Top reviews from United KingdomAdrian Mcgachie5.0 out of 5 stars Should sit beside any serious reading of the music by Roy Harper.Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 August 2021Verified PurchaseRoy Harper is not for everyone, and can be divisive, contrary, thought provoking, beautiful and lyrical, and that can be all in the space of just one twenty minute song.This book though is an anthology that deserves to sit by your side, in, as I say in the title, any reading of this masterful lyricist, singer, songwriter, and poet. The music, by any standards, is so complex, that it deserves to one day to sit besides the greatest works of the greatest authors, lyricists, and poets, to be contemplated over for decades, nay, centuries, to come.This book will hopefully reveal a corner of that tapestry, to assist scholars to unveil for themselves, for years to come.If you’re not a scholar, just enjoy, as a music lover!A very enjoyable companion to Roy’s music, to have by your side.Stewart Harper5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading if you are a Harper Fan!Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 August 2021This was an epic undertaking…And it doesn’t fall short…I absolutely loved it! Even as a long term Fan…There is lots of brilliant insights into forging of the Songs…Anecdotal discourse from Someone who was there…Who Himself was an instant Fan…Then a Friend…Long before any kind of Spotlight truly hit Roy…It is extremely informative and details alot of hidden aspects…Observations and revelations…Which only serve and deepen your appreciation…For Roy’s Body of Work…It is the perfect Companion…And is a must…IMHO…You’ll find yourself reconnecting…With alot of the albums…And tracks…On another level…I raced through it…And started to reread it immediately again…I don’t do that with alot of books…The only spoiler alert…It’s a must…For any lover of Roy’s output!david hughes5.0 out of 5 stars Everything you need to know about Roy Harper recordingsReviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 August 2021 Verified PurchaseExcellent and enjoyable – thorough, detailed, super anecdotes and “eye witness”, and an easy and fun read. Written by a true fan but not sycophantic – Harper is not that sort of writer/performer. Makes me want to play every song (again). Nice jobM J Wilkinson5.0 out of 5 stars Highly informativeReviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 August 2021 Verified PurchaseAs a fan of Roy Harper for 50 years, I was really pleased to discover this writer and this great, highly informative book. Highly recommendedM. Ruston5.0 out of 5 stars A Biography of SortsReviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 July 2021The closest we have come to a Roy Harper autobiography is 2003’s ‘The Passions of Great Fortune’, Roy’s own book of lyrics, pictures and reminiscences. It leaves more questions than answers. Goodwin’s song by song semi-biography is a really welcome addition to the Roy Harper history that many of us only half know. Goodwin manages to review each song in context and gives us a domestic structure that we’ve previously had to guess at. He’s obviously a fan (who isn’t?) and his passion even extends to ruminating on what would have made a better single in 1970. (‘I Hate The White Man’ or ‘Another Day’?). The writing is energetic, insightful and, in many places, inspired. The book provides a perfect companion to the music and the music provides a perfect companion to your life. 6 people found this helpfulPaul Laidler5.0 out of 5 stars A treat for Roy Harper fans.Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 August 2021As soon as I started reading “on track…..Roy Harper” I was hooked. This is an excellent idea that has been well executed by Opher Goodwin.The level of detail is brilliant and it has added a slightly different dimension to my love of Roy Harper’s music.Opher clearly knows the man and his music very well.It does as the title suggests, going through the songs on each album one by one. There are lots of descriptions of playing style and personal thoughts from the author.Highly recommended. 3 people found this helpfulIt is also available at Burning Shed (The publisher’s own site)https://burningshed.com/opher-goodwin_roy-harper-on-track_book?filter_tag=Opher%20GoodwinCopies signed by myself can be purchased directly from me – email opher@hotmail.co.ukA BIG THANKYOU TO ALL THOSE LEAVING REVIEWS!!!Thank you!
Roy Harper: Every Album, Every Song (On Track) Paperback – 29 July 2021
Britain’s best singer-songwriter.
Sixty-two top ratings/Reviews on Amazon. 166 likes on Burning Shed. Thank you to everyone for your support.
Album by album, song by song – an insight into the songs, lyrics and man.
https://burningshed.com/opher-goodwin_roy-harper-on-track_book
Signed copies are available from the author.
Roy Harper On Track provides a track by track assessment of Harper’s unique body of work (comprising 22 studio albums and 16 live albums).
Lauded by the likes of Dave Gilmour, Ian Anderson, Jimmy Page, Pete Townsend, Joanna Newsom, Fleet Foxes and Kate Bush, who else could boast that he has had Keith Moon, Jimmy Page, Dave Gilmour, John Paul Jones, Ronnie Lane, Chris Spedding, Bill Bruford and Steve Broughton in his backing band?
