Roy Harper -BBC Biog
Although he later castigated the
outlet, they allowed him considerable artistic licence on this excellent album,
considered by Harper as his first "real work", offered contrasting material,
including the uncompromising "I Hate The White Man" and "Tom Tiddler's Ground",
as well as the jocular "Hell's Angels", which featured support from the
Nice.
...Stormcock, arguably the performer's finest work, consists of four lengthy, memorable songs which feature sterling contributions from arranger David Bedford and guitarist Jimmy Page. The latter remained a close associate, acknowledged on "Hats Off To (Roy) Harper" from Led Zeppelin III, and he appeared on several succeeding releases, including Lifemask and Valentine. Although marred by self-indulgence, the former was another remarkable set, while the latter reaffirmed Harper's talent with shorter compositions.... The singer's next release, Bullinamingvase, centred on the ambitious "One Of Those Days In England", but it is also recalled for the controversy surrounding the flippant "Watford Gap" and its less-than-complimentary remarks about food offered at the subject's local service station.
...Harper's subsequent work, while notable, lacked the passion of this period and The Unknown Soldier, a bleak and rather depressing set, was the prelude to a series of less compulsive recordings, although his 1990 album, Once, was critically acclaimed as a return to form.
...Songs such as "Forever", "I Hate The White Man", "Another Day", "Too Many Movies", "Home" and the glorious "Highway Blues" have all stood the test of time. Roy Harper remains a challenging, eccentric songwriter who has steadfastly refused to compromise his art. Commercial success has thus eluded him, but he retains the respect of many peers and a committed following.
...Stormcock, arguably the performer's finest work, consists of four lengthy, memorable songs which feature sterling contributions from arranger David Bedford and guitarist Jimmy Page. The latter remained a close associate, acknowledged on "Hats Off To (Roy) Harper" from Led Zeppelin III, and he appeared on several succeeding releases, including Lifemask and Valentine. Although marred by self-indulgence, the former was another remarkable set, while the latter reaffirmed Harper's talent with shorter compositions.... The singer's next release, Bullinamingvase, centred on the ambitious "One Of Those Days In England", but it is also recalled for the controversy surrounding the flippant "Watford Gap" and its less-than-complimentary remarks about food offered at the subject's local service station.
...Harper's subsequent work, while notable, lacked the passion of this period and The Unknown Soldier, a bleak and rather depressing set, was the prelude to a series of less compulsive recordings, although his 1990 album, Once, was critically acclaimed as a return to form.
...Songs such as "Forever", "I Hate The White Man", "Another Day", "Too Many Movies", "Home" and the glorious "Highway Blues" have all stood the test of time. Roy Harper remains a challenging, eccentric songwriter who has steadfastly refused to compromise his art. Commercial success has thus eluded him, but he retains the respect of many peers and a committed following.
Roy Harper
b. 12 June 1941, Rusholme, Manchester, England. Although introduced to
music through his brother's skiffle group, Harper's adolescence was
marked by a harrowing spell in the Royal Air Force. Having secured a
discharge by feigning insanity, he drifted between mental institutions
and jail, experiences which left an indelible mark on later
compositions. Harper later began busking around Europe, and secured a
residency at London's famed Les Cousins club on returning to Britain.
His debut album, The Sophisticated Beggar (1966), was recorded in
primitive conditions, but contained the rudiments of the artist's later,
highly personal, style. Come Out Fighting Genghis Smith was released as
the singer began attracting the emergent underground audience, but he
was unhappy with producer Shel Talmy's rather fey arrangements. He was
also subsequently unhappy with the cover shot, preferring the reinstated
image used on the reissued album of a baby being born, complete with
umbilical chord (sic). Folkjokeopus contained the first of Harper's
extended compositions, "McGoohan's Blues", but the set as a whole was
considered patchy. Flat, Baroque And Berserk (1970) introduced the
singer's long association with the Harvest Records label. Although he
later castigated the outlet, they allowed him considerable artistic
licence on this excellent album, considered by Harper as his first "real
work", offered contrasting material, including the uncompromising "I
Hate The White Man" and "Tom Tiddler's Ground", as well as the jocular
"Hell's Angels", which featured support from the Nice.
