Lifemask

Infobox Album |
Name = Lifemask
Type = Album
Artist = Roy Harper


Released = 1973
Recorded = England
Genre = Rock / Folk
Length = 43:59
Label = Harvest SHVL 808,
Awareness AWCD1035
Science Friction HUCD005

Producer = Peter Jenner
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusicguide.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:5mf4zfjhehpk~T1 link]
Last album = "Stormcock"
(1971)

This album = "Lifemask"
(1973)

Next album = "Valentine"
(1974)

"Lifemask" is a 1973 album by Roy Harper.

History

"Lifemask" was written by Harper during a period where a congenital blood disorder threatened his health. With thoughts of life and death upon his mind, side two of the album features a lengthy track entitled "The Lord's Prayer" which Harper described as "...my last will and testament". The album cover itself is a representation of Harpers 'deathmask'. [ [http://www.mojo4music.com/blog/2008/04/roy_harper_1.html Mojo magazine album review] ]

Some of the songs comprised the soundtrack for the movie Made which was on general release at the time. It co-starred with Carol White. The John Mackenzie directed film, Made, was the story of the relationship between a young single mother and an insecure rock star, 'Mike Preston' played by Harper. The film featured excerpts from "The Lord's Prayer", a live excerpt from "Highway Blues", a live session of "Little Lady" and "Bank Of The Dead" (a.k.a. "The Social Casualty" and "Valerie's Song") sung with alternate lyrics.

In 1987 Awareness Records released a cassette of "Lifemask" (AWT 1007) containing 4 extra tracks. These tracks can also be found on the 1990 Awareness Records CD (AWCD 1007). [ [http://www.mistlethrush.co.uk/stormcock/tracks.htm Fan site discography] ]

Track listing

"All tracks credited to Roy Harper"

ide One

# "Highway Blues" – 6:34
# "All Ireland" – 2:52
# "Little Lady" – 4:19
# "Bank Of The Dead" – 3:13
# "South Africa" – 4:06

ide Two

# "The Lord's Prayer" – 22:55::a) "Poem"::b) "Modal Song Parts I to IV"::c) "Front Song"::d) "Middle Song"::e) "End Song" (Front Song Reprise)

Bonus tracks on 1987 & 1990 reissues

# "Ballad Of Songwriter" - (from the US release of "Folkjokeopus")
# "Zaney Janey" - (from the US release of - "Folkjokeopus")
# "Midspring Dithering" - (A-side from the 1967 single)
# "Zengem" - (B-side from the 1967 single)

ingles

A 7" single was released on the Harvest record label (HAR 5059). This single contained the alternate versions of the album tracks that appeared in the movie Made.

#Side 1. "Bank Of The Dead"
#Side 2. "Little Lady"

Personnel

*Roy Harper – guitar, synthesizer, bass, harmonica, bells, and vocals
*Jimmy Page – guitar on "Bank Of The Dead" and "The Lord's Prayer"
*Laurie Allen – drums on "Highway Blues"
*Steve Broughton – bongos on "The Lord's Prayer"
*Tony Carr – bongos on "The Lord's Prayer" and drums on "Bank Of The Dead"
*Brian Davison – drums on "The Lord's Prayer"
*Brian Hodges – bass on "Bank Of The Dead" and "The Lord's Prayer"
*Ray Warleigh – flute on "The Lord's Prayer"
*John Leckie – sound engineer
*Phil McDonald – sound engineer
*Nick Webb – sound engineer
*Peter Jenner – producer

References

External links

* [http://www.royharper.com/ Roy Harper Official Site]
* [http://www.iki.fi/musicnaut/royharper.html Excellent Roy Harper resource]
* [http://imdb.com/title/tt0073330/ Internet Movie Database Entry for Made]
* [http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,99053,00.html Album credits]