Valentine [Import]

Roy Harper | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 11, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Resurgence UK
• ASIN: B00000IAKT
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #647,121 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Forbiden Fruit

2. Male Chauvinist Pig Blues

3. I'll See You Again

4. Twelve Hours of Sunset

5. Acapulco Gold

6. Commune

7. Magic Woman (Liberation Reshuffle)

8. Che

9. North Country

10. Forever

11. Home [*]

12. Too Many Movies [*]

13. Home [*]

Editorial Reviews

UK reissue of the idiosyncratic British singer/songwriter's 1974 album.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Up There with Stormcock, January 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Valentine (Audio CD)

Stormcock is Roy's masterpiece but "Valentine" is almost as good - and quite a bit more accessible. A collection of love songs, yes, but there is nothing predictable or sloppy here: these songs have truth, tenderness, anger, frustration, humour - and loads of bittersweet twists and turns to keep you interested. Some of the tracks rock out very nicely with assistance from Roy's "heavy" friends, but mostly the feel of this album is gentle, acoustic (very fine guitar as always from Roy)...quite seductive in its way. A favourite of mine for unwinding. The reviewer who suggested playing this and "Stormcock" one after the other has definitely got it right!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great collection of love songs, December 1, 2004

By 

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

This review is from: Valentine (Audio CD)

"Valentine," released on Valentine's Day in 1974, is a collection of then new and old love songs by Roy Harper, inimitable British singer-songwriter. The album opens with fingerstyle guitar in the surreal "Forbidden Fruit." "MCP Blues" rocks the hardest on the album, and is one of the only non-acoustic songs. "I'll See You Again" is as touching a song as Roy has ever written, highlighted by orchestral flourishes. "Twelve Hours of Sunset" is a beautiful song about a plane ride across the Atlantic. It includes some phased-out guitar and gorgeous, soaring, layered vocals. "Acapulco Gold" is jazzy, a departure for Roy. "Commune," a favorite opener for Roy's live shows, is another beautiful song with more of his signature guitar licks. Included are "North Country," Roy's version of a traditional folk song made famous by Bob Dylan, and "Forever," an earlier Harper song (first heard on Roy's debut, Sophisticated Beggar) that gets production attention here to sound the best it ever has. This album is an EXCELLENT collection of songs--though it's not as cohesive as Roy's masterpiece Stormcock, it's probably more accessible to most listeners, and has more individual songs. Throughout the album are well-crafted melodies, deep, personal lyrics, and varied themes. Recommended if you like David Gray, Van Morrison, acoustic Dylan, acoustic Pink Floyd, and folk music. After this album, check out Stormcock, and Lifemask.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Songs of love, loss, hope"!!!!--a beaut!!!!!!, September 28, 2004

By 

tony browne (ENGLAND) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Valentine (Audio CD)

Now that we've reached the c.d. & computer age--hoorah!!!!You know what?.....we're becoming cushioned, sterile, spoilt & directionless!!Roy Harper knew this in the late 60's .If you're looking for challenge ,truth honesty, love & great,great music, this album is for you.It's a beautiful c.d.!I had the old vinyl way ,way back(1973), i've seen Roy Harper live more times than i can remember, and he will ALWAYS be one of the GREATS of the recording studio, with an acoustic guitar style like no other!!"Valentine! followed the EPIC "Lifemask" album, & contrasted beautifully.It begins with the ever so memorable "Forbidden fruit" ,a love song for a teenage girl,check out the lyrics ,as in all Harper songs-they're amazing!This became ,in most part, an acoustic-guitar exercise for Mr. Harper,altho' in parts, this album really rocks!!Songs like "Male chauvinist pig blues"....what can you say-whoever wrote songs like this??Beautiful ,wonderfully played acoustic guitar!The song "12 hours of sunset" is my favourite here,it's gotta be one of my favourite songs-ever!!"Che" -the acoustic guitar instrumental, dedicated , ofcourse to a certain Revolutionary, stills sounds awesome ,all these years later!And so it goes on--this c.d. is a wonderful addition to anyone's music collection-Roy Harper....surely one of Rock's greatest geniuses!!"Valentine" is one amazing album!!!The great thing , too, is that Roy is still in the process of musicmaking(i'm told a new album is being costructed!!For an artist/musician to attract such talents as most of the Pink Floyd group AND Led Zeppelin, there's got to be some reason,folks ,for this amazing fact!Check out & purchase Roy Harper on c.d.-this is true genius!!!