Songs of Love and Loss [Collector's Edition, Original recording remastered]

This 2CD collection has long been awaited. The accompanying booklet is introduced by Roy Harper, explaining the background of the original concept to the arrival of the finished musical compilation. His music has always been sincere and passionate. His lyrics, guitar playing, compositions have included profound observations of the world and life intertwined with personal love songs. Love and lament are often cemented, as Roy says in his writing and singing. He says he was surprised to find that 40% of his recordings were 'love songs'.

This release contains 23 hand-picked and played compositions from Roy Harper covering 1966 to 1992. Reworked and digitally engineered, many or most will be familiar in their original form to his admirers. Starting with 'Black Clouds',an observation of the changing sky reflected in life, through the wonderful 'All you Need Is', lost friend in 'East of the Sun', the everpresent 'Francesca' forever lost apart from memory into the softly sung 'North Country'. There are so many moments of sheer love and heartache in these numbers that are so well explained in Roy's accompanying song notes. Other highlights are the poignant 'South Africa', the affection between brothers on 'Davey' and the final 'Forever',( containing lines "Don't you think we're forever", "Don't ever leave me girl-oh no".) Relevant to us all. The tracks are beautifully 'resculptured' (Mr Harper's words) and delivered with the mastery of an artist with his hallmark vocal craft and guitar playing.

Some numbers have been presented in DVD form on 'Beyond the Door' and 'Legends' in obviously different form but with informative and humourous introductions (e.g. 'Commune', 'Another Day', 'Hallucinating Light',) and are highly recommended.

There is not a dull track on this compilation of CDs. The booklet contains full lyrics as well as discographical details. Longstanding colleagues David Bedford, Jimmy Page, Henry McCullough, Chris Spedding, Ronny Lane are contributors, no doubt due to their affectionate appreciation of this one man rock and roll band.

This is, apparently, the start of Roy Harper's ambition to re-issue his material. This would be an appropriate movement to collect his works. This is marvellous and a great collection of songs from a great man. Thoroughly enjoyable and unmissable. Spread the word.
P.S. This dropped through my letter box whilst Roy was being interviewed on BBC Breakfast by Bill Turnbull and Sian Williams. I never dreamt 40 years ago he would do this. He was his usual perplexing self, explaining the older migrant age pre digital and pre Dansette. Not a man to interview easily. They looked perplexed. Great. What a man.

If you have not got anything by Roy Harper then this is a great place to start as these songs are some of his most accessible. The thing about RH is that he sets himself incredibly high standards and every song he has ever issued exudes thoughtfulness and honesty. In my opinion he is the single most consistent performer of anyone I have ever listened to. Dylan, Young, Mitchell, Van M., both Buckleys, John Martyn etc etc have all got fantastic canons of music, but they have all hit the occasional bad note. Not so RH.
Now in his 70th year we should treasure him, and if you ever get to see him live (maybe his touring days are over?) then please DO. He is a fascinating character and makes you proud to be English. Worth a visit to the blog on his website too.
There is unlikely to ever be anyone remotely like him.

Nothing more than essential listening..
Firstly this is the physical release of the digital only release that was spat out to a digital public in June as Roy signed his catalogue for digital dissemination. Salvo quite rightly have picked up the rights for the physical product ( of this release)- and to be honest I suspect a general sigh of relief amongst Harper fans to find something to actually get their hands on rather than all this compressed mp3 nonsense. Hats off to Union Square/ Salvo then!
This 2 cd set hand picked by Roy himself together with booklet concentrates on the more pastoral songs from Roy rather than the more lengthy epic compositions such as Me and My Woman, One Of Those Days In England, Highway Blues, One Man Rock and Roll Band - the list goes on. This compilation is a slip road -a sign post to greater joys that lay further down the road should you want to explore further, and if you haven't I strongly urge you to discover one of the England's greatest if not the greatest living songwriter this country has produced in all his crazy rambling glory.
The 23 tracks across the 2 discs journey through his discography picking out the songs that have been Harper live favourites throughout his 80's and 90's shows, so we have Francesca, North Country, Naked Flame, Commune, Frozen Moment, Another Day, Hallucinating Light , Sleeping At The Wheel , Cherishing The Lonesome, The Flycatcher amongst the others. Not a duff track as you would expect.

With Roy Harper now in his 70th year and after the halcyon days of the 60's and 70's , the side stepping waste lands of the 80's and 90's it is heart warming to see this great maverick finally getting the recognition he so rightly deserves (again). Start here and buy up every Harper album you can get your hands on- and marvel at what you have missed . You will not regret it- for those hard core Harpic fans- it's a great compilation and a great package to have all these gems in one place. Essential..nothing more than essential!