Nicely detailed, passionate analysis of 'Live' - one of the greatest live albums ever. Great that someone has at long last shown due respect to this colossus of an album. Certainly my favourite live, and of any album, of all time.
Thanks! That's EXACTLY what the goal was. Pete has his studio rankings show but to just do that with BJH wouldn't tell the story. It's SO seminal, SO important and vital, vibrant. It would be like an Allman Brothers show without mentioning Fillmore East. This album is that important and stands so separate. Thanks again!
My very first BJH record was ...And Other Short Stories. I bought it in about 1975 and I found it in the cutout racks. Fell in love immediately but the problem was, the rest of their catalog (until Octoberon) was only available as import. So I asked the store to order me BJH Live, figuring it would wrap the best of early BJH. I couldn't be more right! What a beautiful record. And the mellotron that Wolly plays really adds to the beauty of it. There's something about that instrument (I first encountered it with King Crimson) that touches something in my musical DNA. Nice review of two essential records!
Excellent video you two.I have Live Tapes and BJH really are in their element in front of an audience. The opening track Child of the Universe in particular is so much more powerful than the studio version. I'm glad you mentioned Wolstenholme's solo career briefly. I have his first LP Maestoso and it is absolutely brilliant especially the title track which was originally recorded for Everyone is Everybody Else and regrettably wasn't included.... that's another story.
Another story indeed - we didn't have time to get into it but to show some other releases from BJH and Wooly's wonderful solo works, and that oddball Japanese release of John's....well, there's so little BJH content on UA-cam, it felt like it should be documented somwhere.
Our pleasure! I'm honestly delighted to have shone a light on one of my fave bands, there's almost nothing on YT for them. I was more nervous about these, doing justice to BJH, than any of my other vids!
Great show, Davy! I thought this show is on SoT tomorrow. It's cool that you're doing a show about BJH too. I'm a big fan of BJH. I come from Germany. In Germany BJH are almost as big as Pink Floyd. Everyone has the live album “Berlin”. Every little child and every grandmother in Germany has this album. Warm greetings from Hannover, Germany.
Rock on! Great to hear they were SO big!! Germany has better taste! We're doing the studio records on SOT tomorrow!! Vielen Dank und genießt das Wochenende!
Thanks Davy and Pete for shining a light on one of my all time favourite bands. I have aready left a comment over on Pete's SoT show, just to say that I totally agree that Love and Live Taes are the best ways to get into BJH. As for later oive albums, Glasnots was improved when esoteric expanded it and is a pretty good one, and the esoteric remasters on Welcome to the Show and Caught in the light have parts one and two of their 25th Anniversary show at the Town and Country, which is a fantastic best of live up to that point - mind you I would say that as that's the tour I caught them on for the first and last time in a small club in Bradford.
Great video as always Davy, really enjoyed it, even more so with the fact you had Pete on board for this one, great stuff. Funnily enough my introduction to BJH was with the live album, then Time Honoured Ghosts. A friend of mine at school was right into BJH, I'd never heard of them, this would have been 1974, 75 just before i left high school. Anyway, i borrowed the live album off him and it just blew me away, especially the track 'Medicine Man' unbelievable, bearing in mind i don't know anything about this band or any of the songs it was a life changing experience and have been a fan ever since. Sadly, as old as i am, (64 last week) i wasn't lucky enough to see them live and never will. BJH and Camel were so underrated.
Thanks so much James, it was a massive, massive pleasure to do these and add some much need BJH content to UA-cam. I adore them and was delighted Pete was a fan too. You'd think others on SOT would be but no! Yet they would know Camel. I guess US distribution was SO bad and just never got better even in retrospect which is so sad as, like we said on the studio albums vid tonnes of the Polydor era material is US friendly. They're in no way one of the "too English" bands. And yeah..when Summer Soldier kicks into Medicine Man on Live? NIRVANA! I saw both splinter bands but never THE BJH, though I did get to see all 4 members. John had Wooly and Les had Mel, so there was that. Not to be tribal but John and Wooly are my faves so that lineup was "mine".
It always astonishes me how much these guys know about so many bands. I know a couple of bands/artists in this much depth, but they know the absolute ins and outs of many tens of bands across a wide range
Thanks, I guess we all have our areas - my buddies could tell you who scored the winning goal in the 1949 Italian Cup Final..so I guess it's where we read up and focus. For us it's music, film....
I watched the SoT studio album ranking and loved it, so had to check out this one. Another excellent job. Barclay James Harvest is one of those bands that deserves to be better known. So right, the studio albums are really good, but the live versions of these songs are the definitive versions. So dynamic and exciting.
I really enjoyed this and the studio ranking show. Although I've been aware of the band for many years, I've never listened to them, so this was a great introduction. Thank you!
Two fine live albums. My entry into BJH was their appearance on TOTP performing "Rock and Roll Star" from the "Live" e.p in 1977. Woolly Wolstenholme was a really nice person. Had a fascinating chat with him after BJH played in Perth in 2009.
My goodness...to think he only had months after that before taking his life. Very poignant conversation indeed! I was glad to be able to highlight him so much here, including a quick look at his solo works. Needs more love, like BJH in general. I'm glad to have seen all of the band, just never at once. I feel bad for US fans who never got the chance bar a small tour in the 70s and one other, I think.
I think BJH were underrated AND underappreciated! I am glad you bought up the later live albums. I could not tell you which of the first two I like better, and Woolly was missed, but I love the version of 'Hymn" they perform on "Concert For The People!". John Lees triumphant yells make the song! The live version of "Mockingbird" with John singing is also great. I think he was the stronger singer of the three singers in the band. His voice reminds me of America's Gerry Beckley, but with more of an edge. I still wish that back when Lees and Woolly did Nexus, they had Les and Mel on the record also. Like a lot of fans, I think a reunification of the original four would have been amazing!
This video inspired me to buy the first Live CD but jeez the prices are rising on that one as it seems to be out of print!! Cheapest copy I could get was £20! Great episode though Davy!!
I banged out the first 1️⃣0️⃣ studio albums/ 5 x each. However, I never got around yet to hear 👂 any of the “ live stuff”/ but after both of your tremendous summaries ( which I 💯 respect) - I’m obviously have more HOMEWORK lol. Tremendous job guys 👍💯
@@DavysFlicks / definitely will post my before ten Am Sunday/ east coast. 🇺🇸. USA. I’m still listening again/ so now 6 spins each. As I txt this ( listening). Lol. See you in AM 👍💯
garykelly9475 makes a great point. On "Live", the band is free and unencumbered by the grand, orchestral vision they dragged through the Harvest years. This is raw and direct, with Wolstenholme's mellotron doing a better job of filling out the beautiful backdrops than the seemingly shoehorned-in string section usually did. Lees' guitar is dead on and bracing. Even the vocal harmonies, which can make a listener nervous with anticipation, or wince with disappointment, are strong and perfectly blended. A vital record for fans of the band.
After Live Tapes. I my favourite BJh "Live" album is Legacy. In recent years John Lees seems to favour the early stuff he did, especially from the Woolly years. The 50th anniversary recording is pretty good too.
Heard them back in 70s liked but never owned anything first album I bought of theirs was Octoberon, borrowed vinyl from University record library taped it and few weeks later bought the album. Live albums amazing and the concert in Berlin fantastic.
@DavysFlicks Well University music library helped me so much back in the day. Tbh one of my friends brothers was a great help as well only 7 years older remember going to his house and seeing Doors, Iron Butterfly, Free and Stephen Stills albums and saying can we listen to that stuff you long haired hippy types like and we were hooked. At 14 my eyes were open (1971) Rock and Metalhead since lol .
Think it's one of the Esoteric box set bonus tracks on the set I showed on SOT. Then there's the terrific After The Day: Radio Broadcasts 74-76 discs too. Some top drawer stuff! Cheers Andy!
Thanks very much! I'm not much for ranking bands and films...I tend to take things on their merits, but BJH are so important to me that I wanted to spread the love and it's working, loads of people checking them out fresh and they went up the AMazon charts, amazingly!
Well if this episode and the accompanying one from the day before on Pete's "Sea of Tranquility ' doesn't make you decide to check this band out ( in case you wouldn't know them ) then I guess nothing will....Barclay James Harvest : one of my all time favorite bands ( at least their work in the 70 'ies ) with keyboardplayer , singer and all round nice guy ,Woolly Wolstenholme ( RIP 2010 )....
Live ‘74 is a great live album of that era with all the best tracks at that point, improved live and extended in some cases. Brilliant album. Live tapes is good but pales in comparison to Live 74 imo
Whets the appetite for the studio ranking. They are both essential purchases, for the reasons discussed within. The raw live band, free from the expense and associated logistics of playing alongside an orchestra, dispels the lazy tropes often associated with BJH. Then a more representative live album in 78 of where the band had travelled through the Polydor years. More polished, more professional, more contemporary instrumentation, sound, production, but no less classic for all that. Some crossover, but clearly more song focus and structure to the setlist
That was part of the goal - not just bringing some MUCH needed love to BJH on UA-cam (most is just reviewers with no clue unboxing their latest free promo, no knowledge of the band) so controlling the narrative, and getting rid of the "poor man's moody blues.." chat was a real pleasure! heers!
