TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Seems recording action will be taking place later this year http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2006/06/09/features_goentertainment-09gomusic-06-09.html (http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2006/06/09/features_goentertainment-09gomusic-06-09.html)
please can we have a couple of Trad arr. Fairport tracks please.

Actually - I'm going to bang my well worn drum one more time - I'd like a WHOLE album of trad arr Fairport songs this time.

Of the last three or four albums there's just been a casual nod back to the trad songs which have lost out in favour of originals, and while I've always been aware that I'm perhaps in a minority in that I've not been comfortable with a lot of FC 's recent catalogue, I feel that, in an anniversary year, there is a definite reason to take another look at the genre that really launched the band - especially with L & L receiving so many accolades recently.

But NEW "trad arr" .... not just rehashes of the back catalogue.

Absolutely......there's still a large number of trad songs / tunes out there FC haven't tackled yet.

Fairport have long been in the habit now, it seems, of recording less and less Trad.Arr. :(

Is it realistic to hope things will change for the next album? I agree with you lot, it would be great to see them go back to their roots.

Suggestions for songs then.

I know its a bit of a cliche but I would love to hear an FC take on the Raggle Taggle Gypsy.

Jackdaw

I agree with the traditional bent... ;)
How about The Calton Weaver;D ;D its a variation of Nancy Whisky you can hear it at
http://www.contemplator.com/scotland/weaver3.html
Another good one would be Jack Hall -a chimney sweep hanged in 1701!

One more vote for Trad, arr FC.....

Bonny Black Hare.. please  ;D

I can understand why one might want such an album, even though a whole album of such is really not something I'd consider to be very representative of any of the line-ups' recorded output.  But I'd say the deck is pretty much stacked against it ever happening with the current line-up.  Whether or not you like CL's song-writing (and for the record, I mostly do, although I can understand some of the criticisms it receives from some quarters in some instances) it really isn't that reasonable to expect that his original material not to appear on new recordings when he is writing new material that they are performing. 

I certainly am not opposed to him writing more in the vein of "John Gaudie" (up tempo, sounding
as if it could've been a trad tune), but the muse has to strike as it does.

As far as reaching back into the back catalogue, I for one don't expect them to ever stop doing
that to some extent.  Given that there was a recent reworking of Tam Lin that I never got to hear,
I suppose I'd almost expect that to be on the new album, unless those that heard it gave the
band more negative feedback than positive, or the band themselves didn't feel it gelled.  How do those who heard this lineup's version of Tam Lin feel about: a) the likelihood of it being on the next CD b)the desirability of having it in a studio version?

But given my thought that the band is not too likely to ever abandon reworkings of the back catalogue, I do almost feel that it would be more plausible to encourage an album where different
ex-members guested on songs from line-ups that they were not involved in.  Especially in the era of
such contributions from different people not requiring being in the same studio.  I could easily see that
happening sooner than I could see the current line-up going all trad arr.

I'd like to see more electric guitar and less fiddles and mandolins on a new album.

Paul

Howabout the return of the batocaster, which Chris played brilliantly on Spanish Main.

Jackdaw

As expected - some differing views, but methinks stacked in favor of more trad material ??

Can understand why it might be unlikely to happen, but perhaps it's precisely the strength of the current line up which makes it a desireable event. Their individual and colective pedigree for things traditional is beyond question.

I know it's not solely a labour of love - there do have to be commercial considerations. I'd like to know what sales of the last 5 or 6 studio albums have been - and also if, given that this forum is reflective of their hard core following, a canvass of opinion on a bigger scale would be a) feasible and b) listened to by the band.

If a "trad" album of previously unrecorded songs would be a commercial success, would that override any artistic reservations tha band might have ??

the trouble is that those of us who have been less than impressed with the studio output since the reformation for "Gladys leap"(jewel being an honourable exception) will mostly still go out and buy the cd out of loyalty to fairport
  so whatever the sales are, the chaps probably know that the hard core will turn out however good/poor the cd is
 ive said this many times round these parts the chaps need an outside producer with an ear for quality control and a lead guitarist(Hello PJ ?)
 and this time no half arsed retreads/inferior versions of classics please chaps, its just lazy and youre better than that
I'm not really bothered whether they use trads or newbies, to go for a trad arr cd now would reek of desperation

I agree with Jim, no versions of previous songs, I quite like the idea of ex-members guesting [Thank the Lord for spell check that originally said guseting](Remember it's 40 years next year) perhaps even our Jude? But as always it will be up to the fellas.

