Man & Myth

HQ (1975) Roy Harper

Considered a national treasure in Britain, Roy's had a long career as a musician's musician, releasing 22 studio albums since 1966.
You might already know him for his vocal on Pink Floyd's "Have a Cigar". Or the tribute "Hats Off To Roy Harper" closing side two of Led Zeppelin lll.
His influence has been acknowledged by many, including Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, Pete Townshend, Kate Bush, Pink Floyd, and Ian Anderson, who has said Harper was his "primary influence as an acoustic guitarist and songwriter."
I've introduced a signature lick of his into many jam sessions that everyone assumed was mine.
I bought this copy, released in the US as "When An Old Cricketeer Leaves The Crease" in 1975. It features the incredible backing band of David Gilmour and Chris Spedding on guitars, John Paul Jones playing bass, and Bill Bruford drumming.
Kicking off with a Kinksian riff "The Game (part1-5)", is nearly 14 minutes of folk rock wonder, with Chris Spedding's paint peeling slide guitar solo near the end. The album doesn't let up until the titular closer.
I later upgraded to a long lost import copy of HQ. Exactly the same record inside, but with a Hipgnosis cover photo of him walking on water, which the US label and distributor Chrysalis, had a problem with. Roy didn't like it, but was given no choice. The label also changed the title of his next album, Bullinamingvase, to One of Those Days in England.
Right now I'm listening to "I Hate The White Man" from Flat Baroque And Beserk (1970). It comes right after album opener "Don't You Grieve", sung from the perspective of Judas, telling us how he was set up and betrayed by his best friend Jesus, that he died with his story, and his home address is hell.
This was first of 8 Roy Harper albums I've owned over the years, which includes his most recent, Man and Myth (2013).

Sal's got a nice affordable copy like mine over on Discogs. Get It!

Roy Harper

-BBJ