Lifemask
Encyclopedia
Lifemask is the sixth album
by English
folk
/ rock
singer-songwriter
and guitarist
Roy Harper
, and was first released in 1973
by Harvest Records
.
, threatened his health and incapacitated the singer. With thoughts of life and death upon his mind, side two of the album features a lengthy 23 minute track entitled "The Lord's Prayer"; which Harper described as "...my last will and testament".
The gatefold
album cover is a representation of Harpers 'death mask
'. that opens centrally to reveal Harper, very much alive, "fixing the listener with one of his trademarked intense stares." As such it, in fact, shows Harper's 'life mask' as opposed to the death mask
it could have been.
Some of the songs were included in the soundtrack
for the John Mackenzie-directed film Made
which was on general release at the time, the story of a relationship between a young single mother, played by Carol White
, and an insecure rock star, 'Mike Preston' played by Harper
. The film featured excerpts from "The Lord's Prayer", a live excerpt from "Highway Blues", a live session of "Little Lady" and "Bank Of The Dead" (a.k.a. "The Social Casualty" and "Valerie's Song") sung with alternative lyrics.
In 1987 Awareness Records
released a cassette
of Lifemask (AWT 1007) containing 4 bonus tracks, however these tracks were not included on the 1990 Awareness Records CD (AWCD 1007) release.
record label (HAR 5059). This single contained the alternate versions of the album tracks that appeared in the movie Made
.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
/ rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Roy Harper
Roy Harper
Roy Harper is an English folk / rock singer-songwriter and guitarist who has been a professional musician since the mid 1960s...
, and was first released in 1973
1973 in music
-January–April:*January 9 – Mick Jagger's request for a Japanese visa is rejected on account of a 1969 drug conviction, putting an abrupt end to The Rolling Stones' plans to perform in Japan during their forthcoming tour.*January 14...
by Harvest Records
Harvest Records
-References:* Harvest Records collectors guide ISBN 978-5-9622-0021-7...
.
History
Lifemask was written by Harper during a period where a little-known (at the time) lung condition, HHT, which caused polycythemiaPolycythemia
Polycythemia is a disease state in which the proportion of blood volume that is occupied by red blood cells increases...
, threatened his health and incapacitated the singer. With thoughts of life and death upon his mind, side two of the album features a lengthy 23 minute track entitled "The Lord's Prayer"; which Harper described as "...my last will and testament".
The gatefold
Gatefold
A gatefold is a type of fold used for advertising around a magazine or section, and for packaging of media such as vinyl records.- LP covers :...
album cover is a representation of Harpers 'death mask
Death mask
In Western cultures a death mask is a wax or plaster cast made of a person’s face following death. Death masks may be mementos of the dead, or be used for creation of portraits...
'. that opens centrally to reveal Harper, very much alive, "fixing the listener with one of his trademarked intense stares." As such it, in fact, shows Harper's 'life mask' as opposed to the death mask
Death mask
In Western cultures a death mask is a wax or plaster cast made of a person’s face following death. Death masks may be mementos of the dead, or be used for creation of portraits...
it could have been.
Some of the songs were included in the soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
for the John Mackenzie-directed film Made
Made (1972 film)
Made is a 1972 film directed by John Mackenzie. It stars Carol White and Roy Harper.-Cast:*Carol White as Valerie Marshall*Roy Harper as Mike Preston*John Castle as Father Dyson*Margery Mason as Mrs. Marshall*Doremy Vernon as June...
which was on general release at the time, the story of a relationship between a young single mother, played by Carol White
Carol White
Carol White was a British actress.She achieved notability for her performances in the television play Cathy Come Home and the films Poor Cow and I'll Never Forget What's'isname , but alcoholism and drug abuse damaged her career, and from the early 1970s she worked infrequently.-Life and...
, and an insecure rock star, 'Mike Preston' played by Harper
Roy Harper
Roy Harper is an English folk / rock singer-songwriter and guitarist who has been a professional musician since the mid 1960s...
. The film featured excerpts from "The Lord's Prayer", a live excerpt from "Highway Blues", a live session of "Little Lady" and "Bank Of The Dead" (a.k.a. "The Social Casualty" and "Valerie's Song") sung with alternative lyrics.
In 1987 Awareness Records
Awareness Records
Awareness Records was a record label founded in the mid 1980s by its owner, Andy Ware. The label was based in England and had Roy Harper and Michael Nesmith among its artists. It has now gone out of business.-Artists:* Michael Nesmith* Roy Harper...
released a cassette
Compact Cassette
The Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. It was designed originally for dictation, but improvements in fidelity led the Compact Cassette to supplant the Stereo 8-track cartridge and reel-to-reel...
of Lifemask (AWT 1007) containing 4 bonus tracks, however these tracks were not included on the 1990 Awareness Records CD (AWCD 1007) release.