My vote (for what its worth) is also to (please) avoid the back catalog.  However, I think it would be pretty darn cool if they did a covers album of exclusively RT tunes.  They haven't recorded one of his tunes since GLADYS LEAP, right?   

TIPLER'S TALES was exclusively trad arg, wasn't it?

As far as other potential covers, I think they could do an awesome version of Archie Fisher's WITCH OF THE WESTMERLAND!
 ;D

Mainly but not exclusively...there's also an Allan Taylor song, a few original Swarb tunes, and a couple of Peggy & Bruce tunes leading into John B.

Another vote from me for more Trad. Arr. but not a whole album of it. Just one or two strong arrangements, songs they can make their own. Like 'John Barleycorn' (which now everyone - even "rock god" Ian Anderson - sings to the Fairport tune rather than the proper one), 'Widow of Westmorland', 'Hexhamshire Lass', 'Sir Patrick Spens', 'Claudy Banks' (probably the most recent example).

There's nowt wrong with the odd retread, as long as it adds to the original, does something different. Thinking of something like 'Crazy Man Michael' on 'In Real Time'. So the very different new version of 'Tam Lin' would be great but I can see why people perhaps weren't so keen on some of the XXXV stuff.

Sorry, Greglin, but this statement doesn't stand up: "definite reason to take another look at the genre that really launched the band". Ask Jude. 'trad;arr' did not launch the band.

They were originally a covers band - albeit one doing highly-original (and sometimes unusual) covers of a range of material from the well-known ('Suzanne') to the obscure ('One Sure Thing') to the previously-unheard-of ('Both Sides Now'). Their style could loosely be categorised as an anglicised West Coast sound - though the breadth of their musical pallette was significantly more than most bands of the day. Then Richard and Ashley began to become more comfortable with bringing their own original material to the band - which is where the first album more or less captures them.

Although Simon and Ashley had pre-Fairport experience of the trad;arr scene, that route would not be mapped until Sandy joined. The initial forays into trad;arr adapted the songs to Fairport's vaguely West Coast style of the time - it would be 'L&L' before Fairport learned the form on which much of trad;arr is based.

Suggest you get a copy of Kingsley Abbot's excellent account of Fairport's early days. Fairport were most definitely a 'happening' band well before 'L&L' and arguably before Sandy came in. (You don't get to follow billtoppers Jefferson Airplane onstage at the 1968 Isle of Wight Festival if you've not got some pretty significant media profile and don't have a reputation to attract/hold an audience. Equally Brum's Mothers would not have booked them on such a frequent basis if they wouldn't bring the punters in.

It's probably more accurate to see 'L' as a re-laumch.

I agree with you 100%. I found the newer FC albums more like adult contemporary then folk rock. I think the last rocking track was Maart's Spanish Main.  I would love to see them play a all trad arg. cd. I would buy it. One night as I lie in my bed, Sqewball, The house carpenter, Old maui,etc. I also like the idea of special guests. I would love to see Maart, Thompson, or any past members guest. A new Swarb song would be over the top.  I also love Witch of the westmorlands.  Stan Rogers does a great version of it. I would love to see Fc go back to their roots. My two cents.

As a "trad.-arr." or trad.-like candidate, I nominate Fotheringay's "Gypsy Davey".   I think FC could do a rocking version of that, and if Jerry Donahue could guest on the recording, it would be frosting on the cake.   Maybe even consider one of the occasional female FC guest vocalists (Chris While?) to be in on it.

But my vote is not for the whole album to be "trad.-arr.".   A mix kind of like WHAT WE DID ON OUR HOLIDAYS would be nice, in my opinion.

Cheers ///  Tom***

Just bring back the quality control (although I actually thought Over the Next Hill was quite decent).

Jewel in the Crown stands out from the field - because there was a lot moore concentration on quality for it. If you can do it once, then you can do it again.

They can sing the telephone directory for all I care, as long as they a) do it with some passion- not on remote control b) don't cover it with cheesy synth sounds and c) use the ability they quite obviously have to stretch themselves as instrumentalists.

