Wow. I remember hearing this on the radio in 1977 and ended up ordering it from the local record shop because it wasn't the sort of Top 20 single they normally stocked. Marvelous song from a marvelous musician.
In my eyes the best recording of this song by the ever unusual Roy. The world needs more people like him. I've only met another person who's ever heard of him and that was an old woman in a petrol station in Poland can't fault her taste or her wanting to refresh her English to a random drunk bloke after food.
This is one of my favourite Harper songs (outside of anything on Stormcock of course)I also love this video because of the juxtaposition of the uncommercial Roy Harper playing in what appears to be a very commercial situation! Roy seems to be doing the whole thing tongue in cheek so I guess it was probably all bit of a set up for the band to look like they do and capture the moment of the times and we all dressed a bit like this then! I always expect the Wombles to come dancing on at the end!
Dear Annie wherever you might be..Roy brings back the sweet memory of a guitar and flute in that Essex field one summer Sunday afternoon..a local beer after that..love you
seen roy many times, conway civic hall, port sunlight, chester civic hall, colgne, to name a few pure class. couple of facts Led Zep wrote a song about him, Have a Cigar by Pink Floyd was sung by him. Different experience when your front row at one of his gigs an he appreciates it.
Nick was always brilliant with Roy. It is sad he isn't touring any more, but I'm off the NZ soon so woukldn't see him again anyway. Roy had a book out recently that was good, went through each albumn, so it is a long book! Coffee table one, got mine signed so sadly pleased Fancy that Nigel Kennedy going off with his misses. What a kick in the teeth to have that fiddle playing joker wesselling in. Take care.
The Original New York City Free Advice Man RATES this Song among the 100 Best Songs In History....and I really, really do LOVE it. Tried to find it on iTunes: no Luck yet! Best, Jean-Pierre A. Fenyo
an amazing song...goes from being a little ditty.... to epic proprtions ..in the space of 4 mins, an ordinary day has been experienced...and been made wonderful by a wonderful performance by all involved
Seeing Roy there is probably the only way you'd get within a hundred yards of that university... It's BRUNEL.... one L. I saw him twice that year - I was 25.
I recently saw roy play the long version of this song with him and Matt Churchill playing acustic guitars. Roy is one of the most underated artists out there.
Have loved this man since i was introduced to him in about 1990, saw him at the half moon in putney a few times, the dominion theatre (we got busted for skinning up at the interval) and his 60th b-day gig at the festival hall. Sad to hear he'd not gigging anymore. Why don't more people know and love him????
I have this very performance recorded on a little mono tape recorder directly fromm the Old Grey Whistle Test broadcast. Can't believe I can watch it again 36 years later. The tape compilation of Old Greys was a fixture in my first car's tape deck.
I used to do the same. I have a huge collection of audio from the whistle test, tube, gastank, switch, that thing Gary Crowley used to present in the middle of the night, Oxford Road show… The list is endless! I spent a big chunk of lockdown digitising it all. For a posterity that will never listen to it!
The whole of the B side of the original album One Of Those Days In England (Bullinamingvase) was 19 minutes of brilliant prog called One of those Days in England Parts 2-10 and its a masterpiece.
This is from Roy Harper's second appearance on BBC2's Old Grey Whistle Test, broadcast on Tuesday March 29th 1977 (ousted from its usual light-night slot by, of all things, the World Table Tennis Championships. That's the BBC for you.) As well as 'One Of Those Days' Roy also sang 'Cherishing The Lonesome'.
Thanks to the Toucan club, I saw Roy many times in the nineties. I grew up listening to albums like HQ and Bullinamingvase. He had/has such personality and some great songs but the audience's, particularly in South Wales, can't shut up and stop making it about them shouting out and he stopped coming here. A great artist and is appreciated.
What a treat: Roy & the OGWT. I used to see him many times in the mid 80s at the Half Moon in Putney - once playing with his son Nick at Feltham. Talking of spliffs: once at the Half Moon, he asked the audience if anyone could roll HIM a spliff - a barrage of lumps of dope being thrown on the tiny stage. A roadie scooped them all up & rolled him a spliff, but he probably made more in ounces of dope that night than money for the gig LOL.
