Their self-titled debut album featured backing by an orchestra organized by Robert John Godfrey. It was released in mid-1970 and was heavily touted by the musicians and the record label as the next big thing in orchestral rock, but met with overwhelmingly negative reviews and weak sales. Their second album, Once Again, was followed by a tour with a full orchestra under Godfrey's guidance. Godfrey departed over writing issues behind "Mocking Bird" – one of the group's most consistently popular tracks - so Martyn Ford was brought in to supervise the orchestral work for their third album, Barclay James Harvest and Other Short Stories. Years later Godfrey filed a lawsuit alleging he was owed composing credits and corresponding royalties on several of Barclay James Harvest's songs. By the release of their fourth album, Baby James Harvest, in 1972, the pressures of touring were beginning to affect the band.
After this album, they departed from EMI, moved management to Harvey Lisberg, and signed to Polydor; the move immediately resulting in greater sales. The next album, Everyone Is Everybody Else (1974) was voted 13th by listeners in Radio Caroline's 1977 Top 100 All Time Albums Chart. The band did a BBC Radio 1 session in 1974 for John Peel; Alan Freeman, however, would be the band's main champion on the station in the 1970s and again when he returned from 1989 to 1993. The double live album, Barclay James Harvest Live, which followed in late 1974, was the first to chart in the UK, reaching No. 40. Time Honoured Ghosts (1975), which has "Titles", recorded in the US, followed, and this too charted in the UK, reaching No. 32. Octoberon followed in 1976 and reached number 19 in the UK. They broke into the mainstream mainland European market with their 1977 set Gone to Earth, which contained the song "Poor Man's Moody Blues", a homage to the Moody Blues' song, "Nights in White Satin."
Wolstenholme – whose mellotron playing was a trademark of the band's sound in the 1970s – left in 1979 after the album XII (1978), as he began to suffer from clinical depression. He pursued a short solo career fronting the band Maestoso, before retiring from the music industry to farm. He remained inactive throughout the 80s before rejoining John Lees when BJH essentially split in two.
The remaining three members continued. In August 1980, they played a free concert in front of the Reichstag in West Berlin, with an estimated attendance of 250,000 people. They were the first Western rock band to perform in an open-air concert in East Germany (over two years before the Berlin Wall fell), playing in Treptower Park, East Berlin on 14 July 1987 to a 170,000-plus audience.
The band continued as a trio with regular guest-musicians until 1998. One album, Welcome to the Show, produced in 1990, was released under the abbreviated name BJH. However, because of criticism from fans, the full name was restored, albeit with the inclusion of the BJH moniker.
In 1998, musical differences amongst members of BJH saw the band essentially split into two different groups, each of which retained "Barclay James Harvest" as part of its name. John Lees released an album mixing new songs and classics of the band, entitled Nexus, under the name "Barclay James Harvest Through the Eyes of John Lees". Woolly Wolstenholme played in (and composed for) this band, subsequently resurrecting Maestoso to record and tour with new material, as well as back-catalogue favourites. Les Holroyd and Mel Pritchard teamed up to record under the name "Barclay James Harvest featuring Les Holroyd". In 2006/7, Lees and Wolstenholme toured under the slightly modified band title "John Lees' Barclay James Harvest".
Mel Pritchard died suddenly of a heart attack in early 2004. Woolly Wolstenholme took his own life in December 2010, having apparently struggled with depression for many years. The two derivatives of Barclay James Harvest continue to record and tour to this day, and enjoy ongoing popularity, particularly in Germany, France, and Switzerland.
