In my eyes the best recording of this song by the ever unusual Roy. The world needs more people like him. I've only met another person who's ever heard of him and that was an old woman in a petrol station in Poland can't fault her taste or her wanting to refresh her English to a random drunk bloke after food.
Wow. I remember hearing this on the radio in 1977 and ended up ordering it from the local record shop because it wasn't the sort of Top 20 single they normally stocked. Marvelous song from a marvelous musician.
seen roy many times, conway civic hall, port sunlight, chester civic hall, colgne, to name a few pure class. couple of facts Led Zep wrote a song about him, Have a Cigar by Pink Floyd was sung by him. Different experience when your front row at one of his gigs an he appreciates it.
Dear Annie wherever you might be..Roy brings back the sweet memory of a guitar and flute in that Essex field one summer Sunday afternoon..a local beer after that..love you
Seeing Roy there is probably the only way you'd get within a hundred yards of that university... It's BRUNEL.... one L. I saw him twice that year - I was 25.
This is one of my favourite Harper songs (outside of anything on Stormcock of course)I also love this video because of the juxtaposition of the uncommercial Roy Harper playing in what appears to be a very commercial situation! Roy seems to be doing the whole thing tongue in cheek so I guess it was probably all bit of a set up for the band to look like they do and capture the moment of the times and we all dressed a bit like this then! I always expect the Wombles to come dancing on at the end!
Nick was always brilliant with Roy. It is sad he isn't touring any more, but I'm off the NZ soon so woukldn't see him again anyway. Roy had a book out recently that was good, went through each albumn, so it is a long book! Coffee table one, got mine signed so sadly pleased Fancy that Nigel Kennedy going off with his misses. What a kick in the teeth to have that fiddle playing joker wesselling in. Take care.
The Original New York City Free Advice Man RATES this Song among the 100 Best Songs In History....and I really, really do LOVE it. Tried to find it on iTunes: no Luck yet! Best, Jean-Pierre A. Fenyo
an amazing song...goes from being a little ditty.... to epic proprtions ..in the space of 4 mins, an ordinary day has been experienced...and been made wonderful by a wonderful performance by all involved
I recently saw roy play the long version of this song with him and Matt Churchill playing acustic guitars. Roy is one of the most underated artists out there.
Thanks to the Toucan club, I saw Roy many times in the nineties. I grew up listening to albums like HQ and Bullinamingvase. He had/has such personality and some great songs but the audience's, particularly in South Wales, can't shut up and stop making it about them shouting out and he stopped coming here. A great artist and is appreciated.
Have loved this man since i was introduced to him in about 1990, saw him at the half moon in putney a few times, the dominion theatre (we got busted for skinning up at the interval) and his 60th b-day gig at the festival hall. Sad to hear he'd not gigging anymore. Why don't more people know and love him????
@claytonave Fantastic, as you will know in this world there are only two types, those who know Roy and.. Never ever heard Roy played in the UK. Roy needs the recognition he deserves, surely so of his mates in high places could see to that?? I have one wish, I could have seen Roy in the 1970's his voice was something else. The new Stormcock remaster he has done in utterly fantastic. Now living in NZ, I seriously would have considered staying in Blighty if he was still touring!
What a treat: Roy & the OGWT. I used to see him many times in the mid 80s at the Half Moon in Putney - once playing with his son Nick at Feltham. Talking of spliffs: once at the Half Moon, he asked the audience if anyone could roll HIM a spliff - a barrage of lumps of dope being thrown on the tiny stage. A roadie scooped them all up & rolled him a spliff, but he probably made more in ounces of dope that night than money for the gig LOL.
The whole of the B side of the original album One Of Those Days In England (Bullinamingvase) was 19 minutes of brilliant prog called One of those Days in England Parts 2-10 and its a masterpiece.
I have this very performance recorded on a little mono tape recorder directly fromm the Old Grey Whistle Test broadcast. Can't believe I can watch it again 36 years later. The tape compilation of Old Greys was a fixture in my first car's tape deck.
I used to do the same. I have a huge collection of audio from the whistle test, tube, gastank, switch, that thing Gary Crowley used to present in the middle of the night, Oxford Road show… The list is endless! I spent a big chunk of lockdown digitising it all. For a posterity that will never listen to it!
