TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Just got my ticket for the Leeds gig and noticed that the poster says there is a new double live album out in january. I cant find anything on the FC.com site-does anyone know when it was recorded and what is on it. (Apologies if I have missed this on another posting!)

giottoscircle: The only recent live double-album I know of is The Journeyman's Grace and that's been out for a while.

It's a blinkin' good album though - my first foray into the wide world of FC live albums...

Just checked - doesn't look like the Stables has sold out yet...  Good.  <Phew! smiley> Just got to gather the troops & I'll get booking...

No this one is called "From the Decks"(?) and is described as being released in January 2006. Any ideas?

Intriguing...  Time for a new thread?

I've consulted Google and Amazon and not found anything.  Can a nice Moderator please start another topic relating to this alleged release please?

I can clear this up. Rob records most of the gigs on the winter tours direct as stereo PA outputs. This is where we sourced the 4-track freebie for last years Crops tix. As a response to the groundswell of postitvity resulting we decided a suitable souvenir for the Winter Tour of 2006 might be created from this archive, so Ric undertook the onerous task of listening to the whole thing and doing a bit of cherry-picking - so we'll be mastering a double CD soon of the best of 2004 and 2005, and it will be out on the merch stand as we truck around after February the 1st. Don't know yet when it will be available on the website - production constraints with the festive season, pressure of current touring etc. etc.

That will be wonderful Simon...  I have my pennies ready already.. thank you!

AmyJen ;D

^{*Suzanne breaks open her piggy bank and hopes that Simon will put a copy aside for her in case it sells out straight away*}

Thanks for the clarification Simon.  That sounds like an excellent addition to the "live" album catalogue. ;D 

I hope the Birmingham rendition of MOTL (with Swarby) makes it on to the CD set... I shall never forget the sight of Ric kneeling at Swarb's side for his solo.......  :)

Fabbo!   ;D

Ohhh yes Paul... what a sight that was....  a brilliant night...

Yes Please...

AmyJen

Lovely! I´ve been hoping for something like this for quite some time. Should Ric (obviously being the first selecting tracks) & the lads go along the lines of "the most obscure songs/instrumentals from the set lists get picked first" - I´d be over the moon ;).The fewer tracks that I recognise from the last two or three live albums the better, so to speak.
Can´t wait to see this album appear on the merch page.
It´ll be a jolly Fairport Christmas this year ;D
Staffan

Is C-s regarded as a 4-letter word? What about X-mas ? ;) Good to have a musical gift waiting for you even after Yuletide! ::)
Staffan

Cheers Simon, saving pennies up now!

Well said! and I totally agree. It could be a great album. I've just ordered Journeyman's Grace and Acoustically down under so I hope the next one is going to be sufficiently different, certainly the latest acoustic tour is, let's have at least one side from this tour?

excellent news ;D ;D

delfini
(checking back of sofa for lost coins)

Big Dave:
Just wondered about your quote from "From A Distance", isn't it supposed to be "it's the voice of hope, it's the voice of peace, it's the heart of every man"?  I've heard a few different versions of the song and I don't recall hearing that particular one.  Certainly I could be wrong.

Also, moderators, can't we please change the name of this thread to "Forthcoming Live 2-CD" or somesuch, since this clearly isn't about the fine "Journeyman's Grace" release?

The Simon Nicol/Fairport version is:

From a distance there is harmony, and it echoes through the land
It's the voice of hope, it's the voice of peace, it's the voice of every man

Simon tinkered with the song a bit, leaving out the slightly cringey "god" verse, so not sure if other versions have a different wording of the "voice" bit.

Hi Neil, Alex
Please bear in mind that I have dodgy hearing so it is definetly me who is in the wrong! Wot I writ is what I thought I heard  ;D  ;D
(self imposed yellow card for topic drift  :o ::))

Dear Simon,
Thank you for the good news. I will buy mine in Northampton.  :-*

Good idea......done!

am i the only person on this board who knew that another (god help us all) live cd was on the way when the 4 track freebie was issued
 so its from last years wintour and none of the current peggless tour is going to be on it
 ill end up getting it, but another live cd............ why? theres at least a dozen or so out there already( irefuse to count them any more its easies just to weigh them

HBopefully, it'll feature tracks that haven't yet had the 'live' treatment...

Drifting on.........

You're probably all right.

The "chorus" starts as "it's the voice of hope, it's the voice of peace, it's the voice of every man". The first repeat is "playing songs of hope,singing songs of peace, they're the songs of everyman", second is "It's a song of hope etc etc" and finally " It's the hope of hopes, it's the love of loves, it's the heart of everyman". Pick the bones out of that lot!

Incidentally, I've always thought that the Nanci Griffith recording on Lone Star State of Mind was the definitive version - sorry Simon!

Steve (in - temporary- pedant mode)

I've heard several versions of From a Distance (including Cannon and Ball and Bette Midler)
and for me, and it is one of my favourite songs in the whole world, Simon's version is the absolute best, I've not heard anyone to equal it, let alone better it. :)
I remember at Pump Bottom, Simon sang Don't Despise The Deserter, it would be amazing if that appeared on the live CD (it would also be amazing if it featured in the set more often too...hint hint)

Mic

I really like live CDs as it gives me a feel for the shows - and often brings back really good memories.  I am looking forward to adding this to the collection.