John Lees' Barclay James Harvest (since 1998)
This derivative of Barclay James Harvest features John Lees, bassist Craig Fletcher, drummer Kevin Whitehead and keyboard player Jez Smith. The band originally featured "Woolly" Stuart Wolstenholme on keyboards before his death in December 2010. The group formed in 1999 to record the album "Nexus". Craig Fletcher and Kevin Whitehead were from Wolstenholme's band "Maestoso", and John and Woolly were members of the original Barclay James Harvest. The band toured in the UK and Europe in 2006, and recorded the live album "Legacy" at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in London. Since then, the band has played at venues in the UK, but more so in the rest of Europe, where they achieve good success. The band toured again around the UK in 2009. They played at the Berlin Wall anniversary festival at the Brandenburg Gate, Bad Homburg in Germany with JLBJH's best attendance of 17,500 people, and more recently in Porto, Portugal with an attendance of 5,000. The band recently visited America, and played in Philadelphia. John Lees' Barclay James Harvest is currently signed and managed by Esoteric Recordings. Mark Powell, founder of the label, works as the band manager. In October 2013 JLBJH released "North", a studio album of all-new material, recorded at John's own Friamere Studios, on limited edition vinyl, CD and deluxe CD with a bonus disc recorded live at the Buxton Opera House. "North" was very well received, going on to become Cherry Red's biggest selling album of the fourth quarter of 2013. The band played nine gigs on a UK tour to promote the album, followed by a live radio concert for Christmas on German station SWR1. The band also formerly featured Jeff Leach and Mike Bramwell as guest musicians.
Barclay James Harvest featuring Les Holroyd (since 2002)
In 2001, Les Holroyd and Mel Pritchard returned to the studio to record the album 'Revolution Days' along with former Sad Cafe members Ian Wilson and Michael Byron-Hehir, as well as Steve Butler, Steve Pigott (Cher, Mike and the Mechanics), and Rabbit Bundrick (The Who). 'Revolution Days' was released in 2002, and a touring band was put together with Holroyd and Pritchard; Michael Byron-Hehir on lead guitar and vocals; Ian Wilson on guitar and vocals; Steve Butler on keyboards, percussion, and vocals; Chris Jago on drums; and former BJH sideman Colin Browne on keyboards and vocals. The first show was at the Colmar Wine Festival in August 2002. In October and November of that year, they undertook their first European Tour. More tours and festivals followed in 2003.
In January 2004, the band performed at the 'Art on Ice' spectacular at the Zurich Hallenstadion with Roger Hodgson, John Helliwell and Bob Siebenberg of Supertramp, Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues and Jeremy Spencer of Fleetwood Mac. Upon returning to the UK, Mel Pritchard died from a suspected heart attack.
In January 2005, BJHFLH toured with Asia featuring John Payne as support, returning the favour on four UK shows in March of the same year. In 2006, they undertook the Classic Meets Rock Symphonic Barclay Tour with the 25-piece Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. In July 2007, they toured the UK. Les Holroyd and Michael Byron-Hehir also worked on Alan Simon's Excalibur II album, Les joining the stage show in 2010. Les also performed in the live show of Simon's Anne de Bretagne. In 2011, Les joined the Rock Meets Classic Tour along with Ian Gillan, Lou Gramm, Dan McCafferty with The Bohemian Symphony Orchestra, performing four BJH songs: "Hymn", "Mockingbird", "Ring Of Changes", and "Life Is For Living".
Still touring Europe, the band introduced an acoustic spot into the set, showcasing their vocal harmonies with old favourites like "Poor Boy Blues", "Friend of Mine", and "Crazy City". They recorded their 2012 winter tour.
External works
The band released a single "Breathless"/"When the City Sleeps" under the pseudonym of "Bombadil" in 1972. "Breathless", an instrumental, was credited to "Terry Bull" (actually John Lees). The B side "When the City Sleeps" was credited to "Lester Forest" (actually Woolly Wolstenholme), who also played every instrument and sang. This obscure track made an appearance on the soundtrack of the 2007 series Life on Mars, although it was not featured on the CD release.
