K SPECIAL
VA - Halloween Harvest Festival: 55th Anniversary of Harvest Records 1969-2024 (Super Deluxe Edition) [2024] (12 x CDs)
In recognition of legendary record label Harvest Records celebrating their 55th anniversary, first forming in 1969, here are five excellent compilations cherry (or apple!) picking a wide cross section of their best artists and songs for this special Halloween Harvest Festival assortment of tricks and treats!
Harvest Records is a British-American record label belonging to Capitol Music Group, originally created by EMI in 1969.
Harvest Records was created by EMI in 1969 to market progressive rock music, and to compete with Philips' Vertigo and Decca's Deram labels, and the independent Island label. Harvest was initially under the direction of Malcolm Jones, and was distributed in North America by EMI's US affiliate, Capitol Records. They were the European licensee for the American label Blue Thumb Records from 1969 to 1971.
In the 1970s, the label primarily released progressive rock recordings by British acts including Pink Floyd, Syd Barrett, Kevin Ayers, The Move, Roy Wood, Barclay James Harvest, Be Bop Deluxe and Deep Purple. Most acts on the Harvest roster were British; two notable exceptions were Australian progressive band Spectrum (whose first two LPs were issued on Harvest) and Spectrum's successor Ariel, whose first two LPs also came out on the label. The Danish musician Sebastian had three albums released in Denmark on the Harvest label between 1972 and 1974.
The focus of the label changed slightly as the 1970s drew to a close, with the signing of post-punk groups Wire, Australian band the Saints and the Banned. New wave artist Thomas Dolby released his debut album and fellow new wave act Duran Duran released its first two albums on the label in North America. Australian soft rock band Little River Band and English heavy metal band Iron Maiden's first three albums were also released in the US by the label. Pink Floyd switched to Columbia Records in the US after the release of The Dark Side of the Moon in 1973.
In the United States, Capitol initially treated Harvest as a separate label that they expected big sales from. After only a few issues, they had few sales to show for their effort and consequently only issued a few releases and numbered them within their standard Capitol LP series (mostly using Harvest for Pink Floyd releases). After this initial short-lived series, Capitol passed on most of the UK Harvest artists.
In 1975, a reissue sub-label was launched called Harvest Heritage. This new label largely compiled material that had been previously released on Harvest from 1969 onward. However, Harvest Heritage also reissued music from late 1960s EMI bands that had never recorded for the label, such as the Gods, Love Sculpture and Tomorrow. Heritage also occasionally released new music, such as Four Rock 'n' Roll Legends, a recording of a 1977 concert by rockabilly veterans Charlie Feathers, Buddy Knox, Jack Scott and Warren Smith.
Most of Harvest's European back catalog (including Pink Floyd, Deep Purple (pre-1971), Duran Duran, and Iron Maiden) were divested by Universal Music after its takeover of EMI, as part of the Parlophone Label Group. Warner Music Group would buy that part of the catalog in February 2013. Rights to the Australian Harvest recordings, including those from the Saints and Little River Band, were ceded to Universal's EMI Recorded Music Australia imprint.
Pink Floyd Records controls the Pink Floyd catalog which licensed the catalog for manufacture and distribution by Warner Music Group for the UK and European markets and by Sony Music Entertainment for North America and the rest of the world.
Capitol Music Group announced its relaunch of the label on 25 February 2013, with former Warner Bros. Records and Dangerbird Records executive Piero Giramonti at the helm. Giramonti is tasked with running the label as an independent label, with the support of Capitol Music Group and Caroline Distribution for distribution, radio promotion and licensing. As of 2013, the Harvest roster consists of TV on the Radio, Arthur Beatrice, Babes, Death Grips, the Olms, Together Pangea, White Lies and Young & Sick.
On 15 January 2014, it was announced that Morrissey and Charlotte OC had signed to Harvest Records.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvest_Records
Picnic - A Breath of Fresh Air - A Harvest Sampler (2024 Remastered Edition) (1970)
Picnic - A Breath of Fresh Air is a sampler issued by the Harvest Records label, originally released in 1970 and notable for including the previously unreleased Pink Floyd song, "Embryo".