The latter was one of the first songs to feature a wah wah linked to an
acoustic guitar.
Stormcock, arguably the performer's finest work, consists of four
lengthy, memorable songs which feature sterling contributions from
arranger David Bedford and guitarist Jimmy Page. The latter remained a
close associate, acknowledged on "Hats Off To (Roy) Harper" from Led
Zeppelin III, and he appeared on several succeeding releases, including
Lifemask and Valentine. Although marred by self-indulgence, the former
was another remarkable set, while the latter reaffirmed Harper's talent
with shorter compositions. An in-concert album, Flashes From The
Archives Of Oblivion completed what was arguably the artist's most
rewarding period. HQ (1975) introduced Trigger, Harper's short-lived
backing group consisting of Chris Spedding (guitar), Dave Cochran (bass)
and Bill Bruford (drums). The album included "When An Old Cricketer
Leaves The Crease", in which a colliery brass band emphasized the
melancholia apparent in the song's cricket metaphor. A second set,
Commercial Break, was left unreleased on the group's demise. The
singer's next release, Bullinamingvase, centred on the ambitious "One Of
Those Days In England", but it is also recalled for the controversy
surrounding the flippant "Watford Gap" and its less-than-complimentary
remarks about food offered at the subject's local service station.
The song was later removed.
It was also during this period that Harper made a memorable cameo
appearance on Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here, taking lead vocals on
"Have A Cigar". Harper's subsequent work, while notable, lacked the
passion of this period and The Unknown Soldier, a bleak and rather
depressing set, was the prelude to a series of less compulsive
recordings, although his 1990 album, Once, was critically acclaimed as a
return to form. The follow-up Death Or Glory? was an emotional record
that bemoaned the ending of his long relationship with his lover. In the
mid-90s he was often to be found performing with his son Nick (Nick
Harper), a similarly talented individual with an uncanny musical
resemblance to his father. The elder Harper should, however, be both
flattered and proud. The recent releases The Dream Society and The Green
Man are densely constructed records featuring acute lyrical wordplay.
Time and time again on these collections Harper proves what an original
talent he is, and an artist who refuses to let the grass grow under his
feet.
Most of Harper's back catalogue has been sensitively reissued on the
small Science Friction label. Clearly, this record company cares
passionately about Harper.
The ambitious release of a series of albums chronicling his performances
live at the BBC reaffirmed his talent. Songs such as "Forever", "I Hate
The White Man", "Another Day", "Too Many Movies", "Home" and the
glorious "Highway Blues" have all stood the test of time. Roy Harper
remains a challenging, eccentric songwriter who has steadfastly refused
to compromise his art. Commercial success has thus eluded him, but he
retains the respect of many peers and a committed following. He may be
cantankerous and opinionated but through all this he remains a highly
intelligent poet and a hopeless romantic blessed with a remarkable
voice. Mostly, his entire recorded output is hugely underrated.
b. 12 June 1941, Rusholme, Manchester, England. Although introduced to
music through his brother's skiffle group, Harper's adolescence was
marked by a harrowing spell in the Royal Air Force. Having secured a
discharge by feigning insanity, he drifted between mental institutions
and jail, experiences which left an indelible mark on later
compositions. Harper later began busking around Europe, and secured a
residency at London's famed Les Cousins club on returning to Britain.