As for 'the core audience wil buy anything' - I gave up on that & still don't own Wood and the Wire or XXXV.

look, i think we're bound to get tam lin as its back in the set, but lets not go down the road of being a RT or fotheringay covers band.
 Fairport should be able tosource an albums worth of new trad/ contemporary songs. assuming 3 CL originals and 2 tunes from Ric then they'll probably need another 3 or 4 songs to flesh the cd out.
 So quality control heads on please chaps, astonish and delight us with your choices. you know you can do it
      

Appreciate what you say......my point was that the significant rise in profile given by L & L - however you define it as a re launch or a natural progression - meant that the majority of FC fans probably came to the band as a result of that album and, ergo, that genre. That's not to diminish the pre L & L achievements.

With the greatest respect to the band ( and Jude ) and their musicianship - had they continued in the Dylanesque vein, I wouldn't be a fan. That's personal - I just don't relate to Dylan.

Who knows what would have happened - look at the number of similar bands who felll by the wayside - the sheer longevity of FC may have been related to the direction taken with L & L.  It also seems that the fan base which was significantly broadened by L & L has been a little disappointed by the recent studio releases, and would like to see a return to the trad based tunes / songs. The comment regarding the material on Tipplers Tales is well made - some of the tunes were originals but in the trad genre and it was a well rounded album for it.

Horses for courses - I'd just like to see this line up do a trad arr album. I reckon it would be a wonderful dispay of musicianship !

Dear Boarders, I also vote for a few new trad. arr. numbers

All the best

Paolo

I think this is exactly the problem with Fairport these days...."We'll have 3 Leslies, 2 Sanders, a revised oldie and an.....there that will do".  If a Leslie song is good enough it should be in, if it's not then it shouldn't.  They need somebody with the guts to tell 'em when it's not.  How about giving that man Joe Boyd a call?

I've heard all of their output at one time or another but I have to say I've virtually no inclination to listen to any of their studio recordings post-85.  There is some good stuff in there but overall all of their albums (inc Jewel which is probably the best of a bad bunch) lack the overall standard one, well I at least, expects.  Personally, I'll stick to listening to live recordings which normally bring out the best in the boys to my mind.

I love (almost) ALL their recordings.. and am only too happy that they are still there to brighten up our lives and give us the immense pleasure that they do.. for me at least!!

Whatever the new album brings it will be sure to be a celebration of their longevity and we have that to be thankful for.

Sycophantdescendingfromsoapbox ;D

i didnt put dave up to this.
 honest

I think we should let the artists get on with creating the art. No great work was ever created by following popular opinion.

Leave them to get on with it, I say. You might like the results, you might not. The important thing is that they are true to themselves.

isn t that the problem with fairport for far too long now
"no great work"

That, of course, is a matter of opinion. But you miss the point. No great work was ever created by the public barking at the artist what they should do. It can only come from the artist being true to him or herself.

If there were a formula for great work, we'd all be producing it all the time.

New album?  Nice.

Without getting into the "this era was/is better than that era" discussion (I have my own opinions here), whoever said:


(sorry, I cut & pasted and it was so far back up the thread I've forgotten who it was now)

GREAT IDEA!  Could it work?  Would ex-members be willing to do something like this?  Some may, some may not.  Especially, like you say, get people to guest on songs they weren't involved with first time round.  Or any other guest musicians.  I happen to really like the version of Portmeirion on XXXV (?wasn't it) with Ian Anderson.

Outside of that, a few trad;arr songs, especially upbeat lively ones, and (sorry Jim) a couple of CL's and RS's is a good start.  Anything like a Tilston or McTell or even an unknown songwriter - that'd be cool.

But in any event I'll be up for it, whatever's on it and whoever's written/performed on it.  Cos I think they're sounding great just now.  So there!

It’s hard to imagine how a celebration of FC’s 40th anniversary could take place without some acknowledgement of what has gone before.  It’s also important for the current band members to exercise their creativity and move forward.  A difficult blend and I don’t envy them the task of putting together a CD that will do justice to both elements.  Nevertheless, I have every confidence in them to come up with the goods!

