Sophisticated Beggar

"Sophisticated Beggar" is English folk / rock singer-songwriter and guitarist Roy Harper's debut album. It was released in 1966 on the Science Friction label. The album consists of Harper's poetry backed by acoustic guitar and recorded with a Revox tape machine by Pierre Tubbs. Mostly but not wholly acoustic, there are lingering similarities to Donovan and Bert Jansch, When initially released the album was poorly distributed; only a few thousand were ever made, so in order to promote the album, Harper designed flyers and personally handed them out to shoppers in Oxford Street, London. The albums liner notes imply that both John Renbourn and Ritchie Blackmore contributed. Cover art was drawn by Lon Goddard. The album has subsequently been re-released on a number of different labels, given numerous titles, and had the original track listing altered. Though still available today, Harper only receives royalties for the official Science Friction release.