''Octoberon'' is the seventh studio album by

Barclay James Harvest Barclay James Harvest are an English progressive rock band. They were founded in Oldham, in September 1966 by bassist/vocalist Les Holroyd (b. 1948), guitarist/vocalist John Lees (b. 1947), drummer/percussionist Mel Pritchard (1948–2004), a ...

, released in 1976. The band had hoped that

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would again produce, but after hanging around in

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for six weeks, they were forced to return home and produce it themselves. In 2003 a remastered CD was issued with five bonus tracks. In 2017 a 3-disc CD/DVD special edition was released. This features new stereo and surround mixes in addition to the remastered originals, plus the 2003 bonus tracks, one new bonus track, and two videos.

Critical reception

In the UK music magazine ''

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'',

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expressed his frustration with the album, saying, "Unfortunately, ''Octoberon'' is no major departure from

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disappointing formula. But despite that, there are some fine, imaginative moments which point once again to the never-fulfilled potential." A review of the album, appearing in a January 1977 issue of ''

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'' magazine, said that ''Octoberon'' "has delivered an extremely accessible spacey-but-lyrical LP in the most popular style of

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. There is nothing harsh or cultish about this music." In another mixed review,

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's Paul Collins wrote that ''Octoberon'' lacks the harmonies evident in the band's earlier records, and that the album is "not up to the level of their best work, but worth a listen for fans."

Track listing

#"The World Goes On" (

Les Holroyd Barclay James Harvest are an English progressive rock band. They were founded in Oldham, in September 1966 by bassist/vocalist Les Holroyd (b. 1948), guitarist/vocalist John Lees (b. 1947), drummer/percussionist Mel Pritchard (1948–2004), a ...

) – 6:29 #"May Day" ( John Lees) – 8:00 #"Ra" (

Woolly Wolstenholme Barclay James Harvest are an English progressive rock band. They were founded in Oldham, in September 1966 by bassist/vocalist Les Holroyd (b. 1948), guitarist/vocalist John Lees (b. 1947), drummer/percussionist Mel Pritchard (1948–2004), a ...

) – 7:21 #"Rock 'n' Roll Star" (Holroyd) – 5:18 #"Polk Street Rag" (Lees) – 5:39 #"Believe in Me" (Holroyd) – 4:24 #"Suicide?" (Lees) – 7:56

2003 remastered CD

As above, plus:
      8. "Rock 'n' Roll Star" (early mix) - 4:53
      9. "Polk Street Rag" (first mix) 5:30
      10. "Ra" (first mix)
      11. "Rock 'n' Roll Star" (version recorded at Marquee Studios)
      12. "Suicide?" (first mix)

2017 remastered 3-disc set

Disc One (CD)

Tracks 1-7 as above, plus:
      8. "Rock 'n' Roll Star" (first mix) - 4:53
      9. "Polk Street Rag" (early mix) 5:30
      10. "Ra" (early mix)
      11. "Suicide?" (early mix)
N.B. These appear to be the same mixes as tracks 8-10 & 12 on the 2003 CD, although the descriptions "first mix" and "early mix" have been swapped.

Disc Two (CD)

New stereo mixes of Tracks 1-7 as above, plus:
8. "Rock 'n' Roll Star" (Marquee Studios version for ''

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'')
9. "May Day" (alternate intro version)

Disc Three (DVD)

Audio content:
Three mixes of tracks 1-7 as above, plus track 9 on Disc Two: 5.1 surround mix, 96 kHz/24-bit new and original stereo mixes.
Video content: #"Rock 'n' Roll Star" #"The World Goes On" (Polydor promotional films as broadcast on ''

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'', 1 March 1977)

Personnel

;Barclay James Harvest * John Lees - acoustic and electric guitars, vocals, harmonies * Wolly Wolstenholme - keyboards, vocals * Les Holroyd - bass, acoustic guitar, vocals, harmonies * Mel Pritchard - drums, percussion

Charts

References

{{Authority control 1976 albums Barclay James Harvest albums Polydor Records albums