After signing with EMI's Parlophone label in the UK for one single in early 1968, Barclay James Harvest moved to the more progressively inclined Harvest label, and the rumour that the 'Harvest' part of their name came from that has since been discounted with the explanation that they chose that word as they were living in a farmhouse at the time. Their self-titled debut album was released in mid-1970 to positive reviews, but few sales. Their second album, 'Once Again', gained more favourable reviews, and the tour that followed was conducted with a full orchestra under the guidance of Robert John Godfrey. This is the sound that has become most associated with the band, of mixing lush orchestral backing with the highly melodic songs, and their third album 'Barclay James Harvest and Other Short Stories' was an even greater achievement, though Martyn Ford was brought in to supervise the orchestral work after Godfrey departed over writing issues behind 'Mocking Bird' – one of the group's most consistently popular tracks. During the recording sessions for their first five albums they laid down a number of songs which never made it onto the records, as well as releasing a few stand-alone singles, with exclusive b-sides, and this album collects them all together for an interesting alternative view of the band's progression, from the stripped back 'I Can't Go On Without You', via the superb 'Brother Thrush'/'Poor Wages' and rockier 'Rock And Roll Woman' singles, to the full-on prog rock of 'Maestoso (A Hymn In The Roof Of The World)'. The 1972 single 'Breathless' was released under the pseudonym Bombadil, and was an attempt to create a commercial, glam-rock sound that differed from their usual symphonic prog style.
Track Listing
01 I Can't Go On Without You (previously unreleased 1968)02 Eden Unobtainable (previously unreleased 1968)03 Brother Thrush (single 1969)04 Poor Wages (b-side of 'Brother Thrush')05 Introduction - White Sails (A Seascape) (previously unreleased 1971)06 Too Much On My Plate (previously unreleased 1971)07 Brave New World (demo 1971)08 Breathless (single as Bombadil 1972)09 When The City Sleeps (b-side of 'Breathless')
10 I'm Over You (single 1972)
11 Child Of Man (b-side of 'I'm Over You')
12 Rock And Roll Woman (single 1973)
13 The Joker (b-side of 'Rock And Roll Woman')
14 Maestoso (A Hymn In The Roof Of The World) (previously unreleased 1974)
