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A breakdown of each album with track listings

Sophisticated Beggar is Roy's first album. It is crudely recorded, but has a particular quality about it that sets it apart from the subsequent albums. Roy's guitar style is particularly intricate on certain tracks such as "Blackpool" and "Forever". "Hup Hup Spiral" is an odd track, consisting of Roy saying "hup" over and over again, panning across, and following through to the runout groove.

THE SOPHISTICATED BEGGAR
THE RETURN OF THE SOPHISTICATED BEGGAR
SOPHISTICATED BEGGAR
LEGEND

Produced by Peter Richard. Arranged by Roy Harper
** Only on the Youngblood and Birth release
# = Sundown reissue order (10 tracks only)

 

China Girl                                B5
Goldfish (Bowl)                           A1
Sophisticated Beggar                      A2
My Friend                                 B4
Big Fat Silver Aeroplane                  A3
Blackpool
Legend    [Referendum]                    A4

Girlie                                    A5
October the Twelfth                       B1
Black Clouds                              B2
Mr. Station Master                        B3
Forever
Committed
Hup Hup Spiral                            **
    

This is the sleeve of the Sundown release of the album, which strangely has tracks missing.

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COME OUT FIGHTING GHENGIS SMITH
THE EARLY YEARS

Produced by Shel Talmy. Orchestral arrangements by Keith Mansfield
** Awareness CD reissue only

This is from the Awareness and Science Friction CD reissues of the album. The original LP has a smiling baby and is somewhat less gory. I really like this album, though Roy doesn't seem to happy with it and claims it was written and recorded in two weeks flat. It really feels like a period piece.

Freak Street
You Don't Need Money  [Nobody's Got Any Money In The Summer]
Ageing Raver
In A Beautiful Rambling Mess
All You Need Is
What You Have

Circle
Highgate Cemetery
Come out Fighting Ghengis Smith
Zaney Janey                               ** USA FOLKJOKEOPUS
Ballad Of Songwriter                      ** USA FOLKJOKEOPUS
Midspring Dithering                       ** single - A side
Zenjem                                    ** single - B side
It's Tomorrow And Today Is Yesterday      ** John Peel- BBC Radio Show /70
Francesca                                 ** Top Gear - BBC Radio Show /69
She's The One                             ** Top Gear - BBC Radio Show /69
    

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FOLKJOKEOPUS
Produced by Shel Talmy

Folkjokeopus was one of the albums that really got to me when I started listening to Roy. It contains one of his best songs, the Prisoner-influenced "McGoohans Blues", plus some delightfully quirky pieces. There is a sprawl of picture and writing on the back of the record to keep you occupied while listening to it.

Sergeant Sunshine
She's The One
In The Time Of Water
Composer Of Life
One For All                               ** GBR only
Zaney Janey                               ** USA FOLKJOKEOPUS only
Ballad of Songwriter                      ** USA FOLKJOKEOPUS only

Exercising Some Control
McGoohan's Blues
Manana
    

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FLAT BAROQUE AND BERSERK
Produced by Peter Jenner

The CD reissue is to be sold in a non-limited form excluding booklet, poster and signature.

Flat Baroque and Berserk contains some of Roy's most beautiful, contemplative songs as well and harder hitting songs such as "White Man". This is one of the records I play to people who want a feel for Roy's music. "Hell's Angels" features The Nice as a backing band, and this track sounds superb on the CD reissue.

Don't You Grieve
I Hate the White Man
Feeling All the Saturday
How Does It Feel
Goodbye

Another Day
Davey
East of the Sun
Tom Tiddler's Ground
Francesca
Song of the Ages
Hell's Angels
    

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STORMCOCK
Produced by Peter Jenner

It was difficult picking a name for the mailing list back in 1990, so I took the easy option and named it after this, my favourite record. It's not a name that people forget, either.

Hors D'oeuvres
The Same Old Rock

One Man Rock and Roll Band
Me and My Woman
    

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LIFEMASK
Produced by Peter Jenner
** Extra tracks on Awareness cassette reissue only

Lifemask contains the superb side-long epic "The Lord's Prayer". This is a tricky songs to listen to, and it's even trickier to maintain concentration on the lyrics. I've heard this one played live twice, and it's quite an achievement. The original album had a sleeve that opened up, but the artwork had been lost when Awareness came to reissue it.