![[UA] NAVI vs MOUZ | BO5 | IEM Rio 2024](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/CMBYk0cbGoA/mqdefault.jpg)
Pete and I ranking the studio albums: ua-cam.com/video/BVbTHyX1AeM/v-deo.html
Nicely detailed, passionate analysis of 'Live' - one of the greatest live albums ever. Great that someone has at long last shown due respect to this colossus of an album. Certainly my favourite live, and of any album, of all time.
Thanks! That's EXACTLY what the goal was. Pete has his studio rankings show but to just do that with BJH wouldn't tell the story. It's SO seminal, SO important and vital, vibrant. It would be like an Allman Brothers show without mentioning Fillmore East. This album is that important and stands so separate.
Thanks again!
Great review! That Pardo guy seems good in front of a camera, like he’s done it before…you should invite him back sometime.
Good idea! I think the kid'll go far!
My very first BJH record was ...And Other Short Stories. I bought it in about 1975 and I found it in the cutout racks. Fell in love immediately but the problem was, the rest of their catalog (until Octoberon) was only available as import. So I asked the store to order me BJH Live, figuring it would wrap the best of early BJH. I couldn't be more right! What a beautiful record. And the mellotron that Wolly plays really adds to the beauty of it. There's something about that instrument (I first encountered it with King Crimson) that touches something in my musical DNA. Nice review of two essential records!
Brilliant post, thanks!
Excellent video you two.I have Live Tapes and BJH really are in their element in front of an audience. The opening track Child of the Universe in particular is so much more powerful than the studio version. I'm glad you mentioned Wolstenholme's solo career briefly. I have his first LP Maestoso and it is absolutely brilliant especially the title track which was originally recorded for Everyone is Everybody Else and regrettably wasn't included.... that's another story.
Another story indeed - we didn't have time to get into it but to show some other releases from BJH and Wooly's wonderful solo works, and that oddball Japanese release of John's....well, there's so little BJH content on UA-cam, it felt like it should be documented somwhere.
Really enjoyed BOTH of the BJH shows, thanks you for such enthusiasm.
Our pleasure! I'm honestly delighted to have shone a light on one of my fave bands, there's almost nothing on YT for them. I was more nervous about these, doing justice to BJH, than any of my other vids!
Great show, Davy! I thought this show is on SoT tomorrow. It's cool that you're doing a show about BJH too. I'm a big fan of BJH. I come from Germany. In Germany BJH are almost as big as Pink Floyd. Everyone has the live album “Berlin”. Every little child and every grandmother in Germany has this album. Warm greetings from Hannover, Germany.
Rock on! Great to hear they were SO big!! Germany has better taste! We're doing the studio records on SOT tomorrow!!
Vielen Dank und genießt das Wochenende!
@@DavysFlicks 🤘🤘🤘
Thanks Davy and Pete for shining a light on one of my all time favourite bands.
I have aready left a comment over on Pete's SoT show, just to say that I totally agree that Love and Live Taes are the best ways to get into BJH. As for later oive albums, Glasnots was improved when esoteric expanded it and is a pretty good one, and the esoteric remasters on Welcome to the Show and Caught in the light have parts one and two of their 25th Anniversary show at the Town and Country, which is a fantastic best of live up to that point - mind you I would say that as that's the tour I caught them on for the first and last time in a small club in Bradford.
I'd love to have done a full deep dive - I've got the DVDs of Glasnot, Victim, Town and COuntry and more behind me on the vid - but...time! Cheers!
Great video as always Davy, really enjoyed it, even more so with the fact you had Pete on board for this one, great stuff. Funnily enough my introduction to BJH was with the live album, then Time Honoured Ghosts. A friend of mine at school was right into BJH, I'd never heard of them, this would have been 1974, 75 just before i left high school. Anyway, i borrowed the live album off him and it just blew me away, especially the track 'Medicine Man' unbelievable, bearing in mind i don't know anything about this band or any of the songs it was a life changing experience and have been a fan ever since. Sadly, as old as i am, (64 last week) i wasn't lucky enough to see them live and never will. BJH and Camel were so underrated.
