twelve-string guitar. Pritchard and Holroyd were veterans of local bands Heart and Soul, the Wickeds; BJH formed '66, turned pro '67, rehearsing in farmhouse provided by local businessman. First single 'Early Morning' on Parlophone; others on EMI's new 'progressive' Harvest label. Tour with full orchestra to promote first LP Barclay James Harvest '70 was a financial disaster; this with critical indifference (in sharp contrast to labelmates Pink Floyd) caused lower profile (though orchestra reappeared for '71 festival in Weeley, Essex). Best of early singles and first three LPs (Once Again, Other Short Stories both '71) compiled as Early Morning Onwards '72. Band slogged around UK college circuit, released two further LPs; Pritchard thought of joining Fairport Convention. Change of label to Polydor brought reward when two-disc Barclay James Harvest Live '74 became first top 40 LP. Time Honoured Ghosts charted '75, recorded in USA. From the experimental feel of early discs their sound had coalesced into mellotron-based rock (derived from orchestral period) with Floyd-like lead guitar, breathy harmonies not unlike Moody Blues (the comparison was resented: 'Poor Man's Moody Blues' on '77 LP Gone To Earth was answer to critics). LPs continued to chart in UK, sold well in Europe: Gone To Earth, released in heyday of punk, was big hit in Germany. Musical stagnation illustrated by late release of Lees '73 solo LP A Major Fancy due to lack of perceived demand; promoted four years later to cash in/recoup losses. Former label also released three more best-of compilations. Wolstenholme left '79 (first personnel change in 13 years); did solo Maestoso '80, while band replaced crucial keyboard contribution with sessionmen Kevin McAlea (ex-Bees Make Honey, Kate Bush) and Colin Browne, later Bias Boshell. Eyes Of The Universe '79 failed to chart in UK; enthusiastic reception in Europe led to concentration on that market and they repaid German support 30 Aug. '80 with historic free concert on steps of Reichstag near Berlin Wall: A Concert For The People (Berlin) was not only biggest UK hit LP (no. 15) but film, video, simultaneous TV/radio broadcast. Continued into '80s defying fashion with conservative musical policy (despite titles of LPs Turn Of The Tide '81, Ring Of Changes '83), reaping benefits of European following (German sales now well over 3 million) while consistently charting in UK; USA label switches failed to bring sales there. Annual tours with spectacular laser shows similar to '70s Yes extravaganzas. Further albums were Victims Of Circumstance '84, live Glasnost '88; shortened name to BJH for Welcome To The Show '90, back to full-length moniker for Caught In The Light '93, on Polydor labels in Europe since '74.