TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

The album was described thus in the Fairport unConventionNal booklet, and it's not the first time it's been damned with faint praise, which I find puzzling. The task of following Liege & Lief and Full House was immense, and any album is going to suffer in comparison to that pair, but for me Angel Delight is superb and doesn't seem to get the plaudits it deserves. I'd be interested to know what people here think

I really like this album for it's rustic charm whilst still displaying virtuosity and memorable congs. Maybe it;s not as polished as L&L, nor as "low down and folky" as Full House, but it stands on its own, particularly for Wizard of the Worldly Game, Journeyman's Grace and Banks of the Sweet Primroses (harmonies to rival Steeleye Span at that time) and one of the best instrumentals Fairport has ever recorded (Bridge Over the River Ash).

But I suppose as a complete work it could be fairly described as "bitty in parts" - some songs, such as Sickness and Disease, may be a bit trivial for some

I think it is one of their best and has some of my favourite fairport songs on it. I love Wizard of the Worldly Game Bonnie Black Hare and Angel Delight itsself. There is some fantastic playing on the album from Simon who apparently had only just taken up electric properly after Richards departure. The harmonies are tight. Yes its following a formula to a certain extent but what a formula to follow and it did well in the UK album chart at the time entering the top ten I believe.
 ;D

It's one of my fave early FC albums..

.. who can forget 'Bonny Black Hare'??

Think I'll play it next, it's time it was on my ipod too ;D

I was going to mention that; it was their highest-charting release, but often albums sell on the strength of their predecessors. It's arguable that Angel Delight benefitted from the quality and popularity of L&L and FH. The fact that Babbacombe Lee failed to chart at all could mean that a lot of the people who'd sent AD so high in the charts didn't feel motivated to go out and buy the next one

They promoted the album on 'Top of the Pops'!!! :o Honest!  Around that time TOTP had an album section where 'prog' bands played tracks from forhtcoming albums (I think The Strawbs and The Groundhogs also appeared)...how did they fit them in in a 30minute format???   I was but a wee nipper but I saw Fairport...I was saving my pennies to buy an LP (remember those?! ::) and it was a toss up between 'Angel' and The Groundhogs 'Split' (The Hogs won out even though I hadn't caught them on TOTP but I'd heard them on Peel whilst eating Blackjacks and those other fruity sweets I can't remeber the name of....oh my Gawd and I'm having a nostalgia fit at work!!!!Can't concentrate!!! :o Help!! :-*

I really like Angel Delight too.  The one track which has aged for me is the title track - it is fun hearing it a few times, but not every time.  Apart from that, there's some great songs which would benefit from the occasional live outing - how about 'Wizard...' or 'Lord Marlborough' at Cropredy this year?

Will

Blackjacks and Frut Salads... yumyumtoothrotyum!!

I'd love them to resurrect Bonny Black Hare... especially as they play our gig on Bonny Black Hare Day!!!!

i love angel delight because its where i came in on fairport
it was the first fairport lp i bought although i had a passing acquaintance with them from pel and stewart the scots dj

I've always preferred Instant Whip. ;D

Seriously, not one of my faves.

"Angel Delight" has always been a favourite of mine, an old friend liked by not too many of us, when some FC fans had started to abandon the band. Apart from "Banks of Sweet Primroses" which is my personal "trad.arr.-post-Sandy-and Richard" track, I´ve always enjoyed "Sir William Gower" especially since it´s Simon´s first lead vocal on a whole song. From there on he has just improved as a vocalist to being such a good singer as he is today. But as far as I remember, that is his debut! To me "Angel Delight" is a very enjoyable album with no low points, or in sports terms: " a high lowest level" as we say in Swedish. But I´ve always wondered about the cemetery photos.
Staffan

All Fairport albums are ace. Some are just better than others.
Hoarse cries of creep!

Ahem. Sir, I bring "Gottle O' Geer" to your attention. 2 good tracks (perhaps) but the rest are less than perfect.

Better than I can do, no doubt about it.

creep

(Actually, I've rather come to like Gottle in recent times)

I'll see your Gottle O' Geer and raise you and XXXV with the worst thing they've ever released - yes, I mean "The Crowd".

pretty well 80 percent of the stuff released since 85 doesnt do it for me and like barry the crowd is at the top ,or should it be the bottom of that pile
ive said it before and ill say it again now, an outside producer with a mind for quality control is needed
 they are not their own best friends when it comes to picking songs

I go to gigs when there's a new album.  This year I had to choose between RT and FC at Cambridge and chose RT.  I buy their albums from time to time, but the FC albums I play most are still the ones with Sandy.  The most sublime voice in British music ever.

Sorry.