Highway Blues
All Ireland
Little Lady
Bank of the Dead
South Africa

The Lord's Prayer
a) Poem
b) Modal Song Parts I to IV
c) Front Song
d) Middle Song
e) End Song (Front Song Reprise)

Ballad Of Songwriter                      ** USA - FOLKJOKEOPUS
Zaney Janey                               ** USA - FOLKJOKEOPUS
Midspring Dithering                       ** single - A side
Zenjem                                    ** single - B side
    

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VALENTINE
Produced by Peter Jenner and Roy Harper
** Awareness CD reissue only

Valentine is, as the name suggests, an album more oriented towards love songs, and is "Harper's Sunday best". This is the original sleeve to Valentine.

Forbidden Fruit
Male Chauvinist Pig Blues
I'll See You Again
Twelve Hours of Sunset
Acapulco Gold

Commune
Magic Woman (Liberation Reshuffle)
Che
North Country
Forever

Home (studio)                             ** FLASHES FROM THE ARCHIVES...
Too Many Movies (live)                    ** FLASHES FROM THE ARCHIVES...
Home (live)                               ** FLASHES FROM THE ARCHIVES...
    

... and this is the version used on the Awareness and subsequent reissues.

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FLASHES FROM THE ARCHIVES OF OBLIVION
Produced by Peter Jenner
Live double

The infamous rude cover got ruder with the CD reissue. Just what is that shadow?

** Missing on Awareness CD reissue

Home (studio)                             **
Commune (live)
Don't You Grieve (live)
Twelve Hours of Sunset (live)
Kangaroo Blues (live)

All Ireland (live)
Me and My Woman (live)
South Africa (live)

Highway Blues (live)
One Man Rock and Roll Band (live)

Another Day (live)
M.C.P. Blues (live)
Too Many Movies (live)                    **
Home (live)                               **
    

HQ
WHEN AN OLD CRICKETER LEAVES THE CREASE (USA)
Produced by Peter Jenner

This is one of the famous Hypgnosis sleeve designs. Roy Harper walks on water! Don't try this at home kids.

The Game (parts 1-5)
The Spirit Lives
Grown Ups Are Just Silly Children

Referendum (Legend) [version two]
Forget Me Not
Hallucinating Light
When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease
    

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BULLINAMINGVASE
ONE OF THOSE DAYS IN ENGLAND (USA)
Produced by Roy Harper and John Leckie
** Replaced with "Breakfast With You". Reinstated on Science Friction Reissue.

One Of Those Days In England
These Last Days
Cherishing the Lonesome
Naked Flame
Watford Gap                               **

One Of Those Days In England (parts 2-10)
    

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COMMERCIAL BREAKS
* Never released by EMI - test pressings only. See LOONY ON THE BUS. Subsequent issue by Science Friction.

This album was written and recorded in rather a hurry after the success of Bullinamingvase, then EMI sat on it for ages and it wasn't released until recently. On the whole it's one of Roy's weaker albums, but acquired legendary status during the time it wasn't available.

Little Girl
I'm In Love With You
Ten Years Ago
Sail Away
I Wanna Be Part of the News
Breakfast With You

Cora
Come Up and See Me
The Flycatcher
Too Many Movies
Square Boxes
    

This is the back sleeve to Commercial Breaks. The sleeve design is based around having lots of "product" scattered all over the place, much of which you'd have seen advertised at the time.

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HARPER 1970-1975
* compilation

Don't You Grieve                          ** FLAT, BAROQUE & BERSERK
I Hate the White Man                      ** FLAT, BAROQUE & BERSERK
Tom Tiddler's Ground                      ** FLAT, BAROQUE & BERSERK
Me and My Woman (parts 3-5)               ** STORMCOCK
Little Lady                               ** LIFEMASK

South Africa                              ** LIFEMASK
Forbidden Fruit                           ** VALENTINE
I'll See You Again                        ** VALENTINE
Commune                                   ** VALENTINE
Another Day (live)                        ** FLASHES FROM THE ARCHIVES...
When An Old Cricketer Leaves the Crease   ** HQ
Home (studio)                             ** FLASHES FROM THE ARCHIVES...
    

