Top 10 Barclay James Harvest Songs

Photo: Malinda Kachejian 2017

Our Top 10 Barclay James Harvest Songs list takes a look at a Progressive Rock band that has released a tremendous amount of material over a period of time that began in the 1960’s and continued into the 2010’s. The band Barclay James Harvest was first formed in Oldham England in the year 1966. The band’s founding members were John Lees on vocals and guitars, Les Holroyd on vocals, bass, guitars and keyboards, Mel Pritchard on drums, and Stuart “Woolly” Wolstenholme on vocals, mellotron, keyboards and guitars.

The band released their first album in 1970 entitled Barclay James Harvest. The album was recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in England. One year later the band released their sophomore album Once Again. The album included the well respected Alan Parsons playing harp on the track “Lady Loves.”

The band Barclay James Harvest released eight more albums in the 1970’s for a total of ten album releases in ten years. The band continued into the 1980’s with the release of four more studio albums. The band did not stop there. In the 1990’s Barclay James Harvest released three more studio albums. In the 21st century the band split into two different camps labeled as John Lees’ Barclay James Harvest featuring John Lees, Craig Fletcher, Kevin Whitehead and Jez Smith and also the group Barclay James Harvest featuring Les Holroyd that includes musicians Les Holroyd, Colin Browne, Steve Butler, Michael Byron-Hehir and Louie Palmer.

Our Top 10 Barclay James Harvest songs list is just a small peak into the band’s wonderful catalog. With bands like Barclay James Harvest, there is no way of choosing the best 10 songs in the traditional way, so what we have done is picked our favorites in chronological order. In the end all our top 10 articles are written to introduce fans to bands that they may know very little about with hopes that we turn people on to some great music while writing a little bit of history.

# 10 -Taking Some Time On

We open our Top 10 Barclay James Harvest Songs list with the opening track “Taking Some Time On,” from the band’s debut album. The record was released in 1970. The song “Taking Some Time On,” was written by John Lees.

# 9 – Mocking Bird

If we were not doing this list in chronological order, the song Mocking Bird would be listed at number one. Mocking Bird is in essence the band’s signature song. One of the most beautiful pieces of music released in the 1970’s era of Progressive Rock music. The song was released on the band’s second album Once Again.

# 8 – Song For Dying

The band’s second album “Once Again,” is so powerful, we could not just list only one song form the great record. One listen to the track “Song For Dying,” and you will understand what we are talking about.

# 7 – She Said

Okay, just one more from the Once Again album.

# 6 -Delph Town Morn

“Delph Town Morn,” is just one of those Barclay James Harvest songs that will leave you breathless. The song was released on their fourth album entitled Baby James Harvest. The great album was released in 1972.

# 5 – For No One

There is no doubt that as we continue with our top 10 Barclay James Harvest songs list, music fans who have never heard of this band are being blown away by these amazing songs. The song For No One was the closing tack on the band’s Everyone Is Everybody Else album. The record was released in 1974.

# 4 – Child of The Universe

Well, we could leave not this one out. The song “Child Of The Universe,” was the opening track on the Everyone Is Everybody Else album.

# 3 -Hymn

It could be easily argued that Barclay James Harvest composed and recorded some of the most beautiful progressive rock music ever released. The proof is in the opening track entitled “Hymn,’ on their 1977 album Gone To Earth.

# 2 – Poor Man’s Moody Blues

How could you not love the title to this great song in reference to The Moody Blues. This great track was also released on the Gone To Earth album. A brilliant recording!