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Opher Goodwin, Roy’s friend and a fan, guides the reader through every album and song, providing insight into the recording of the songs as well the times in which they were recorded. As his loyal and often fanatical fans will attest, Roy has produced a series of epic songs and he remains a raging, uncompromising individual.
Opher Goodwin is the author of many books on rock music and science fiction. He taught the first ‘History of Rock Music’ classes in the UK. Opher was fortunate to spend the sixties in London, the epicenter for the underground explosion of rock music and culture, where he was able to see everyone from Pink Floyd, Hendrix and Cream to the Doors, Captain Beefheart and, of course, Roy Harper. He befriended Roy in 1967 and has not only attended hundreds of gigs but was a privileged guest In Abbey Road studios for the recording of some of Roy’s seminal albums. He lives in East Yorkshire, UK.
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Roy Harper: Every Album, Every Song (On Track) Paperback – 29 July 2021
Roy Harper: Every Album, Every Song (On Track) Paperback – 29 July 2021
Top reviews from United Kingdom
Adrian Mcgachie5.0 out of 5 stars Should sit beside any serious reading of the music by Roy Harper.Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 August 2021Verified PurchaseRoy Harper is not for everyone, and can be divisive, contrary, thought provoking, beautiful and lyrical, and that can be all in the space of just one twenty minute song.
This book though is an anthology that deserves to sit by your side, in, as I say in the title, any reading of this masterful lyricist, singer, songwriter, and poet. The music, by any standards, is so complex, that it deserves to one day to sit besides the greatest works of the greatest authors, lyricists, and poets, to be contemplated over for decades, nay, centuries, to come.
This book will hopefully reveal a corner of that tapestry, to assist scholars to unveil for themselves, for years to come.
If you’re not a scholar, just enjoy, as a music lover!
A very enjoyable companion to Roy’s music, to have by your side.
Stewart Harper5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading if you are a Harper Fan!Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 August 2021This was an epic undertaking…And it doesn’t fall short…I absolutely loved it! Even as a long term Fan…There is lots of brilliant insights into forging of the Songs…Anecdotal discourse from Someone who was there…Who Himself was an instant Fan…Then a Friend…Long before any kind of Spotlight truly hit Roy…It is extremely informative and details alot of hidden aspects…Observations and revelations…Which only serve and deepen your appreciation…For Roy’s Body of Work…It is the perfect Companion…And is a must…IMHO…You’ll find yourself reconnecting…With alot of the albums…And tracks…On another level…I raced through it…And started to reread it immediately again…I don’t do that with alot of books…The only spoiler alert…It’s a must…For any lover of Roy’s output!
david hughes5.0 out of 5 stars Everything you need to know about Roy Harper recordings
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 August 2021 Verified Purchase
Excellent and enjoyable – thorough, detailed, super anecdotes and “eye witness”, and an easy and fun read. Written by a true fan but not sycophantic – Harper is not that sort of writer/performer. Makes me want to play every song (again). Nice job
M J Wilkinson5.0 out of 5 stars Highly informative
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 August 2021 Verified Purchase
As a fan of Roy Harper for 50 years, I was really pleased to discover this writer and this great, highly informative book. Highly recommended
M. Ruston5.0 out of 5 stars A Biography of Sorts
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 July 2021
The closest we have come to a Roy Harper autobiography is 2003’s ‘The Passions of Great Fortune’, Roy’s own book of lyrics, pictures and reminiscences. It leaves more questions than answers. Goodwin’s song by song semi-biography is a really welcome addition to the Roy Harper history that many of us only half know. Goodwin manages to review each song in context and gives us a domestic structure that we’ve previously had to guess at. He’s obviously a fan (who isn’t?) and his passion even extends to ruminating on what would have made a better single in 1970. (‘I Hate The White Man’ or ‘Another Day’?). The writing is energetic, insightful and, in many places, inspired. The book provides a perfect companion to the music and the music provides a perfect companion to your life. 6 people found this helpful
Paul Laidler5.0 out of 5 stars A treat for Roy Harper fans.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 August 2021
As soon as I started reading “on track…..Roy Harper” I was hooked. This is an excellent idea that has been well executed by Opher Goodwin.
The level of detail is brilliant and it has added a slightly different dimension to my love of Roy Harper’s music.
Opher clearly knows the man and his music very well.
It does as the title suggests, going through the songs on each album one by one. There are lots of descriptions of playing style and personal thoughts from the author.
Highly recommended. 3 people found this helpful
It is also available at Burning Shed (The publisher’s own site)
https://burningshed.com/opher-goodwin_roy-harper-on-track_book?filter_tag=Opher%20Goodwin
Copies signed by myself can be purchased directly from me – email opher@hotmail.co.uk
A BIG THANKYOU TO ALL THOSE LEAVING REVIEWS!!!
Thank you!