Live At Les Cousins
121 min · 16 tracks · traditional folk music
An intimate showcase of poetic storytelling woven through intricate guitar work and heartfelt vocal delivery.
Top tracks — play these first
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You Don't Need Money — This track opens the album with a confident declaration against materialism, setting the tone for Harper's introspective songwriting throughout the performance.
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McGoohan's Blues — A lengthy exploration of existential themes, this song showcases Harper's narrative strength and ability to weave complex emotions into extended musical forms.
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I Hate the White Man — This provocative piece addresses racial tensions and social issues with striking honesty, reflecting the political consciousness prevalent in Harper's work during this era.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong songwriting and performance but has some unevenness in pacing.
What we noticed
- The album features extended guitar solos that often serve as interludes between vocal sections, emphasizing the storytelling aspect of the lyrics.
- Several tracks include spoken word segments that blend seamlessly with the music, enhancing the narrative quality of the performance.
- The live recording captures audience reactions, creating an intimate atmosphere that complements Harper's personal delivery.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- intimate storytelling with acoustic warmth
- patient unfolding of intricate melodies
- late-night reflective listening experience
- immersive narratives that demand attention
- emotional depth in live performance
Maybe skip if you
- seeking instant gratification tracks
- prefer upbeat, fast-paced music
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1972, Live At Les Cousins captures Roy Harper during a significant period of his career, following his earlier albums like Flat Baroque and Berserk. This live album illustrates his growing reputation within the folk scene, showcasing his distinctive style and lyrical depth as he performed at the iconic London venue, Les Cousins.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Nick Drake· John Martyn· Leonard Cohen
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
Disc 1
- 1 You Don't Need Money 6:22
- 2 North Country 8:06
- 3 Hors D'Oeuvres 6:17
- 4 Blackpool 6:37
- 5 She's the One (1) 2:24
- 6 She's the One (2) 8:19
- 7 Goldfish 5:11
- 8 East of the Sun 12:18
Disc 2
- 1 McGoohan's Blues 19:48
- 2 Feeling All the Saturday 3:08
- 3 Zengem 1:20
- 4 Che 6:28
- 5 Davey 8:53
- 6 I Hate the White Man 10:38
- 7 Goodbye 10:32
- 8 Tom Tiddler's Ground (edit) 4:46
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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