TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

We're going to have a poll and send a loud message out to Fairport about the songs and tunes we want to hear during the Autumn Tour.  So get opinionated, everyone. ;D

*  If you could only choose one song what would it be?

*  Is there a song that has fallen by the wayside in recent years and needs to be resurrected?

* Is there a song that needs to be 'rested' for one season?

I'd like to know what you think.  Radcliffe Civic Hall here I come!

Sir Robert Peel
Pollster

"Old, New, Borrowed, Blue" had a very different selection of songs on it, compaired with the contemporary Fairport Wintour set and that was the original 'Acoustic' lineup.

Gerry has hinted that something similar is planned this time.  ;D

I would really like to hear Rosemary's Sister again. I've only heard it live once so far, I think it was on the last winter tour, and it was probably the best performance I have ever heard by Simon.  :)

I'd be happy for Matty to take a short rest....

Matty Groves is one that I would always want to hear, even More so than Sloth, which took more than a little rest for some years.

As for the ones I think should take a rest I'll keep that to myself, for fear of upsetting fans of certain tracks.

I know there is no chance (apart from not going) but I could quite happily never, ever hear 'Over the Next Hill' again. Although it's not an old track it would be great to hear 'My Love is in America' again. If they could only play one song, for me it would have to be either 'John Gaudie' or 'Genesis Hall'

rachel

Sailing Boat (Anna Ryder's superb song) Simon sings it so well, so yes please!
Red & Gold please too!
Woodworm swing! (am I allowed three?)

Give a rest:

Matty Groves  ;)

Sorry, but here's one vote against Sailing Boat....it's awful

My one song would have to 'Dark Eyed Molly' - I've never heard them do it live but it's one of my all time favourites. 
I also have to say it wouldn't be right for me not to hear matty!
 :)

Aaah Chris - is that 'in your humble opinion' btw?!!!!  ;)

Tam Lin, if they've got time to learn all 200 verses.  I really like I'm already there and I'd love to hear Lalla Rookh after becoming addicted to the Acoustically Down Under album.

   

They'd have to take a girlie singer along with them but I'd like to hear them do Fotheringay.

Has Ditching Boy had an outing recentlly?

As in one vote.....yup.

Ditchling Boy hasn't recently been on tour.

No, it is SUPERB! And I´ll second the vote.

Plus the funny "Swimming Song"  ;D

I'll second Swimming Song

And haven't heard "Close to the Wind" for a while.

I'd like to hear "Summer before the war" or "The Rosehip".

I could do without Hiring Fair - I like it, but not that much...

But the ultimate wish - to see Swarb stroll on at some point in the tour to sing "Rosie", but I'd settle for him fiddling & letting Chris (Leslie, not our resident photographer!) handle the vocals.

PS - how about a Swarb smiley? A tiny fiddle wearing a cheeky grin would do...

I agree with you about Sailing Boat, Chris. I think it's an absolute dirge.....

Close to the Wind. Not heard that live yet - but I don't get out much ;D

I always enjoy Journeyman's Grace - the first FC track I ever heard live, so it has a special place in my heart. And John Gaudie and My Love is in America.......bit of a Chris Leslie fan, wot, wot wot?

Gower Flower ;)

Ah yes, Flower. My Love is in America. Should have been a number one hit!

Right, I'm off to see Ric and co in Worcester. I'll write a review somewhere on the sight tomorrow.

"Caught a Whisper"? ;D

Please chaps.. rest Travelling by Steam!!!

 I love Dark Eyed Molly/ Sailing Boat/My Love is in America...

But a song I'd really like to become a part of the FC repertoire is Vo Fletcher's song The Bridge.... (are you listening Simon??  (There Ric that's twice ;) ;)!!!)

AmyJen :)

Dangerous! Now there is a good song!

I'd like to hear Simon have ago at the original Deserter the one that Sandy sang and Chris to do It suits me well.

Now they haven't been done for quite a while!

Puggzz

 

John Babbacombe Lee, now there's a good song!


(Sorry, John Packet Of Peas)

Yep I'd be up fer that

I think the JBL album needs a one-off concert in all it's glory once Swarb can perform. That would be wonderful on DVD and CD for posterity.

Cropredy Caper/Frog Up The Pump are due an outing...

Seconde.  Being newish to Fairport, the original Deserter was one of the few songs I had on the "history of Fairport", and that started me on all thing Fairport.  I would like to hear songs that I have not heard live yet(and thats a lot of em.
Mark

ROSIE...

YES PLEASE!

