HARVEST ...............PROGABLY THE BEST RECORD LABEL IN THE WORLD........EVER!

Harvest is a subsiduary of EMI as I am sure most people will be aware, and were mainly active between 1969 & 1984, with PINK FLOYD & DEEP PURPLE being their main acts.
The iconic green and yellow label didn't change much over the years unlike many other major labels, and Harvest issues are still popular with collectors today.

Deep Purple were one of a number of heavy rock groups that surfraced in the late 60's and early 70's, their second LP The Book of Taliesyn was the first to be realeased on Harvest in 1969, Subsequently they released a number of LP's on Harvest before moving to their own Purple Records label in 1976.

Other important artists on Harvest around this time were Kevin Ayres, Barclay James Harvest & Roy Harper, But of course the biggest name on Harvest were The Pink Floyd and they stayed with EMI throughout their career, with their early albums on EMI  - Columbia in the UK
The first Harvest release was Ummagumma cat # SHDW 1 followed by Atom Heart Mother & Meddle.

After Syd Barrett left Pink Floyd he made a couple of solo albums on Harvest - The Madcap Laughs & Barrett, they were never going to be million sellers but they do have an important ploace in the history of the Harvest label. (Pictured below) 

SYD BARRETT

The Electric Light Orchestra also released ELO / ELO 2 / Showdown & The Light Shines on, the 2nd album being particularly good. The Move, Love, Roy Wood & Wizzard were signed to the label in the early 70's and then in 1974 Be-Bop Deluxe and Triumvirat released Axe Victim and Illusions of a double dimple respectively.

In the late 70's & 80's the individual members of Pink Floyd worked on their own projects and released them on Harevst too.These included Rick Wright's Wet Dream, Dave Gilmour's self titled LP and About Face and Roger Water's Pros & Cons of Hitchiking.

Other rock acts signed to the label were German band Scorpions , Wire and Soft Machine

Now go and find some Harvest and enjoy!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvest_Records_discography

This information is not complete nor meant to be, it is merely a summary of important releases down the years.

 

 

A very rare find indeed! CAPTAIN MARRYAT - THOR 1007 S 1974 PROG ROCK

Occassionally when you are searching through hundreds of old Jim Reeves & Abba LP's you come across a gem ......and here it is!!! The 1974 Self titled LP of the Glasgow Prog Rock band Captain Marryat. Recorded at Private studios on the THOR record label it was produced apparently in very limited numbers and given away at their gigs and therefore only a handful exisit, exactly how many I am not sure, but we are probably talking double figures. This copy is also in Excellent condition with surprsingly small amount of wear to the vinyl. It is currently live on ebay via Vinyl_Spurs and you can follow it by clicking on this link.  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250915088266&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT
It certainly isn't going to win any awards for it's sleeve artwork but the music is rousing in a nostalgic prog 70's way and why the band were so short lived I don't know.
If you have any more information regarding the pressing or the band I would be interested to know...it is certainly generating a lot of interest at the moment worldwide.
Watch this space.

Picture Discs

Picture discs really came to the fore in the late 70's although they originated long before this in much more limited numbers. In the eaqrly 80's every artist started jumping on the multicoloured band wagon with coloured, shaped and picture vinyl hitting the shelves and becoming collectors items. Probably the most simplistic definition of a picture disc is the incorporation of graphics and music onto a round or shaped disc.

These days of course they are easy to come by on the internet and collectors can fairly easily add to their collection without spending hours trawling the shops, which in a way is not as much fun as coming across a stunning rock picture disc from the 70's.

I have added a few pictures of some of the recent picture discs in my possesion which include Scorpions, Slipknot and The Eurythmics - all of which are currently available via my ebay shop at http://stores.ebay.co.uk/MICKS-MEMORABILIA/7-ROCK-METAL-/_i.html?_fsub=2057564017&_sid=58532857&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322

Favourite Vinyl Covers

What is your favourite Album artwork, leave me a comment and let me know what it is and why!

Favourite Vinyl Covers

Another classic cover from the 70's is of course the timeless prism of the Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon. Released in 1973 the album has sold  approximately 45 million copies worldwide and still continues to sell in large quantities to a new generation of Floyd fans. It remained in the US Billboard charts for an amazing 741 weeks (over 15 years!!)

The cover was designed by Hipgnosis a well known contibutor to Pink Floyd artwork, and the famous dispersive prism was designed by George Hardie. Instantly recognised the world over as The Pink Floyd's finest offering.

Favourite Vinyl Covers

One of the reasons for wanting to keep Vinyl Alive is the appreciation of the amazing artwork on some of the covers, I am sure you have your own favourutes in your collection. Here a few of mine which really make a statement or catch the eye. The CD is no competition when it comes  to full appreciation of the expertise, and thought which goes into the cover production.
KING CRIMSON -  THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING

Released in 1969 the cover was by Barry Godber and is a classic in the Prog Rock Genre.
The colours and the freaky face are a perfect match for the raucous cacophony of Crimson's music

Youtube Rock Classics

If you go to bottom left of blog you will find a link to some of my fav bands via youtube, plug in, click on and enjoy whilst you browse.