- Audio CD (1 Oct 1999)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Format: Import
- Label: Polydor
- ASIN: B00000366E
- Other Editions: Audio CD | Audio Cassette | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 214,808 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Having this Album years ago on tape. I have decided to buy it on CD.
There is not one song on the album I dislike. Alone in the Night is exellent as well as many others like Wings of Love.
The album in my opinion is as good as Welcome to the Show.Instrumentely good by a band that sadly never got decent recognition. Brilliant!
There is not one song on the album I dislike. Alone in the Night is exellent as well as many others like Wings of Love.
The album in my opinion is as good as Welcome to the Show.Instrumentely good by a band that sadly never got decent recognition. Brilliant!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
1987`s "Face to Face" is the album with which Barclay James Harvest began the final phase of their long career, which delivered 17 studio albums in all. The band had always been in the habit of releasing roughly one studio album a year, a habit they maintained up until the release of "Victims of Circumstance" in 1984. They were at or near the pinnacle of their commercial success; "Victims..." sold well both in the UK and n Europe and the band headlined their biggest show in the UK at Wembley Arena.
However, the fans were not getting any younger and a three-year absence of new albums and touring was to see the fan base much diminished with concerts in the UK no longer playing to sold-out audiences and the "Face to Face" album faring less well in the shops than its predecessors.
But what of the album itself? Well, it heralded a new era for the band after their "euro-pop" albums ("Eyes of the Universe", "Turn of the Tide", "Ring of Changes" and "Victims..."). For me, the main difference on "Face to Face" (and thereafter) is that John Lees seemed to revert back to the song-writing style that he had used in the 70s, his songs feeling less commercialised than on the previous albums but Les Holroyd's writing, on the other hand, continued in much the same way. The overall result sounded much like a return to form, at least for the British fans of the band who always preferred their less commercially oriented days.
It's a pleasing album then, with Les's poppier numbers nicely offset by John's compositions. Both writers put in some strong songs. The opener "Prisoner of Your Love", the very catchy "Following Me" and the jazzy "All My Life" are my favourites of Les's songs with my picks from John being "All Alone in the Night", "He Said Love" and the superlative "African". The fan club's favourite is "Guitar Blues", John's wistful song about lost love which has some sparkling trademark guitar work on it, but I find it lyrically too sad!
However, the fans were not getting any younger and a three-year absence of new albums and touring was to see the fan base much diminished with concerts in the UK no longer playing to sold-out audiences and the "Face to Face" album faring less well in the shops than its predecessors.
But what of the album itself? Well, it heralded a new era for the band after their "euro-pop" albums ("Eyes of the Universe", "Turn of the Tide", "Ring of Changes" and "Victims..."). For me, the main difference on "Face to Face" (and thereafter) is that John Lees seemed to revert back to the song-writing style that he had used in the 70s, his songs feeling less commercialised than on the previous albums but Les Holroyd's writing, on the other hand, continued in much the same way. The overall result sounded much like a return to form, at least for the British fans of the band who always preferred their less commercially oriented days.
It's a pleasing album then, with Les's poppier numbers nicely offset by John's compositions. Both writers put in some strong songs. The opener "Prisoner of Your Love", the very catchy "Following Me" and the jazzy "All My Life" are my favourites of Les's songs with my picks from John being "All Alone in the Night", "He Said Love" and the superlative "African". The fan club's favourite is "Guitar Blues", John's wistful song about lost love which has some sparkling trademark guitar work on it, but I find it lyrically too sad!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
One of the best progressive albums you've never heard!
7 Dec 2001
Format:Audio CD
Face To Face, Barclay James Harvest's 1984 studio album, is an absolute gem! It blends the familiar BJH themes of socially conscious lyrics with great harmonies and superb musicianship. The mid 80's were a transitional period for progressive rock, and BJH were changing along with the genre. "He said love" is the most overtly religious song the band has done, being esentially a musical retelling of the Gospel. "African" is a powerful anti-apartheid statement with chilling lyrics. "Kiev" is a lovely song lamenting the Chernobyl disaster. If you are already a Barclay James Harvest fan, you will want to add this CD to your collection. If you are not a current fan, this would be a good CD to introduce you to this outstanding group.
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