@claytonave Fantastic, as you will know in this world there are only two types, those who know Roy and.. Never ever heard Roy played in the UK. Roy needs the recognition he deserves, surely so of his mates in high places could see to that?? I have one wish, I could have seen Roy in the 1970's his voice was something else. The new Stormcock remaster he has done in utterly fantastic. Now living in NZ, I seriously would have considered staying in Blighty if he was still touring!
Quintessentially English (I had to make sure I had got the spelling correct!) is our Roy. There are a lot of elements of our society that I dislike. Fortunately, Roy has been a great example of what is good about it! :-)
@deafflylii1 I saw him live a few times throughout the 70s and never ever was disappointed, not by his singing, playing, band..not a moment. 'Me and my Woman' live at Newcastle city hall was beyond belief. I have a radio show here in California and play Roy often to great reception.
Think I was there, didn't he just play in a tent? I think the Beautiful south were playing. Oh, the memories, needed Sundays joint cooking in my tree living in St Helens at the time.
Both this track and 'Shangri-la' by Neil Innes were released at roughly the same time and I don't know who paid homage to who but there's a huge Neil Innes presence here also with iconic Rutle legend Barry Wom (John Halsey) on drums and GRIMMS member and legendary "dead" singer songwriter Stan Fitch (Andy Roberts) on guitar 1. Neil Innes was Stan's roadie when he appeared "live dead" on Rutland Weekend Television.
@oldhippypeace It is on HQ with The Game on it and the brilliant Lords Prayer! Sorry I know far to much about Roy! 1975 I think, lovely new CD of it come out on his site. Cheers
Absolutely, man of taste, evidently! Roy for me is the one who speaks to the heart. As does John Martyn, but in different ways, guess Roy is more the poet and John the emotional musician. Know Roy has not been well. Do you follow the Stormcock site? bit silly at times, but some good interviews with Roy
did you know that Roy Harper did the vocal on Have a cigar!!!!! what a cool fact. (i just found out) he asked for a life time season ticket to Lords< and they stiched him up on it and gave him a royalty check instead. trust the boys in floyd
Saw him with Roy a lot, added to the evenings. Liked his early stuff, but cannot get into his more recent, though he is a brilliant guitarist. Check out the Stormcock Community site, some great interviews on it. Cheers.
I think it was around 1990 because I arrived in St Helens in 1988 and it wasn't then. He was in this tent and the engineer was Jacqueline the one who went of with that Nigel Kennedy. I remember it as a strange set as I turned up and didn't know he was on. There were all these St Helens blokes stopping and just saying hold on I have to listen to this! A wonderful evening. Saw Nick in the park on the Wirral a few years ago. My mate was a biker called Dave from St Helens.
I saw him once, a long time ago, at Knebworth I think. He just came on unanounced and unscheduled to fill in time before the main act. IIRC (it's been a very long time) it was when the main act was Mike Oldfield. That was a GOOD day.
I think I was at that gig! Did he say "what's that?" to one of the lumps hurled and someone replied "A freebie!" then something about the "quality of the heckling"?
@Islwynpaul Roy Ive seen loads over the years, e was just the best live, so was John. I think the music became the sum of the parts, sort of thinking where is the band? But it was just him expansive and a rollercoaster of emotions.
Taste in food, like taste in music is clearly subjective. This isn't my favourite Harper song, but personally I love a nice bag of fish&chips, and roast beef and gravy.
Have you heard of John Martyn? He was a brilliantly talented Scot on the folk scene. Check out One World anything off that is utterly beautiful. He is as close to Roy as possible, another mad one off.
Poignant comes from the Latin pungere "to prick," the same root as pungent. But something that's pungent pricks your sense of smell, whereas poignant refers to something that pricks your emotions, especially in a melancholy way. Movie critics might describe a touching portrayal as poignant if there isn't a dry eye in the house.
Thanks, Check out stormcock community for some great inverviews to download. Also his book on his web site covers all his albums is detail and is full of photos.
I want this at my funeral. Roy has been a big influence on me my whole life.
Roy is a god to me. A guiding light for all looneys. Miss seeing the man on tour, his work is the most expansive ever, NO one holds a light to him.
We do 🙏
Brilliant
What a legend! Underrated and largely unknown but hey, our private pleasure. Thank you Roy x
Sorry I'm Scottish but listen to Roy every day. Any chance of a happy dance?!!!