The similarly-entitled A Breath of Fresh Air - A Harvest Records Anthology 1969-1974 released on 14 May 2007 borrowed most of the original title, but had only three tracks in common with its precursor (Pink Floyd's "Embryo", Panama Limited's "Round and Round", and Quatermass' "Black Sheep of the Family"). Although most tracks featured were of similar vintage, the album was a retrospective compilation, rather than a promotional sampler.
EMI Records launched the Harvest label in 1969 to take advantage of the progressive rock market, and like many record labels at the time, they produced a budget-priced showcase album of their artists. Their roster of artists was large and interesting enough to support a double album retailing at 29s/11d (approximately £1.50). The result was an eclectic mixture of traditional folk, hard rock, psychedelia and obscurities.
The inclusion of "Embryo", without the approval of Pink Floyd, and which the band considered unfinished, resulted in the album's prompt withdrawal. Some editions do not credit the track to Pink Floyd on the inside cover.
In 2007 a compilation with the name "A Breath of Fresh Air" was released as a 3CD set from the EMI/Harvest label. Most of the bands featured are the same as on the original "Picnic", but the track list is different. The CD set includes Careful with That Axe Eugene, Embryo, Breathe (Waters/Geesin) and Baby Lemonade and Octopus by Syd Barrett.
Embryo was recorded in 1969 for 'Ummagumma', but Pink Floyd were not satisfied with the recording. In 1970 EMI got Norman Smith to make a mix of the song anyway - and without acceptance from the band 'Embryo' was suddenly released on the compilation album 'Picnic'. The album was withdrawn, but later the same version of 'Embryo' was released on 'Works'.
'Picnic' has never been released on CD. Here is my fully remastered edition incorporating the latest digital remasters with many tracks mastered from the original first-generation master tapes.
Harvest Heritage - 20 Greats (2024 Remastered Expanded Edition) (1977)
1977 official release on both vinyl and cassette. It has never been released on CD.
Here is my fully remastered and expanded edition incorporating the latest digital remasters, expanding the original release by four classic Harvest tracks making a 24 track CD.
A Harvest Sampler - For Promotional Use Only (2024 Remastered Expanded Edition) (1978)
A Harvest Sampler, a U.S. only LP issued for promotional and airplay use and never released on CD.
The LP includes “Point Me at the Sky” by Pink Floyd, which has not appeared on any other U.S. LP and “The Man with the Child in His Eyes” by Kate Bush.
Background: Harvest Records was created as a spinoff of EMI in Britain with the intention of showcasing progressive rock artists. The label wasn’t overly successful, aside from Pink Floyd, so in 1978, the label released a promo-only LP called Harvest Sampler to radio stations in the U.S. in order to inspire airplay and (hopefully) increase sales.
While the album included primarily album tracks by then-current artists on the label, the LP also included a rare track, “Point Me at the Sky,” by Pink Floyd, who at that time were no longer with the label.
“Point Me at the Sky” was the band’s fifth single in the UK, where it did not chart. The song was not released as a single in the U.S.
Not only was “Point Me at the Sky” not released as a single in the United States, it has never been included on any commercially released album in LP form in the U.S., either. This album is the only American vinyl release to include the song.
The version of the song on Harvest Sampler is a rechanneled stereo version created from the original mono mix.
Pink Floyd’s 1968 single “Point Me at the Sky”. The song was only ever mixed to mono, but a fake stereo version was officially released on Harvest Record’s 1978 compilation sampler “A Harvest Sampler” (SPRO-8795/6)
Personnel:
David Gilmour: Lead, harmony, backing vocals, Electric and Slide guitars
Roger Waters: Bass guitar, Backing, Harmony, and occasional Lead Vocals
Rick Wright: Hammond Organ, Farfisa Organ, Piano, Glockenspiel, Backing and Harmony Vocals
Nick Mason: Drums, Maracas, Temple Blocks
In addition to the Pink Floyd, track, the album is also of note to Kate Bush collectors, as it includes “The Man with the Child in His Eyes” from her then-new Kick Inside album.