A couple of years ago, ITV used parts of the Track "Angel Delight" in the trailers for the last series of "Cold Feet" (Except for the last episode - they used an abridged version of "End of a Holiday".  In fact around that time ITV used quite a lot of Fairport in trailers - There was a programme about Undertakers where they used "Bankruptured".  Never quite found out why, but they stopped after a while.)

I also remember the verse where Peggy's Diet is being discussed mentioned in Viz of all places!

As for the album itself, IMHO it's just as good musically as Babbacombe Lee.  Excellent version of Lord Marlborough, Sir William Gower is a belter too, and Sickness and Diseases.  Sod it, the whole albums very good!!!!

It certainly does seem to be a bit of a team effort!  Swarb and Peggy seem to be starting to contribute more and more vocally - something that really came to fruition on Babbacombe. 

Don't mind Gottle - And I agree with the comments about "The Crowd" wholeheartedly! 

However, I was most disappointed when I found the hidden track on OTNH - Surely not a FC performing a cover of a Chas 'n Dave song*


Neil


*A Joke - ie tongue in cheek - not to be taken seriously

I think "Sir William Gower" is the most wonderfully creepy trad song arrangements FC have ever done: I'd love to hear the deep-voiced Simon do it now with the current group....

I have never understood why people don't like this album. It is one of my favorites. Almost all the songs are great. Lord Marlborough is my favorite FC track. It has great vocals. It is a solid album.

ps  Does anyone know of any live versions of Lord Marlborough or when it was played live?

There is another pretty good version on Disk 3 the "Fairport Un-conventional" box set - A Fairport History.

A testament to the diversity of tastes here must surely be the fact that not even those praising Angel Delight have mentioned Journeyman's Grace yet!

Its a belter, and one of my favourite fairport tracks ever,I believe Ric said it was his favoutite at a gig a couple of years ago, I always enoying hearing it live.

I had another lookat the unConventioNal book last night, and there's a similarly lukewarm comment about Tippler's Tales, which I reckon is another great album. Pah!

I remember talking to an ardent Fairport fan who felt that Swarb's growing dominance after RT's departure wasn't entirely a good thing, that under his watch the band's subtlety and variety suffered. I could see his point, but I suppose it depends on what "flavour" Fairport you prefer. I can listen to their trad-arr stuff til the cows come home, but get quite bored when they play Dylan songs

Wasn't gonna get involved with this one, as a newbie.  But c'mon, there's some truly FAB stuff in the post-'86 repertoire.  For me, I don't "get" Fairport before then really.  There are still some blinding tracks though, even in the early stuff.

And I Like The Crowd.  Takes me there.  Journeyman's Grace is fab too, especially when Chris sings it (that'll open another can of worms)

I'll go away now, to have a proper listen to Sir William Gower...

I really like Angel Delight - for me the title track  captured the mood set by the earlier albums. There's not a weak track on it - and while some of the production may sound dated it's great to go back to it on a regular basis. Gottle was bought unheard 'cos it was FC, but has remained unlistened to therafter - 'nuff said.

i also remember FC on TOTP promoting Angel Delight

And, although off the AD topic,  while we're doing personal faves, I still rate Tipplers and Bonny Bunch as in my top 5 FC albume - I'm gutted that I haven't got'em on CD. I know the quality of the vocals have been panned ( and somebody recently in another thread slagged Bruce's drumming !!!! Tut tut.......just listen to Run Johhny Run !!! & Adieu Adieu ), but there's a fluidity and heart to those recordings that shine through - even if I have to llisten to 'em on vinyl or my trusty Civil War cassette player.

That was all too much like work at this time of the day - they're open and I'm off for a pint................

I'm with Anna here on The Crowd...  it takes me to that lovely crowded field especially on a cold, wet winter's day...

.. and besides I'm n annA rydeR fan too ;D

The sentiments of "the Crowd" are great its just that the song isn't that good ;)
I'm afraid I'm with Jim et al really - I prefer pre 1985 Fairport.Not to say that they haven't done some cracking tracks since then but..... The oldies are the best ;) ;)

All this talk of the early Fairport albums has finally made me decide to purchase their back-catalogue, as the earliest CD I have of Fairport is actually "In Reel Time".

Just to be a complete anorak I think I'll buy them in the order they were originally released (but in blocks of four to save on p&p).  ;)

Should keep me occupied for a while.  :D
Dunc

Dunc you must! have fun and let us know what you think! ;D

. . .and got them on to the front page of Melody Maker with the headline "Fashionable Fairport". There's an anorak's memory for you!

I think that was due to a guy called GarethWR, who used to come on this board from time to time. He worked at ITV and had a certain responsiblity involving song selection for trailers etc and managing the royalty payments etc.

