Barclay James Harvest

Originally from Oldham, Lancashire, guitarist John Lees, keyboardist Stuart “Wooly” Wolstenholme, bassist Les Holroyd and drummer Melvin Pritchard first turned professional together in 1967, drawing the names Barclay, James, and Harvest out of a hat. They released a pair of singles to some acclaim (notably John Peel), before being signed to EMI’s new Harvest label. Their debut album was produced by EMI’s Norman Smith, but its rich orchestration from “resident musical director” Robert Godfrey is certainly more characteristic. Both “Taking Some Time On” and “Good Morning Lovechild” contain punchy if uncharacteristically rocking melodies. The Beatles’ influenced “Mother Dear” and “The Iron Maiden” also turn to folk influences, but “Dark Now My Sky” is what the album is all about. The orchestra kicks off, topped with Lees’ soaring lead guitar, coalescing into a gentle melody before the waves of orchestra follow in to close. More than classically inspired, the band and orchestra actually achieve a far greater degree of integration than most; though what it has to do with rock music is really anyone’s guess. To wit, following the album’s release, the band undertook a tour accompanied by an orchestra. Their next few albums for Harvest followed in similar fashion; however, it would take a label change and live album for the band to finally hit the charts in the UK. Though not strictly prog rock, BJH would endure fashion and fate for over two decades with their unique brand of middleweight music. They would eventually find a substantial audience in Germany.