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Baby James Harvest


Fact File


Released 1972
Label Harvest
Catalogue Number SHSP 4023
Producer Barclay James Harvest
Recorded when: 1972
Recorded where: Strawberry Studios, Stockport and Abbey Road

Track Listing


Track Title Time Written By Rating
1 Crazy (Over You)   Les Holroyd 6.50
2 Delph Town Morn   John Lees 6.50
3 Summer Soldier   John Lees 7.50
4 Thank You?   Les Holroyd 6.00
5 One Hundred Thousand Smiles Out   Les Holroyd 6.50
6 Moonwater   Woolly Woolstenholme 7.25
        40.25


Average Rating 6.71

 
Composer Songs Time Total Points Average
John Lees 2   14.00 7.00
Les Holroyd 3   19.00 6.33
Woolly Woolstenholme 1   7.25 7.25

Personal Review

In most BJH favourite charts, Baby James Harvest scarcely gets a mention. After the pomp of their first album, the brilliance of Once Again and the majesty of And Other Short Stories, it is not difficult to see the reason for this.

Baby James Harvest is an album I bought with great expectations. It was a huge disappointment. I kept looking for classic BJH but just getting pale imitations.

Now 28 years on I have revisited. My opinion is that it isn't a bad album, but there is a lack of sparkle and drive and it feels as if the band were simply going through the motions.

The first thing you notice is that it contains just six songs - one of which Thank You is a poor attempt at getting commercial success and definitely one of the bands worst offerings.

Delph Town Morn has some nice accoustic guitar work but then seems to lose itself. The two best tracks are without a doubt Summer Soldier and Moonwater. The former was later covered very well on a live album. Here it could be accused of being over-long and slightly pretentious although I must admit I still enjoy it. Moonwater sees Woolly playing to his strengths. Overall, however, Baby James Harvest remains a disappointment.

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