I think they sounded great in the past and I think they sound great at the moment.  I enjoy all the eras for different reasons.  (If that's considered sychophantic then so be it!)  :)

I agree!  Stan's live version might be definitive, God rest his soul! 

I've been to Cropredy,
And heard Hexhamshire Lass
And if that ain't folk rock,
I'll kiss your........
- David Allan Coe

Did DAC really say that?!  Great quote.... :-)

NO REHASHES OF OLD SONGS- PLEASE!!!!

To my mind a pointless exersise - great to hear old songs live, but no need to re-record studio versions (all a bit lazy, I think) especially as old CDs, etc are so easy to come by.  Maybe the only exception would be a radical reworking..Steeleye Span did this on their first and second records(!) - (The) Blacksmith, and a rather stonking rework of Twa Corbies a few years ago.

I agree some more trad. would be great, but I also like Chris Leslie's songs...need a good balance. I disagree that a studio record released next year needs to acknowlegde the past 40 years, as this would best be served by a compliation or a full recording of the Cropredy set! ;D

Cheers

Adam

Its..........a bit paraphrased:

"I've been to the Grand Ole Opry
And I've met Johnny Cash
And if that ain't Country
I'll kiss your (elegant posterior)."

The spirit is pretty much the same, so I had to give credit where credit was due! ;)

There is just one reworking I would greet, and it's a new Tam Lin inspired (but just inspired) by Swarb's version in '70 and '71 tours.

best to all and lot of regrets for missing Cropredy again this year. Meybe the next ...

Paolo

Trad Arr presupposes someone to do the Arr and I haven't heard the lads do anything close for years and years and years... Material? Tons.... Trad of Twa Corbies? One of the van Diemen's Land songs?

Jack O'Diamonds - the man who knew his Arr from his elbow...

A bit harsh there Jack, a few years possibly but the live version of Seventeen Come Sunday on the Cropredy Box was pretty good, as was Western Wind on Wood and the Wire.

Jackdaw  :)

Not in the same league as Tam Lin... Westron Wynd still at its most beautiful by Tim Hart and Maddy Prior on Summer Solstice... A Sailor's Life... She Moves Through The Fair... When I Was on Horseback... I could go on. "Trad Arr" in an electric (dare I use the word "Rock"??) context requires great instrumentation as well as writing the old words a bit more bleedin' modern like. Think about A Sailor's Life.... chiaroscuro (look it up  ::))... build up slowly, intricately... dynamics, harmonies. It's difficult to do well. Your examples are average at best.

It's a bit like Chelsea...If you want someone to score goals for fun you buy Schevchenko...  if you want to do Trad Arr a la Electrique get someone in who can do it... NB I don't have a clue who that might be by the way!

There are loads of old folk tunes the Fairport guys haven't tackled. As a proud owner of at least half a dozen of the Topic 2cd compilations in the voice of the people series, there's LOADS of tunes they could tackle, and creatively, if they have the inclination. I'd always like to see a few originals, though.

A.M. Denning, 32 years of age. A youngster.

Haven't tackled.... degree of inclination? I'd say it's more to do with capability... They haven't tackled, possibly because thery are not inclined so to do (unlikely I suggest) but more likely because it's bloody hard and there is no-one in this band with the skill set to do it...

I don't get it Jack, what skills are you looking for from the band. To suggest a lack of inclination is one thing but to suggest it is a lack of ability is something else entirely.

OK, the band does lack a lead electric guitarist, but then again Simon was in the box seat for Bonny Bunch and Tipplers tales which had great trad arr stuff. Chris' knowledge and love of traditional music is second to none, Peggy is still Peggy. Then we have Ric, who from what I gather is largely responsible for the arrangements the band uses - perhaps there is the crux of the matter.

I don't want this to be a debate about Ric, as they have occured before, but I feel again it is not his ability to take a trad tune and turn it into a great folk-rock track, rather it is not the way he wants to do things.

Jackdaw

Aha - therein lies the problem methinks................

The views expressed to date on this thread have come from a very small (select?) section of what itself is a small part of the FC fan base. perhaps some of the most loyal and long serving granted, but clearly that's not sufficient either toa) guage the general view of the broad fan base and b) change the band's current artistic disposition when it comes to chosing material for a new CD.