Members
Barclay James Harvest (1966–1998)
Les Holroyd – vocals, bass, guitars, keyboards (1966–1998)
John Lees – vocals, guitars (1966–1998)
Mel Pritchard – drums, percussion (1966–1998; died 2004)
Stuart "Woolly" Wolstenholme – vocals, mellotron, keyboards, guitars (1966–1979; died 2010)
John Lees' Barclay James Harvest
Current members
John Lees – vocals, guitars (1998–present)
Craig Fletcher – bass (1998–present)
Kevin Whitehead – drums, percussion (1998–present)
Jez Smith – keyboards (2009–present)
Former members
Stuart "Woolly" Wolstenholme – vocals, mellotron, keyboards, guitars (1998–2010)
Guest musicians
Jeff Leach – keyboards (1998–2006)
Mike Bramwell – keyboards (2006–2009)
John Joseph Lees – cornet (2006, 2009)
Liz Fitzpatrick – trumpet (2009)
Barclay James Harvest featuring Les Holroyd
Current members
Les Holroyd – vocals, bass, guitars, keyboards (2002–present)
Colin Browne – keyboards, guitars (2002–present)
Steve Butler – guitars, keyboards (2002–present)
Michael Byron-Hehir – lead guitars (2002–present)
Louie Palmer – drums, percussion (2011–present)
Former members
Mel Pritchard – drums, percussion (2002–2004)
Ian Wilson – guitars (2002–2009)
Chris Jago – drums, percussion (2002–2003, 2004–2005)
Roy Martin – drums, percussion (2003–2004, 2006–2007)
Paul Walsham – drums, percussion (2005–2006, 2007–2011)
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barclay_James_Harvest
Studio albums
Barclay James Harvest (1970)
Once Again (1971)
Barclay James Harvest and Other Short Stories (1971)
Baby James Harvest (1972)
Everyone Is Everybody Else (1974)
Time Honoured Ghosts (1975)
Octoberon (1976)
Gone to Earth (1977)
XII (1978)
Eyes of the Universe (1979)
Turn of the Tide (1981)
Ring of Changes (1983)
Victims of Circumstance (1984)
Face to Face (1987)
Welcome to the Show (1990)
Caught in the Light (1993)
River of Dreams (1997)
Blue John Blues
Barclay James Harvest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I don't know my way, my way back home
There's someone on my shoulder and he will not share a load
And I don't know my way, my way back home
There's a certain something deep inside
Like a rolling sea or a river wide
As the orchestra starts playing
Get down Joe
You can see his face, you can feel his smile
Yeah, look down low and let the tears run wild
When the orchestra starts playing
Blue John's Blues
Think about me, girl, and the things I ain't said
I could not be sad, thinkin' 'bout the things that you do
While the folks around me sing on
Blue John's Blues
Band is swinging, people singing
Get down Joe
There's a place down home where people meet
They clap their hands and they stamp their feet
When the music starts and the band plays
Get down Joe
They sing out loud and they sing out clear
Turn your head round girl and you might just hear
And if you do then start down singing
Blue John's Blues
Think about me, girl, and the things I ain't said
I could not be sad, thinkin' 'bout the things that you do
While the folks around me sing on
Blue John's Blues
Band is swinging, people singing
Get down Joe
Take hold of John's blues
Must be a thousand hues
Blue John's Blues
Get back Joe
Take back all of your dough
You've got no place to go
Blue John's Blues
Get back now Joe
My sweetest girl that I ever had
She's drive any poor man bad
Blue John's Blues
Well my Ma and my Papa said, Son
You'll get the KB when you're not on the run
Blue John's Blues
Well my lady and me we're gonna dance all night
Yeah yeah we're gonna dance until the broad broad light
Blue John's Blues
The sweetest girl that I ever had
Was guaranteed to drive a poor man bad
Blue John's Blues
Blue John Blues
Get back Joe
Lord, get back Joe
The lyrics of Barclay James Harvest's song Blue John Blues revolve around the feeling of loneliness and the search for a way back home with the help of music. The song starts with the singer feeling lost, with someone on his shoulder who will not share his load - this could be a metaphor for depression or anxiety. Despite the loneliness, the singer hears the rolling sea or river wide of music that can be found in an orchestra. He urges someone called Joe to "Get down" when the band is swinging and people are singing.
