Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Summer Soldier
2. Medicine Man
3. Crazy City
4. After The Day
5. Negative Earth
6. She Said
7. The Great 1974 Mining Disaster
8. Paper Wings
9. For No One

Disc 2:

1. For No One
2. Paper Wings
3. The Great 1974 Mining Disaster
4. Crazy City
5. Negative Earth
6. Sweet Jesus
7. Hymn For The Children
8. Crazy City
9. Polk Street Rag
10. Rock 'n Roll Star
11. Suicide

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16134 in Music
• Released on: 2008-04-14
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: Box set, Live
• Dimensions: .23 pounds
• Running time: 125 minutes

Customer Reviews

After the day, but right on the mark
This double CD package is, in a word, vintage. A sumptuous feast for the ears, and indeed the eyes, in its presentation in every way. A treasure-trove for the BJH connoisseur. Amazing that these recordings have only seen public release thirty-plus years on. And a slightly weird piece of nostalgia to see a new BJH release bearing the Polydor label after all these years. But that of course is what this package is, a projection from the past. As such it comes over remarkably fresh and crystal clear. Like being in the room with the guys, as if standing at the mic just a few feet from you. That live, almost acoustic style, intimacy you get, for instance with the Whistle Test recordings.

Everything about After the Day is right. Compiler and booklet writer Mark Powell must take top marks, along with designer Phil Smee. Beautifully presented packaging, the style and colouring is in keeping with the Barclay's mid-seventies image, hinting in particular at the THG painting, and with the familiar yellow backdrop of the inside pages, like those old vinyl album inner sleeves. Not a word out of place from Mr Powell - leaving the BJH anorak in no doubt that he knows his stuff!

It is unfortunate that in the track selection of twenty, there are no Woolly Wolstenholme compositions. But that reflects the state of play in the band at the time, so the compendium remains a true reflection of that chapter of the BJH history. Of course what you notice afresh are the vital instrumental contributions of Woolly that did so much to define the Barclay's trade mark lush, sweeping sound, with lashings of mellotron. And as a major feature of the band's live qualities, Mel Pritchard's often explosive and energetic drumming underlines his pivotal contribution as one quarter of the ('70's) fab four. Check out the unique live example of Sweet Jesus, with its cascade of drums, and swirling, surging Hammond organ.

Many of the songs here feature rare alternative arrangements, that bring a new vitality to long cherished classics. A strong point in the BJH armoury in their heyday, were the vocal harmonies. When the three singers unite, live and in the moment, and reproduced with such crispness, it gets quite spine-tingling. Among the numerous delights that litter these discs, we hear a neat and seamless transition from Summer Soldier to Medicine Man, and then again between Negative Earth and She Said, from the Radio 1 concert on the first disc, as if movements in a single rock symphony. The latter pairing featuring a startlingly brooding fade-out-cum-segue.

And Whispering Bob Harris's linking pieces are only slightly annoying. They kind of add a period authenticity. Delightfully understated, when he remarks, upon the blistering climax of a rip-roaring, extended Medicine Man, 'Ah, that's nice.'

A Blast From The Past
Disk 1 of this set is a rather marvellous concert recorded by the BBC in 1974 and, with the omission of 2 tracks, is the same set that was recorded 2 weeks later by Polydor for what emerged as "Barclay James Harvest Live". Consequently the arrangements and performances are similar. For my mind, the sound is better although, admittedly, I do not have the remastered version of that CD with which to compare it. It is interesting that neither includes "Child Of The Universe" which, I guess, at the time of EIEE's release was not identified as being one of the strongest songs. I have to say I find the between songs commentary of "Whispering Bob" rather annoying and that is not going to be reduced on subsequent listenings.

Disk 2 is collected from 3 BBC sessions + a 1976 concert recorded by Polydor for promotional use. 6 of the songs are repeats - but in different performances - from the first disk. It is nice to have live recordings of "Sweet Jesus" and "Hymn For The Children".

Overall this is an excellent set with a lovely cover, well thought out notes and good sound. I only remove 1* because of the number of repetitions on disk 2. Despite that caveat, even with the number of BJH "live" recordings available, this is a must for fans.