His debut album, The Sophisticated Beggar (1966), was recorded in
primitive conditions, but contained the rudiments of the artist's later,
highly personal, style. Come Out Fighting Genghis Smith was released as
the singer began attracting the emergent underground audience, but he
was unhappy with producer Shel Talmy's rather fey arrangements. He was
also subsequently unhappy with the cover shot, preferring the reinstated
image used on the reissued album of a baby being born, complete with
umbilical chord (sic). Folkjokeopus contained the first of Harper's
extended compositions, "McGoohan's Blues", but the set as a whole was
considered patchy. Flat, Baroque And Berserk (1970) introduced the
singer's long association with the Harvest Records label. Although he
later castigated the outlet, they allowed him considerable artistic
licence on this excellent album, considered by Harper as his first "real
work", offered contrasting material, including the uncompromising "I
Hate The White Man" and "Tom Tiddler's Ground", as well as the jocular
"Hell's Angels", which featured support from the Nice.
The latter was one of the first songs to feature a wah wah linked to an
acoustic guitar.
Stormcock, arguably the performer's finest work, consists of four
lengthy, memorable songs which feature sterling contributions from
arranger David Bedford and guitarist Jimmy Page. The latter remained a
close associate, acknowledged on "Hats Off To (Roy) Harper" from Led
Zeppelin III, and he appeared on several succeeding releases, including
Lifemask and Valentine. Although marred by self-indulgence, the former
was another remarkable set, while the latter reaffirmed Harper's talent
with shorter compositions. An in-concert album, Flashes From The
Archives Of Oblivion completed what was arguably the artist's most
rewarding period. HQ (1975) introduced Trigger, Harper's short-lived
backing group consisting of Chris Spedding (guitar), Dave Cochran (bass)
and Bill Bruford (drums). The album included "When An Old Cricketer
Leaves The Crease", in which a colliery brass band emphasized the
melancholia apparent in the song's cricket metaphor. A second set,
Commercial Break, was left unreleased on the group's demise. The
singer's next release, Bullinamingvase, centred on the ambitious "One Of
Those Days In England", but it is also recalled for the controversy
surrounding the flippant "Watford Gap" and its less-than-complimentary
remarks about food offered at the subject's local service station.
The song was later removed.
It was also during this period that Harper made a memorable cameo
appearance on Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here, taking lead vocals on
"Have A Cigar". Harper's subsequent work, while notable, lacked the
passion of this period and The Unknown Soldier, a bleak and rather
depressing set, was the prelude to a series of less compulsive
recordings, although his 1990 album, Once, was critically acclaimed as a
return to form. The follow-up Death Or Glory? was an emotional record
that bemoaned the ending of his long relationship with his lover. In the
mid-90s he was often to be found performing with his son Nick (Nick
Harper), a similarly talented individual with an uncanny musical
resemblance to his father. The elder Harper should, however, be both
flattered and proud. The recent releases The Dream Society and The Green
Man are densely constructed records featuring acute lyrical wordplay.
Time and time again on these collections Harper proves what an original
talent he is, and an artist who refuses to let the grass grow under his
feet.
Most of Harper's back catalogue has been sensitively reissued on the
small Science Friction label. Clearly, this record company cares
passionately about Harper.
The ambitious release of a series of albums chronicling his performances
live at the BBC reaffirmed his talent. Songs such as "Forever", "I Hate
The White Man", "Another Day", "Too Many Movies", "Home" and the
glorious "Highway Blues" have all stood the test of time. Roy Harper
remains a challenging, eccentric songwriter who has steadfastly refused
to compromise his art. Commercial success has thus eluded him, but he
retains the respect of many peers and a committed following. He may be
cantankerous and opinionated but through all this he remains a highly
intelligent poet and a hopeless romantic blessed with a remarkable
voice. Mostly, his entire recorded output is hugely underrated.
Posted: Fri - March 26, 2004 at 01:30 PM
Quick Links
Calendar
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
Categories
Archives
XML/RSS Feed
More Fuzziness
Statistics
Total entries in this blog:
Total entries in this category:
Published On: Jan 23, 2006 04:20 PM
Total entries in this category:
Published On: Jan 23, 2006 04:20 PM