This 2024 remastered expanded edition adds 11 bonus tracks (including Kate Bush's ‘Hammer Horror') to the original 9, making an impressive 20 track compilation featuring songs all released on the Harvest label during 1977 and 1978.
Harvest Festival - Limited Edition Coffee Table Book Box Set (5CD) (1999)
Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Harvest Label, covering its output from 1969 to 1979.
It comes packaged in a full color 12 inch x 12 inch hardback book.
Contains a 120 page book with photos and interviews.
97 tracks from artists signed to the label.
Remastered at Abbey Road Studios.
Review:
https://nowspinning.co.uk/unboxing-the-harvest-festival-5cd-box-set-harvest-records-1969-1979/
A Breath of Fresh Air - A Harvest Records Anthology 1969-1974 (3CD) (2007)
Three CD collection of music that tells the story of the eclectic UK label, Harvest Records,, which featured a diverse roster of talent that defined the sound of underground music culture that exploded in Britain in the late 60's and throughout the 70's. Includes cuts from Deep Purple, Kevin Ayers, Pink Floyd, Chris Spedding, Barclay James Harvest, Quatermass, Michael Chapman, The Pretty Things, Syd Barrett, The Move, E.L.O., Be-Bop Deluxe, Babe Ruth and many others. EMI. 2007.
Psychedelic Picnic - A Breath of Fresh Air - Record Store Day 500 Copies Limited Edition (2022)
2022 Record Store Day exclusive limited edition of only 500 copies on silver vinyl.
Picnic - A Breath of Fresh Air is a sampler originally released by the Harvest Records label in 1970 and is remarkable for including the full-length version of the unreleased Pink Floyd song, "Embryo".
Once again different tracks are included to the original 1970 release and the 2007 3CD set.
Happy Halloween!
K
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Track lists
01 Picnic - A Breath of Fresh Air - A Harvest Sampler (2024 Remastered Edition) (1970)
01 Deep Purple - Into the Fire 3:30
02 Barclay James Harvest - Mother Dear 3:19
03 Pink Floyd - Embryo 4:42
04 The Battered Ornaments - Twisted Track 4:29
05 Shirley & Dolly Collins - Glenlogie 3:48
06 Pretty Things - The Good Mr. Square 3:03
07 Roy Harper - Song of the Ages 3:58
08 Bakerloo - This Worried Feeling 7:05
09 Kevin Ayers - Eleanor's Cake (Which Ate Her) 2:57
10 The Greatest Show on Earth - Again and Again 4:02
11 Third Ear Band - Water 7:08
12 Syd Barrett - Terrapin 5:04
13 Forest - A Glade Somewhere 3:07
14 Pete Brown & Piblokto! - Golden Country Kingdom 3:15
15 Panama Limited - Round and Round 3:18
16 Quatermass - Black Sheep of the Family 3:13
17 Michael Chapman - Postcards of Scarborough 4:07
18 Tea & Symphony - Maybe My Mind (with Egg) 3:45
19 Edgar Broughton Band - Old Gopher 3:53
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02 Harvest Heritage - 20 Greats (2024 Remastered Expanded Edition) (1977)
01 The Gods - Real Love Guaranteed (Original 1969 7" Mono Single Version) 2:29
02 Pretty Things - S.F. Sorrow Is Born 3:12
03 Tomorrow - My White Bicycle 3:18
04 Syd Barrett - Octopus 3:47
05 Quatermass - Black Sheep of the Family 3:13
06 Climax Blues Band - Looking for My Baby 2:53
07 Edgar Broughton Band - Momma's Reward (Keep Them Freaks a-Rollin') 3:04
