Esoteric is a UK-based reissue label that not only creates fine reissues, but goes above and beyond by delivering a more than definitive remembrance of a favorite band. And they do this time and again without flaw and imperfection. The good news for this post is that Esoteric is doing this magic for two classic Barclay James Harvest titles. They are Gone To Earth (1977), and Everyone Is Everybody Else (1974). Read on!
Briefly, Barclay James Harvest formed in the late ’60s as an ArtRock band that was starting to gain popularity as an art form Rock and Roll expression. With other bands gaining in popularity by the use of ArtRock, it certainly made great sense. Their first album was the self-titled release from 1970. The band has well over fifteen releases including from another iteration of the band.
One of their great albums is Everyone Is Everybody Else. This album, their fifth, was released in 1974. It was followed by Time Honoured Ghosts in 1975, Octoberon in 1976, and Gone To Earth in 1977. While there were more great BJH albums, it is with Everyone Is Everybody Else, and Gone To Earth that we’re most interested in simply because these are the albums Esoteric is reissuing.
On June 10, there will be 2CD/1DVD explorations of both mentioned albums available to fans. Both sets will be fully remastered and expanded. Not only will there be additional material but there will also be new Stereo and 5.1 Surround tracks provided on the DVD add. (See track-listings for individual layouts.) A lavish booklet will accompany the sets filled with information, liner notes, restored art, memorabilia, and photos. Both packages will be housed in digipak sets.
Everyone Is Everybody Else will be reissued with seven bonus tracks, as will be Gone To Earth.
Everybody Is Everybody Else – Barclay James Harvest (1974)
CD1: 24-BIT RE-MASTERED ORIGINAL STEREO MIX
01. CHILD OF THE UNIVERSE
02. NEGATIVE EARTH
03. PAPER WINGS
04. THE GREAT 1974 MINING DISASTER
05. CRAZY CITY
06. SEE ME, SEE YOU
07. POOR BOY BLUES
08. MILL BOYS
09. FOR NO ONE
BONUS TRACKS
10. CHILD OF THE UNIVERSE (US SINGLE VERSION)
11. THE GREAT 1974 MINING DISASTER (ORIGINAL MIX)
12. MAESTOSO (A HYMN IN THE ROOF OF THE WORLD)
CD2: NEW STEREO MIXES & BONUS TRACKS
01. CHILD OF THE UNIVERSE
02. NEGATIVE EARTH
03. PAPER WINGS
04. THE GREAT 1974 MINING DISASTER
05. CRAZY CITY
06. SEE ME, SEE YOU
07. POOR BOY BLUES
08. MILL BOYS
BONUS TRACKS
09. CHILD OF THE UNIVERSE
(US SINGLE VERSION NEW STEREO MIX)
10. NEGATIVE EARTH (ORIGINAL MIX)
11. CHILD OF THE UNIVERSE (REMAKE OF US SINGLE)
DVD: NEW 5.1 SURROUND MIXES & 96 KHZ / 24-BIT STEREO MIXES
01. CHILD OF THE UNIVERSE
02. NEGATIVE EARTH
03. PAPER WINGS
04. THE GREAT 1974 MINING DISASTER
05. CRAZY CITY
06. SEE ME, SEE YOU
07. POOR BOY BLUES
08. MILL BOYS
BONUS TRACK
09. CHILD OF THE UNIVERSE (US SINGLE VERSION)
Gone To Earth – Barclay James Harvest (1977)
CD1: NEW 24-BIT RE-MASTERED ORIGINAL STEREO MIX
01. HYMN
02. LOVE IS LIKE A VIOLIN
03. FRIEND OF MINE
04. POOR MAN’S MOODY BLUES
05. HARD HEARTED WOMAN
06. SEA OF TRANQUILLITY
07. SPIRIT ON THE WATER
08. LEPER’S SONG
09. TAKING ME HIGHER
BONUS TRACKS
10. LIED
BONUS TRACKS – RECORDED DURING THE “GONE TO EARTH” SESSIONS STRAWBERRY STUDIOS 1977
11. OUR KID’S KID
12. HYMN (SINGLE EDIT)
13. FRIEND OF MINE (SINGLE VERSION)
CD2: NEW STEREO MIX & BONUS TRACKS
01. HYMN
02. LOVE IS LIKE A VIOLIN
03. FRIEND OF MINE
04. POOR MAN’S MOODY BLUES
05. HARD HEARTED WOMAN
06. SEA OF TRANQUILLITY
07. SPIRIT ON THE WATER
08. LEPER’S SONG
09. TAKING ME HIGHER
BONUS TRACK
10. LOVING IS EASY (1977 VERSION)
DVD: NEW 5.1 SURROUND MIXES & 96 KHZ / 24-BIT STEREO MIXES
01. HYMN
02. LOVE IS LIKE A VIOLIN
03. FRIEND OF MINE
04. POOR MAN’S MOODY BLUES
05. HARD HEARTED WOMAN
06. SEA OF TRANQUILLITY
07. SPIRIT ON THE WATER
08. LEPER’S SONG
09. TAKING ME HIGHER
BONUS TRACKS
10. LOVING IS EASY (1977 VERSION)
11. OUR KID’S KID