Yeah Roy got me through my teenage years back in freezing cold but lovely Scotland. Also john martyn RIP
Harper was part of my formative years . Sorry for the stuff he's been through . Work of Heart seen live was amazing .
Bear in mind this is the man that rolled spliffs for Capt Kirk and was an inspiration to Led Zeppelin
Also gave Miss Lovelace a pubic hairdo!
god bless Roy and the Whistle test. Thanks for the memories
I've just discovered Roy Harper and I can't get enough of him! Awesome.
Wow. I remember hearing this on the radio in 1977 and ended up ordering it from the local record shop because it wasn't the sort of Top 20 single they normally stocked. Marvelous song from a marvelous musician.
I went to quite a few of his performances around the Sheffield area . The last time I saw him was at Stonehenge festival. Great artist. Fun times.
In my eyes the best recording of this song by the ever unusual Roy. The world needs more people like him. I've only met another person who's ever heard of him and that was an old woman in a petrol station in Poland can't fault her taste or her wanting to refresh her English to a random drunk bloke after food.
Agree, much better than the recorded version!
fatgary68 You've only met one other person who's ever heard of him? Do you live in a cave? You need to talk to a few more people.
quite honestly the best song of all time, ever. the end. no doubt. defo.
I was thinking of adding it to my Top 1000!
A huge inspiration to Floyd and Zeppelin as we lnow. But also to Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull.
This is one of my favourite Harper songs (outside of anything on Stormcock of course)I also love this video because of the juxtaposition of the uncommercial Roy Harper playing in what appears to be a very commercial situation! Roy seems to be doing the whole thing tongue in cheek so I guess it was probably all bit of a set up for the band to look like they do and capture the moment of the times and we all dressed a bit like this then! I always expect the Wombles to come dancing on at the end!
Dear Annie wherever you might be..Roy brings back the sweet memory of a guitar and flute in that Essex field one summer Sunday afternoon..a local beer after that..love you
this song has always conveyed to me a real sense of one of those days in England..probably during high summer...wonderful
Beautiful...as it always was, is, and will be
seen roy many times, conway civic hall, port sunlight, chester civic hall, colgne, to name a few pure class. couple of facts Led Zep wrote a song about him, Have a Cigar by Pink Floyd was sung by him. Different experience when your front row at one of his gigs an he appreciates it.
Nick was always brilliant with Roy. It is sad he isn't touring any more, but I'm off the NZ soon so woukldn't see him again anyway. Roy had a book out recently that was good, went through each albumn, so it is a long book! Coffee table one, got mine signed so sadly pleased
Fancy that Nigel Kennedy going off with his misses. What a kick in the teeth to have that fiddle playing joker wesselling in. Take care.
I can't believe that there's so little Roy Harper uploaded to YT.
GREAT PERFORMANCE OF A GREAT SONG BY A GENIUS!
The Original New York City Free Advice Man RATES this Song among the 100 Best Songs In History....and I really, really do LOVE it. Tried to find it on iTunes: no Luck yet! Best, Jean-Pierre A. Fenyo
I hear this a million times at my work everyday
What a voice!
an amazing song...goes from being a little ditty.... to epic proprtions ..in the space of 4 mins, an ordinary day has been experienced...and been made wonderful by a wonderful performance by all involved
I actually saw him play at Paradiso in Amsterdam at around that time. Thanks.
Still have my signed album of Bullinamingvase from the tour. Great gig. Also remember him being amazing at The Surrey University Free Festival.
Great track from a great album 'Bullinamingvase' - still have it in vinyl. Dave Lawson from Greenslade on keys!
Saw him playing at Brunell university in 77. I was 16. Fab.....
Seeing Roy there is probably the only way you'd get within a hundred yards of that university... It's BRUNEL.... one L. I saw him twice that year - I was 25.
One of the greats of English music..
the man's a poetic genius..
Met him in '74 at Abbey Road....HQ album recording, with Pink Floyd next door in Studio 3....
And to say that god is dead presupposes that he was at some time alive, ah hahaha what a young fool I am. Long live Roy. We still love you.
Fantastic...thanks for posting this. I'll never forget sitting beside a border collie at the Glastonbury fest watching Roy perform...magic!!