Throughout the song, the singer also thinks about the things that he hasn't said to a girl, but he cannot be sad thinking about the things she does. He describes a particular place down home where people come together to clap their hands, stomp their feet, and sing the blues. The lyrics emphasize the power of music to bring people together and uplift their spirits in troubled times.
Overall, the song Blue John Blues is a melancholic yet soulful journey of self-discovery through music. The singer may feel lost, but the music of the band and the community around him give him a sense of belonging and purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
Mystery is following me down that lonesome road
Something unknown is troubling me and always present as I walk a lonely path
And I don't know my way, my way back home
I am unsure of where I belong and cannot find a way back to where I come from
There's someone on my shoulder and he will not share a load
I feel burdened by something unseen and cannot find someone to share it with
And I don't know my way, my way back home
I am still uncertain of where I belong and can't find my way back to where I come from
There's a certain something deep inside
I feel a deep emotion within
Like a rolling sea or a river wide
It's like an immense and unstoppable force
As the orchestra starts playing
The music is beginning and it's started to affect me emotionally
Get down Joe
I'm getting lost in the music and must embrace it fully
You can see his face, you can feel his smile
I can feel the emotions of the music and how it has come to light in the musician's face
Yeah, look down low and let the tears run wild
I am so moved by the music that I cannot help but cry uncontrollably
When the orchestra starts playing
The music is in full swing and everyone around me is just as emotional
Blue John's Blues
The music is related to Blue John and is so powerful that it cannot be ignored
Think about me, girl, and the things I ain't said
I'm wishing for someone to understand me and how I'm feeling and think about my unspoken thoughts and emotions
I could not be sad, thinkin' 'bout the things that you do
Despite the emotions of the music, I am not unhappy as I think about the one I love
While the folks around me sing on
Others are still engulfed by the music
Band is swinging, people singing
The music's intensity is growing and everyone is enjoying it fully
There's a place down home where people meet
There is a gathering place where people can come together to enjoy music and each other's company
They clap their hands and they stamp their feet
The audience is getting caught up in the music, literally dancing and stamping their feet with the rhythm
When the music starts and the band plays
The music starts and the band must start playing when everyone is ready
Get down Joe
I cannot resist the pull that the music has on me
They sing out loud and they sing out clear
The people are all singing as one, the music making them a unit
Turn your head round girl and you might just hear
Even those not actively participating in the music are affected, it surrounds and affects everyone
And if you do then start down singing
If the listener feels the music, they too should join in and sing along
Take hold of John's blues
The music is so powerful and entrenched in John that it needs someone to take hold of it and ride it with everything they have.
Must be a thousand hues
The music must be complex and intricate in order to hold such power over John and those who hear it
Get back Joe
I'm losing myself in the music and need to come back to reality and away from the all-consuming nature of the music
Take back all of your dough
I need to focus on the real world, away from music and all the distractions it may provide
You've got no place to go
Without the music, I am lost and aimless
My sweetest girl that I ever had
My significant other who means everything to me
She's drive any poor man bad
She is attractive and many are interested in her, making me jealous and possessive
Well my Ma and my Papa said, Son
Even though times are tough, my family is still there to support me and give me guidance
You'll get the KB when you're not on the run
I will inherit something of value, as long as I stay out of trouble and take advantage of opportunities given to me
Well my lady and me we're gonna dance all night
My love and I will dance together all night long
Yeah yeah we're gonna dance until the broad broad light
We will keep on dancing until the morning light fills the sky
Blue John's Blues
The music that started this all is still present and affecting everything around it
The sweetest girl that I ever had
My love is still the sweetest girl I've ever known
Was guaranteed to drive a poor man bad
Despite how wonderful she is, I still worry and suffer about my love's easy ability to draw the interest of so many men
Blue John's Blues
The music that started this all is still present and affecting everything around it
Blue John Blues
The music, a true force to be reckoned with
Get back Joe
Though the music is wonderful, it's time to step away and return to reality for a while
Lord, get back Joe
It's important for me to return back to where I belong and take control of my life once more
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN LEES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind