Barclay James Harvest – Once Again (Esoteric Records/Cherry Red Records, 2023)
“Once Again,” the beautiful and masterful second album by British progressive rock band Barclay James Harvest, is available once as a boxed set. The original album was released in 1971, highlighting the band’s signature sound, combining melodic symphonic rock, melancholy and folk rock influences.
The album contains iconic songs such as the gorgeous ‘Galadriel’ and ‘Mockingbird’ (one of the group’s most cherished songs) as well as other gems.
The boxed set includes 4 discs. These audio recordings provide the original mix; a new stereo mix that is outstading and highly enjoyable; the 1972 SQ Quadrophonic mix; and a 6kHz / 24-bit new 5.1 Surround Sound mix.
Additionally, the set also includes a rare live performance recorded for BBC Radio One’s John Peel in February 1971, and seven further rare bonus tracks, including an early version of ‘Mocking Bird’ and the full version of the unreleased piece ‘White Sails (A Seascape).
Barclay James Harvest included John Lees on vocals, guitars, recorder; Les Holroyd on vocals, bass, guitars, keyboards; Stuart “Woolly” Wolstenholme on vocals, Mellotron, keyboards; and Mel Pritchard on drums, percussion.
Notably, the album also includes The Barclay James Harvest Symphony Orchestra, led by Gavyn Wright. The Conductor and Musical Director was the iconic Robert John Godfrey, who later formed the fantastic symphonic rock band The Enid. Another guest artist that became well known later was Alan Parsons on jaw harp on ‘Lady Loves.’
Cherry Red Records never fails to reissue boxed sets in style. The collection includes an impeccable illustrated booklet with a new essay by Barclay James Harvest experts Keith and Monika Domone and a replica of a 1971 promotional poster.
Buy Once Again