I recently saw roy play the long version of this song with him and Matt Churchill playing acustic guitars. Roy is one of the most underated artists out there.
it cheered me up.
one for the rolling man ^.*
Have loved this man since i was introduced to him in about 1990, saw him at the half moon in putney a few times, the dominion theatre (we got busted for skinning up at the interval) and his 60th b-day gig at the festival hall. Sad to hear he'd not gigging anymore. Why don't more people know and love him????
so so so many classic lines, love love love this man !
I have this very performance recorded on a little mono tape recorder directly fromm the Old Grey Whistle Test broadcast. Can't believe I can watch it again 36 years later. The tape compilation of Old Greys was a fixture in my first car's tape deck.
I used to do the same. I have a huge collection of audio from the whistle test, tube, gastank, switch, that thing Gary Crowley used to present in the middle of the night, Oxford Road show… The list is endless! I spent a big chunk of lockdown digitising it all. For a posterity that will never listen to it!
The whole of the B side of the original album One Of Those Days In England (Bullinamingvase) was 19 minutes of brilliant prog called One of those Days in England Parts 2-10 and its a masterpiece.
It is. If you, dear reader, have never heard it, track it down (it's on YT) and see if we're not right ..
This is from Roy Harper's second appearance on BBC2's Old Grey Whistle Test, broadcast on Tuesday March 29th 1977 (ousted from its usual light-night slot by, of all things, the World Table Tennis Championships. That's the BBC for you.) As well as 'One Of Those Days' Roy also sang 'Cherishing The Lonesome'.
Went to see him in Southport when Once came out and couldn't get a ticket. Some bod sold me and my bro one each, wonderful evening.
Love the unmistakeable sound of ex-Wing, Henry McCullogh, on guitar.
excellent video addition!Thanks!
I am having 'one of those days' .Bless
Love Stormcock cant say no more
Thanks to the Toucan club, I saw Roy many times in the nineties. I grew up listening to albums like HQ and Bullinamingvase. He had/has such personality and some great songs but the audience's, particularly in South Wales, can't shut up and stop making it about them shouting out and he stopped coming here. A great artist and is appreciated.
What a treat: Roy & the OGWT. I used to see him many times in the mid 80s at the Half Moon in Putney - once playing with his son Nick at Feltham.
Talking of spliffs: once at the Half Moon, he asked the audience if anyone could roll HIM a spliff - a barrage of lumps of dope being thrown on the tiny stage. A roadie scooped them all up & rolled him a spliff, but he probably made more in ounces of dope that night than money for the gig LOL.
5***** Stars Thankyou for posting
One of those dsys in England; going up the M6 to visit a pencil factory in Keswick. O, WillBkakelake, wert thou with us in our bible dark hour!
great to see that. super work
Wonderful.
@claytonave
Fantastic, as you will know in this world there are only two types, those who know Roy and.. Never ever heard Roy played in the UK. Roy needs the recognition he deserves, surely so of his mates in high places could see to that?? I have one wish, I could have seen Roy in the 1970's his voice was something else. The new Stormcock remaster he has done in utterly fantastic. Now living in NZ, I seriously would have considered staying in Blighty if he was still touring!
...The words 'living legend' just don't do justice to this guy...Roy Harper is quite simply up 'there' on his own...
The Man has always been there. Has anyone got a copy of Made?
Roy is heavy Ju Ju!!!
Very cool Tune
"One of those days in England with the Country going broke....."
Hmm, I have a strange feeling of deja vu!
This is from Roys `Noel Edmonds` period
This performance is definitely better than the studio version! Anyone agree?
hats off to roy harper !!!
That's why I moved to England
Quintessentially English (I had to make sure I had got the spelling correct!) is our Roy. There are a lot of elements of our society that I dislike. Fortunately, Roy has been a great example of what is good about it! :-)
hats of to roy harper !
@deafflylii1 I saw him live a few times throughout the 70s and never ever was disappointed, not by his singing, playing, band..not a moment. 'Me and my Woman' live at Newcastle city hall was beyond belief. I have a radio show here in California and play Roy often to great reception.
Love Roy Harper.
Think I was there, didn't he just play in a tent? I think the Beautiful south were playing. Oh, the memories, needed Sundays joint cooking in my tree living in St Helens at the time.
