Roy Harper.

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I've read the threads on new suggestions but it's gonna take a while to accumulate all the required info., so for now I'll just post this to get some sort of feedback (hopefully). Roy Harper. If ever an artist deserved the title Prog Folk Rock then it is he. At the very least he should be listed as Prog Related, and here's why:

1966, Roy records his first rough and ready collection of self penned folky songs. The result is his debut LP, "The Sophisticated Beggar". Hardly Prog, but hey, it was '66.

The LP was released in '67. Later that same year he recorded his second LP, "Come Out Fighting Genghis Smith", produced by Shel Talmy, (who also produced The Who's first album "My Generation".)  One track, "Circle", was 11 minutes long. Roy's audience was already starting to expand beyond the confines of contemporary folk.

1969 saw the release of "Folkjokeopus" which contained the 15 minute (epic, by '69 standards) "McGoohan's Blues".

1969, and Roy signs to Harvest and releases "Flat Baroque and Berserk". Here's where the prog connections really start to kick in. One track, "Hell's Angels", features electric instruments played by none other than THE NICE.

1970. Led Zeppelin and Roy play the Bath festival and a bond is instantly struck. Zep, inspired by Roy's acoustic folk, record Led Zeppelin III including the track "(Hats off to) Roy Harper." An admirable and honest acknowledgement. Imagine Marillion Writing a song called "(Respect To) Peter Gabriel".
Roy records his best (by common consent) LP "Stormcock" containing four epic tracks and featuring Jimmy Page playing acoustic lead guitar under the pseudonym S. Flavius Mercurius, and orchestral arrangements by David Bedford.  Harper went on to appear in "The Song Remains the Same" and to provide photography for the sleeve of "Physical Graffiti".

Ian Anderson has sited his friend Harper as a major influence on Tull's transition from blues to folk.

After "Stormcock" came "Lifemask", (the soundtrack to the film "Made" featuring Harper) on which Page played throughout , followed by "Valentine", again with Page. Then came "Flashes From the Archives of Oblivion", a live album recorded at the Rainbow, London in '74  featuring contributions from Page, Bedford, Ronnie Lane and Kieth Moon.

1975, and Pink Floyd are recording "Wish You Were Here." "Have A Cigar" is proving to be a bit of a problem as the vocal part is out of the range of both Gilmour and Waters. Step forward one Roy Harper, who happens to be in the same studio at the time. ("Prog related" enough for you yet?)

Gilmour then returns the favour by recording the backing track to "The Game" from Roy's next LP, "HQ", along with John Paul Jones and Steve Broughton. The album also features David Bedford's arrangement of the Grimethorpe Colliery Brass Band and Roy's new backing group Trigger, which consists of Chris Spedding, Dave Cochrane and BILL BRUFORD. (Still not prog related enough??) 

Next came "Bullinamingvase", with the brilliantly proggy "One Of Those Days In England", an epic which take up one track on side one (with guests Paul and Linda McCartney) and all of side two of the LP. Divided into interweaving suites of varying styles and time signatures, this is a beautiful musical journey about just what historical Englishness really means.
Musicians include Herbie Flowers (Sky), Percy Jones (Brand X), and BJ Cole (session musician for Uriah Heep, amongst others) .
Around this time Roy co-wrote 'Short and Sweet" with David Gilmour, who recorded it for his first eponymous solo LP.

For most of the 70's Roy was produced by Peter Jenner,  whose voice can be heard at the beginning of Pink Floyd's "Astronomy Domine". Yet another prog connection.

1980 sees the release of "The Unknown Soldier". Gilmour plays on four tracks, including Harper's version of their "Short and Sweet", and Kate Bush duets on the track "You." Roy returns the favour by singing backing vocals on Bush's "Breathing" from her album "Never Forever."

He's still at it to this day and I could go on and on, (mentioning things such as Roy's guitar and vocal contribution on "Up The 'Pool" on Jethro Tull's 1996 tribute album, "To Cry You a Song"),but come on, how much evidence do you need? Harper is One of the most prog related artists ever to record a note.

Ladies and gents of the PA Admin, I humbly submit that he be included on this site as "Prog Related".

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