When I first saw this album mentioned I assumed it was another single CD compilation. I could only groan at the prospect. However, this turned out to be a comprehensive release of virtually their entire EMI catalogue, plus BBC sourced material. I believe the only Harvest era stuff missing here is the Live 1972 disc which features the only known surviving recording of the band plus orchestra live gigs. This again comes courtesy of the BBC and is currently only available in mono! So not a huge loss, and perhaps best to regard that one as a supplementary release.
These 5 CDs contain the first four BJH albums - "Their First Album", "Once Again", "And Other Short Stories" and "Baby James Harvest". Singles, Peel and Bob Harris sessions, the notorious Bombadil recordings, and out-takes all feature here too. It is possible to recreate the early and fondly remembered compilation "Early Morning Onwards" from the tracks supplied here, although without the pseudo-stereo reprocessing that LP suffered from. If you want it in that format it is available on the Brimstone label from http://www.bjharvest.co.uk/
Favourites on the set for me are "Early Morning", "Galadriel", "Mocking Bird", "Medicine Man", "Child Of Man" and "After The Day". Bonus tracks include all the stereo ones featured on the "Once Again 40th Anniversary" CD. In total there are three takes of "Mocking Bird" and three of "Galadriel". Wow!
Presentation is good. The 5 CDs come in a transparent large jewel case with a short but adequate booklet. How nice to see the Harvest label features on all 5 discs. The shades of green and blue used are a touch overdone but effective enough.
Sound quality is good and clean. Inevitably, here and there the euphonic distortion of vinyl is missed. For me, this is most obvious with "Child Of Man" which sounds thin, but still great.
The set is priced competitively at slightly more than the cost of a single full price CD. Similar sets from Lindisfarne, UFO, Tangerine Dream and Robin Trower are available. I'm hoping we'll get BeBop Deluxe and Cockney Rebel ones too. This series competes well with the "Original Album Classics" sets in terms of value for money.
A further reason to love this release is it's the first one I have seen from this source without the tedious "Music From EMI" slogan plastered all over it. Instead the booklet declares "EMI THE GREATEST RECORDING ORGANISATION IN THE WORLD". Hmmm, I'm not convinced. Especially as I worked for them for a short spell. Tell it to Guy Hands!
More from the band reviewed here.
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