Sophisticated Beggar – ROY HARPER***

China Girl/Goldfish/Sophisticated Beggar/My Friend/Big Fat Silver Aeroplane/Blackpool/Legend/Girlie/October The Twelth/Black Clouds/Mr Station Master/Forever/Committed

Sophisticated Beggar was the debut album from Roy Harper, a cult figure on the British music scene during the sixties. He straddled the line between folk and rock with this release emphasising the former.

“A promising debut which gives a hint of many of the elements for which Harper has become known: The distinctive guitar style, the humour but also the self indulgence which you either love or loathe.”

“As with most of his releases, he seems to have a Jekyll/Hyde personality conflict going between singer/songwriter acoustic folk and progressive hard rock. This first album has only one of the latter, the remainder being the former. But even the softer stuff features some great songwriting."

“Sophisticated Beggar shows Roy Harper to be a fully formed artist from the outset on his debut album. Amongst the polemic longer tracks he became known for there are some surprising attempts at more poppy material such as Big Fat Silver Aeroplane, as well as the shorter beautiful songs.”

“If you are a fan of Roy's sixties work then you will not be disappointed by the number and quality of great songs on this album. Of the thirteen tracks I would say only around three are under par. Forever combines Roy's trademark unusual tunings, lyrical acuity and beautiful melodies.”

“Harper struck gold right away with his debut album; and arguably he never did anything better. There's a variety of moods - mostly just acoustic guitar and vocal, though there are a couple of band tracks. The trademark caustic style is already there, but also childlike simplicity and a beautiful, poignant lyricism; perhaps the dominant note, though, is a mellow dreaminess, enhanced by some of his most ambitious guitar work ever.”

“As an ardent Roy Harper fan, I think this is probably the worst of his many albums I have in my possession. Granted there are little distant snippets of what is yet to come, but in all honesty, if I had heard this prior to hearing any of his other works, then I think I would not have bothered listening to any of his later masterpieces.”