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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZHARPER, Roy(b 12 June '41, Manchester) UK singer- songwriter: praises sung by many contemporaries, but he has not escaped from '60s folkish image. Infl. by blues and skiffle; after a spell in RAF escaped to London, was a busker for a year. The Sophisticated Beggar '66 and Come Out Fighting Ghengis Smith '67 were quirky chronicles of the time; Folkjokeopus appeared '68; Flat Baroque And Berserk '70 incl. astringent 'I Hate The White Man' and 'Hell's Angels' (backed by the Nice). (Live At Les Cousins '69 was made at the London club, a two-CD set '96.) He was a staple of London underground and free concerts; life-long friend Jimmy Page incl. 'Hats Off To Harper' on Led Zeppelin III '70, guested on Harper's albums. A collaboration with arr. David Bedford began with Stormcock '71 and reached zenith with 'When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease' from HQ '75; he appeared in belated 'Swinging '60s' film Made '72. LP Bullinamingvase '77 incl. delightful 'One Of These Days In England', which had Paul and Linda McCartney on backing vocals. At his disciplined best his songs contained poetic insight as well as vitriol, but he tended towards self- indulgence and remained a cult figure; Pink Floyd incl. him as a vocalist on Wish You Were Here '75; musicians such as Chris Spedding and Bill Bruford were keen to play with him; Flashes From The Archives Of Oblivion '75 featured Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson. Harper suffered from ill health; The Unknown Soldier '80 and Work Of Heart were disappointing but Born In Captivity '85 showed little loss of powers; Whatever Happened To Jugula '85 was co-credited Harper and Page; live set In Between Every Line '86 was followed by Descendants Of Smith '88. Further albums were Lifemask '73 on Voice Print, Valentine '74, Commercial Break '77, Unknown Soldier '80, Looney On The Bus '88 on Awareness, Once '90 on Line. There was Live At Les Cousins '96; most CD reissues (and The BBC Tapes '97) were on Science Friction label, Griffin in USA except as noted. |