In recorded music, Barclay James Harvest have released a string of well-received progressive gems beginning at a time when Progressive music was still in its infancy. And for the better part of a decade after their 1970 self-titled debut, they had the attention of a dedicated audience. With seven songs, the album set a tone for their style moving forward. Their epic 12-minute “Dark Now, My Sky” is a rich, orchestral tune that made it easy to love if you were a bit adventurous. With subsequent albums like Octoberon (1976), Gone To Earth (1977), Time Honoured Ghosts (1975), the band became even deeper.
On May 25, Esoteric Recordings (a division of Cherry Red UK) will release a 3CD/1DVD Boxed set of the eponymous Barclay James Harvest debut. It will present the original album with a new remaster, and expand it with a collection of thirty-three bonus tracks that will include singles (A/B sides), sessions tracks, outtakes, a new 5.1 Surround mix, and a new Stereo mix, all from the original master tapes. In addition, there will be 96kHz/24-bit high resolution Stereo mixes, and a series of live BBC broadcasts to make this set a definitive one. The DVD will contain those new 96kHz/24-bit mixes (5.1 Surround, New Stereo Mix, Original Stereo Mix).
The box will provide a richly designed 68-page book with photos, essays, notes, and many other things to detail the release of this album, and the emergence of a talent in this band. Additional bonus adds include a replica orchestral tour program, two replica press releases, a replica 1968-issued record store poster announcing the release of the “Early Morning” single, and a postcards set.
Barclay James Harvest – Barclay James Harvest (3CD/DVD)
CD1 (Barclay James Harvest original album, singles, etc):
Original Stereo Mix Remastered
01. TAKING SOME TIME ON
02. MOTHER DEAR
03. THE SUN WILL NEVER SHINE
04. WHEN THE WORLD WAS WOKEN
05. GOOD LOVE CHILD
06. THE IRON MAIDEN
07. DARK NOW MY SKY
Bonus Tracks
A & B-sides of single released April 1968
08. EARLY MORNING
09. MR. SUNSHINE
Recorded at Advision Studios, London August 1968
10. POOLS OF BLUE
11. I CAN’T GO ON WITHOUT YOU
12. EDEN UNOBTAINABLE
Recorded at Chappell Studios, London August 1968 (mixed at Abbey Road Studios, September 1968)
13. POOLS OF BLUE
A/B-Sides of single released June 1969
14. BROTHER THRUSH
15. POOR WAGES
A-Side of Single released August 1970
16. TAKING SOME TIME ON
CD2 (New Stereo Mix of Original Album, bonus tracks):
New Stereo Mix of Barclay James Harvest
01. TAKING SOME TIME ON
02. MOTHER DEAR
03. THE SUN WILL NEVER SHINE
04. WHEN THE WORLD WAS WOKEN
05. GOOD LOVE CHILD
06. THE IRON MAIDEN
07. DARK NOW MY SKY
Bonus Tracks
Recorded a Chappell Studios, August 16, 1968
08. POOLS OF BLUE
Recorded at EMI Studios, Abbey Road, March 11, 1969
09. BROTHER THRUSH
10. POOR WAGES
CD3 (BBC Broadcasts, etc):
Mr Sunshine film version previously unreleased on CD
01. MR. SUNSHINE
Broadcast on BBC Radio One Top Gear, April 14, 1968 – Previously Unreleased
02. EARLY MORNING
BBC Radio One Top Gear Session recorded April 23, 1968 and broadcast on May 5, 1968
03. SO TOMORROW
04. EDEN UNOBTAINABLE
BBC Radio One Top Gear Session Recorded July 30, 1968 and broadcast August 4, 1968
05. NIGHT
06. POOLS OF BLUE
07. NEED YOU OH SO BAD
08. SMALL TIME TOWN
09. DARK NOW MY SKY
Woolley Wolstenholme original solo demo recorded at Preston House- Saddleworth in 1969 – Previously Unreleased
10. THE SUN WILL NEVER SHINE
BBC Radio One John Peel Sunday Concert records at BBC Paris Theatre, London February 11, 1971 and broadcast on February 21, 1971
11. DARK NOW MY SKY
DVD (Original Album and bonus tracks in New 5.1 Surround Mix of Barclay James Harvest, New 96kHz/24-bit Stereo Mix, 96kHz/24-bit Original Stereo Mix):
01. TAKING SOME TIME ON
02. MOTHER DEAR
03. THE SUN WILL NEVER SHINE
04. WHEN THE WORLD WAS WOKEN
05. GOOD LOVE CHILD
06. THE IRON MAIDEN
07. DARK NOW MY SKY
Bonus Tracks
Recorded at Chappell Studios, August 16, 1968
08. POOLS OF BLUE
Recorded at EMI Studios – Abbey Road on March 11, 1969
09. BROTHER THRUSH
10. POOR WAGES
Video
Mr Sunshine 1968 Short Film with:
01 EARLY MORNING
02 WASHING THE DISHES
03 MR. SUNSHINE