Quintessentially English (I had to make sure I had got the spelling correct!) is our Roy. There are a lot of elements of our society that I dislike. Fortunately, Roy has been a great example of what is good about it! :-)
@deafflylii1 I saw him live a few times throughout the 70s and never ever was disappointed, not by his singing, playing, band..not a moment. 'Me and my Woman' live at Newcastle city hall was beyond belief. I have a radio show here in California and play Roy often to great reception.
This is from Roy Harper's second appearance on BBC2's Old Grey Whistle Test, broadcast on Tuesday March 29th 1977 (ousted from its usual light-night slot by, of all things, the World Table Tennis Championships. That's the BBC for you.) As well as 'One Of Those Days' Roy also sang 'Cherishing The Lonesome'.
Think I was there, didn't he just play in a tent? I think the Beautiful south were playing. Oh, the memories, needed Sundays joint cooking in my tree living in St Helens at the time.
@oldhippypeace It is on HQ with The Game on it and the brilliant Lords Prayer! Sorry I know far to much about Roy! 1975 I think, lovely new CD of it come out on his site. Cheers
Absolutely, man of taste, evidently! Roy for me is the one who speaks to the heart. As does John Martyn, but in different ways, guess Roy is more the poet and John the emotional musician. Know Roy has not been well. Do you follow the Stormcock site? bit silly at times, but some good interviews with Roy
@Islwynpaul Roy Ive seen loads over the years, e was just the best live, so was John. I think the music became the sum of the parts, sort of thinking where is the band? But it was just him expansive and a rollercoaster of emotions.
Saw him with Roy a lot, added to the evenings. Liked his early stuff, but cannot get into his more recent, though he is a brilliant guitarist. Check out the Stormcock Community site, some great interviews on it. Cheers.
Both this track and 'Shangri-la' by Neil Innes were released at roughly the same time and I don't know who paid homage to who but there's a huge Neil Innes presence here also with iconic Rutle legend Barry Wom (John Halsey) on drums and GRIMMS member and legendary "dead" singer songwriter Stan Fitch (Andy Roberts) on guitar 1. Neil Innes was Stan's roadie when he appeared "live dead" on Rutland Weekend Television.
did you know that Roy Harper did the vocal on Have a cigar!!!!! what a cool fact. (i just found out) he asked for a life time season ticket to Lords< and they stiched him up on it and gave him a royalty check instead. trust the boys in floyd
I saw him once, a long time ago, at Knebworth I think. He just came on unanounced and unscheduled to fill in time before the main act. IIRC (it's been a very long time) it was when the main act was Mike Oldfield. That was a GOOD day.
Have you heard of John Martyn? He was a brilliantly talented Scot on the folk scene. Check out One World anything off that is utterly beautiful. He is as close to Roy as possible, another mad one off.
Taste in food, like taste in music is clearly subjective. This isn't my favourite Harper song, but personally I love a nice bag of fish&chips, and roast beef and gravy.
I think I was at that gig! Did he say "what's that?" to one of the lumps hurled and someone replied "A freebie!" then something about the "quality of the heckling"?
tomkeys78 Live he was like no other. If you want the best albumn listen to Stormcock, Same old rock is out of this world. I am a Roy nut sorry to go on! Flashes from the Achives of Oblivion is utterly brilliant and one of the best live recordings (double albumn). Good hunting!
I think it was around 1990 because I arrived in St Helens in 1988 and it wasn't then. He was in this tent and the engineer was Jacqueline the one who went of with that Nigel Kennedy. I remember it as a strange set as I turned up and didn't know he was on. There were all these St Helens blokes stopping and just saying hold on I have to listen to this! A wonderful evening. Saw Nick in the park on the Wirral a few years ago. My mate was a biker called Dave from St Helens.
I want this at my funeral. Roy has been a big influence on me my whole life.
Roy is a god to me. A guiding light for all looneys. Miss seeing the man on tour, his work is the most expansive ever, NO one holds a light to him.
We do 🙏
What a legend! Underrated and largely unknown but hey, our private pleasure. Thank you Roy x
Yeah Roy got me through my teenage years back in freezing cold but lovely Scotland. Also john martyn RIP
Sorry I'm Scottish but listen to Roy every day. Any chance of a happy dance?!!!