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THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER
Produced by Roy Harper assisted by Stephen Galfas
Executive Producer Peter Jenner assisted by Chris Briggs

Playing Games
I'm In Love With You
The Flycatcher
You (The Game part II)
Old Faces

Short and Sweet
First Thing in the Morning
The Unknown Soldier
Ten Years Ago
True Story
    

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WORK OF HEART
Produced by Roy Harper, assisted by David Lord
Executive Producer and Work Of Heart Project Director M.E. Thompson

Work of Heart is a very "polished" album, featuring a full backing band. It was voted the Sunday Times album of the year. Many people prefer the rougher mix of the demos on "Born in Captivity".

Drawn To the Flames  [version one]
Jack of Hearts
I Am A Child  [version one]
Woman
I Still Care

Work of Heart [version one]
  i)   No One Ever Gets Out Alive
  ii)  Two Lovers in the Moon
  iii) We Are the People
  iv)  All Us Children (So Sadly Far Apart)
  v)   We Are the People (reprise)
  vi)  No One Ever Gets Out Alive (finale)
    

This picture from the album shows the sort of image Roy had at the time.

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BORN IN CAPTIVITY

This sleeve is from the Awareness reissue of the album. The original had a very limited run, and lots of them were sold at the Cambridge Folk festival the year that Roy and Jimmy played.

Stan
Drawn to the Flames [version two]
Come To Bed Eyes
No Woman Is Safe
I Am A Child [version two]

Elizabeth [version one]
Work of Heart [version two]
  i)   No One Ever Gets Out Alive
  ii)  Two Lovers in the Moon
  iii) We Are the People
  iv)  All Us Children (So Sadly Far Apart)
  v)   We Are the People (reprise)
  vi)  No One Ever Gets Out Alive (finale)
    

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WHATEVER HAPPENED TO JUGULA
with Jimmy Page. Produced by Roy Harper

Jugula heralded a rennaisance for Roy. It earned him a new audience, with its selection of very strong songs and the obvious pull of guest Jimmy Page. This is an essential part of any collection.

Nineteen Forty-Eightish
Bad Speech
Hope
Hangman

Elizabeth [version two]
Frozen Moment
Twentieth Century Man
Advertisement (Another Intentional Irrelevant Suicide)
    

This picture of Roy and Jimmy is part of the inner sleeve, which contains a variety of images plus some suitably caustic comments.

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IN BETWEEN EVERY LINE
Produced by Roy Harper
Live double

One Of Those Days In England (live)

Short and Sweet (live)
Referendum (live)
Highway Blues (live)

True Story (live)
The Game (live)

One Man Rock and Roll Band (live)
Hangman (live)
    

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...DESCENDANT(S) OF SMITH
Produced by Roy Harper
** CD only

This artwork is from the Science Friction reissue, which is titled "Garden of Uranium". The artwork is much better than the rather cheesy picture on the original EMI version.

Laughing Inside
Garden of Uranium
Still Life
Pinches of Salt
Desert Island

Government Surplus
Surplus Liquorice
Licquorice Alltime
Maile Lei
Same Shoes
Descendant of Smith
Laughing Inside (Rough and Ready version) **
    

Here's that cheesy picture, followed by the three joke incarnations of Roy that were used in an initial run of the single "Laughing Inside" to see how the press would react if they didn't know it was Roy Harper.

LOONY ON THE BUS
# LP order

Loony on the Bus is a strange mix of tracks from Commercial Breaks plus some other bits and pieces. The sound quality is rather lacking but it's good to play if you're in a quirky mood.

No Change (Ten Years Ago)                 A1
Sail Away                                 [CD only]
I Wanna Be Part of the News               A3
Burn the World (part 1)                   A4
Casualty                                  A5

Cora                                      B1
Playing Prison                            A2
Loony on the Bus                          B2
Come Up and See Me                        B3
The Flycatcher                            B4
Square Boxes                              B5
      

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ONCE
Produced by Roy Harper

This is the first of Roy's albums that Awareness released that was not a reissue. It sold very well for him, containing some very mature songs and souding similar to his live sound.

Once
Once in the Middle of Nowhere (link)
Nowhere to Run To
The Black Cloud of Islam
If

Winds of Change
Berliners (A Better World)
Sleeping at the Wheel
For Longer Than It Takes
Ghost Dance
      

This photo is taken from the Once CD booklet. For some reason I think Roy looks a bit like Walter Koenig here.

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BURN THE WORLD

This is an album with two tracks, a studio and a live version of a 20-minute song. If you enjoy longer pieces this is for you. Sadly Roy doesn't play this one live any more.

