Harper considers HQ to be "...probably the best record that I have made to date"
HQ finds Roy in 1975 as part of a rock quartet, Trigger. The album opens with The Game, one of Harper's most compelling long songs--it's a rocker with a smart lyric and includes David Gilmour and John Paul Jones. The next 2 tracks are solid rockers, "Spirit" is an anti-religion song, and "Grown ups" is a great 50's style boogie displaying Roy's playful wit. "Referendum" has some sweet guitar from Spedding and switches between acoustic and electric. "Forget Me Not" is the first acoustic song on the album and is a beautiful love song. "Hallucinating Light" is beautiful and finely crafted, and the album is superbly topped off with "Cricketer," an emotional and lovely take on aging and the proud memories of a life. The bonus tracks are good, but not as essential as the original album songs. Throughout, Roy's voice is top-notch. The lyrics are some of his finest, and his band is tight and rocking. I recommend this gem to anyone who likes classic rock, and especially to fans of Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull, and Dylan's folk-rock. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
(By Elliot Knapp)
Tracklist
01 "The Game (Parts 1–5)" – 13:42
02 "The Spirit Lives" – 4:14
03 "Grown ups are Just Silly Children" – 2:55
04 "Referendum (Legend)" – 3:49
05 "Forget Me Not" – 2:24
06 "Hallucinating Light" – 6:24
07 "When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease" – 7:13
08 "The Spirit Lives" (Early Mix, 23 March 1975)
09 "When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease" (Live in Exeter, 31 October 1977)
10 "Hallucinating Light" (7" Single version)
Credits
Roy Harper – vocals, guitar
Chris Spedding – guitar
Bill Bruford – drums
Dave Cochran – bass
David Gilmour – guitar on "The Game"
John Paul Jones – bass on "The Game"
Steve Broughton – drums on "The Game"
The Grimethorpe Colliery Band – brass on "When an Old Cricketer Leaves the Crease"
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