Hats Off To (Roy) Harper!

Have a cigar, boy, Roy Harper’s back catalog going back into print!

By Fred Mills

Just issued by Koch is a collection of early titles from legendary UK folk-rock singer/songwriter Roy Harper — who, if you’ve been paying attention over the years, has had his praises sung by everyone from Led Zeppelin to Pink Floyd to Joanna Newsom. This marks the first official US release of albums previously only available as imports. Freshly restored and repackaged, they are released on Harper’s own Science Friction record label in exclusive distribution partnerships with Cadiz Music in UK and KOCH Entertainment in US.

Last week Cadiz issued four albums from Harper’s catalog via KOCH:

• Stormcock: from 1971, it’s re-released in a case-bound book and has been cited as a major influence by Johnny Marr and Joanna Newsom.
• Counter Culture: A double CD best-of compilation.
• Jugula: collaboration with Jimmy Page from Led Zep.
• Flat Baroque and Berserk:  featuring such songs as “Don’t You Grieve,” “I Hate the White Man,” and “Another Day.”

Additional forthcoming Harper titles to be released later in 2008 include: The Green Man, The Dream Society, The Unknown Soldier, and Death or Glory.  

In a statement, Harper noted, “I am delighted that Koch is releasing my albums in the USA. I was particularly impressed that Michael Rosenberg is a fan of my music. I am looking to come over to tour in 2009 with my new album.” Added Michael Rosenberg of KOCH, “Roy Harper is one of the most important songwriters of the rock era, period.   I’ve been a fan of his for decades, since discovering his music as a teenager.  Needless to say, we are thrilled to be working with him.”

About time old cricketer Harper returned to the American crease, eh?

Incidentally, if you go to Harper’s MySpace page, check out his blogs — he’s got two lengthy entries where he writes about the Stormcock album. Fascinating stuff.