Esoteric Recordings’ refresh of the Barclay James Harvest catalogue has seen deluxe expansions of most of the prog-rock heroes’ classic-era albums. In fall 2023, Esoteric got around to the band’s fourth and final album for EMI’s Harvest Records. 1972’s Baby James Harvest, often considered a weak link in a strong run of LPs, can now be reevaluated in a 4CD/1Blu-ray edition containing the remastered original stereo mix; a new stereo mix; copious bonus tracks; a full concert in mono and stereo; and the album and bonus material in 5.1 surround, high-resolution stereo…
Once Again: Esoteric Reissues Barclay James Harvest’s Second Album with New Stereo, Surround Mixes
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…
Holiday Gift Guide Spotlight: Esoteric Reissues Classics by Barclay James Harvest, Be-Bop Deluxe
As our Holiday Gift Guide continues with a fourth and final look at Cherry Red’s recent box set offerings, we wanted to bring to your attention two collections that would look great underneath the tree, whether for a prog-rock enthusiast in your life or for yourself (we won’t tell!). First up: Barclay James Harvest’s And Other Short Stories, recently reissued as a 2-CD/DVD set. The English prog rock outfit Barclay James Harvest had already made a name for themselves as part of Harvest Records’ growing stable of free-form rock groups. Their blend of…
Wild Mountain Honey: Ace’s “76 in the Shade” Features Steve Miller Band, Jefferson Starship, Smokey Robinson, Gilbert O’Sullivan, More
Producer-compiler Bob Stanley’s last couple of compilations for Ace have placed him squarely within the 1970s. Earlier this year, Saint Etienne Present Songs for the Fountain Coffee Room (compiled by Stanley, Sarah Cracknell, and Pete Wiggs) conjured “the soundtrack for a bar in mid-’70s Los Angeles,” or a St. Etienne-style spin on “yacht rock” with Stephen Bishop, Ned Doheny, Boz Scaggs, and Seals and Crofts among those featured. Stanley has followed Fountain Coffee Room up with a trip to a more specific time and place. Over 20 songs both familiar and unknown, 76…
Memory Lane: Esoteric Collects Baker Gurvitz Army Albums, Celebrates “Underground Sounds of 1968”
Today we’re looking at a pair of recent releases from Cherry Red’s Esoteric Recordings imprint featuring some heavy sounds! With a résumé including Cream, Blind Faith, Blues Incorporated, The Graham Bond Organisation, and Fela Kuti’s group, Peter Edward “Ginger” Baker has long been recognized as one of rock’s greatest – and most volatile – drummers. With a personality as outsize as his talent, Baker brought a powerful touch to all of his projects and various bands. Between 1974 and 1976, Baker led Baker Gurvitz Army with brothers Adrian (guitar/vocals) and Paul (bass/vocals)…
What a Groovy Day: Cherry Red’s Grapefruit Records Celebrates “The British Psychedelic Sounds of 1969”
Cherry Red’s Grapefruit imprint has recently released the latest volume in its year-by-year chronicle of British psychedelia. Try a Little Sunshine: The British Psychedelic Sounds of 1969 follows Let’s Go Down and Blow Our Minds (1967) and Looking at Pictures in the Sky (1968) with 3 CDs and 73 tracks from another fascinating year in music history. The box explores the various musical strains impacted by psychedelia, such as pop (including bubblegum, baroque, and sunshine/harmony pop), progressive rock, folk, and singer-songwriter. Tracks have been freed from the vaults of the labels like…
Release Round-Up: Week of May 25
Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up! Prince, Nothing Compares 2 U (Warner Bros.) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Prince’s original recording of “Nothing Compares 2 U” arrives on vinyl today for wide release. The original Prince studio version was recorded at the Flying Cloud Warehouse in Eden Prairie, Minnesota by engineer Susan Rogers and featured background vocals by Susannah Melvoin and Paul “St. Paul” Peterson as well as saxophone by Eric Leeds. Prince composed, arranged, and otherwise performed the track entirely by himself. This 7-inch vinyl single has an…
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Dark Now My Sky: Cherry Red Expands Barclay James Harvest’s Debut Into Box Set
Over the past years, Cherry Red’s Esoteric Recordings imprint has been drawing attention to the albums of prog titans Barclay James Harvest, reissuing the band’s albums in 2-CD/1-DVD editions boasting bonus content including outtakes, rarities, and new stereo and surround mixes. 1976’s Octoberon got the deluxe treatment last fall, following 1978’s XII as well as Everyone is Everybody Else (1974) and Gone to Earth (1977). Now, Esoteric is turning back the clock to 1970’s Barclay James Harvest, but with a twist. The band’s debut will be available as a 3-CD/1-DVD box set…
The World Goes On: Esoteric Reissues Barclay James Harvest’s “Octoberon” In Deluxe Set
Cherry Red’s Esoteric Recordings imprint has continued its harvest of releases from progressive rock’s Barclay James Harvest. The latest deluxe edition from the band, 1976’s Octoberon, once again is in the expanded 2-CD/1-DVD format, and follows the recent reissue of 1978’s XII as well as Everyone is Everybody Else (1974) and Gone to Earth (1977), the latter two of which were released by the label in 2016. Octoberon arrived immediately prior to Gone to Earth in a landmark year for the group. John Lees had founded BJH in 1966 with Les Holroyd,…
In Search of England: Barclay James Harvest’s “XII” Gets 2CD, DVD Reissue with New Surround Mix
Cherry Red’s Esoteric Recordings imprint has recently continued its campaign dedicated to U.K. prog heroes Barclay James Harvest with the release of the group’s 1978 album XII as a 2-CD/1-DVD set. This reissue follows similarly-formatted editions of the band’s Everyone is Everybody Else (1974) and Gone to Earth (1977), both of which were released by the label in 2016. John Lees founded Barclay James Harvest in 1966 with Les Holroyd, Mel Pritchard and Stuart “Wooly” Wolstenholme. After one single for EMI’s Parlophone imprint in 1968, the progressive four-piece was moved over to…
Child of the Universe: Esoteric Reissues Two From Barclay James Harvest
Esoteric Recordings has recently turned its attention to the Polydor discography of prog giants Barclay James Harvest for a pair of 2-CD/1-DVD reissues. John Lees founded Barclay James Harvest in 1966 with Les Holroyd, Mel Pritchard and Stuart “Wooly” Wolstenholme. After one single for EMI’s Parlophone imprint in 1968, the progressive four-piece was moved over to the Harvest imprint. Barclay James Harvest remained on Harvest for four LPs, but didn’t score their commercial breakthrough until a move to Polydor. The band’s 1974 Polydor debut, Everyone is Everybody Else, has been released in…
Esoteric Offers Up Live Barclay James Harvest, Rarities From Tea and Symphony, Third World War
With a trio of recent releases, Cherry Red Group’s Esoteric Recordings imprint continues to dig through the archives to reissue some of the most intriguing offerings from the prog-rock era and beyond. John Lees founded Barclay James Harvest in 1966 with Les Holroyd, Mel Pritchard and Stuart “Wooly” Wolstenholme. After one single for EMI’s Parlophone imprint in 1968, the progressive four-piece was moved over to the Harvest imprint. Barclay James Harvest remained on Harvest for four LPs, but didn’t score their commercial breakthrough until a move to Polydor. The 1974 release of…