Both this track and 'Shangri-la' by Neil Innes were released at roughly the same time and I don't know who paid homage to who but there's a huge Neil Innes presence here also with iconic Rutle legend Barry Wom (John Halsey) on drums and GRIMMS member and legendary "dead" singer songwriter Stan Fitch (Andy Roberts) on guitar 1. Neil Innes was Stan's roadie when he appeared "live dead" on Rutland Weekend Television.
I love Neil Innes
a gem amongst men amd if you meet him a c7nt! one of those in.........
Oh Mr Harper , one and only 🕉
@oldhippypeace
It is on HQ with The Game on it and the brilliant Lords Prayer! Sorry I know far to much about Roy! 1975 I think, lovely new CD of it come out on his site. Cheers
I have a promo copy on a 4track vinyl single 45, with Watford Gap, that I still play
Watford Gap, Watford Gap, Plate of grease and a load of crap. The man's a genius..
Tell me when it matters love...
Half the fun in falling is you don't care where it's to.
They don't write 'em like that anymore.
great!!
Can that man sing or what?....I love it.
Absolutely, man of taste, evidently! Roy for me is the one who speaks to the heart. As does John Martyn, but in different ways, guess Roy is more the poet and John the emotional musician. Know Roy has not been well. Do you follow the Stormcock site? bit silly at times, but some good interviews with Roy
Still plays and someone whose opinion I respect said he was sounding good.
I agree. What a voice! I don't think it's bland at all either, but to each his own.
Roy is in Ireland
did you know that Roy Harper did the vocal on Have a cigar!!!!! what a cool fact. (i just found out) he asked for a life time season ticket to Lords< and they stiched him up on it and gave him a royalty check instead. trust the boys in floyd
Saw him with Roy a lot, added to the evenings. Liked his early stuff, but cannot get into his more recent, though he is a brilliant guitarist. Check out the Stormcock Community site, some great interviews on it. Cheers.
I think it was around 1990 because I arrived in St Helens in 1988 and it wasn't then. He was in this tent and the engineer was Jacqueline the one who went of with that Nigel Kennedy. I remember it as a strange set as I turned up and didn't know he was on. There were all these St Helens blokes stopping and just saying hold on I have to listen to this! A wonderful evening. Saw Nick in the park on the Wirral a few years ago.
My mate was a biker called Dave from St Helens.
I saw him once, a long time ago, at Knebworth I think. He just came on unanounced and unscheduled to fill in time before the main act. IIRC (it's been a very long time) it was when the main act was Mike Oldfield. That was a GOOD day.
I think I was at that gig! Did he say "what's that?" to one of the lumps hurled and someone replied "A freebie!" then something about the "quality of the heckling"?
@Islwynpaul Roy Ive seen loads over the years, e was just the best live, so was John. I think the music became the sum of the parts, sort of thinking where is the band? But it was just him expansive and a rollercoaster of emotions.
how good is roy? a true greatest living englishman
Small Hours - john Martyn is just fantastic
hats off * ;)
@Mourour
Yeah it's got a bit more bounce to it live:)
Taste in food, like taste in music is clearly subjective. This isn't my favourite Harper song, but personally I love a nice bag of fish&chips, and roast beef and gravy.
It sings to you.
Sounded like intro to dear prudence…
Don't know who the backing musicians are but, damn they do this song justice!
I'm still trying to figure out what instrument that guy beside the drummer is playing.
Have you heard of John Martyn? He was a brilliantly talented Scot on the folk scene. Check out One World anything off that is utterly beautiful. He is as close to Roy as possible, another mad one off.
Poignant comes from the Latin pungere "to prick," the same root as pungent. But something that's pungent pricks your sense of smell, whereas poignant refers to something that pricks your emotions, especially in a melancholy way. Movie critics might describe a touching portrayal as poignant if there isn't a dry eye in the house.
Thanks,
Check out stormcock community for some great inverviews to download. Also his book on his web site covers all his albums is detail and is full of photos.
@deafflylii1 Cheers dude, I bought a second hand PC and it had a fully loaded itunes on it with all of Roys albums + about 2000 more classics. Result.
really, film with Roy in it and "The bank of the dead"