Thinking about it, he's not been on here for a while... I wonder where he went/what happened to him. Gareth, are you still around? Hope you're ok!

Cheers

Nick

All this is really whetting my appetite! As a relative newcomer (and, like Penguin, an anorak), I have been buying the back catalogue in order. I have the first five so far, so "Angel Delight" is next...I was trying to pace myself, but this thread is making me impatient.

So far, "Full House" is my favourite. I did vote for "Leige and Lief" on the BBC2 poll 'cos I really wanted to Fairport to win, but I don't think anything could actually be better then "Sloth" and "Now be thankful".

For me, Angel Delight is like a brown ale.  The cover even reminds of a brown ale!  When I'm at the market deciding over some great IPAs, ESBs, stouts, porters, etc, I usually overlook this humble style.  But when I decide to have pint of it at a bar or someone's house, I am immediately surprised and reminded of how satisfying a brown ale can be!  And, without deviation, I always order another! :D

In which case Wiley, mines a pint as well !!!

Staffan: it wasn't a cemetery: it was a recycling place specialising in ornamental masonry. Not far from Saffron Walden as you ask.
And if you want to re-acquaint yourselves with lost childhood sweeties, www.aquarterof.co.uk seems to have closed down (boo hoo!) but www.yumyumtummyrumble.co.uk seems to be there.
Always happy to help!

'Spangles'...  they don't sell 'Spangles'  :(

I've just clicked on that link & gone straight to their website....try again, Simon!

Aha.. now I know what happened to Spangles!!

He just suddenly dissapeared - his job was making the on air promos for programmes coming up he used loads of Oysterband Fairport and Tull whenever he could.I IM'd him a couple of times once he'd dissapeared to no avail and that was that.  :'(

Angel Delight has to be my favorite album of all time from Fairport, classic line up which was made to work tighter, due to the reduced lineup. So pushing all concerned to bring out the best. Great humour & sound on that album.

Nine is another all time favorite, as well as the two albums that preceded Angel delight, for different reasons.

Actually the "less than the sum of parts" seems quite appropriate. There are a lot of good tracls on that recording, some I really like a lot. So why do I play it so rarely?

I didn't think it was live. I thought it was a 45 version. Doesn't sound live to my ears.

I tend to think of Angel Delight as quite a relaxed album.  I don't know if that is a reflection of how the band felt at the time.  I often play it after a hectic day and find it quite soothing. 

I'm afraid I think the exact opposite to the title of the thread.  In my opinion Angel Delight is more than the sum of its parts.  For me all of the songs/tunes are good and together they make a great album!

It would be wonderful to see some of them revived - Lord Marlborough, Sir William Gower, Wizard Of The Worldly Game and Bridge Over The River Ash.

I just listened to it again. I doesn't sound live. It has crackle and pop of a record.  The booklet describes it as el pea. As in l.p.. I wonder if it is a rough mix acetate. Anyone know any more about this track?

el pea was an island sampler
 they used to put them out regularly
the first was "you can all join in" and among the tracks by tull, traffic, art and free etc was "meet on the ledge" by our heroes
the 2nd was"nice enough to eat" a similar mix, mott, heavy jelly,Crimson, quintessence etc and the fairps provided "cajun woman"
the next was a double lp "bumpers" to which the full house line up donated an edit of "Walk awhile "
the last one in the series was el pea and this used the version of "lord marlborough"
the thing with these was that they were cheap, not much more than the price of a single 14/6 in old money(72.5 new pence[roughly a dollar]) for the single lp's
bumpers cost 30 bob(£1.50[2 bucks]) and el pea, both of these were double lp's, weighed in at a hefty £2.50(work it out for yourself). hey, there was a vinyl shortage in 1971 ! i dont remember any more island samplers after el pea
a lot of the tracks on these samplers were edited slightly to make them fit
 so thats why its a slightly different version to the one off angel delight

hope this helps

can i go to bed now?

I've certainly seen FC do Bridge Over The River Ash on several occasions, and I think I've seen them do Wizard Of The Worldly Game too, when Swarb was younger and fitter!

You lucky person! :) 

I'd love to see Wizard Of The Worldly Game with Swarb! 

Who knows?  Maybe I will one day ...

If you're 34, I doubt it...I can't recall them ever doing 'Wizard' in your lifetime, and possibly never as I don't think they toured it back in '71. 'Bridge Over The River Ash' definitely though - Cropredy '92 with Swarb, and a regular in the "current line-up" set in 94-95ish. Hasn't been that long since 'Sir William Gower' got a revival as well, 1994 I think - worked really well with Simon's vocals and Peggy's rumbling bass but it didn't stay for long unfortunately.