My views have allready been aired t the start of this thread - I'd much prefer an album that was weighted heavily towards the "trad arr" genre - and I don't accept that there isn't the musical competence within the band to do it. I, like everyone else , have a choice. Currently I'm getting my fix of trad rock from a variety of other sources - still Steeleye, bless 'em, and a selectionof good Scots bands. I shall exercise that choice when the new CD comse out - if it's similar to the last four or five releases then in all probability I won't buy it.

Perhaps FC have the comfort that, being a successful little cottage industry, as SN said, they're largely self sufficient now and can indulge themselves in their choice of songs. Perhaps they're attracting more new fans with their recent CDs than they're losing old ones - it would be nice to know from one of the chaps if they plan to continue with their current musical path - or revisit the trad song chest again ( And the huge glut of re issues and compilations would suggest that they are not uncomfortable with that tag............)

Might as well get my bit in before i slope off to work,
To quote joni mitchell, "no one ever said to van gogh, go out and paint another starry night"
Quote from me, "no one ever said to robert plant and jimmy page, go out and write a led zeppelin 4"
     When the new album does appear it won't be to everyones liking. One mans meat etc etc.
Full house was to me, fairport at their musical best, yet i still havn't bought the follow up, Babbacombe lee.

Or just taking the money from the licensing deals
 
 btw Vincent the follow up to full house was Angel delight

Dammit yer right jim. banks of the sweet primroses and all that

Hear hear. As an artist you have to where you are taken. . .not where you are told to go. You can't plan a masterpiece.

Can I just say that artists don't always (or indeed often) know about re-issues and compilations on which they appear.

They just find out by accident -(well that's what happens to me anyway)

Jude

Haven't checked the forum for a week and look what's happened!  ::)

Here's my two penn'orth for what it's worth. How about a double CD for the anniversary year - one with old and trad stuff with guests (Judy has to be a must, Maart, Ashley etc) and the other some new stuff and total reworkings. This way everybody gets what they want, plus we (the fans) get a superb reflection of the bands capabilities, past and present. Simon has said that FC is about the band, not the individuals, so this would reflect their 40 years and their various formats.

Also, bear in mind that you'll never please all of the people so chances are they'll please themselves. Either way, I'll buy it!!  :)

I learned the hard way never to do that..............last FC album I bought without hearing was "Gottle". 'Nuff said. All future releases were given a hearing first! Hard earned cash was then expended for some, while others.........................

Good point - already have far too many impulse buys gathering dust (not FC tho'). Maybe I need a day on ebay ....

Just before The Chaps call steve Tilston on speed dial, how about versions of Prefab Sprout's "The Golden Calf" or Th' Eagles "Hollywood Waltz" for 2007? 

Oh God, not another "willow creek" again, please. Or "dingo days down under". Just can't stomach Tilston's lyrics.

Wouldn't mind something by Ralph McTell or Huw Williams though.

Go on, Farnish, full throttle! Sophie Tucker!

I think Tilston's lyrics sit there nice and dandy. He's got the tango in him when it comes to words.

Wasn't DH invited to submit something last time round? There's an instrumental on the first SftBH album they're welcome to.... ::) ;D

I hope they'll kKindly avoid the use of "Geronimo's Cadillac" by Hoyt Axton please.

Yeah. Peggy's invitation I believe. Peggy liked it but I'm not sure it sat well with everyone else. Even Peggy asked him to change the line  about 'cancer'.

Maybe he just didn't guage it right.

He came close though!   ;D

Carrying on a ramble, very happy with CL's contribution on the last album - Fossil Hunter and I'm Already There do it for me. Both of Ric's instrumentals are excellent (though I wouldn't wish his inspiration for Some Special Place on anyone) so have no problem with the "3 + 2" equation.

Hope Tam Lin doesn't make it, as it is too long and duller than the original recording.

Freeman! Outside, now - and get Hughes to write something new : A Song For England played by Fairport would sound good, so what else is there?

Maybe "Rhythm Is A Dancer" (arr. Hughes) was pushing it a bit.

This sounds good to me...  I like trad.arrs and the soundalikes and I also like Chris songs and Rics instrumentals.  In an anniversary year there must surely be a nod to all times and all folks.

