And Other Short Stories

Straddling Two Continents

A Band we enjoyed seeing in the Johannesburg City Hall on 7th October 1972, later at Hammersmith Odeon, London on 7th October 1978, accompanied by South African friends we were staying with while holidaying at the time, what odds the same date six years later.

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Barclay James Harvest an English progressive rock band, with Les Holroyd (bass, vocals), John Lees (guitar, vocals), Mel Pritchard (drums), Woolly Wolstenholme (keyboards, vocals, 1967-79). With unique blend of rock music, added orchestral arrangements they wrote thought provoking lyrics around life challenges or social issues at the time.

We had many hurdles back in earlier years, bands visiting under guise of Christian or similar were allowed without too much ado. Aware of problems but not quite to the degree one finds out slowly but surely as happened to this particular group who arrived to entertain all, not a select few.

Newspaper clippings we would never have heard about prior our overseas trip, learning from people over the pond the reality in many ways of what was happening in our own back garden. Research reveals some of what transpired during the visit.

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Shoot the messenger, Barclay James Havest took a lambasting from their home support, on their return from the visit, unfairly considering the lengths they went to in trying to perform before a mixed audience. If I remember correctly a handful across race divide did attend going with friends bringing them in quietly.

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When learning about the way they were 'punished' by supporters was sad to learn, loyal still supported knowing the deeping reasoning through their lyrics.

Three Tunes Tuesday

Ruling party of the day were very hard headed, had hard hearted woman right behind them, throwing a spanner into the works from every angle. TV was monitored, radio was monitored, our good fortune was we had a very old radio able to pick up neighbouring countries or on the odd occasion the BBC news which would have been frowned upon, possibly held criminal.

Barclay James Harvest - Hard Hearted Woman

Portend to what would transpire a couple of years later in change, now like the mockingbird once again, we as a country need change! (Perhaps most countries do.)

Barclay James Harvest - Mockingbird

Musical legends over time have chanted similar tunes along similar vein, child of the universe, ebony and ivory, let it be, do we ever learn whether in song or from history, we are one peoples!

Barclay James Harvest - Child Of The Universe

Aftermath Tribute

Reminiscing earlier years, African Nights released LP "Welcome to the Show" in 1990, one LP I never puchased.

4 in our collection Once Again, And Other Short Stories, Baby James Harvest, Turn of the Tide, if you wish to find them to listen to more.

Barclay James Harvest - African Nights

Les Holroyd - This album has a strong backward-looking flavour, and here Les reminisces about touring South Africa in September and October 1972. The "friend whose name was Farr" was Gary Farr, a singer-songwriter who supported BJH on that tour and who released a number of solo albums between 1969 and 1984.

Lyrics:
Driving down the road
Under the southern light
Looking back to see
Where we've come from
As we watched the sun go down
Rain it fell like diamonds
From Kimberley mines

On the road to Jo'burg
With the dying light
Farewell Durban
City of Natal
Stopped a while to stretch my thoughts
As we crossed the borderline
And into Transvaal

I saw the sun go down
Under the southern skies
Over and over
I'll always remember
Those beautiful African nights

In the old VW
We'd count the miles
We travelled with a friend
Whose name was Farr
The stories that he told us
Talked of faces
Times and places
Sang and played his guitar

Driving down the road
We hear the morning rise
Leaving all the past
So far behind
The sound man played the Eagles
As we listen
"Take It Easy"
Echoes on through our lives

I saw the sun go down
Under the southern skies
Over and over
I'll always remember
I still hear them call
No matter how far
Those beautiful African nights

Last photograph my own from yesterday, if you enjoy this thanks for hanging in reading it is rather long, we never realize how much music affects body and mind!

This music post was inspired by the Three Tune Tuesday #TTT concept by @ablaze.

All music links sourced from You Tube, other descriptive detail links attached to each.

Thought for Today: "Music speaks louder than words." - African Proverbs