Thank you for the info. I knew nothing of those samplers. So do you know if it a outtake or just edited?

just edited, i think
 they used to edit them all to fit as many groups as possible on the lps
but they were a great way of finding out about groups
 the version of walk awhile on bumpers was slightly edited to make it a few seconds shorter than the full house version

I have a transcribed copy of Bumpers if anyone wants a listen Quite the sampler, with Jethro Tull, Fairport, Mott The Hoople and many others.

Sadly, all before I came to Fairport in the late 1990s.  We borrowed Jewel In The Crown from our local library and we were hooked.

If Wizard Of The Worldly Game has never been performed live, as you say, wouldn't it be great if it was revived?

I wonder which other tracks have never been performed live.

Yes please - I did have the vinyl but can't find it. If I recall it had a lurid yellow cover with a pair of baseball boots on t'front. Also had a few tracks which as you say didn't appear anywhere else in that format or edit. Both " Nice enough to eat" and " Bumpers " helped me to hear a lot of bands I wouldn't have heard otherwise.

Also remember that charisma put out a series of samplers as well, with a few early folk rock bands among the artists.

Sadly, all before I came to Fairport in the late 1990s.  We borrowed Jewel In The Crown from our local library and we were hooked.


[/quote]

One of the wonderful things libraries can do : start lifeliong passions.  ::)
I know for sure that one Fairport passion was started in a local library over here when a now friend borrowed, just,  Angel Delight. The LP, that is! ;)
Staffan
Librarian

All are welcome to an mp3'd version of "Bumpers", drop me an IM and I'll tell you where it is.

It's old, transcribed from scratchy vinyl and thus not Hi-Fi quality. A great document of 1970, tho'.

I did imply that I was possibly mistaken..............

Anyway, maybe they could do it this year!

GOWER in '94? :o  Well, I'll be jiggered!  I was on hiatus during the early 90s.  Sorry I missed that one! :(

Well I've finally caved in and ordered a copy of "Angel Delight". I can't wait for it to arrive, having read all the things on this thread. I'm especially intrigued by references to "Wizard of the Worldly Game"; the title sounds as though it belongs on a "Yes" LP...
Having an expensive day - just ordered the Cropredy tickets as well!

you will love it..........if you don't I'll buy you a drink at Cropredy ............ My God, did I just offer to spend money ???..........play the title track LOUD...................but play Bonny Black Hare first........................and ignore the cover - that suit is scary !!!

I don't mean to boast but we bought our copy from Cobb Records Port Mad Dog....

Class always shows...

Thanks for the info.

My copy has arrived now and I've listened to it about 4 times; although it didn't immediately make me sit up and think "This is brilliant" as "Full House" did on first hearing, it is definitely beginning to grow on me. And I really love the sleeve notes and things; Simon could have a second career as a writer of humorous articles!

Yes, the autobiography should make for interesting reading! ;)

Anyone know where the inside photos were taken?  (The ones with the statues)

By the side of the A11 just outside Saffron Walden. Archaelogical/old building material recycling yard, still operating last time I drove past.

Shattered dreams !

Have only just come to terms with the news that the iconic photograph on the front of "Who's Next" was taken at a slag heap somewhere in the Midlands - and then find that the inner photos of A.D were taken "just off the A11" !!!

Even " at a picturesque location in the heart of the English countryside" would have maintained the mystique .....................will probably find that the artwork for the Yes albums was nicked from graffiti in an underpass in Brent's Cross...............or worse - the girls on Roxy Music's Country Life were German bricklayers in drag...................aaaaaaaaaaaaargh

 and then find that the inner photos of A.D were taken "just off the A11" !!!

Ooops -sorry about the shattered dreams. Would you feel less let down if I corrected myself and declared it WASN'T the A11 but the much more bucolic and countryside-ish B1052?

Getting there........................just use artistic licence and call iit " Fudger's End " or something similarly Ole English & wonderful - the site of startling archeological discoveries...............isn't it a bl**dy good job they didn't use postcodes in the Middle Ages.................just imagine all those wonderful place names simply being referred to as a number - Stonehenge would probably be Wviii xiS or something equally bureacratic.............

Imagination is a wonderful thing... one of my late husband's photographs appeared to be of a vast woodland! I would spend ages staring at it and, for me, it was an enchanted forest. I was disappointed when he finally told me that it was, in fact, a couple of trees and some scrub on a kind of traffic island in the middle of a busy road :( I found a solution to the realism though :D  I decided to simply believe he was having me on ;D   It worked, I got my enchanted forest back ;D  (well mostly)

mic

And there was I thinking ... possibly Blenheim Palace (a connection with Lord Marlborough). ::)