Icky

I reckon we'll see it - what with it being the 40th anniversary and all there's bound to be at least one 're-imagining' on there somewhere and I'm sure it's a bit too soon for another Banks of The Sweet Primroses. Ralph's Bridge of Sighs would be a corker though.

I second the suggestion about "A Place called England" - top song.

Maybe June Tabor could guest on it or perhaps Chris While. But Simon could handle it OK - I can hear him now.

I thought it was written by Michael Murphey. I always thought they'd make a good job of it myself.

if the formula holds then tam lin is a shoe in
 for gods sake no June tabor, she could murder a sailors life again in the studio  :o the horror
 we'll all look forward to it be mildly disappointed and not play it again for weeks, give it another chance and still be disappointed

I'd like to be surprised by a new album - I don't' mind the recent albums, but feel they're too long and somewhat formulaic. I'd love to see them do something surprising... Like Show of Hands have done in "Witness", or go back to taking Trad songs and doing mad arrangements of a la Matty Groves & Jack O Rion... Rockify things a bit... Like the Dead Horse thing on "Rise up Like the sun" (Albion Do-dah.) Or

You are right! I believed that Geronimo's Cadillac was by Hoyt Axton, From the album Life Machine - A&M Records 1974, but Murphey indeed seems to be the author.

For some reason this song generates confusion as to its origins, Chris Leslie mistakenly thought Bill Miller wrote it when he played it at the Mill last year.

If you ever get the chance, pass up the opportunity to listen to the excreable version from Manfred Mann's Earth Band.

So right.... but I'd give up on this line if I were you. Been there, sung it etc.

Hello a few thoughts from Sweden here (only my second contribution top this forum).  I think that Simon's material on the last two studio albums has been rather weak. He needs stronger material to lift the albums to greater heights.  James Taylor's "Terra Nova" is a great song and would be perfect for Simon to sing. And as both he and Peggy are fans of Mr Taylor I'm sure that they know the song and it can be arranged as a really great Fairport number. Maybe they can surprise everyone and cover XTC. "Love on a Farmboys Wages" is a great song and "folkish" enough.
Generally speaking I would like Fairport to take more risks, stretch out a bit. Maybe move in a folk-jazz direction.

A wonderful song, you're right. But maybe hard to top The Poozies great version?

My feeling that less is most definitely more.  IMHO the last three albums have been a liitle bit let down by 'filler' tracks just to get 60 minutes of music onto a CD.  The problem I find is that if an album has 5 or 6 good songs and the remaining songs of a lower quality, I just give up listening to it.

I really do believe that if an album is kept at around 45 minutes long (remember those good old days of vinyl?), then only the stronger songs are likely to be chosen and this makes for a much more pleasant listening experience.

In fact, the last five non FC albums I've bought have all been less than 45 minutes long and have all been exceptionally good with no reliance on 'average' songs to fill the gaps.

Some trad stuff, some Chris L compostitions and some covers. 

How about a go at a Cohen song? Not sure which one, as there are so many to choose from, but there are a few in FC back catalogue already.

Also, just been listening to "I want to see the bright lights tonight" and thought "We sing Hallelujah" would make a great rollicking track, or "When I get to the border" off the same album. Could Simon be persuaded to dust off the dulcimer?

and lets hope that firmly in the back catalogue they stay.
 without Ian M and miss Judy to sing them laughing lens songs dont really lend them selves to the current line up

Talk of them going back to their "roots" and recording trad.arr material isn't strictly a reflection of the band's history or their recorded output through the years.  They started out as the first ever UK band doing covers of the wave of unknown US singer-songwriters in the late 60s - Joni Mitchell et al - and always had a solid core of songwriting talent, as evidenced by the first three albums in particular, where looking back it's really exciting to listen to the very rapid maturing of Sandy and RT. 

I grant that there is a lot of trad.arr throughout the 70s and 80s, leavened by brilliant versions of songs by the likes of Ralph McTell, but I've come back to Fairport in the last 10-15 years simply because they've found a new vein of internal songwriting talent through Chris and have also continued to pick up good songs by other writers and made them their own (Steve Tilston, for example, although ST's own version of Slipjigs is the undisputed guv'nor).

I've always admired their eclecticism and wouldn't want to see a single strand dominatiing an album - keep the mix going fellas!

