Roy Harper – Lifemask

My copy has 'Factory Sample - Not For Sale' on a sticker on side B. Which makes me wonder where I got it from almost 50 years ago.

Lifemask was one of the first Roy Harper albums I got from my dad, along with Folkjokeopus and Stormcock. Lifemask - while still being a solid album in terms of production and musicality - was my least enjoyed of the three. There is something about it that just doesn't leave me with much of an impression afterwards. It doesn't feel as solidly structured as his earlier efforts, and other than "Highway Blues" I rarely can recall what other tracks appear here. Don't get me wrong: I would never turn down the opportunity to listen to this album if it came up in rotation. But it certainly isn't the album I would start with if trying to get a friend into the obscured genius of Roy Harper.

Another fine remastering work among a bunch of Roy Harper reissues. And with an excellent, well made sleeve that reproduces the original one. I guess I'm on my way to buy all the reissues.

The version pictured is not the one described. The 1st pressing rim text begins “The Gramophone Company..”. That pictured is likely to be a later pressing, as it is an EMI Records message. It is difficult to know with those for sale which pressing they come from, bar one.

The "gimmick" sleeve is a reproduction of the original sleeve.