Monday, October 12, 2009

H: Roy Harper


10-12-09 H: Roy Harper


“There once was a man from the old stone age…” Can’t believe I haven’t written about Roy Harper before! Can’t find a blog for him in my index!


I think I got interested in him in the very early 70’s, because he was on Harvest Records in England. And it was possible to find “Flat Baroque & Berserk” for under $1 at that time. When “HQ” came out in America as “When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease”, Harper came to L.A. and played shows, and did a ‘signing’ at a record store in Hollywood. Somewhere, I have a photo of my teenaged-self getting Mr. Harper’s autograph on some LP sleeves. I wish I knew where that photo was!


Harper is a major British singer – songwriter who appeals to both the hard rock and progressive rock crowds. He has regularly worked with Jimmy Page, for instance (though I have been far more impressed with Chris Spedding’s work with Mr. Harper! Witness “The Game” on “HQ”!). He’s probably most famous either for singing “Have A Cigar” by Pink Floyd or for being the Harper in “Hats Off To Harper” on Led Zeppelin “III”.


CD BBC TAPES Vol. 2 - IN CONCERT 1974 SCIENCE FR UK HUCD 023

1997 11 TRKS Live, 1974

CD BURN THE WORLD SCIENCE FR UK HUCD 013

1994 2 TRKS CD-only release?

LP COME OUT FIGHTING GHENGIS SMITH CBS UK 63184

1967 9 TRKS UK original issue

CD DESCENDENTS OF SMITH EMI UK 790139.2

1988 12 TRKS CD-only release?

CD DREAM SOCIETY, THE HARD UP UK HUCD 030

1998 11 TRKS CD-only release?

12" ELIZABETH (with Jimmy Page) BEGGARS B UK BEG 131T

1985 3 TRKS with pic sleeve

CD FLASHES FROM THE ARCHIVES OF OBLIVION AWARENESS 1012

1974 11 TRKS 2 on 1

CD FLAT BAROQUE AND BERSERK HARD UP UK HUCD 003

1970 12 TRKS

LP FLAT BAROQUE AND BERSERK HARVEST UK SHVL 766

1970 12 TRKS UK original issue, autographed

CD FOLKJOKEOPUS AWARENESS UK AWCD 1003

1969 8 TRKS ('89 issue)

LP FOLKJOKEOPUS LIBERTY UK LBS 83231

1969 8 TRKS UK original

LP FOLKJOKEOPUS WORLD PACIFIC WPS-21888

1969 9 TRKS US edition

CD HQ SCIENCE FR UK HUCD 019

1975 10 TRKS 3 x bonus tracks

LP HQ HARVEST UK SHSP 4046

1975 7 TRKS autographed

7" I STILL CARE / GOODBYE LADYBIRD PUBLIC UK PUBS 1002

1983 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

CD IN BETWEEN EVERY LINE SCIENCE FR UK HUCD 018

1986 7 TRKS Live

LPx2 IN BETWEEN EVERY LINE EMI UK EN 5004

1986 8 TRKS Live, UK original issue

LP INTRODUCTION TO ROY HARPER, AN promo CHRYSALIS US PRO 620

1976 2 TRKS US promo-only, interview etc.

7" LAUGHING INSIDE / (ACOUSTIC VERSION) EMI UK EM 46

1988 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

CD LIFEMASK AWARENESS UK AWCD 1007

1973 6 TRKS

LP LIFEMASK HARVEST UK SHVL 808

1973 6 TRKS autographed, inserts

7" MIDSPRING DITHERING / ZENGEM EPIC US 5-10268

1967 2 TRKS no pic sleeve, promo

7" NO-ONE GETS OUT ALIVE / CASUALTY PUBLIC UK PUBS 1001

1982 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

LP ONE OF THOSE DAYS IN ENGLAND (BULLINAMINGVASE) CHRYSALIS US CHR 1138

1977 6 TRKS

7" ONE OF THOSE DAYS IN ENGLAND / WATFORD GAP HARVEST UK HAR 5120

1977 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

7" PLAYING GAMES / FIRST THING IN THE MORNING HARVEST UK HAR 5203

1980 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

7" REFERENDUM / ANOTHER DAY / TOM TIDDLER'S GROUND HARVEST UK PSR 407

1977 3 TRKS no pic sleeve, promo

7" REFERENDUM / GROWN UPS ARE JUST SILLY CHILDREN HARVEST UK HAR 5102

1975 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

7" SAIL AWAY / CHERISHING THE LONESOME HARVEST UK HAR 5140

1977 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

7" SHORT AND SWEET / WATER SPORTS / UNKNOWN SOLDIER HARVEST UK HAR 5207

1980 3 TRKS with pic sleeve, promo

CD STORMCOCK SCIENCE FR UK HUCD 004

1971 4 TRKS ('94 issue)

LP STORMCOCK HARVEST UK SHVL 789

1971 4 TRKS UK original issue, autographed

CD UNKNOWN SOLDIER, THE SCIENCE FR UK HUCD 031

1980 10 TRKS ('99 issue)

LP UNKNOWN SOLDIER, THE HARVEST UK SHVL 820

1980 10 TRKS insert, UK original issue

CD VALENTINE HARD UP UK HUCD 015

1974 13 TRKS (3 x bonus tracks)

LP VALENTINE HARVEST UK SHSP 4027

1974 10 TRKS UK original, 1st cover

CD WHATEVER HAPPENED TO JUGULA? (with Jimmy Page) BEGGARS B UK BBL 60CD

1985 8 TRKS

LP WHATEVER HAPPENED TO JUGULA? (with Jimmy Page) BEGGARS B UK BEGA 60

1985 8 TRKS UK original issue

LP WHEN AN OLD CRICKETER LEAVES THE CREASE CHRYSALIS US CHR 1105

1975 7 TRKS aka 'H.Q.'

7" WHEN AN OLD CRICKETER… / HOME (Studio Vers.) HARVEST UK HAR 5160

1975 2 TRKS with pic sleeve, promo

CD WORK OF HEART AWARENESS UK AWCD 1002

1982 6 TRKS

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Chris Spedding: The Jimmy Page for people with taste! Sadly, I've only seen Mr. Spedding live in 2001 with Roxy Music as 2nd guitarist. I saw their first US date in Camden, NJ and Mr. Spedding was the proverbial hot sh*t! Phil WHO?! By date #5 in Atlanta, wrists had obviously been slapped. His playing there was timid and supportive to Mr. Manzanera.