AmyJen

Ironically John Babbacombe Lee album has been done in the past, though I myself would love to see it done again, even if it was a studio DVD say. Do have a mental picture of how this would be achieved, but alas I cannot see it happening... oh well.

Westward
Rosie
From a Distance
My Love is in America
Canny Capers
Some Special Place
Who Knows Where the Time Goes
Hens March
Angel Delight
Matty / Dirty Linen

In no particular order of course

I'd love to see babbercombe Lee done in it's entirity. Dramatised would be even better.

Paul

Oh, please......seconded definitely.

Also been done on stage, but the music of Fairport set out to a drama about the mans life would be great. fantastic story line if ever there was one, it should be told. it needs to be.

I remember that the whole JBL was presented a friday night at Cropredy. 1983 -or 1982 - and it was definitely impressive. Doubt whether it´ll work without Swarb, though.
Looking forward to the Elsinore gig on the North European Leg of the autumn tour, I hope "Rosemary´s Sister" is back into the repertoire. For a long time I´ve hoped that the band should shift the 35+-year-old heavies, i.e. let Matty take a looong rest and reenter Sloth. The latter is, in my mind, just as heavy and meaningful in the Fairport canon as Matty, means maybe more to many people and leave plenty of room for instrumental soloing. Grab that strat Simon!
Just as good as he is on the acoustic in "Rosemary´s Sister", I´m convinced he´s just as good on the electric.
Staffan

fave from ONBB:

There Once Was Love

otherwise for the acoustic line up:

Slip Jigs and Reels
Three Drinken Maidens
Night Time Girl (Chrs singing lead)

Jackdaw

Oh yes! With Innstuck on the end. Sublime.

Roll on Thursday and the arrival of Broadband, so I can ask Himself if I can get to the Grays gig...

Song requests...?  Hmmm.  Some personal favourites, some in the current repertoire some not.  Some I couldn't say whether they'd "work" either live or in the current lineup.
The Lady Vanishes
Close To You
Angel Delight (could be a fun one to update?)
Slip Jigs and Reels
If (Stomp)
Canny Capers
Walk Awhile
London Danny
Home is Where the Heart is
Westward
Red and Gold
Don't Leave Too Soon
Happy Man
Portmerion
Everything But the Skirl
Fiddlestix

Also 2nd/3rd/4th Rosemary's Sister.  How about Lancashire Hills too?  or Danny's Song?

Awaiting delivery of a couple more "middle years" CDs, so might find some good stuff in there too...

Seems odd Anna, why dioes the latter rely on the former?

Simon is a really good rhythm guitarist, his playing has got balls, when he can be bothered to pick up a strat or tele, or even his rickonbacker 8)
Wat Tyler is one they don't do often enough & that is one Simon gan really chug away, he should borrow Martin Barre's set of Marshalls, for that bit extra umph

Was looking at the 20th aniversary Vid today & the whole thing rocked.

Songs like Romarys sister, Summer before the War, Ginnie etc, we really can do without, they are fairports version of Margarita time as far as I'm concerned. They've been done to death over the last lord knows how many years & they are not Fairport, let alone they are not Folk, they are just MOR dirges.

Lets have some decent Traditional songs & tunes that rock as well as songs that sound as if they deserve to be traditional.

Lord Marborrough
Bonny Black Hare
Doctor of physics
Polly
Spanish Main
Adieu adieu
Flowers of the forrest
yee mariners all
battle of the somme
sailors alphabet

Crackin choices, yeah I'd probably add one or two to that, but there's not a weak one amongst that list. There are a few trad songs I'd love Fairport to do as well.

 ;) Extra negotiating power when I show him the excellent post about the gig from (sorry can't remember name) the guy who set it up.

Hmmm, a little harsh but also I think a little inaccurate. I can't recall ever hearing Summer Before the War or Ginnie ever being played live, let alone "done to death". Rosemary's Sister is a fine song IMHO, streets ahead of the other two you mentioned, but one that Simon tends to hold for Cropredy.

BUT, all three songs are Fairport, part of the bands output, AND without wishing to reopen a debate which I know has occured here in the past are Fairport really a folk band anyway?

Jackdaw

Fairport Convention = a bunch of talented guys who play a wide range of musical styles.  No labels required.

Wasn't it added to the Wintour just gone?....

Yes, it was certainly in the set for the Anvil and the Brook.

One tour does not equate done to death in my book!

I stand by the fact that it has not been a key song in the FC sets in the way that, say, Hiring Fair has been.

