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)
Night
Barclay James Harvest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As I gaze on the dim glow of the evening sky
Where every breath that I take becomes a vapour cloud
That wraps itself around me to hide me from the crowd
Then like a wall descending
Night will the day be ending
And it's if as though by magic
Become so tragic
I turn and look behind me and all the crowd have gone
And though they're all around me I feel I am alone
The sounds of day have vanished and I find in their place
There is an awesome silence, of life there is no trace
Then like a wall descending
Night will the day be ending
And it's if as though by magic
Everything's become so tragic
Become so tragic
The world outside my window slowly passes by
As I gaze on the dim glow of the evening sky
Where every breath that I take becomes a vapour cloud
That wraps itself around me to hide me from the crowd
Then like a wall descending
Night will the day be ending
And it's if as though by magic
Everything's become so tragic
Become so tragic
The song "Night" by Barclay James Harvest captures the feeling of being alone and isolated in a bustling city at night. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the world outside the window slowly passing by while the singer is lost in thoughts, feeling like a vapor cloud that wraps around them to hide from the crowd. The night gradually descends like a wall, bringing an end to the day, and everything around the singer becomes tragic as if by magic. The crowd disappears, leaving the singer feeling even more alone in the silence of the night.
The haunting melody of the song perfectly complements and enhances the melancholic lyrics, creating a hypnotic atmosphere that lingers long after the song has ended. The band's use of orchestral strings adds to the overall emotional depth of the song, conveying a sense of sadness and longing that is hard to describe.
Overall, "Night" is a beautiful and evocative song that encapsulates the feeling of being lost in a crowded city at night. It is a song that resonates with many people, invoking feelings of loneliness, isolation, and yearning for connection.
Line by Line Meaning
The world outside my window slowly passes by
As I stare out of my window, the view of the outside world slowly moves past me
As I gaze on the dim glow of the evening sky
I am looking at the fading light of the sun as it slowly sets in the evening
Where every breath that I take becomes a vapour cloud
The air that I exhale turns into visible mist that surrounds me
That wraps itself around me to hide me from the crowd
The mist wraps around me, making me feel hidden and sheltered from the people around me
Then like a wall descending
Suddenly, like a wall coming down
Night will the day be ending
The day will come to an end, and night will begin
And it's if as though by magic
It feels like a magical transformation that happens instantly
Everything's become so tragic
Suddenly, everything seems dark, sad, and hopeless
Become so tragic
The situation has become so bleak
I turn and look behind me and all the crowd have gone
When I turn around, I realize that everyone has disappeared
And though they're all around me I feel I am alone
Even though there are people nearby, I feel completely isolated and alone
The sounds of day have vanished and I find in their place
All the noises of the daytime have disappeared, and instead, there is a deep silence
There is an awesome silence, of life there is no trace
The silence is so profound that it seems like all life has disappeared
Then like a wall descending
Once again, suddenly and dramatically,
Night will the day be ending
The day will end and the darkness of night will take over
And it's if as though by magic
It feels like a mysterious and powerful force is at work
Everything's become so tragic
Everything now seems dark, depressing, and gloomy
Become so tragic
The situation has become desperately sad and hopeless
The world outside my window slowly passes by
Once again, the outside world moves slowly by my window
As I gaze on the dim glow of the evening sky
I am still looking at the fading light of the sunset
Where every breath that I take becomes a vapour cloud
My breath still turns into visible mist that surrounds me
That wraps itself around me to hide me from the crowd
The mist still envelops and protects me from the people around me
Then like a wall descending
Once again, suddenly and jarringly,
Night will the day be ending
The day is finally over and the night has arrived
And it's if as though by magic
The transformation feels almost supernatural in its suddenness
Everything's become so tragic
The world now seems even bleaker, sadder, and more hopeless than before
Become so tragic
The situation has become unbearably sad and hopeless
Contributed by Josiah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Frederico Barata Feio
You took all my money
I gave you no name
My love and my money
Did you think I would chase it in the rain?
My eyes are now open
But what do I see?
One ride after midnight
Had I thought it would mean that much to me?
Everybody needs someone to love
Everybody needs a friend
Everybody needs someone to care
Do you think you can make it in the end?
Do you think that you can make it, my friend?
I thought it was easy
But what did I know
Of old men and first blood
Or the drunk who gets taken blow by blow?
The dice are all loaded
You pay by the throw
But you pay the loser
Seems the rain is turning into snow
Everybody needs someone to love
Everybody needs a friend
Everybody needs someone to care
Do you think you can make it in the end?
Do you think that you can make it, my friend?
We stand round your doorways
You hang on the walls
Your frames are your windows
Put your bodies on the stalls
You take all our money
We leave you no name
We're dealt just the one card
But the dealer plays in every game
Everybody needs someone to love
Everybody needs a friend
Everybody needs someone to care
Do you think you can make it in the end?
Do you think that you can make it, my friend?
Credits: https://genius.com/Barclay-james-harvest-one-night-lyrics
SANDRINE JIA
This song always brings back my father memories!!! I miss him so much in this life! Thank you Dad for showing me the right way!!! and making me a music lover!
cwn7
One of my favourite tracks from BJH. It's such a crime they never really got the recognision they greatly deserved. They made some fantastic music in the 70's
guenhael kerzerho
cwn7 #: # OUI ; TU AS ENTIÈREMENT RAISON
The Last Pinster
Anyone who knows and loves progressive rock knows. don't worry..
Ambrosia Drink of Water
Gentle Giant Aspirations
Legend Aydin
a trick: you can watch series on flixzone. I've been using it for watching lots of of movies during the lockdown.
Dariel Thaddeus
@Legend Aydin Yea, I've been watching on flixzone for years myself :)
Leon TIAOU
C'est a nous et maintenant qu'ont lui donne sa reconnaissance et sa richesse par nos souvenirs vécu ❤️🙏 MERCI pour le partage 🙏✌️
John Jones
Regrettably BJH never recieved the wider recognition that they really deserved. Some fantastic music by genuine musicians capable of singing, playing their instruments and taking the audience with them. Berlin played at the Berlin concert may years ago always brings tears to my eyes when watching the video.
Tom Hamilton
Hauntingly beautiful. Still brilliant after all these years. A gem of a song by John Lees
Giorgioul
One of the best songs of BJH. They would have deserved much more fame all around the world. Here in Italy they are practically unknown.