Burn the World (studio)
  i)    Burn The World
  ii)   Change It
  iii)  The Last Laugh
  iv)   My Home is on the Water
  v)    Live In Peace
  vi)   Walkabout
  vii)  Desert Island
  viii) Burn The World (reprise)

Burn the World (live)
  i)    Burn The World
  ii)   Change It
  iii)  The Last Laugh
  iv)   My Home is on the Water
  v)    Live In Peace
  vi)   Walkabout
  vii)  Desert Island
  viii) Burn The World (reprise)
      

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BORN IN CAPTIVITY II
live cassette - Mail order only
later issued on CD in Canada
Recorded and Mixed by Jacqui Harper and features Nick Harper
The CD version omits "Short and Sweet"

This was originally a limited edition cassette, but was brought across to CD as an introductory album for Canada. It is easy to obtain in UK record shops, however, and is very true to the live experience.

Descendants of Smith (live)
Short And Sweet (live)           * Tape only
When An Old Cricketer... (live)
Three Hundred Words (live)
  Hope (live)
Naked Flame
South Africa
North Country (live)

Commune (live)
Yet (poem)                       * Tape only
Back To The Stones (live)
Legend (live)
Frozen Moment (live)
Highway Blues (live)
Same Old Rock (live)
      

Here are Roy and Nick in action. Nick in particular looks like he's concentrating very hard...

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DEATH OR GLORY?
Produced by Roy Harper

The original Awareness cover has become known as the "bums" cover for obvious reasons.

Death Or Glory?
The War Came Home
Tonight
Duty
Waiting For Godot Part Zed
Next To Me
Man Kind
The Tallest Tree
Mile Remains
The Fourth World
Why?
Evening Star
Cardboard City
One More Tomorrow
The Plough
On Summer Day
If I Can
      

This is the artwork in the reissue. Roy has stated that this is an interim measure and a "proper" sleeve will be forthcoming.

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AN INTRODUCTION TO...

Legend
She's the One
Tom Tiddler's Ground
Highway Blues
Che
Hallucinating Light
One of Those Days in England (short version)
You
Nineteen Forty-Eightish
Pinches of Salt
Ghost Dance
The Tallest Tree
Miles Remains    

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THE BBC TAPES

This is a bumper collection for any enthusiast. For full details, see the separate BBC Sessions page.

VOLUME 1 1969-1973

VOLUME 2 In Concert 1974

VOLUME 3 1974

VOLUME 4 In Concert 1975

VOLUME 5 1975-1978

VOLUME 6 In Concert 1978

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LIVE AT LES COUSINS

This CD is worth it just for the version of McGoohan's Blues.

You Don't Need Money
North Country
Hors D'Oeuvres
Blackpool
She's the One (1)
She's the One (2)
Goldfish
East of the Sun
McGoohan's Blues
Feeling all the Saturday
Zengem
Che
Davey
I Hate the White Man
Goodbye
Tom Tiddler's Ground (edit)  

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POEMS, SPEECHES, THOUGHTS AND DOODLES

This mail-order only release contains a mixture of material, much of which is spoken word.

First thing in the morning
Blow by Blow
The Spirit Lives
Lunchtime Sandwich Secretaries
November
The Arty Fartique (The Critic)
Bad Speech 2
Timelords in the Frost
Angel of the Night
Hidden by Numbers
Hole in the Sky
Overnight Success
Nero
Clones
Constant Sorrow
BUPA
Extreme Middle Age
The Night Aglow
Filthy Stain Hussein
Your Tongue In Their Cheeks
Commune
Tel
Descendants of Smith
Our Father
Crystal Shoes
The Afternoon Sun
The Unknown
And Yet
Auto Farrier
Ere Winter Ends
Ghost Dance
Pinches of Salt
The Song that Never Ends
Love Me  

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THE DREAM SOCIETY

A high quality studio release with a full band sound

Songs Of Love
Songs Of Love Pt. 2
Dancing All The Night
Psychopath
I Want To Be In Love
Drugs For Everybody
Come The Revolution
Angel Of The Night
The Dream Society
Broken Wing
These Fifty Years

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THE GREEN MAN

A studio release with more acoustic content than the previous one, and containing some notable lyrical content.

