MY NORTHERN SKIES

Featured Album | Alternative Liner Notes

365 | Various Artists | Picnic: A Breath of Fresh Air | Harvest SHSS 1/2 | 1970

By narrowing it down, I have to say that if Hipgnosis were responsible for the best album sleeve designs in the late 60s and early 70s, then the one they did for the Harvest compilation sampler ‘Picnic: A Breath of Fresh Air’ is probably my favourite. Just considering the thought processes that must have gone into it still intrigues me; as they said back then, something was definitely in the air, and in this case, something possibly sinister. The compilers of this double sampler had much to go at, even in the early days of Harvest, the EMI subsidiary created mainly to cater for progressive rock, though the label also ventured into folk music (Shirley & Dolly Collins) as well as the more straight forward rock music of the day (Deep Purple, The Move) and the then current singer songwriter troubadour roster, such as Roy Harper and Michael Chapman. There seemed to be something for everyone. Pink Floyd completists back in 1970 would certainly have been drawn to the inclusion of “Embryo”, a track considered not even good enough for the ‘Ummagumma’ album, let alone a sampler whose very purpose was to attract potential album buyers. When I picked up ‘Picnic’, I was intrigued to know more about Quatermass, Tea & Symphony and The Battered Ornaments, but came away a life-long enthusiast of the Edgar Broughton Band, Kevin Ayers and Third Ear Band. To this day I consider the sampler albums of the early 1970s as important as John Peel or the then popular weekly music press.

Playlist:

One of These Days – Pink Floyd (Meddle)

Crazy Over You – Barclay James Harvest (Baby James Harvest)

Eleanor’s Cake Which Ate Her – Kevin Ayers (Picnic: A Breath of Fresh Air)

House of Turnabout – Edgar Broughton Band (Edgar Broughton Band)

Stone Circle – Third Ear Band (Alchemy)

Fare Thee Well My Dearest Dear – Shirley Collins (Amaranth)

Ella James – Move (Message From the Country)

Living Here Alone – Roy Harper (The Harvest Bag)

Stranger in the Room – Michael Chapman (Fully Qualified Survivor)

What Am I Living For – Mark-Almond (Rising)

Again and Again – Greatest Show on Earth (Picnic: A Breath of Fresh Air)