Roy Harris on CD

Subject: Roy Harris on CD
From: Roberto
Date: 09 Mar 04 - 03:31 AM

It is a pity that Roy Harris' recordings such as Champions of Folly, The Bitter and the Sweet, By Sandbank Fields and Utter Simplicity are not available on CD. Are there projects about that? Topic, Fellside? I think at least the first three are among the very best recordings from the British revival years. The tracks in some Topic anthologies are welcomed, but it is not enough; The Rambling Soldier on Fellside is a gem, but still there are many more missing. Does some Mudcatter know something about that? Thanks. Roberto

Subject: RE: Roy Harris on CD
From: KathWestra
Date: 09 Mar 04 - 12:29 PM

Well, Roy himself is here on the Mudcat from time to time (contact him by sending a PM to Burl)and would surely be the best source of info. on his early recordings and any plans to release them on CD. Roy's music remains on my enduring favorites list. I agree with you about his music being among the best recordings from the British revival years. Maybe Roy will see this and post something on this thread so everyone can see it. Cheers, Kathy

Subject: RE: Roy Harris on CD
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 09 Mar 04 - 02:59 PM

Roy thanks you kind folk for your opinions. As for those early albums coming onto CD, he has no control over that. Best to ask Topic and fellside directly. Cheers, Burl

Subject: RE: Roy Harris on CD
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 12:49 AM

G'day Roberto,

Then of course there's really rare things like a CD: Roy Harris at the Sydney Opera House ... of course there are only 2 copies - mine and Roy's! (A bit of my filching of interesting recordings from my "time-shifting" of Australian ABC Radio that were on while I was gigging elsewhere ... circa February 1981, in this case.)

The Topic & Fellside (LPs ... ?) sound wonderful ... but a lot of people have to nag the companies before they will re-master and re-release.

Regard(les)s,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Roy Harris on CD
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 02:36 AM

If you haven't already got it, there's Roy Harris Live at the Lion, recorded by Doug Bailey at the White Lion in Wherwell, Hampshire, on the Wildgoose Studios label - see

http://www.wildgoose.co.uk/html/album_details_18.html

(if that doesn't work, try a Google search on Wildgoose Studios).

Kitty

Subject: RE: Roy Harris on CD
From: red max
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 05:40 AM

I heartily agree with Roberto, those 3 albums on Topic are superb. Quite apart from the fine singing and playing, they contain songs you won't hear anywhere else, like Steepleford Town and The Methody Parson

It doesn't appear that Topic view recordings like these to be commercially viable. Their criteria seems to be the artist's current profile, so anything Carthy/Waterson related is OK. "Important" artists like Shirley Collins either seem to get sub-let to labels like Fledgling or just gather dust

Given Roy's association with Fellside I'm surprised Paul & Linda Adams haven't licensed his old recordings, if only for a compilation

Subject: RE: Roy Harris on CD
From: Roberto
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 05:02 AM

Thank you, Kitty. I already have Live at the Lion. As for Roy Harris at the Sydney Opera House, I'd be interested in it, of course, but I fear it is going to remain a private collection.

Subject: RE: Roy Harris on CD
From: Nobodys bard
Date: 08 Dec 11 - 08:49 PM

I know that this is an old thread but just to let everyone know that there's a few tracks of Roy's up on YouTube now
- if you haven't heard Roy before (or just fancy hearing him again) -
they are all well worth having a listen.
One here that's been up for a while : Bold Lovel

& another two that have just been posted :
Clear Away The Morning Dew

&

The Unhappy Parting

All highly recommended!

Cheers JB.

Subject: RE: Roy Harris on CD
From: The Sandman
Date: 09 Dec 11 - 12:23 AM

Roy is also a very good live performer.

Subject: RE: Roy Harris on CD
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Dec 11 - 01:11 AM

The Rambling Soldier and Champions of Folly are available for MP3 download at Amazon in the U.S.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Roy Harris on CD
From: Dave Earl
Date: 09 Dec 11 - 02:45 AM

And it Looks like( I haven't tried it yet cos I'm on the work puter) the albums are downloadable from Amazon UK too.

Dave

Subject: RE: Roy Harris on CD
From: Dave Earl
Date: 09 Dec 11 - 03:32 AM

Hi me again.

It does work from Amazon UK but you will need to download the free downloader software and the credit card thing o' course

Dave

Subject: RE: Roy Harris on CD
From: Reinhard
Date: 09 Dec 11 - 03:50 AM

The Rambling Soldier is a Fellside album, not Topic, and is available on CD since 1997.

Champions of Folly is as any Topic digital download album available from all the usual sources, not just from Amazon.

Subject: RE: Roy Harris on CD
From: Brian Peters
Date: 09 Dec 11 - 05:03 AM

Ah, 'Champions of Folly' - one of my favourite folk albums ever. I nicked Bold Lovell, the Dragoon's Ride and The Beggars' Song from it years ago, still play the first two regularly, and it's great to hear Lovell again on Youtube. I strongly recommend downloading the whole record (and the others) from Amazon - I don't know how many downloads it would take to get Roy a royalty, but you can always try!

Utter Simplicity was excellent too.

Subject: RE: Roy Harris on CD
From: Nobodys bard
Date: 09 Dec 11 - 07:25 PM

Absolutely agree with you Brian - Champions Of Folly is, to me - one of the best folk albums ever recorded. An absolute classic.

JB

Subject: RE: Roy Harris on CD
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 08 Nov 12 - 05:56 AM

I just downloaded Champions of Folly - Roy's music being new to me. Enjoying it very much. I think I prefer Roy singing unaccompanied best.

Subject: RE: Roy Harris on CD
From: GUEST,Brian Peters
Date: 08 Nov 12 - 06:04 AM

"I think I prefer Roy singing unaccompanied best."

I suspect Roy himself would agree with you there, Matt. It's what he always did on live gigs, after all (have you heard 'Live at the Lion'?). Personally, though, I think some of the accompaniments on 'Champions' serve the songs very well.

Subject: RE: Roy Harris on CD
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 08 Aug 13 - 11:16 AM

http://www.folkwales.org.uk/Magazine/March%202013/Roy%20Harris.html

This article says Roy was doing an 80th birthday tour this year! First I've heard of it! Does anyone know any more? Strange that nothing was flagged up on Mudcat...

Subject: RE: Roy Harris on CD
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 08 Aug 13 - 11:30 AM

Due to various health issues any gigs that Roy had planned for his 80th tour, other than those that do not require excessive travelling, have unfortunately been cancelled.
Roy might be visiting here any time so I'm sure that he'll let you know where he will still be performing.

Subject: RE: Roy Harris on CD
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 09 Aug 13 - 05:57 AM

sorry to hear that. Give Roy my best regards Dave. I hope he soon feels better.