ROY HARPER – rare oop lp- THE SOPHISTICATED BEGGAR

$

49

ROY HARPER – rare oop lp- THE SOPHISTICATED BEGGAR

The introduction to the first chapter of the Led Zepplin Saga book, entitled “Hammer of the Gods” has the following passage:

“around the world bad trip for everyone

No more the man of paradise or the celt of

Albion.  They queue like burning moths to

Spread the old-time vicious lie, you christians

Destroyed our tribe I fight you till I die

                                                -ROY HARPER”

Here is the rare oop lp entitled “THE SOPHISTICATED BEGGAR” by ROY HARPER on Big Ben Records  of London, England, UK 7DE. (BBX 502)  As was popular in the day, this was originally recorded in mono and was electronically enhanced for stereo.

Recorded by Pierre Tubbs

Produced by Lionel Segal

The rear of the album cover mentions that “Originally issued in 1967 on Strike label (JHL 105), re-issued on the Young Blood label in 1970 (SSYB 7), and re-issued in 1972 on the Birth label (RAB 3).”

On  the rear of the album it also is printed “Re-issue of ROY HARPERS First Album.”

There are liner notes on the reverse side of the album cover.  Part of the liner notes are written, “…I was helped on the record by TWO people in particular whose names cannot be mentioned because of label hassles…”

Well…on the Wikipedia website, “Roy Harper (born 12 June 1941) is an English rock / folk singer-songwriter / guitarist who has been a professional musician since the mid 1960s. Harper has described American blues musician Leadbelly and folk singer Woody Guthrie as his biggest musical influences when he was growing up.[1] As a musician, Harper is known for his distinctive fingerstyle playing and lengthy, complex compositions. He has released a large catalogue of albums as an artist, most of which are available on his own record label Science Friction.

His influence has been acknowledged by many musicians including Jimmy Page and Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin, Pete Townshend of The Who, Kate Bush, Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull and Pink Floyd, as well as more recently by Californian harpist Joanna Newsom. Harper also sang guest lead vocals on Pink Floyd's song "Have a Cigar", and inspired the title of the Led Zeppelin song "Hats Off to (Roy) Harper".”

The 1960s

Harper's first album, Sophisticated Beggar, was recorded in 1966 after he was spotted at Les Cousins, and signed to Peter Richards' Strike Records. The album consisted of Harper's poetry backed by acoustic guitar and recorded with a Revox tape machine by Pierre Tubbs. CBS Records recognised Harper's potential and hired producer Shel Talmy to arrange Harper's second album, Come Out Fighting Ghengis Smith, released in 1968. The 11 minute track "Circle" was notable for marking a widening of Harper's musical style away from the more traditional folk music heard at the time.

Many thanks to Wikipedia.com for the above information!!!

Neither the album cover nor the record label mention the year of this re-issue.

It does say that it was distributed in the U.K. by Polydor Limited.

I am still unable to find out who the two guest guitarists are.  If someone knows, please email me or use the ebay “ask the seller a question” and tell me who the two guest guitarists are.  It would be most appreciated.  On one website, it mentioned that John Renbourn is one guitarist.  Might be Jimmy Page.  Might be Ritchie Blackmore, another quite talented guitarist.  Might be David Gilmore.  Could be any number of quite talented guitar players on this debut album.

The following is from the royharper.co.uk website.  Quite interesting.

It was whilst playing at Les Cousins that he attracted the attention of Strike records who recorded his first album in early 1966, 'The Sophisticated Beggar' which featured his poetry sung over complex acoustic guitar arrangements utilising echoplex reverb and other effects. This record boasts the first known use of then embryonic electric guitar effects on an acoustic guitar. John Renbourn contributed to the record on the title track and 'Legend'.

Introduction.

Roy Harper's first record, released in the latter half of the 1960's, was remarkable for the way that a matrix of complex and crystalline guitar compositions animated and framed intense, mischievous, intelligent, personal and poetic lyrics. His most recent release of new songs, at the start of this century, arranged thoughtful, honest, mischievous and insightful words in startling constructions of extraordinary guitar music. Between these two records - one on heavy vinyl the other on digital cd - lies a body of work that has expanded the possibilities of the acoustic guitar (he is one of the most thrilling players Britain has produced). For four decades the work has experimented with forms and arrangements of popular music, played with the dynamics of the classic rock band and investigated the colours and dynamics offered by classical orchestras and even the colliery brass band. He has pioneered and mapped the outer-limits of the complex symphonic acoustic song cycle. Harper has written some of the most romantic and affecting love songs of our time and delivered dense and blistering diatribes anatomizing the idiocies and accidents of human belief polity and society. He has also written critiques of catering at British road-side service stations and delivered jazzy celebrations of drug enhanced altered states.

Royharper. Co.uk

Songs on SOPHISTICATED BEGGAR include:

China Girl

Goldfish

Sophisticated Beggar

My Friend

Big Fat Silver Aeroplane

Blackpool

Legend

Girlie

October The Twelfth

Black Clouds

Mr. Station Master

Forever

Committed

This lp has been well taken care of, stored vertically, kept away from moisture & water, etc.  I am the original owner of this lp!

Shipping is by USPS: either at $3.50 for the slower/cheaper MEDIA MAIL or $10.00 for the faster/more expensive First Class, $10.00 Canada & $15 elsewhere.   Note: Media Mail can take 3-5 weeks for delivery, so please be patient if you want Media Mail.  APO/FPO is not eligible for Media and is sent First Class.

As a buyer & seller on ebay since May 2000 with an excellent feedback rating, I have always paid quickly and shipped quickly.    I used to accept personal checks, but after receiving checks on closed accounts and the delay in clearing checks, I can only accept paypal.  Thank you.

Thanks for looking & be sure to check out my other auctions as I have a lot of rather cool lps, etc. at great prices.

Roy Harper had a birthday on June 12.  Happy Birthday, Roy Harper.