Bear in mind this is the man that rolled spliffs for Capt Kirk and was an inspiration to Led Zeppelin
Also gave Miss Lovelace a pubic hairdo!
god bless Roy and the Whistle test. Thanks for the memories
Brilliant
Harper was part of my formative years . Sorry for the stuff he's been through . Work of Heart seen live was amazing .
And to say that god is dead presupposes that he was at some time alive, ah hahaha what a young fool I am. Long live Roy. We still love you.
A huge inspiration to Floyd and Zeppelin as we lnow. But also to Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull.
In my eyes the best recording of this song by the ever unusual Roy. The world needs more people like him. I've only met another person who's ever heard of him and that was an old woman in a petrol station in Poland can't fault her taste or her wanting to refresh her English to a random drunk bloke after food.
Agree, much better than the recorded version!
fatgary68 You've only met one other person who's ever heard of him? Do you live in a cave? You need to talk to a few more people.
I've just discovered Roy Harper and I can't get enough of him! Awesome.
quite honestly the best song of all time, ever. the end. no doubt. defo.
I was thinking of adding it to my Top 1000!
Wow. I remember hearing this on the radio in 1977 and ended up ordering it from the local record shop because it wasn't the sort of Top 20 single they normally stocked. Marvelous song from a marvelous musician.
seen roy many times, conway civic hall, port sunlight, chester civic hall, colgne, to name a few pure class. couple of facts Led Zep wrote a song about him, Have a Cigar by Pink Floyd was sung by him. Different experience when your front row at one of his gigs an he appreciates it.
this song has always conveyed to me a real sense of one of those days in England..probably during high summer...wonderful
Dear Annie wherever you might be..Roy brings back the sweet memory of a guitar and flute in that Essex field one summer Sunday afternoon..a local beer after that..love you
Beautiful...as it always was, is, and will be
I went to quite a few of his performances around the Sheffield area . The last time I saw him was at Stonehenge festival. Great artist. Fun times.
Love the unmistakeable sound of ex-Wing, Henry McCullogh, on guitar.
GREAT PERFORMANCE OF A GREAT SONG BY A GENIUS!
the man's a poetic genius..
I hear this a million times at my work everyday
Saw him playing at Brunell university in 77. I was 16. Fab.....
Seeing Roy there is probably the only way you'd get within a hundred yards of that university... It's BRUNEL.... one L. I saw him twice that year - I was 25.
This is one of my favourite Harper songs (outside of anything on Stormcock of course)I also love this video because of the juxtaposition of the uncommercial Roy Harper playing in what appears to be a very commercial situation! Roy seems to be doing the whole thing tongue in cheek so I guess it was probably all bit of a set up for the band to look like they do and capture the moment of the times and we all dressed a bit like this then! I always expect the Wombles to come dancing on at the end!
Nick was always brilliant with Roy. It is sad he isn't touring any more, but I'm off the NZ soon so woukldn't see him again anyway. Roy had a book out recently that was good, went through each albumn, so it is a long book! Coffee table one, got mine signed so sadly pleased
Fancy that Nigel Kennedy going off with his misses. What a kick in the teeth to have that fiddle playing joker wesselling in. Take care.
One of the greats of English music..
The Original New York City Free Advice Man RATES this Song among the 100 Best Songs In History....and I really, really do LOVE it. Tried to find it on iTunes: no Luck yet! Best, Jean-Pierre A. Fenyo
Met him in '74 at Abbey Road....HQ album recording, with Pink Floyd next door in Studio 3....
Great track from a great album 'Bullinamingvase' - still have it in vinyl. Dave Lawson from Greenslade on keys!
Went to see him in Southport when Once came out and couldn't get a ticket. Some bod sold me and my bro one each, wonderful evening.
an amazing song...goes from being a little ditty.... to epic proprtions ..in the space of 4 mins, an ordinary day has been experienced...and been made wonderful by a wonderful performance by all involved
I recently saw roy play the long version of this song with him and Matt Churchill playing acustic guitars. Roy is one of the most underated artists out there.
What a voice!
Thanks to the Toucan club, I saw Roy many times in the nineties. I grew up listening to albums like HQ and Bullinamingvase. He had/has such personality and some great songs but the audience's, particularly in South Wales, can't shut up and stop making it about them shouting out and he stopped coming here. A great artist and is appreciated.
Still have my signed album of Bullinamingvase from the tour. Great gig. Also remember him being amazing at The Surrey University Free Festival.
it cheered me up.
one for the rolling man ^.*
...The words 'living legend' just don't do justice to this guy...Roy Harper is quite simply up 'there' on his own...
Have loved this man since i was introduced to him in about 1990, saw him at the half moon in putney a few times, the dominion theatre (we got busted for skinning up at the interval) and his 60th b-day gig at the festival hall. Sad to hear he'd not gigging anymore. Why don't more people know and love him????
One of those dsys in England; going up the M6 to visit a pencil factory in Keswick. O, WillBkakelake, wert thou with us in our bible dark hour!
@claytonave
Fantastic, as you will know in this world there are only two types, those who know Roy and.. Never ever heard Roy played in the UK. Roy needs the recognition he deserves, surely so of his mates in high places could see to that?? I have one wish, I could have seen Roy in the 1970's his voice was something else. The new Stormcock remaster he has done in utterly fantastic. Now living in NZ, I seriously would have considered staying in Blighty if he was still touring!
I am having 'one of those days' .Bless
This performance is definitely better than the studio version! Anyone agree?
Love Stormcock cant say no more
I actually saw him play at Paradiso in Amsterdam at around that time. Thanks.
What a treat: Roy & the OGWT. I used to see him many times in the mid 80s at the Half Moon in Putney - once playing with his son Nick at Feltham.
Talking of spliffs: once at the Half Moon, he asked the audience if anyone could roll HIM a spliff - a barrage of lumps of dope being thrown on the tiny stage. A roadie scooped them all up & rolled him a spliff, but he probably made more in ounces of dope that night than money for the gig LOL.
so so so many classic lines, love love love this man !
I can't believe that there's so little Roy Harper uploaded to YT.
The whole of the B side of the original album One Of Those Days In England (Bullinamingvase) was 19 minutes of brilliant prog called One of those Days in England Parts 2-10 and its a masterpiece.
It is. If you, dear reader, have never heard it, track it down (it's on YT) and see if we're not right ..
I have this very performance recorded on a little mono tape recorder directly fromm the Old Grey Whistle Test broadcast. Can't believe I can watch it again 36 years later. The tape compilation of Old Greys was a fixture in my first car's tape deck.
I used to do the same. I have a huge collection of audio from the whistle test, tube, gastank, switch, that thing Gary Crowley used to present in the middle of the night, Oxford Road show… The list is endless! I spent a big chunk of lockdown digitising it all. For a posterity that will never listen to it!
excellent video addition!Thanks!
great to see that. super work
Quintessentially English (I had to make sure I had got the spelling correct!) is our Roy. There are a lot of elements of our society that I dislike. Fortunately, Roy has been a great example of what is good about it! :-)
That's why I moved to England
Fantastic...thanks for posting this. I'll never forget sitting beside a border collie at the Glastonbury fest watching Roy perform...magic!!
@deafflylii1 I saw him live a few times throughout the 70s and never ever was disappointed, not by his singing, playing, band..not a moment. 'Me and my Woman' live at Newcastle city hall was beyond belief. I have a radio show here in California and play Roy often to great reception.
This is from Roy Harper's second appearance on BBC2's Old Grey Whistle Test, broadcast on Tuesday March 29th 1977 (ousted from its usual light-night slot by, of all things, the World Table Tennis Championships. That's the BBC for you.) As well as 'One Of Those Days' Roy also sang 'Cherishing The Lonesome'.
"One of those days in England with the Country going broke....."
Hmm, I have a strange feeling of deja vu!
Wonderful.
Tell me when it matters love...
Half the fun in falling is you don't care where it's to.
They don't write 'em like that anymore.
5***** Stars Thankyou for posting
The Man has always been there. Has anyone got a copy of Made?
This is from Roys `Noel Edmonds` period
a gem amongst men amd if you meet him a c7nt! one of those in.........
Roy is heavy Ju Ju!!!
Think I was there, didn't he just play in a tent? I think the Beautiful south were playing. Oh, the memories, needed Sundays joint cooking in my tree living in St Helens at the time.
