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)
One Night
Barclay James Harvest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
The lyrics to Barclay James Harvest's "One Night" convey a sense of being taken advantage of, of being used and left with nothing. The opening verse describes how the singer's lover took all their money and yet gave them no name, highlighting a lack of recognition and appreciation for what they brought to the table. The chorus speaks to the universal human need for love, friendship, and caring, with a question posed about whether or not the searcher will find those things.
The second verse turns to a sense of disillusionment and discovery, as the singer realizes that their initial ideas about life were naive and simplistic. The image of "old men and first blood" suggests a world of violence and ruthlessness, where the weak are trodden upon. The loaded dice represent a system that's rigged against people like the singer, who are fated to pay the price no matter what they do. As the song draws to a close, we get a sense of a larger societal picture, in which the rich and powerful take from the poor and nameless with impunity.
Overall, the lyrics of "One Night" capture a sense of frustration and hopelessness in the face of a system that's stacked against the singer and people like them. Through vivid imagery and plaintive vocals, the song speaks to the heart of the human experience, with its universal search for love and acceptance, and its recognition of the realities of a world that's not always fair.
Line by Line Meaning
You took all my money
The singer gave someone all their money.
I gave you no name
The listener wasn't given any identification from the singer.
My love and my money
The singer gave away both their love and their money.
Did you think I would chase it in the rain?
The listener expected the artist to chase after their love and money even in poor conditions.
My eyes are now open
The artist has become aware of something.
But what do I see?
The singer is uncertain of what they have witnessed.
One ride after midnight
The singer went for a ride late at night.
Had I thought it would mean that much to me?
The artist is surprised at how significant the experience turned out to be.
Everybody needs someone to love
All people need to feel loved by someone.
Everybody needs a friend
Everyone requires a close companion to lean on.
Everybody needs someone to care
All people look for someone who cares about their wellbeing.
Do you think you can make it in the end?
The listener is questioned if they have the capability to succeed.
Do you think that you can make it, my friend?
The listener is asked if they're capable of achieving something the singer suggests.
I thought it was easy
The singer believed something would be effortless or straightforward.
But what did I know
The singer didn't know enough information or had misconceptions about a particular subject.
Of old men and first blood
The artist lacked knowledge of elderly people and initial violence.
Or the drunk who gets taken blow by blow?
The artist didn't anticipate someone getting repeatedly hit while intoxicated.
The dice are all loaded
The situation is rigged against the singer.
You pay by the throw
The singer gets charged each time they roll the dice.
But you pay the loser
Despite the rigged game, the artist only pays when they lose.
Seems the rain is turning into snow
The situation is getting worse, symbolized by the downpour changing to snow.
We stand round your doorways
A group of people waits outside someone's house.
You hang on the walls
The listener decorates their house with things that have a personal meaning to them.
Your frames are your windows
The listener gains insight into the world through the items they've put up.
Put your bodies on the stalls
The listener promotes themselves through their art, objects or whatever personas they view as meaningful.
You take all our money
The listener has taken someone's money.
We leave you no name
The singer doesn't offer identification to the other person.
We're dealt just the one card
The artist has no control over their situation.
But the dealer plays in every game
The listener always has an advantage in every situation.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN LEES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Paul Chesney
R.I.P Mel & Woolly. Great, great band. Saw them on the tour to promote Time Honoured Ghosts in Norwich while I was at Norwich City College. Such a great shame that John and Les felt they could no longer work together a true waste of a talented band and sound.
John Davies
Amazing band live. One of the great bands of the 70's. Anybody that followed BJH in the early days will testify that every gig was so exciting and always sold out. Great memories.
msgilmourgirl
I never had the pleasure to see my favourite band perform back then . I was thrilled to see John in Edinburgh a few years ago, I will never forget the amazing night ❤❤❤
Andrew Arthur Matthews
Yes John , as a stage lighting technician in late 70’s I worked with BJH on a few UK & Europe tours and the free Berlin show in front of the Wall. They were hugely popular on the continent and as you say, selling out shows . Have to credit their then creative lighting designer and operator Ian Buxton .
KptAlzheimer
One of my favorite songs of BJH.
I can hear it the hole day if I am sad.
Saiova
So good to see them all together, young at the peak of their creativity. Unbelievable underrated musicians!
David Noakes
OMG! My favourite band of all time and playing together is rare video.they were and always will be superb!!!!!
Paul Griffiths
One of the top ten bands of all time, great song writing skills
B-Music
For me BJH are the Beatles of the 70s.
As a band, as songwiters. Yet with their own sound, all these wonderful choir parts and the great orchestral harmonies. BJH are way way underrated and it's a shame that they're almost completely unknown in the US.
Michael TT Williams
You have caught it exactly. So many elements coming together to create that unique sound. I would hate to have missed out on all those gems and I feel sorry for those who have.