Thanks so much James, it was a massive, massive pleasure to do these and add some much need BJH content to UA-cam. I adore them and was delighted Pete was a fan too. You'd think others on SOT would be but no! Yet they would know Camel. I guess US distribution was SO bad and just never got better even in retrospect which is so sad as, like we said on the studio albums vid tonnes of the Polydor era material is US friendly. They're in no way one of the "too English" bands.
And yeah..when Summer Soldier kicks into Medicine Man on Live? NIRVANA!
I saw both splinter bands but never THE BJH, though I did get to see all 4 members. John had Wooly and Les had Mel, so there was that. Not to be tribal but John and Wooly are my faves so that lineup was "mine".
It always astonishes me how much these guys know about so many bands. I know a couple of bands/artists in this much depth, but they know the absolute ins and outs of many tens of bands across a wide range
Thanks, I guess we all have our areas - my buddies could tell you who scored the winning goal in the 1949 Italian Cup Final..so I guess it's where we read up and focus. For us it's music, film....
I watched the SoT studio album ranking and loved it, so had to check out this one. Another excellent job. Barclay James Harvest is one of those bands that deserves to be better known. So right, the studio albums are really good, but the live versions of these songs are the definitive versions. So dynamic and exciting.
Rock on! We knew that "just" doing the studio records wouldn't quite cut it. Some of the story would be untold and made perfect sense!
As a huge music fan of many genres I have to say never heard of this band. I will be listening to them tonight. Thanks for the recommendation!
Rock on! Let us know how it goes!
Great show, Davy
Thanks so much!
I really enjoyed this and the studio ranking show. Although I've been aware of the band for many years, I've never listened to them, so this was a great introduction. Thank you!
Rock on! Was a pleasure!
@@DavysFlicks 👍
Thoroughly enjoyed this show guys, now got me listening to them again !! Thanks for the recomendations !!
Our pleasure!
Two fine live albums. My entry into BJH was their appearance on TOTP performing "Rock and Roll Star" from the "Live" e.p in 1977. Woolly Wolstenholme was a really nice person. Had a fascinating chat with him after BJH played in Perth in 2009.
My goodness...to think he only had months after that before taking his life. Very poignant conversation indeed! I was glad to be able to highlight him so much here, including a quick look at his solo works. Needs more love, like BJH in general.
I'm glad to have seen all of the band, just never at once. I feel bad for US fans who never got the chance bar a small tour in the 70s and one other, I think.
@@DavysFlicks funnily enough, I was listening to The Eye of Wendor by Mandalaband last night. That's an interesting side project!
Great show guys Great band
Cheers Jono! The studio album show will be on SOT tomorrow!
I think BJH were underrated AND underappreciated! I am glad you bought up the later live albums. I could not tell you which of the first two I like better, and Woolly was missed, but I love the version of 'Hymn" they perform on "Concert For The People!". John Lees triumphant yells make the song! The live version of "Mockingbird" with John singing is also great. I think he was the stronger singer of the three singers in the band. His voice reminds me of America's Gerry Beckley, but with more of an edge. I still wish that back when Lees and Woolly did Nexus, they had Les and Mel on the record also. Like a lot of fans, I think a reunification of the original four would have been amazing!
Would have been epic! All 4 just had the perfect alchemy
I also watched the SoT studio rankings....great stuff...
Thanks so much!
The Esoteric of BJH Live appears to be out of stock and has been for some time. Hope they reissue it. Not available through Amazon either.
This video inspired me to buy the first Live CD but jeez the prices are rising on that one as it seems to be out of print!! Cheapest copy I could get was £20! Great episode though Davy!!
Rock on! I wonder if we've caused a rush on the album!! Cheers!
Great show again here, thanks guys.
Our pleasure! Thank you!
Wonderful show guys, reminds me I need to revisit them ……
Dammit Davy, Curse of the Collector :)
It's real!
A very entertaining video 🖒🖒🖒
Thanks for you guys talking about this band. Been playing them at work ! Another great band I've been introduced to
Our pleasure! Hope you find some faves!
@@DavysFlicks played first 4 so far! Gonna get that live album listened to soon
Love this one!! Subscribed!!
Welcome aboard!
great show Davy, really enjoy your insights on music, film tv and stuff and SOT, I'll make sure I catch up with your archive on Davy's Flicks 👍
Thanks for jumpin in!
