Cherry Red's Esoteric imprint has overseen the catalogue of prog rockers Barclay James Harvest for some years now, revisiting their albums in various shapes and sizes.  2023 has recently seen the reissue of BJH's second album, 1971's Once Again, as a 3-CD/Blu-ray box boasting the album in its original stereo mix; a new stereo mix by Stephen W. Tayler; and a fold-down of its original 1973 quadraphonic mix on CD, plus a new 5.1 surround mix, the quadraphonic mix in true 4.0, and the new and original stereo mixes in high-resolution on a Blu-ray disc.  Seven bonus tracks (five of which are previously unreleased) are also featured here.

April 1968 saw the band's first release on EMI's Parlophone label.  The single "Early Morning" b/w "Mr. Sunshine" was an auspicious enough debut for the giant label to create a progressive offshoot reportedly named after the group: Harvest.  Guitarist John Lees, bassist Les Holroyd, drummer Mel Pritchard, and keyboardist Stuart "Woolly" Wolstenholme released their first album in 1970 under the auspices of producer Norman "Hurricane" Smith, the onetime Beatles engineer who had "graduated" to producing Pink Floyd and The Pretty Things before emerging as a solo artist with hits including the international smash "Oh, Babe, What Would You Say?"  BJH's self-titled LP introduced the band's signature style of symphonic rock on tracks like the epic-length "Dark Now My Sky" and "Mother Dear," the latter of which featured an orchestral arrangement by producer Smith.  Arranger-conductor Robert Godfrey led "The Barclay James Harvest Symphony Orchestra" on the LP.

As the title Once Again might indicate, the album was very much a continuation of what came before.  For sessions at Abbey Road Studios in October 1970, Norman Smith was again the producer and Robert Godfrey the musical director.  Four orchestral concerts had taken place around the U.K. to promote BJH's debut, and the band took the opportunity to use those gigs to preview some of the material being shaped for Once Again.  As a result, the album was a well-crafted, well-considered follow-up that rarely strayed from the path.

The dirge-like opening "She Said," co-written by the group and fashioned from various pieces, showcased the band at its heaviest, with scorching guitars and thunderous drums; its original introduction has been reinstated for the new 2.0 and 5.1 mixes. Woolly Wolstenholme contributed the dark and biting environmental lament "Happy Old World" and a blues rocker in the mold of Led Zeppelin, "Ball and Chain."

John Lees penned the majority of Once Again including the haunting anti-war ballad "Song for Dying" (extended by almost two minutes in the new mixes) featuring the band's delicate harmonies; the grandly orchestrated Lord of the Rings-inspired "Galadriel" (on which Norman Smith proffered John Lennon's Epiphone out of an Abbey Road cabinet for Lees to play on the track); the fan-favorite "Mocking Bird" which builds from quiet tension to a full-out explosion that encapsulates the ambition of BJH In fusing classical and rock; the ruminative "Vanessa Simmons" which favorably evokes the early Bee Gees sound; and another effective ballad, "Lady Loves."  The latter is notable for an appearance by session tape operator Alan Parsons, who was drafted to play the jaw harp on the track.  (Two outtakes composed by Wolstenholme, "Too Much on Your Plate" and "White Sails (A Seascape)" have been previously released and are reprised here among the bonus material, also encompassing live tracks and alternate versions.)

The all-region Blu-ray disc houses the discrete 4.0 and 5.1 mixes as well as high-resolution versions of the stereo mixes.  The various audio options can be navigated onscreen, and various images related to the album play while listening.  The quadraphonic mix is rather more fun than the tasteful 5.1 presentation, placing the listener in the middle of the music-making; compare the opening drum rolls moving right to left in the 5.1 mix to the same rolls flitting all around the four channels, including rears, in the quad version.  The quad mix has its own idiosyncrasies, though, such as placing the lead vocal on "She Said" into the rear right channel.  The many variations between all of the mixes will doubtless be best enjoyed by those familiar with the material.  As well as the introduction to "She Said," the new 5.1 mix features other previously unheard bits throughout including Woolly Wolstenholme's "...as we travel through space..." on "Happy Old World."  The orchestral tracks shine brightest on both the 4.0 and 5.1 mixes, with "Galadriel" and "Mocking Bird" both lending themselves to particularly rich sonics.  (Tayler's 5.1 mix of the former places the orchestra almost exclusively in the rear channels as a pillow to the band up front.)  Ultimately, those equipped for surround will find much to like in both the wild and woolly (pun intended) 4.0 and impressive but more traditional 5.1 mixes.

A slipcase houses each disc in an individual jacket (sans inner sleeves) as well as a thick, squarebound 68-page booklet which contains Keith and Monika Domone's liner notes plus an illustrated discography of the album and related singles, fun photos of the album's record store launch (spot the Mama Cass, Franck Pourcel, and Tom Lehrer LPs on display!), and images of the original master tapes.  Ben Wiseman has remastered all of the audio from the original tapes.

Esoteric's presentation of Once Again is another top-notch restoration from the Barclay James Harvest catalogue, handily besting previous expanded editions of the album.  It's available now from Cherry Red and Esoteric Recordings at the links below.

Barclay James Harvest, Once Again (Cherry Red/Esoteric PECLEC 42822, 2023) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD 1: The Original Stereo Mix

1. She Said
2. Happy Old World
3. Song for Dying
4. Galadriel
5. Mocking Bird
6. Vanessa Simmons
7. Ball and Chain
8. Lady Loves
9. Too Much on Your Plate
10. Happy Old World (Take One)

CD 2: The New Stereo Mix

1. She Said
2. Happy Old World
3. Song for Dying
4. Galadriel
5. Mocking Bird
6. Vanessa Simmons
7. Ball and Chain
8. Lady Loves

Bonus Tracks

9. Too Much on Your Plate
10. White Sails (A Seascape)
11. Mocking Bird (First Version - May 1970)

CD 3: The 1972 Quadraphonic SQ Stereo Mix

1. She Said
2. Happy Old World
3. Song for Dying
4. Galadriel
5. Mocking Bird
6. Vanessa Simmons
7. Ball and Chain
8. Lady Loves

Bonus Tracks

9. Galadriel (Non-Orchestral Version)
10. Mocking Bird (Non-Orchestral Version)

Blu-ray:

New Stereo & Surround Mixes:

1. She Said
2. Happy Old World
3. Song for Dying
4. Galadriel
5. Mocking Bird
6. Vanessa Simmons
7. Ball and Chain
8. Lady Loves

Bonus Tracks

9. Too Much on Your Plate
10. White Sails (A Seascape)

1971 Stereo Mix and 1973 Quadraphonic Mix (96/24):

1. She Said
2. Happy Old World
3. Song for Dying
4. Galadriel
5. Mocking Bird
6. Vanessa Simmons
7. Ball and Chain