I agree that the live 1974 album is probably their best album. The studio albums sometimes sound to me a bit too "overproduced", too many strings and such, while in the live recording you get the "pure" compositions, which are simply great, and greatly performed!

Green Shield Stamp wrote: I agree that the 1974 live album is probably the best album to get overall.  I find the band a little frustrating because they are obviously hugely talented and have produced some great songs but their overall sound is just a little too limp and tepid.  A little more drama (especially in the vocals) could have propelled BJH into the big league.

I would like to revise this opinion. Prompted by this thread, I have been listening to a number of BJH albums lately, especially Time Honoured Ghosts, Octoberon, Gone to Earth, and XII. Repeated listens have made me realise that there is drama and power in the music. There is a tastefulness to the arrangements rather than a limpness. My initial evaluation was lazy and uninformed.

Ah ..... got to the end of Octoberon and now I know why I liked the thing back in the day.

Suicide.

If they ever wrote/recorded a better tune I'd like to know what it was.

"Heard a voice shouting "Don't jump, please for God's sake let me move my car"!"

Barclay James Harvest....
I fell in love with this band when I was 14 years old, and today (after 30+ years) is still one of my most beloved bands.
 I read in some of your comments here, that BJH wasn't much into Prog, right? I will have to agree and disagree at the same time. It totally depends on what do you mean by "Prog". If for you 'Prog' means something like King Crimson, Yes, ELP etc, then yes, BJH isn't a Prog band. But if you are fond of bands like Procol Harum, Renaissance, Illusion, The Moody Blues and so on, then BJH should be a "must" for you.
As for the albums you mentioned...
Their first and more "Symphonic" period, (including Robert John Godfrey as a musical conductor), is a wonderful one. It ends with the release of 'Baby James Harvest' which is a not so good album. (But it includes the brilliant 'Summer Soldier' and especially 'Moonwater' in it).
 The "must listen to" album from this first period, is without a doubt 'Barclay James Harvest Live' (1974). It includes most of their best songs, in wonderful versions. (Also, BJH & other short stories is a very good choice).
 Next, they moved to another record label, and tried to become famous. Well, they did it!
Here's a few more albums I would recommend to you as well: Everyone is Everybody else (1974), Octoberon (1976) and Live Tapes (1978).
I hope I helped you somehow...
greetings!

^^ The Eye of Wendor also features the Experience’s Noel Redding, Justin Hayward, and Sad Café’s Ian Wilson and Paul Young.  Great prog concept album although the story is a bit clichéd.