The Return of the Sophisticated Beggar: Remastered

[Ben Naga]

Reissued by BGO on 10th September, the interesting thing here (for the completist anyway) is the inclusion of "Hup Hup Spiral", which I've never seen in a CD incarnation of these tracks before. Though perhaps I missed it. I remember corresponding with Hors D'Oeuvres or Science Fiction and being told there were no plans to include "HHS" on "Sophisticated Beggar". A few seconds of whimsy though it may be, I miss it and will enjoy having it back where - in my head at least - it belongs.

So here's an alert for anyone else equally obsessional. :biggrin:

[SteveT]

Hup Hup Spiral was included on the Mooncrest issue of Return... in 1997. CRESTCD 027.

[Ben Naga]

And I obviously missed it :( . Anyway, now's my chance to pick it up. Wonder how far a "remaster" will have affected/improved the sound. Well, I shall know soon.

[pd]

In case it's of interest... there have been some copyright issues with this album over the last few years and I gather that some of the reissues have not been "official" and that Roy has not been getting any sort of royalties from the sale of them. Roy's site is down at the moment it seems (oops! edit - my ISP is having issues with some sites I think) but you might want to check which one is being sold from his shop as that'll be "his" one.

Obviously it's entirely up to the individual which version you want to buy but I thought it was worth pointing out.

Cheers

Paul

[SteveT]

There must be something going on with this "dodgy" issue because the release date keeps being put back. Has Roy had to "have words" with them, perhaps?

[Shane]

does anyone know who the musicians were on Mr. Station Master and Committed? anyone well known?

[Dr_Doom_The_Optimist]

Ritchie Blackmore?

http://moreblackthanpurple.co.uk/discogearlyLPs_tabs.htm

[SteveT]

There must be something going on with this "dodgy" issue because the release date keeps being put back. Has Roy had to "have words" with them, perhaps?

Adding to my own post here. The latest on this from Eil.com appears to be: "we
have been advised by our suppliers that this title has been
withdrawn from release. Should this title be rescheduled for
release in the future, we will add it back into our catalogues
and website."

I haven't looked to see what any of the other people advertising it for sale have said.

[Travellerman]

I have this on Cassette, on the 'Autograph' label. I bought it around 198? somewhere. Anyone else picked that up anywhere?

[SteveT]

Yes, I've got that one but it's the shortened version of Beggar. Like the Mooncrest CD version it omits Blackpool, Committed and October 12th

[Travellerman]

Actually, I have just picked up yet another version of Sophisticated Beggar (in New Zealand) and one I've not come across before.

This one is a 2007 release and quite nice. The sound is deeper (i.e. treble reduced) and there's not so much hiss audible. Hup Hup Spiral is also included.

This version was released by ONE MEDIA (in Belgium) and there's a nice write up inside covering Harpers career. The write up is by someone called "Alfie Falkenbach" but I know he didn't write all of it, some parts were lifted directly from the Wikipedia entry for Roy and I know that, because I wrote them ;)

I would attach a photo, but my camera is down at the moment.

:D

[Travellerman]

Anyone else seen this one?

The CD cover is very orange :D

[SteveT]

No, I haven't.

[madness]

There must be something going on with this "dodgy" issue because the release date keeps being put back. Has Roy had to "have words" with them, perhaps?


IS ROY ALIVE THEN To have words ??????????:dupe:

[Travellerman]

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b290/stephenjh/SophisticatedBeggar-9thJuly2008002.jpg

[pd]

The packaging looks very nice. But I will be stunned if this is legit.

[pd]

But I will be stunned if this is legit.
I've been asked to make the following clear:
Roy receives no royalties or mechanicals or any payment at all for any non-Science Friction release of this titleNo more details can be given due to ongoing disputes.

If any of you are aware of any other non-Science Friction versions of this or any of Roy's other albums it'd be really appreciated if you could post info here (the more the better - publisher, rights quoted on artwork, catalogue numbers) or email/PM to me and I'll pass it on.

Paul.

[Travellerman]

Well for what it's worth,

One Media
2007 MUSIC AVENUE (Europe) b.v.b.a.
Music Avenue: 35, Mechelse Steenweg, PO Box 2,
B-1800 VILVOORDE, BElgium
Telephone: + 32 2 648 58 30/ E-Fax: + 32 2 706 59 97
E-mail: music.avenue@scarlet.be
www.music-avenue.net (http://www.music-avenue.net)

Roy Harper - Sophisticated Beggar 250183 (Bar Code: 5 413992 501830)

The inner notes state:

"All songs by Roy Harper
Published by Universal Songs,
Except "Hup, Hup, Spiral", Copyright Control.

Released through an agreement with One Media
Thanks to Michael Infante and Suzie Wrenall

Design and Layout by Didier Scohier for ArtCore
Digital re-mastering by Guy Huysmans"


There's a whole page of notes from Roy too "This record was released years ago..." and ends "...and the one in the pram was taken by my forebears who are actually just as mad as I am". I assume these notes were just lifted from an earlier release.

Overall, it is a good little package, but surely it must have been licensed from someone at some point. I assume it's legit' but that Harper receives no royalties from it and that is the issue. Still, having the Harper quote inside does seem to make it appear 'artist endorsed' to a degree, and that may be a bit cheeky :wink:.


The NZ store where I purchased my CD has two versions of this advertised for sale, at different prices. The first labelled "BGO records" BGO 771.2 and the second, apparently also BGO, "D22829". I haven't seen these but apparently they are in stock. These are also widely available on the web. 'My version' (in the photo above) is also available on the web.

[pd]

Thank you very much, TM :)

[Travellerman]

"Released through an agreement with One Media":-

"Our aim is to build a business as a major consolidator based on owning audio and visual copyrights and to exploit these rights in the newly emerging download market."

http://www1.onemediapublishing.com/#/Home/

(From here you can enter Roy Harper in the search box and listen to pieces of the whole album http://www1.onemediapublishing.com/#/Search/835/)


"Thanks to Michael Infante and Suzie Wrenall":-

Michael Antony Infante is the chief Executive Office for One Media. "...Michael has over 15 years' experience in the production, trading and
exploitation of music copyrights"

http://www.plusmarketsgroup.com/story.shtml?ISIN=GB00B1DRDZ07&NewsID=23378

Tel: 01753 785 500


"Design and Layout by Didier Scohier for ArtCore":-

Homepage and contact here http://www.artcore.be/index_fr.php?page=news


"Digital re-mastering by Guy Huysmans":-

I can only find him (contactable) on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/people/Guy_Huysmans/811908075 (http://www.facebook.com/people/Guy_Huysmans/811908075)



...tell me when to stop :wink: