Bullinamingvase [Original recording reissued]

Roy Harper | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 10, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 1977
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued
• Label: Science Friction
• ASIN: B00005LNHE
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #185,733 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Reissue of 1977 album is the CD debut for it in it's original running order, and with the bonus track 'Breakfast With You'. Also includes a 16 page booklet with lyrics and archive photos. A total of seven tracks. Other 6 'One Of Those Days In England', 'These Last Days', 'Cherishing The Lonesome', 'Naked Flame', 'Watford Gap' & 'One Of Those Days In England' (Parts 2-10). Mastered with 20 bit super mapping. Guests include Paul & Linda McCartney, Alvin Lee (ex-Ten Years After), BJ Cole, Percy Jones and others!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best of Roy's "Middle" period, September 24, 2001

By 

"sephus" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bullinamingvase (Audio CD)

This album is one of Roy's best. It provides a sampling of most of the various sounds he experimented with over the first half of his long career: his simple, folksy arrangements (represented here by "Naked Flame" and the hilarious "Watford Gap"); his multi-layered overdubs of fascinating guitar work ("Cherishing the Lonesome"); and his epic, heavily orchestrated masterpieces ("One of Those Days In England, Parts 2-10").

The latter is a collection of "movements" that trace the roots of his English heritage and relate them to the modern English experience. The lyrics can be interpreted in a variety of ways; my take is that the piece recognizes that Britain is a culture in decline, but finds that enlightenment can still be found within such a decaying structure. Yes, it's that deep, and beyond.

A phenomenal live version of "One of Those Days" can be found on "In Between Every Line." For those who have trouble with the densely orchestrated sound on the studio version, the live one is just Roy's voice and guitar - yet the essential brilliance of the piece endures, and flourishes.

The bonus track "Breakfast With You" is not typical of Roy at all - it reminds me of early Alan Parsons (a la "Hypnotized"). Still, not a bad tune, just not essential Roy Harper.

A must-have for Roy fans, and not a bad place to start for those new to his music. (I personally don't recommend compilations - what a waste when you decide to get all the "real" albums.) Roy's voice is an acquired taste, but he can win you over with his unparalleled songwriting and playing abilities.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Roy's last great 70's album, November 30, 2004

By 

Elliot Knapp (Seattle, Washington United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bullinamingvase (Audio CD)

This is, in my opinion, Roy's last classic folk-rock album from the 70's. It's recorded with a band called Chips, and features a number of acoustic as well as electric songs. The opener is part one of the "One of these Days In England" suite. It's poppy and has some cool slide guitar, as well as featuring Paul and Linda McCartney on background vocals. "These Last Days" is a great ballad with Roy's trademark vocal layering. "Cherishing the Lonesome" is one of the album's strongest tracks--it effortlessly switches styles from folk to rock with some awesome vibraphone--it's one of Roy's best songs. The "Naked Flame" is quick acoustic song, sort of playful. "Watford Gap" is a quite funny song that was originally nixed from the album because the people at Watford Gap were offended (rightly so) by the ridiculous lyrics. It was replaced by "Breakfast With You," a "piece of pap," as described by Roy himself. The centerpiece of the album, "One of these Days In England (P.2-10)" is sublime, like most of Roy's long works. It starts of with some trademark witty lines, then goes into a reprise of part one. The song is essentially a series of reflections about the state of England, past and present, and the nature of passing time. It's got some varied folky parts as well as bluesy and rock parts. Chips is tight, though perhaps just a notch below Trigger, the band that played with Roy on HQ. This album is very strong, and includes Roy's excellent fingerstyle guitar work, as well as some of his most positive lyrics (fewer rants on religion and society). I recommend it very highly to fans of Roy's other work (with Stormcock, HQ, and Valentine as his best). I'd also recommend it to fans of Dylan's folk rock, Van Morrison, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and newer music like David Gray's earlier work. Get in on this--Roy's about as indie as they get!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of his best, February 24, 2009

By 

Troy J. Grice (Evergreen, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bullinamingvase (Audio CD)

This is a gem, my favorite Harper album so far (as I explore his catalogue). The sprawling "One Of Those Days in England Parts 2-10) is a folksy, progressive, rock-opera journey well worth the price of the cd. "Cherishing the Lonesome" is a 70s rock anthem with Harper's unique imprint. "One of Those Days in England", "Naked Flame" and the delightfully cynical "Watford Gap" are all strong tracks.

For the Harper novice, it's hard to compare the feel of this album to more popular music- Floydish maybe? (circa Animals). It's brighter and more colorful than the heavy Stormcock, and HQ cds.