Barclay James Harvest
This is a story of a promise only partially kept. A pair of isolated singles in the late '60s indicated that Barclay James Harvest might be well suited to the growing progressive rock movement, based on their facility for psychedelic pop and (reason enough for induction) their use of the mellotron. Beginning with their eponymous debut in 1970, BJH released roughly an album a year throughout the '70s. But despite more than enough talent to succeed, BJH never really carved out a niche for themselves; when it came time to describe their music, the comparison was invariably drawn to more established bands like The Moody Blues and The Beatles. Their earliest music (up to Baby James Harvest) is a psychedelic treasure chest waiting to be rediscovered (or endless variations on "Puff The Magic Dragon," depending on your stomach for psychedelia). The albums from the '70s are also quite good, but primary songwriters John Lees and Les Holroyd had grown into balladeers rather than space cowboys, leaving Wooly Wolstenholme to author sublime epics on his own. As prog was pushed to the cultural periphery by punk, BJH found themselves playing more to the continent in the '80s (where they were still very popular). In 1999, the band recorded a live album featuring a returning Wolstenholme on keyboards. However, by 2003, Lees and Holroyd were fronting different versions of the band and releasing separate works under the BJH banner. A reconciliation we hope is in the future.

I know, you're just jazzed that I have a BJH page (and bummed that I haven't updated it since Wooly passed). Well, brighten up, there's an updated BJH page at the new Progrography, complete with full discography, more reviews and at least one reference to the fact that Wooly Wolstenholme is dead.

SEE ALSO...
JOHN LEES discography
WOOLY WOLSTENHOLME discography

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