Can that man sing or what?....I love it.
hats off to roy harper !!!
Very cool Tune
Still plays and someone whose opinion I respect said he was sounding good.
@oldhippypeace
It is on HQ with The Game on it and the brilliant Lords Prayer! Sorry I know far to much about Roy! 1975 I think, lovely new CD of it come out on his site. Cheers
I agree. What a voice! I don't think it's bland at all either, but to each his own.
I have a promo copy on a 4track vinyl single 45, with Watford Gap, that I still play
Watford Gap, Watford Gap, Plate of grease and a load of crap. The man's a genius..
Absolutely, man of taste, evidently! Roy for me is the one who speaks to the heart. As does John Martyn, but in different ways, guess Roy is more the poet and John the emotional musician. Know Roy has not been well. Do you follow the Stormcock site? bit silly at times, but some good interviews with Roy
@Islwynpaul Roy Ive seen loads over the years, e was just the best live, so was John. I think the music became the sum of the parts, sort of thinking where is the band? But it was just him expansive and a rollercoaster of emotions.
Saw him with Roy a lot, added to the evenings. Liked his early stuff, but cannot get into his more recent, though he is a brilliant guitarist. Check out the Stormcock Community site, some great interviews on it. Cheers.
hats of to roy harper !
Both this track and 'Shangri-la' by Neil Innes were released at roughly the same time and I don't know who paid homage to who but there's a huge Neil Innes presence here also with iconic Rutle legend Barry Wom (John Halsey) on drums and GRIMMS member and legendary "dead" singer songwriter Stan Fitch (Andy Roberts) on guitar 1. Neil Innes was Stan's roadie when he appeared "live dead" on Rutland Weekend Television.
I love Neil Innes
Oh Mr Harper , one and only 🕉
Small Hours - john Martyn is just fantastic
how good is roy? a true greatest living englishman
did you know that Roy Harper did the vocal on Have a cigar!!!!! what a cool fact. (i just found out) he asked for a life time season ticket to Lords< and they stiched him up on it and gave him a royalty check instead. trust the boys in floyd
Love Roy Harper.
I saw him once, a long time ago, at Knebworth I think. He just came on unanounced and unscheduled to fill in time before the main act. IIRC (it's been a very long time) it was when the main act was Mike Oldfield. That was a GOOD day.
@2:58 if that doesn't break your heart than nothing will
Have you heard of John Martyn? He was a brilliantly talented Scot on the folk scene. Check out One World anything off that is utterly beautiful. He is as close to Roy as possible, another mad one off.
Taste in food, like taste in music is clearly subjective. This isn't my favourite Harper song, but personally I love a nice bag of fish&chips, and roast beef and gravy.
Roy is in Ireland
great!!
I think I was at that gig! Did he say "what's that?" to one of the lumps hurled and someone replied "A freebie!" then something about the "quality of the heckling"?
tomkeys78
Live he was like no other. If you want the best albumn listen to Stormcock, Same old rock is out of this world. I am a Roy nut sorry to go on! Flashes from the Achives of Oblivion is utterly brilliant and one of the best live recordings (double albumn). Good hunting!
@Mourour
Yeah it's got a bit more bounce to it live:)
Don't know who the backing musicians are but, damn they do this song justice!
I'm still trying to figure out what instrument that guy beside the drummer is playing.
@deafflylii1 Cheers dude, I bought a second hand PC and it had a fully loaded itunes on it with all of Roys albums + about 2000 more classics. Result.
roy may well, bless his heart, be giving miss locelace a pubic hairdo...i saw him in somerville mass in 1996ish and he was wonderful
notice how the bassist is hidden throughout. I wonder why.. Herbie Flowers gets credit for the album version
hats off * ;)
I think it was around 1990 because I arrived in St Helens in 1988 and it wasn't then. He was in this tent and the engineer was Jacqueline the one who went of with that Nigel Kennedy. I remember it as a strange set as I turned up and didn't know he was on. There were all these St Helens blokes stopping and just saying hold on I have to listen to this! A wonderful evening. Saw Nick in the park on the Wirral a few years ago.
My mate was a biker called Dave from St Helens.
It sings to you.