Side One
- "Highway Blues" – 6:34
- "All Ireland" – 2:52
- "Little Lady" – 4:19
- "Bank Of The Dead" – 3:13
- "South Africa" – 4:06
Side Two
- "The Lord's Prayer" – 22:55
-
- a) "Poem"
- b) "Modal Song Parts I to IV"
- c) "Front Song"
- d) "Middle Song"
- e) "End Song" (Front Song Reprise)
Bonus tracks on 1987 cassette reissue
- "Ballad Of Songwriter" – (from the US release of FolkjokeopusFolkjokeopusFolkjokeopus is the third album issued by English folk / rock singer-songwriter and guitarist Roy Harper. It was produced by Shel Talmy and was first released in 1969 by Liberty Records.-History:...
) - "Zaney Janey" – (from the US release of – FolkjokeopusFolkjokeopusFolkjokeopus is the third album issued by English folk / rock singer-songwriter and guitarist Roy Harper. It was produced by Shel Talmy and was first released in 1969 by Liberty Records.-History:...
) - "Midspring Dithering" – (A-side from the 1967 singleSingle (music)In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
) - "Zengem" – (B-side from the 1967 singleSingle (music)In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
)
Singles
A 7" single was released on the HarvestHarvest Records
-References:* Harvest Records collectors guide ISBN 978-5-9622-0021-7...
record label (HAR 5059). This single contained the alternate versions of the album tracks that appeared in the movie Made
Made (1972 film)
Made is a 1972 film directed by John Mackenzie. It stars Carol White and Roy Harper.-Cast:*Carol White as Valerie Marshall*Roy Harper as Mike Preston*John Castle as Father Dyson*Margery Mason as Mrs. Marshall*Doremy Vernon as June...
.
- Side 1. "Bank Of The Dead"
- Side 2. "Little Lady"
Personnel
- Roy HarperRoy HarperRoy Harper is an English folk / rock singer-songwriter and guitarist who has been a professional musician since the mid 1960s...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
, bellsBell (instrument)A bell is a simple sound-making device. The bell is a percussion instrument and an idiophone. Its form is usually a hollow, cup-shaped object, which resonates upon being struck...
, and vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Jimmy PageJimmy PageJames Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
on "Bank Of The Dead" and "The Lord's Prayer" - Laurie AllanLaurie AllanLaurie Allan is an English drummer, best known for stints in Delivery and Gong. He has also played with Robert Wyatt, for example on his albums Rock Bottom and Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard....
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
on "Highway Blues" - Steve Broughton – bongosBongo drumBongo or bongos are a Cuban percussion instrument consisting of a pair of single-headed, open-ended drums attached to each other. The drums are of different size: the larger drum is called in Spanish the hembra and the smaller the macho...
on "The Lord's Prayer" - Tony Carr – bongosBongo drumBongo or bongos are a Cuban percussion instrument consisting of a pair of single-headed, open-ended drums attached to each other. The drums are of different size: the larger drum is called in Spanish the hembra and the smaller the macho...
on "The Lord's Prayer" and drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
on "Bank Of The Dead" - Brian Davison – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
on "The Lord's Prayer" - Brian Hodges – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
on "Bank Of The Dead" and "The Lord's Prayer" - Ray Warleigh – fluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
on "The Lord's Prayer" - John LeckieJohn LeckieJohn Leckie is a British music producer, notable for producing many high-profile albums such as The Stone Roses's debut and Radiohead's The Bends...
– sound engineer - Phil McDonald – sound engineer
- Nick WebbNick Webb (musician)Nicholas "Nick" Webb was an English acoustic guitarist, composer, and co-founder of contemporary jazz group Acoustic Alchemy...
– sound engineer - Peter JennerPeter JennerPeter Jenner is a British music manager and a record producer. Jenner, Andrew King and the original four members of Pink Floyd were partners in Blackhill Enterprises.- Early career :...
– producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
External links
- Roy Harper Official Site
- Excellent Roy Harper resource
- http://imdb.com/title/tt0073330/Internet Movie Database Entry for MadeMade (1972 film)Made is a 1972 film directed by John Mackenzie. It stars Carol White and Roy Harper.-Cast:*Carol White as Valerie Marshall*Roy Harper as Mike Preston*John Castle as Father Dyson*Margery Mason as Mrs. Marshall*Doremy Vernon as June...
] - Album credits