I banged out the first 1️⃣0️⃣ studio albums/ 5 x each. However, I never got around yet to hear 👂 any of the “ live stuff”/ but after both of your tremendous summaries ( which I 💯 respect) - I’m obviously have more HOMEWORK lol. Tremendous job guys 👍💯
Plus a GEORGE LaMie shoutout - homerun. Lol 👍💯
I'd love to know what ones you liked in particular my man! Recording of the Top 10 went well, so that'll be hopefully a worthwhile watch!
@@DavysFlicks / definitely will post my before ten Am Sunday/ east coast. 🇺🇸. USA. I’m still listening again/ so now 6 spins each. As I txt this ( listening). Lol. See you in AM 👍💯
garykelly9475 makes a great point. On "Live", the band is free and unencumbered by the grand, orchestral vision they dragged through the Harvest years. This is raw and direct, with Wolstenholme's mellotron doing a better job of filling out the beautiful backdrops than the seemingly shoehorned-in string section usually did. Lees' guitar is dead on and bracing. Even the vocal harmonies, which can make a listener nervous with anticipation, or wince with disappointment, are strong and perfectly blended. A vital record for fans of the band.
After Live Tapes. I my favourite BJh "Live" album is Legacy. In recent years John Lees seems to favour the early stuff he did, especially from the Woolly years.
The 50th anniversary recording is pretty good too.
Heard them back in 70s liked but never owned anything first album I bought of theirs was Octoberon, borrowed vinyl from University record library taped it and few weeks later bought the album.
Live albums amazing and the concert in Berlin fantastic.
Very cool! You'll need to tune in and see if either or both of us picked Octoberon!
@DavysFlicks Well University music library helped me so much back in the day.
Tbh one of my friends brothers was a great help as well only 7 years older remember going to his house and seeing Doors, Iron Butterfly, Free and Stephen Stills albums and saying can we listen to that stuff you long haired hippy types like and we were hooked.
At 14 my eyes were open (1971)
Rock and Metalhead since lol .
Someone mentioned Rock and Roll Star, people tend to forget it was a minor hit and led to their only appearance on Top Of The Pops...
I would add the radio sessions is a really good CD
There's a BBC session from early '70s where 'After The Day' is by the the best version of any...
Think it's one of the Esoteric box set bonus tracks on the set I showed on SOT. Then there's the terrific After The Day: Radio Broadcasts 74-76 discs too. Some top drawer stuff! Cheers Andy!
@DavysFlicks I also had my copy of Gone to Earth LP (with the die-cut cover) signed by the band...Great couple of deep dives with Pete BTW...
Thanks very much! I'm not much for ranking bands and films...I tend to take things on their merits, but BJH are so important to me that I wanted to spread the love and it's working, loads of people checking them out fresh and they went up the AMazon charts, amazingly!
Have 4 live albums by BJH all are really good.
Mmmm. That Pardo kid knows his stuff. He's going to go far on you tube.😂
Maybe...he's got a chance at least!
What’s the Berlin concert like ?
Wonderful, a bit more poppy but still epic. Sadly they lost the full footage due to tech issues but the whole concert is on audio at least.
Well if this episode and the accompanying one from the day before on Pete's "Sea of Tranquility ' doesn't make you decide to check this band out ( in case you wouldn't know them ) then I guess nothing will....Barclay James Harvest : one of my all time favorite bands ( at least their work in the 70 'ies ) with keyboardplayer , singer and all round nice guy ,Woolly Wolstenholme ( RIP 2010 )....
Much appreciated!
Live ‘74 is a great live album of that era with all the best tracks at that point, improved live and extended in some cases. Brilliant album. Live tapes is good but pales in comparison to Live 74 imo
Yeah, Tapes is cool...but I'm all about that muddy, dirtier sound of 74. Suits the material so well! Cheers!
Live 1974 by far
Whets the appetite for the studio ranking. They are both essential purchases, for the reasons discussed within. The raw live band, free from the expense and associated logistics of playing alongside an orchestra, dispels the lazy tropes often associated with BJH. Then a more representative live album in 78 of where the band had travelled through the Polydor years. More polished, more professional, more contemporary instrumentation, sound, production, but no less classic for all that. Some crossover, but clearly more song focus and structure to the setlist
That was part of the goal - not just bringing some MUCH needed love to BJH on UA-cam (most is just reviewers with no clue unboxing their latest free promo, no knowledge of the band) so controlling the narrative, and getting rid of the "poor man's moody blues.." chat was a real pleasure! heers!
@@DavysFlicks oh I hear that last point loud and clear!