I'm the same Suzanne..  the live cds are different to the studio ones (Obviously) but I love them as much if not more.. especially when I've been to the gig.

AmyJen

Certainly not Sir Cliff who, as you would imagine, use the G word as often as poss ;D

Thank you sir.  It will be nice when someone actually gets the set in hand to have the actual contents (or a link to same) posted here.  I'm sure that I don't need to mention to most of the people reading this thread that, being a 2 CD set, it is not highly likely that most of the material will be stuff that we don't already have some/multiple live versions of, but still one hopes for as much of the fresher/less-represented material on the set as possible.

Weighing in on From a Distance, I'd have to say that the song is strong enough to endure much, but Bette Midler pretty well killed it.  I still can listen to Simon and Nanci Griffith's versions and enjoy them, but that is more than enough.

As a beginner on the trail of the Live CDs I'm looking forward to this one.  I may well have been to one or more of the shows that will feature, I certainly attended both tours.  It would be nice if a couple of tracks from this Autumn tour could find their way onto this release, but maybe they're not recorded in the same way as the full-on WinTour...

Listening to Red & Gold in the car last night, the difference in atmosphere was so apparent when the bonus track Close to the Wind came on.  I know this was recorded at Cropredy, and is on another level again, but this track always gets turned up as loud as the speakers will handle.  The whole vibe is just, well, wow!

From A Distance, well, it was pretty much killed off for me a few years back when someone (presumably Bette Midler) had a big hit with it and it was just everywhere all the time.  Don't get me wrong it's a lovely song and I enjoy listening to Simon's version when I'm playing that album but I don't go out of my way to hear it - it's still too cringeworthy for me in any version.  No fault of the artists who have recorded it as such, just bad luck I guess.

This isn't the place for a soap-box moment, but I really can't listen to the Deserter.  I skip it whenever it comes on.  Ask me why in the Arms sometime, not gonna get political in here.

re from a didstance, iagree with steve-n
Nanci Griffiths version on lone star state of mind is the definitive,and i think the first ,version of the song(it was written for her), Simon makes a fair stab at it but its not a song i want to hear very often as it does lend itself to being smothered in treacle, just like the way Nanci does it on stage these days

 the new live material is only going to be a few tracks off OTNH 70 percent of the album is bound to be old favourites

Sounds like a good idea to me!

While it seems like there's a few Fairport live albums out there, there hasn't actually been a proper, current line-up only (i.e. not with all the guests at Cropredy), live album released since 'In Real Time' (if you count that) or 'Farewell Farewell'.

There's been the various archive releases, DVDs, DVD soundtrack on CD, etc, but none have really been a proper live album.

Looking forward to the live cd. Feel that they are better than the studio ones when the artists are talented as overproduction in the studio seems to take something away

rachel

over production! fairport?
 more like lack of a proper producer and  the quality control a producer brings

Sorry- should have probably put any production. I really prefer Fairport live and can't think of any number that doesn't sound better live, for me the studio albums are more reminders of the live performances than the definative version of a song. Probably not explaining myself very well but never mind

rachel

Pre-Cropredy this year at The Mill, they did Genesis hall... I know they've probably got this on another live album somewhere, but it was fantastic!!!!  I can't hear the song now without seeing the expression on Peggy's face as he sang backing vocals... can't explain what I mean, I think you'd have to have seen it ::)
Anyhoo, it would be great if that one was included.

Mic

Well, clever you then... Simon Nicol's post did say it would be from 2004/2005 so couldn't there be a chance some of this Autumn's tour may be included? I really don't see why not. It's all taken from the live mix...and as said before, hopefully they'll pick some of the songs that haven't been on previous live cds. Otherwise, I'd agree, why another live cd if it's all the same as before?

Um...if someone feels there are too many live CDs couldn't they just, well...not buy it?

As for me, I enjoy them a lot and will be looking forward to this one.

I'm hoping that most of at least one CD will be from the current tour. This line-up is likely to be a one-off, and ought to be consigned to a silver disc for posterity, if not an historic record.

I don't know, another 10 versions of matty groves and meet on the ledge..............


wait a minute, I second the obscure track suggestion.   And bring back spanish main to the setlist. FC needs one rocker mixed in to balance all the  the adult contemporary tracks  :) 

Apologies for the me too post. I couldn't agree more Chris. When I saw them in London a couple of weeks ago they were excellent and it would be a shame if the song arrangements for this tour were lost, never to see the light of silver disc (so to speak)

MikeC

I agree..  some wonderful arrangement of favourites old and new...  PLEASE let's have an everlasting recording.

AmyJen :)

Especially since most of the "rare" line-ups haven't been recorded live.  Or, there are few live recordings. 

Track list of the new live double CD now on the Fairport website. Peggy and Ric mastered it last week and have come away smiling. I look forward to hearing it. (At least once.)

Link to news item with track list here:

http://www.fairportconvention.com/news913.htm

I make it including 8 tracks from the last album.

One for the completists I would say.