'When I Get To The Border' was a regular when Simon returned to the band in 1976/77, didn't make it onto vinyl though. They revived it in about 1999 but unfortunately it still didn't get a release. Now would be the ideal opportunity though (wouldn't it, Norm?  ;))

Couldn't agree more!

The only thing I'd like to hear is Simon thrashing the old electric guitar a little more often, and an "outside of the box" cover version - one that really makes you sit up and go "WHAT!!! :o"

A Song for England or A Place Called England? - my money would be on Maggie Holland's lovely opus.

And as it's coming from a Scotsman, could there be a better recommendation for an English song?

Never seen them do this particular masterpiece (1st seen in '83 and not seen '99 to '02 - unless they did at Cropredy '99 and I was, er, sleeping)...would love to hear a version...if anybody has any live recordings including said song, then, er, drop me a line  ;D

How about a Dylan song? Would love to hear Simon singing "I threw it all away" from Nashville Skyline.

IIRC, it was part of the set for the 2001 Wintour. ISTR they introduced it by saying that RT wasn't going to be at Cropredy that year, so here was one of his songs to make up for that!

But many, many great albums have been created with the input of a producer who wasn't a band member. Many terrible albums were created when bands or artists decided they knew best and didn't need to pay attention to anyone else's opinion.

Band members can sometimes be too close to the project. Simply having a third party on board who will sort the wheat from the chaff in terms of the material to be recorded could make the next album a huge improvement on the previous few.

Be good to hear them doing Ashley's song, Wings, which charts the history of Folk Rock.

and the point oif that would be?..........

having had a short time to think about it i take the previous post back
 seeing as how they recorded it on the cropredy box its probably long overdue to be rehashed and brought back into the set

PJ Wright please.

The songs and vibe will follow.

Definitely (checks pulse to see why he is agreeing... mutters and moves on...). That "short" version on the box set ( I think) is the best one. Ashley's on its own is a tad too "worthy" whereas with the full band going at it and Richard's superb musical references to "Eight Miles High" etc it is a very good song... Any idea why it is only this "short" version? Too much 6X on the mixing board?

It's the most appropriate extant song I can think of for a 40th anniversary. But it does call for a very strong lead guitarist (cue guest spot).

What! Not another Fairport Convention album! Haven't they got enough?

No Cocker, it'll be the same as the last one, only with different songs  ;)

Jackdaw

Some might say that's a valid criticism of a lot of Ashley's recent (ie the last 25 years!!) work.  Some might.  I couldn't possibly comment...

I think it's just a case of referencing an otherwise available track. The complete version's on the 'Cropredy Box'.

Two points.....  (a) The "full" version is not grand at all though and (b) the "live" shoirt verson is exccellent...

Eh? I'm not quite with you Jack, the UnConventional recording is just the Cropredy 1997 live recording (from 'The Cropredy Box') with a minute or so chopped off at the start and the end. It's exactly the same performance though...

The idea that I may have fallen out of the daft tree and hit a few branches has from time to time occurred to me... However...

I have a live version which includes Rich T's fab Strat doing "Eight Miles High" rif.... I think that's the one from the Box Set... It cuts off abruptly after a couple of minutes... The other version I have heard is sans Rich T's Byrd warbling and may be studio.

I shall research further when I get a mo...

That'll probably be the Ashley Hutchings/Ken Nicol recording on one of the Guv'nor CDs. There's also a couple of Albion Band versions.

Chatting to someone in the know on Thursday night,I understand the band are getting back in the studio in mid October.Whilst not a double,plans for a long single CD are in place.Tam Lin is a definite and Sir Patrick Spens is a possibility,in the current,slighty faster form.Wow! Can't wait! Roll on early 2007!

so the formula holds

THe following one might be rather tempting though....

Uh? Just this once Chris please tell us what you're talking about  ???

I'm pleased someone else was brave enought to ask... ;)

Presumably Chris is referring to the re-recording of Leig and Leif with the original lineup -Sandy +? that was mooted a while back? I thought that was mentioned here but may  have been elsewhere.

I for one hope they don't. I think it would be a big mistake if they did.

Yes Chris. Do tell.....