The Green Man
Wishing Well
Sexy Woman
The Apology
Midnight Sun
Glasto
The Monster
New England
Solar Wind Sculptures
Rushing Camelot
All In All
 

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EAST OF THE SUN

A compilation album of love songs. Excellent for the more "laid back" Roy, with songs about various matters of the heart.

I'll See You Again
Francesca
Another Day
North Country
South Africa
The Flycatcher
My Friend
East Of The Sun

Commune
Davey
Twelve Hours Of Sunset
Hallucinating Light
Forever
Sexy Woman
Frozen Moment
 

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ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL LIVE

A double CD album of Roy's glorious 60th birthday concert at the Royal Festival Hall, London. This is a wonderful concert including some superb guest musicians and the glorious strings of David Bedford.

Disc 1
Commune
I'll See You Again
Rushing Camelot
Another Day
North Country
Hallucinating Light
Same Old Rock

Disk 2
Sexy Woman
Key To The Highway
Sophisticated Beggar
Highway Blues
Twelve Hours Of Sunset
Me And My Woman
The Flycatcher
The Green Man

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TODAY IS YESTERDAY

A collection of songs from Roy's very early years, mostly hitherto unreleased. The audio quality is variable, but the material is fascinating and very much worth having for anyone that appreciates early Roy from the "Sophisticated Beggar" era.

Long Hot summer's Day
The Scaffold Of The Daylight
Black Clouds
Girlie
In The Morning
Love
Forever
Little Old Lady
Mountain
Pretty Baby
Midspring Dithering
Today Is Yesterday
Zengem
Zaney Janey
Life Goes By
Night Fighter (Ballad Of A Songwriter)
Take Me Into Your Eyes

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COUNTER CULTURE

A really nice 2-CD set "compilation album" giving a really decent representation of all the various eras and styles of Roy's songs. I think this makes a superb introduction to his music for someone coming to it for the first time.

Sophisticated Beggar
Nobody's Got Any Money In The Summer
Francesca
I Hate The White Man
Another Day
The Same Old Rock
Me And My Woman
South Africa
I'll See You Again
Twelve Hours Of Sunset
Forget Me Not
Hallucinating Light
When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease
One Of Those Days In England (Pts. 2-10)
These Last Days
Cherishing The Lonesome
The Flycatcher
You
Frozen Moment
Pinches Of Salt
Miles Remains
Evening Star
I Wanna Be In Love
The Green Man
Blackpool (Extract)

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BOOTLEGS

HEAVY CRAZY
OH BOY 1-9138
* BBC Radio 1 In Concert, live in London April 1974
* BBC Transcription Disc BBC 135166-S CN 2030/S
* "Hors d'Oeuvres" broadcast but not on disc

We never expected to have a Roy Harper CD bootleg, but here it is. The quality is excellent, being taken from BBC recordings.

Too Many Movies
Male Chauvinist Pig Blues
Forever
Maybe  [South Africa]
Highway Blues

I'll See You Again
Commune
Another Day
North Country
Twelve Hours Of Sunset
      

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VIDEOS
Jettisoundz Video and Off the Wall JE134 "STONEHENGE 1984"
Featuring Roy Harper, Hawkwind (not listed), and The Enid (not listed).

 

One Man Rock'n'Roll Band
Commune
I Hate the White Man
Highway Blues
      

Jettisoundz Video JE151 "LIVE IN YOUR LIVING ROOM"

 

Advertisement
12 Hours of Sunset
Don't you Grieve
South Africa
Another Day
My and My Woman
      

Castle Music Pictures CMP 7038 1991 "ONCE LIVE"

 

Once
Nowhere To Run To
Tom Tiddler's Ground
The Black Cloud of Islam
Berliners
Frozen Moment
One Man Rock and Roll Band
Twelve Hours of Sunset
Short and Sweet
I Hate the White Man
Hangman
    

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DVD

BEYOND THE DOOR

Roy's first venture into DVD, and an excellent one. It includes live footage of De Barras 2004, along with exclusive images and video collected by Roy. There is also a 10- track "Just the Music" CD. This is a great "live Roy" package that I heartily recommend.

Tom Tiddler's Ground
Pinches of Salt
How Does It Feel
Punch and Judy
The Green Man
One Man Rock And Roll Band
Frozen Moment
The Death of God
Kangaroo Blues
Miles Remains
Hallucinating Light
12 Hours of Sunset