Jackdaw  :-\

Looks great. Another one for the CD collection then ::). Especially pleased that Genesis Hall is there.

rachel

Can't wait to get this one!!!
Lots of favourites, all in one place....what more could you ask  :D   Great selection Ric!!! :D

Mic

Are any of the tracks likely to be from this Autumn's tour?

Its nine actually and the majority of the other tracks were on the recent (2003) live CD, Journeymans Grace.

From Rob

I make it including 8 tracks from the last album.

One for the completists I would say.

Jackdaw  :-\
[/quote]

In as much as the original material is available elsewhere, a comment which you can't dispute. Without repeating my post on the "Waiting for CD" thread though, I (and I suspect many others) feel that the 2005 acoustic line-up was a bit special. I would like to think that some of the comments posted during the tour led to the decision to release the CD, but who knows......

Steve

i wouldnt have thought so ,the cd was mentioned as in the works 6 months ago
 personally i cant wait :P( not really)

I would.

Can't remember it being mentioned any more than about a month ago....

Sorry to drag this one up from the nether reaches of page 4...

Just been thinking about the set list on this CD and I got to wondering if the version of Hiring Fair would include Ric's lovely rendition of Summertime (from the latest acoustic tour)...  Any word out there in speculation-land?

I heard it on Saturday, but I can´t remember. And I forgot to steel my copy from Mr. Pegg.  >:(

No it doesn't. the final selections are all from the previous two Wintours, I understand.

I feel it'ds an opportunity missed - but as the acoustic tour(s) in 2006 seem to feature the same personnel as in 2005, maybe a merch opportunity still exists?

It's now available by mail order from the FC website's CD shop. Can't wait till Oxford gig, so order sent today.  :)

That made me think - has anyone who's been to the gigs so-far got a copy of this, have they listened to it, and would they care to put together a quick review?  Out of interest only of course, I'm gonna have to buy it, if only to have something new for the chaps to sign... ;)

I am listening to it now!  Only the first tack so far "Over the Falls" 

Sound Quality is  very good. The vocal mix is above averything else including the fiddle!

Second track on now, "Adieu Adieu" The mix is similar.

The only thing I am disapointed in, is that there is no mention of what was recorded where.  Would ahve been nice to think "I was there for that one".

That´s information I enjoy, too. The absence of recording date(s) and location(s) makes me too a little disappointed. Any chance we might get the information from somewhere on the list? Someone near enough the horse´s mouth? Or even Simon perhaps? ;) . I don´t mind scribbling that into the booklet myself  ;D
Staffan

Listening to it now.... It's great!!
The Genesis Hall track is wonderful....but then they all are ;D

and stunning photos in the Sleeve-Notes, a great job there Chris :)

Mic

Found what you wanted : Gig sources for Off the Desk.
Burnley 05
Over the Falls
Adieu
Canny
Willow
Close to you.

Birmingham 05
Already There
Waiting for Tide
Wassail Song
Walk Awhile

Banbury 05
Fossil Hunter
OTNH

Leamington Spa 04
Morris Medley
Portmeirion

High Wycombe 04
My love is in America
Rosemary's Sister

Yeovil 04
Western Wind

Southend 04
Genesis Hall
Hiring Fair

Swindon 05
Some Special Place


Basingstoke 05
John Gaudie

I think that's it but I expect I've missed something. DAY OFF!! and here I am in the orifice!?!

Thank you Simon - not least of all because I was in High Wycombe for that gig and at the Banbury ones too! ;D

Simon,
   Can we expect copies of Off the Desk to be available on the US trio tour this summer?

Thanks Simon. But you did miss off two - Journeymans Grace(T4D2) and Happy Man (T3D1).

Pernickerty Andy....

Thank you Simon!
I´ll start scribbling!  ;D
Staffan

Journeyman's Banbury 05
Happy Man Southend 04.

On to Weston-Super-Mare. Forever the land of John Cleese, Jill Dando and Jeffrey Archer.Now THAT'S a supergroup!

Say hi to the people of Weston, and see if you can see the sea!  Incidentally Ritchie Blackmore and Racey are both from Weston and Jeffrey is Lord Archer of WSM!

Thanks Simon!

JC says that when he and his family moved into a flat in Weston (one of many), JA and his family were moving out!

The funniest Weston Super Mare story I know is the Bill Bryson one in "Notes From A Small Island" - well worth a read or listen on the long journey.

Listening to my copy now as I type this. I sent a cheque in mondays post and got it back by friday, now thats good service!!  Back cover states that it is an 'official bootleg' with no remixes or overdubs. Sound quality is superb throughout, and is a worthy addition to the Fairport catalogue. Its worth it for me just to hear Hiring Fair with Chris Leslie on Mandolin ( i think). Fantastic version of one of my fav songs. Other highlights are Rosemarys Sister (my wifes favourite) and Journeymans grace, but really its all good.

From Rob

..........which would just leave the completists amongst us wondering which Banbury night (or nights) the above songs were from.......

Probably too late now, but jsut updating my cataloguing program.

Philip

"....I sent a cheque in mondays post and got it back by friday..." Sounds like one of my cheques!!! :o