I totally adore Chris Whiles' beautiful voice and she would get my vote {:-) [;-)

Me too! Chris Whiles voice is superb and fits in perfectly with the current FC style.

The idea that I may have fallen out of the daft tree and hit a few branches has from time to time occurred to me... However...

I have a live version which includes Rich T's fab Strat doing "Eight Miles High" rif.... I think that's the one from the Box Set... It cuts off abruptly after a couple of minutes... The other version I have heard is sans Rich T's Byrd warbling and may be studio.


Are you sure RT is quoting 'Eight Miles High'  and not 'Renaissance Fair' or even 'Everybody's been burned' (from the sublime 'Younger than Yesterday'...I'm at work so I can't check now but I'll give the Crop box a listen later....
Yours pedantically, Slippy, ;D ;D
P.S.  If I'm wrong...well,  I'm wrong   BTW I'm off to see Barry 'The Fish - as in Country Joe -' Melton tonight with Pete Albin (ex-Big Brother - NOTE TO YOUNGER BODS:  not the TV show!! ;D ;D  The support band is some ex-Help Yourself and Man bods (I've recently discovered Help Yourself via some re-issues and they were very good indeed in a West Coasty way......Your comments please Mr Diamonds...........

Slippy
 ;D

I shall research further when I get a mo...

Pete Albin is not ex-Big Brother & the Holding Co...he's very much still part of the band and just completed a European tour with them 3 days ago.  Enjoy the gig!

Are you sure RT is quoting 'Eight Miles High' 

[/quote]

Damn certain... beautiful little reference in "Wings" to "EMH"... It's specifically the neat little entry guitar piece from The Lord of Rickenbacker, Jim McGuinn...

Booger me... barry Melton.... Used to rate him as a geetar player about the time I was first listening to young Thommo... A bit to self-consciously hippy for my speed but Electric Music was good listening on Perfumed Garden...

All the best!

Damn certain... beautiful little reference in "Wings" to "EMH"... It's specifically the neat little entry guitar piece from The Lord of Rickenbacker, Jim McGuinn...
[/quote]

Actually, you are both correct (surprise!).

The open guitar parts of Wyngs are directly borrowed from the opening riffs of Renaissance Fair from YOUNGER THAN YESTERDAY.  A mandolin on Wyngs plays the jingle jangle guitar part.  If you listen to both tracks side by side, you'll find that they are identical.  The theme is repeated before each new verse.

However, after Ashley sings the first part of the opening verse, RT plays a distinct Eight Miles High riff.

So both of you are right!

Well spotted that man!! ;D ;D      However,  I was there and I can't remember anyone playing mandolin on Wings - was it Peggy?? (as Ashley was on bass)

Cheers,
Slippy

More likely RT and special effects. He can do anything with that Strat, y'know :)

Perhaps I was mistaken about it being a mandolin......sure sounds like one, though. ???

anyhow, wasnt it Ken Nicol on the albion's version

If u ask me, next years Album should be a 2 disc recording of Cropredy 2007, with any new tracks the band have by then.

yours fairportilly, the Kascadekid :) ;) :D 8)

THat might be the album for 2008.....!!!

but it said in the cropredy leaflet they'd have a new album by 2007.

yours fairportilly, the kascadekid  :) ;) :D 8)

Don't be pushy son...... :P :-*

Yes, there will be a CD for the Winter tour - but it won't be a 2CD set of Cropredy 2007 for obvious reasons.....

Hence my suggestion that the live Cropredy 2007 (and they'd be mugs for there NOT to be a live release!) will be the 2008 offering....

http://www.101cd.com/detail.aspx?productid=1636505 (http://www.101cd.com/detail.aspx?productid=1636505)

New release 9th October of old stuff. 2CD for GBP £7.99 inc UK P&P

Now what on earth is this all about? Looks live from the tracklisting, but does anyone know any more?

There's this:

http://www.amazon.com/Journeymans-Grace-Fairport-Convention/dp/B0009VY6UU

it was out a while back, its the soundtrack of that marlow theatre dvd

Track listing on Amazon page not quite the same as CD101 ?

 ???

Having listened to this again recently I think the Amazon track listing is the correct one.

If it is being released on 9th October, perhaps it has been revised, or remastered ?

Arrived on the doormat today.

Will give the discs a spin in the next few days.