Stormcock (album)

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


Released = 1971
Recorded = England
Genre = Folk
Length = 41:25
Label = Harvest SHVL 789,
Science Friction HUCD004
Producer = Peter Jenner
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusicguide.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:geh1z85ajyv4 link]
Last album = "Flat Baroque and Berserk"
(1970)

This album = "Stormcock"
(1971)

Next album = "Lifemask"
(1973)

"Stormcock" is a 1971 album by Roy Harper, commonly acknowledged to be his "best record". [ [http://www.royharper.co.uk/shop/product_info.php?products_id=7 Link to opinion about Harpers 'best record'] ]

History

The album's title, "Stormcock", is an old English name for the Mistle Thrush. The male of this species "...sings its loud melodious song from a tree, rooftop or other elevated perch, often during bad weather or at night" [Wiki link to Mistle Thrush] , perhaps a perfect metaphor for Harper himself. Harper has an appreciation of birdlife and has made reference to many birds on his albums.

The album features four extended songs which showcase Harpers talents, both as songwriter and guitarist. But, perhaps most significantly, "..Stormcock...epitomized a hybrid genre that had no exclusive purveyors save Harper — epic progressive acoustic." [ [http://www.allmusicguide.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:geh1z85ajyv4 AMG review] ] .

The album credits "S. Flavius Mercurius" for the lead guitar on "The Same Old Rock". The guitarist, better known as Jimmy Page, was unnamed within the album credits until the 2007 remastered re-release for contractual reasons.

Johnny Marr, guitarist with The Smiths, is on record stating that "Stormcock" was "intense and beautiful and clever" [ [http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,,1888537,00.html Arts Guardian] ] .

Stormcock was an inspiration to Californian harpist Joanna Newsom, greatly influencing her second album Ys.

Track listing

"All tracks credited to Roy Harper"

ide One

#"Hors d'Oeuvres" – 8:37
#"The Same Old Rock" – 12:24

ide Two

#"One Man Rock and Roll Band" – 7:23
#"Me and My Woman" – 13:01

Personnel

*Roy Harper – guitar and vocals
*S. Flavius Mercurius – guitar
*Peter Jenner – producer
*John Barrett – sound engineer
*Peter Bown – sound engineer
*John Leckie – sound engineer
*Phil McDonald – sound engineer
*Alan Parsons – sound engineer
*Nick Webb – sound engineer
*Richard Imrie – photography

References

External links

* [http://www.royharper.com/ Roy Harper Official Site]
* [http://www.iki.fi/musicnaut/royharper.html Excellent Roy Harper resource]
* [http://www.stormcock.net The Stormcock Community fan site]