Jackdaw

I didn't agree with that statement! I quite like "Rosemary's Sister",

Not in the way that the Hiring Fair has, but very few songs have had that sort of longevity in the set. It probably has featured more than you would imagine though - it was a regular inclusion (i.e. every night) for a couple of years in the late 80s, and it was also a staple of the 2003 set, plus as has been mentioned, it's in the repertoire at the moment.

Okay, okay,I stand corrected. I would be happy if it was played every night cos I think it is a great song.

Jackdaw

It's taken me a long time to choose a few, but here we go....

If I had to choose just one song, it would have to be Rosemary's sister - No contest.

A few others in no particular order
 - Summer Before the War
 - My Love is in America
 - The Deserter
 - John Gaudie (Ric and Chris have to go head to head with fiddles at least once in the set!)

A couple that were introduced to me by the excellent "Acoustically Down Under" album, and that deserve to be bought back to the fore:
 - Lalla Rookh
 - There Once Was Love

I thought hard whether to include Matty. My view is yes, it should be in the set, but maybe with a different lead-in to that which has been used recently (on which I feel Ric overdoes the effects). Let Ric save his energy for an epic finale by reinstating the Rutland Reel as the Matty follow on.

SteveK

Western Wind.  One of my absolute favourite live songs.

Oh yes!  ;D

Not bad on CD either   ;)  ;D  ;D  ;D

I play it, close my eyes and I'm at Cropredy... Sometimes I get really drunk and stand under a cold shower, just for the full effect  :D

I would love them to do"one night as I lie in my bed"  ands what do you do with a drunken sailor.  :)

The times I've had to listen to that song Rosmaries sister at the cropredy festival is unreal, its a horrible song.

No labels may be required its true, but I certainly know thay can do better than some of the non folk style lyrics that seem to end up, these MOR lyrics like Rosmaries sister, just is too sickly sweet. Lets have something that rock out or has something that uses their brilliant abilities far better.

It would be interesting hearing a heavily distortion laden guitar & fiddle version of Drunken Sailor, in Drop D of course, as all the song is is:

Dm ///// C///// Dm///// F/ C/ Dm/, have tried that one myself with the Tele through the Marshall, on mildly overdiven crunch settings & it can really Rock, as you can then explore the fretbord a little further as the tune developes.

It'll be interesting to see what comes of this discussion as Fairport's first Autumn date is this evening in Holland.

Anyone going?

Thanks mate, I've got that running through my head now...
4 bars madly widdly lead intro
V1 - doubled heavily distorted chords on each choird change, old chord on beat 4 of previous bar, new chprd on beat one of its bar
V2 - staccato chord on beat one of each bar
'nother madly widdly solo for two verses
V3 all instruments flat out
Coda with widdly guitar until utterly bored...

Sailor's Life

Apols if I'm repeating somoebody but to be honest it doesnt matter. Sailors Life thats what we want.

A few suggestions:

Lord Marlborough
Sir William Gower
The Poor Ditching Boy
Polly on the Shore
Doctor of Physick
My Love is in America
Slip Jigs and Reels
Over the Lancashire Hills
The Hiring Fair
Rosie
Hexhamshire Lass
General Taylor
Bonny Bunch of Roses

Anyone know if the Winter Tour takes FC anywhere near Scotland??

Same as ever... "I'll Keep It With Mine"... Julianne Regan anyone?

I second that, Mr O'Diamonds!  ;D

Bit off topic, but...

I'm sure there was a rumour in the late 80s/early 90s that Julianne was going to record with the band (in addition to the Cropredy apperances) but it never happened. Anyone know any more?

Adam

Great choices for the full band but not sure about the acoustic set up. And, if BBOR is included thats most of the first half taken up.
Jackdaw

Carlise? Newcastle maybe

Carlisle or Newcastle would do.

They did Berwick last February - that would do again.

Sorry Jackdaw

Must have missed the word 'accoustic'

Kendal Brewery Arts Centre is the regular gig oop north-west....

as a committed northerner id love to know why you southern softies say oop when tekkint piss in stead of up
jim
(hon pres flat vowel soc)

right
a sailors life,percy's song,sir patrick spens,the bonny bunch of roses and yellow bird
that shad keep one on the rayt sayd of the lor

is that on topic enaf for one sir bob?
 Jim
  born 1953 in the county of cumberland

Even a b***dy southerner knows Cumberland isn't in Lancashire!! It's where the sausages come from. ;) You now, the ones that are nearly as good as Braughings from near where I live> ;D