08 Pete Brown & Piblokto! - Living Life Backwards 2:04
09 Babe Ruth - Private Number (Original 1975 7" Single Version) 3:07
10 Deep Purple - Hush! 4:21
11 The Greatest Show on Earth - Magic Woman Touch (Original 1970 7" Single Edit) 3:54
12 Southern Comfort - I Sure Like Your Smile 2:29
13 Kevin Ayres - Caribbean Moon 3:03
14 Ashley Hutchings - Monck's March 2:45
15 Third Ear Band - Stone Circle 3:29
16 Shirley Collins - Black Joker / Black, White, Yellow and Green 3:22
17 John Lees - Kes (A Major Fancy) 2:32
18 Barclay James Harvest - Galadriel 3:14
19 Roy Wood - Dear Elaine 4:09
20 Electric Light Orchestra - Showdown (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 4:09
21 The Move - Do Ya (1974 UK 7" Single Edit) (Bonus Track) 3:14
22 Be-Bop Deluxe - Between the Worlds (Original 1975 7" Single Version) (Bonus Track) 3:19
23 Pink Floyd - Money (1973 US 7" Single Edit) (Bonus Track) 3:59
24 Wizzard - Ball Park Incident (Bonus Track) 3:39
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03 A Harvest Sampler - For Promotional Use Only (2024 Remastered Expanded Edition) (1978)
01 Little River Band - Changed and Different 4:06
02 Tom Robinson Band - 2-4-6-8 Motorway 3:15
03 King Harry - Fighting Talk 3:41
04 Wire - Ex Lion Tamer 2:19
05 Pink Floyd - Point Me at the Sky ('A Harvest Sampler' Fake Stereo Vinyl Rip) 3:36
06 Be-Bop Deluxe - Panic in the World (Original 1978 7" Single Edit) 3:32
07 Strapps - Child of the City 3:45
08 Focus - Wingless 5:35
09 Kate Bush - The Man with the Child in His Eyes (Original 1978 7" Single Version) 2:51
10 Tom Robinson Band - Up Against the Wall (Bonus Track) 3:35
11 The Saints - This Perfect Day (Original 1977 7" Single Version) (Bonus Track) 2:12
12 Wire - Dot Dash (Bonus Track) 2:24
13 Be-Bop Deluxe - Electrical Language (Original 1978 7" Single Edit) (Bonus Track) 3:31
14 Pink Floyd - Pigs (Three Different Ones) (Bonus Track) 11:25
15 Kate Bush - Hammer Horror (Original 1978 7" Single Edit) (Bonus Track) 4:14
16 Wire - Outdoor Miner (Single Version) (Bonus Track) 2:52
17 The Banned - Little Girl (Bonus Track) 2:19
18 Little River Band - Help Is on Its Way (Bonus Track) 3:57
19 Tom Robinson Band - Too Good to Be True (Bonus Track) 3:35
20 Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights (Original 1978 7" Single Version) (Bonus Track) 4:28
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04 Harvest Festival - Limited Edition Coffee Table Book Box Set (5CD) (1999)
CD1
001 Edgar Broughton Band - Evil 2:37
02 Michael Chapman - It Didn't Work Out 3:43
03 Deep Purple - Wring That Neck 5:12
04 Pete Brown and His Battered Ornaments - Morning Call 2:50
05 Roy Harper - Tom Tiddler's Ground 6:12
06 Third Ear Band - Stone Circle 3:27
07 Greatest Show on Earth - Real Cool World 4:50
08 Syd Barrett - Octopus 3:46
09 Panama Limited Jug Band - Round and Round 3:17
10 Barclay James Harvest - Mother Dear 3:19
11 Tea & Symphony - Maybe My Mind (With Egg) 3:45
12 Michael Chapman - Postcards of Scarborough 4:07
13 Forest - A Glade Somewhere 3:05
14 Edgar Broughton Band - Out Demons Out 4:50
15 Pete Brown & Piblokto - Living Life Backwards 2:04
16 Quatermass - Black Sheep of the Family 3:13
17 Bakerloo - Big Bear Ffolly 3:58
