Best of Barclay James Harvest: Centenary Collection

The title of this compilation might at first glance cause serious Barclay James Harvest fans to ignore it in favor of individual albums, but this is hardly a greatest hits set. While a few classics, like "Mocking Bird" and "Medicine Man," are thrown in, this is primarily a collection of lesser known singles and B-sides, several of which never made it onto the albums. For some cuts, this makes sense -- it's hard to see how the strutting "Rock and Roll Woman" would fit in with the repertoire of a band better known at that time for lugging around the 60-piece orchestra that drenches concluding track "Moonwater." But each piece stands up well, from the groovy flashback of clavinet and Leslie-distorted vocals in "Good Love Child" to the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young)-influenced choruses of the driving "Child of Man." Well worth a look for the fan in need of a few rare tracks. ~ Paul Collins