18 Pretty Things - The Good Mr. Square 3:03
19 Kevin Ayers - The Lady Rachel 5:19
20 Shirley & Dolly Collins - A Foresaking - Our Captain Cried 2:53
CD2
01 Deep Purple - Speed King 5:50
02 Pete Brown and Piblokto - Things May Come... 5:03
03 Edgar Broughton Band - Apache Dropout 3:12
04 Chicago Climax Blues Band - Everyday 2:26
05 Kevin Ayers - Butterfly Dance 3:45
06 Barclay James Harvest - Mockingbird 6:38
07 Michael Chapman - Kodak Ghosts 3:21
08 Move - The Words of Aaron 5:29
09 Deep Purple - Fireball 3:24
10 Electric Light Orchestra - 10538 Overture 5:32
11 Ron Geesin & Roger Waters - Breathe 2:57
12 Barclay James Harvest - Medicine Man 3:55
13 Kevin Ayers & the Whole World - Stranger in Blue Suede Shoes 3:25
14 Michael Chapman - Fennario 7:06
15 Roy Harper - The Same Old Rock 4:47
16 Edgar Broughton Band - Hotel Room 4:07
17 Syd Barrett - Evervescing Elephant 1:53
18 Kevin Ayers - Song From the Bottom of a Well 4:34
CD3
01 Pink Floyd - Money 6:39
02 Roy Harper - South Africa 4:04
03 Kevin Ayers - Interview; International Anthem 5:27
04 Babe Ruth - The Mexican 5:47
05 Move - Do Ya 4:05
06 Southern Comfort - Something Said 4:34
07 Be-Bop Deluxe - Adventures in a Yorkshire Landscape 3:53
08 Roy Wood - Dear Elaine 4:09
09 Kevin Ayers - Take Me to Tahiti 3:35
10 Edgar Broughton Band - Things on My Mind 3:41
11 Babe Ruth - Hombre De La Guitarre 4:44
12 Roy Harper - Another Day 3:59
13 Electric Light Orchestra - Roll Over Beethoven 4:34
14 Be Bop Deluxe - Maid in Heaven 2:27
15 Climax Chicago - You Make Me Sick 3:51
16 Wizzard - Ball Park Incident 3:40
17 Electric Light Orchestra - Showdown 4:10
18 Roy Harper - I'll See You Again 4:58
CD4
01 Albion Band - Poor Old Horse 6:16
02 Martin Carthy - Old Hog Or None 1:15
03 Albion Dance Band - Hopping Down in Kent 2:47
04 Albion Dance Band - Postmans Knock 2:39
05 Gryphon - Spring Song 3:40
06 Unicorn - Have You Ever Seen the Rain 3:11
07 Be Bop Deluxe - Fair Exchange 4:49
08 Kevin Ayers - Ballad of a Salesman 4:48
09 Be-Bop Deluxe - Electrical Language 3:34
10 David Gilmour - Short and Sweet 5:32
11 Roy Harper - When an Old Cricketer Leaves the Crease 7:13
12 Saints - Erotic Neurotic 4:08
13 Wire - Reuters 3:02
14 Saints - This Perfect Day 2:10
15 Shirts - Lonely Android 3:53
16 Banned - Little Girl 2:21
17 Wire - I Am the Fly 3:08
18 Saints - Swing for Crime 3:39
19 Bill Nelson's Red Noise - Revolt Into Style 3:24
20 Wire - A Touching Display 6:56
CD5
01 Deep Purple - Black Night 3:27
02 Pete Brown and Piblokto - Flying Hero Sandwich 3:20
03 Move - California Man 3:38
04 Greatest Show on Earth - Magic Woman Touch 5:13
05 Kevin Ayres - Caribbean Moon 3:03
06 Trinidad Oil Company - The Calendar Song 2:52
07 Matumbi - Rock ( Part 1 ) 3:39
08 Wire - I Should Have Known Better 3:53
09 Ivor Cutler - Life in a Scotch Sitting Room Vol.2 (Excerpt) 4:02
10 Vivian Stanshall and Kilgarron - The Young Ones 3:16
11 Spontaneous Combustion - Sabre Dance 3:00
12 Be Bop Delux - Ships in the Night 4:09
13 Bombadil - Breathless 3:06
14 Marshall Hain - Dancing in the City 3:49
15 Bill Nelson's Red Noise - Radar in My Heart 1:39
16 Strapps - Child of the City 3:45
17 Deep Purple - Hallelujab 3:43
18 Babe Ruth - Wells Fargo 6:16
19 Professor Longhair - Mess Around 3:56
20 Syd Barrett - Golden Hair 1:58
21 Edgar Broughton Band - Up Yours 3:01
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05 A Breath of Fresh Air - A Harvest Records Anthology 1969-1974 (3CD) (2007)
CD1
01 The Edgar Broughton Band - Evil 2:37
02 Deep Purple - Listen, Learn, Read On 4:02
03 Third Ear Band - Druid One 3:47
04 Pete Brown & His Battered Ornaments - Station Song 3:24
05 Michael Chapman - Rainmaker 3:42
06 Kevin Ayers - Singing A Song In The Morning 2:54
07 Shirley & Dolly Collins - Our Captain Cried 2:54
08 Pink Floyd - Careful With That Axe, Eugene 8:48
09 Tea & Symphony - Armchair Theatre 3:55
10 Bakerloo - Big Bear Ffolly 3:57
11 Panama Limited Jug Band - Round And Round 3:18
12 Syd Barrett - Octopus 3:46
13 Deep Purple - The Painter 3:52
14 Pete Brown & Piblokto! - Country Morning 6:48
15 Roy Harper - Francesca 1:23
16 Forest - Bad Penny 2:35
17 Chris Spedding - Backwood Theme 2:07
18 The Greatest Show On Earth - Real Cool World 4:51
19 Ron Geesin & Roger Waters - Breathe 2:55
20 Barclay James Harvest - Taking Some Time On 5:28
CD2
01 Edgar Broughton Band - There's No Vibrations, But Wait 4:10
02 Michael Chapman - Beautiful Lady 4:14
03 Quatermass - Entropy 1:10
04 Quatermass - Black Sheep of the Family 3:37
05 Pretty Things - Grass 4:21
06 Shirley & Dolly Collins - Salisbury Plain 2:42
07 Pink Floyd - Embryo 4:42
08 Dave Mason - You Shouldn't Have Took More Than You Gave 6:02
09 Deep Purple - Speed King 5:52
10 The Greatest Show On Earth - Magic Woman Touch 5:14
11 Pete Brown & Piblokto! - Aeroplane Head Woman 6:39
12 Syd Barrett - Baby Lemonade 4:08
13 Roy Harper - Don't You Grieve 2:34
14 Pretty Things - October 26 4:56
15 Kevin Ayers - Song From the Bottom of a Well 4:37
16 Michael Chapman - The First Leaf of Autumn 4:10
17 Edgar Broughton Band - Call Me a Liar 4:26
CD3
01 Barclay James Harvest - She Said 8:19
02 Roy Harper - South Africa 4:06
03 The Edgar Broughton Band - Evening Over Rooftops 5:01
04 The Move - Do Ya 4:04
05 Bombadil - When The City Sleeps 4:13
06 Kevin Ayers - Lady Rachel [1972 version] 4:51
07 Electric Light Orchestra - 10538 Overture 5:30
08 Mark-Almond - The City (part three) 8:26
09 Spontaneous Combustion - Spaceship 3:32
10 Third Ear Band - Overture 4:22
11 Jan Akkerman - Fresh Air (excerpt) 6:20
12 Roy Harper - Twelve Hours Of Sunset 4:46
13 Babe Ruth - Wells Fargo 6:16
14 Electric Light Orchestra - Showdown 4:11
15 Be Bop Deluxe - Jet Silver And The Dolls Of Venus 4:09
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06 Psychedelic Picnic - A Breath of Fresh Air - Record Store Day 500 Copies Limited Edition (2022)
01 The Pretty Things - Grass 4:20
02 Syd Barrett - Octopus 3:47
03 Michael Chapman - Rainmaker 3:42
04 Ron Geesin & Roger Waters - Breathe 2:57
05 Third Ear Band - Druid One 3:47
06 Pink Floyd - Careful with That Axe, Eugene (Original 1968 7" Mono Single Version) 5:46
07 Michael Chapman - Soulful Lady 4:11
08 Kevin Ayers - The Lady Rachel (Original 1972 7" Single Edit) 4:51
09 The Pretty Things - October 26 4:56
10 Pink Floyd - Embryo 4:42
11 Syd Barrett - Baby Lemonade 4:08
12 Kevin Ayers - Song from the Bottom of a Well 4:37
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