TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Missed this first time around - at the time didn't rate Swarb's singing. (Fool that I was!!!!!) Got it from the recent remaster reissues...

...and think much of the criticism is unfair.

It is what it is. A transitional album by a 3-man FC questing for a new direction after the glorious failure of the 9+Sandy+Glyn Johns line-up to become the next big AOR act.

Built like 'ROSIE' from an abortive Swarb solo, it suffers in that a new band doesn't gel around the material as it had 4 years previous. As a result it's less cohesive than 'ROSIE' (which wasn't incredibly cohesive anyway!) but arguably much more experimental.

In a kind of nothing-to-lose way the lads are trying quite a few new angles but are clearly lacking any major new sense of inspiration.

The result is bitty but always interesting but without ever knocking your socks off.

I far prefer 'GOTTLE' to 'TIPPLERS TALES', by which time the band had retreated into uninspired sub-'ANGEL DELIGHT' reworkings of trad;arr.

I won't be playing 'GOTTLE' every week but I think it'll be one of those things I rediscover with a little frisson of pleasure every now and then.

It's not awful, but it's not very good in a very tired way. It feels like a contractual obligation album in the same way that "Up" by REM feels. One way I judge a Fairport album (or any folk-genre album) is whether I would be embarrassed to play it at a dinner party, and I would for GoG, but would also be embarrassed to play Wood and the Wire and...Sense of Occasion! There are far too many comparisons between SoO and GoG for my liking - almost like Fairport are scrabbling round for something to prove they still exist. Sad, but truly honest.

Agreed - except that Up at least tried to be experimental. If they had actually finished any of the songs it may have made a decent album!

I don't hate 'Gottle', but it is a thorn between two roses IMO.

Well said.  My thoughts exactly...

I do have a question about that album, I was listening to it yesterday and wondered what Swarbrick's opinion is about it, I know he didn't like it when Island put Fairport on the cover instead of his name but does anyone know if he likes it or not?

Up wasn't a contractual obligation, it was just their first record as a 3-piece.  And it's actually aged quite well.  Gottle O' Geer, on the other hand, still sounds bereft of inspiration, except for Limey's Lament.

Jules

And mine...............I have repeatedly tried to listen to / like, and fail miserably every time. It is simply mundane and lacking in sparkle

Whereas Tipplers is a joy to revisit.

Yes, I tried again yesterday, it is an album you want to like (just like Trout Mask Replica) but if fails to please.

I wonder if Swarbrick also sees this as a failure.

Has anyone seen this? The Gottle line-up's entire 1976 Rockpalast performance? They do most of the album.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oeemh8CLMiU

Yes, when they were first mentioned in the Fairport YouTube thread I watched them. Interesting bit of Fairport archaeology, my favorite is still the sight of Bob Brady dragging bemused Germans out to dance and a very nervous Dan Ar Braz.

I can feel Carey aiming thunderbolts: it was one of his favourites.

It's a strange album, certainly.  I believe that Swarb's comment was something along the lines of "It didn't work."

Wikipedia has: "Gottle O'Geer, I would like to say once and for all was not ever supposed to be a Fairport album. It was to be my solo album, and I wish, along with most other people, that it had remained that way. Chris Blackwell, who to my mind is the richest, clueless, most unscrupulous pillock it was ever my misfortune to meet, had other ideas."

That Swarb.  He always holds back, doesn't he?   ;)

Jules

This probably after it became clear it was not well received, but maybe he does like it.

Strange album, which I haven't listened to in ages.  Until I read this thread, it hadn't occurred to me that GoG is "experimental."  That helps me put the record in context.

Is it available on cd? I liked this album[husband hated it] but no longer have anything to play vinyl on.

Yes, yes it is

It even has a bonus track,if you get the most recent release..or you can download it from Amazon if not.

Just looked up the bonus track - Angles Brown. I hadn't heard of that before. Is it any good?

It's a different (inferior) version of Limey's Lament, if memory serves (I've played it once!).

Jules

I may be shouted down here, but I think there are plenty of decent songs on ‘Sense of Occasion’ – Hawkwood’s Army, South Dakota, Edge of the World, Farmboy’s Wages, The Vision, Spring Song, Galileo’s Apology, Bowman’s Return, to name a few. Agreed, there are some duds (I’m not too keen on ‘In Our Town’ and ‘Untouchable’) but I still think the good tracks outnumber the poor ones.

As far as ‘The Wood and the Wire’ is concerned, there are only two songs I’m not happy with – ‘Banbury Fair’ and ‘The Lady Vanishes’. I also think ‘Tipplers Tales’ is great fun.  

On the other hand, ‘Gottle O Geer’ really should have stayed hidden, as in my ever so humble opinion it’s truly awful.  

Gollocks, in other words.................. ;)

'Gottle' was one of my early Fairport albums (mainly because after I'd bought the 1969 trio and Babbacombe Lee, it was the cheapest available)... Overall, I actually like it quite a lot. I think Limey's Lament is a blast and think When First Unto This Country is a really fun trad. piece. Our Band is goofy and doesn't feel Fairport-y, but is amusing and Lay Me Down Easy is alright. Not their best, but I do probably spin it more than anything post-Tippler's, save maybe Gladys' Leap.

 :):-) Thank you, that goes on me wish list then  ;D

I wonder how long it'll take before it goes on your "wish I hadn't bothered" list.   ;D

Jules

It's not awful,but it's not great.
When I recently bought the CD and listened it for the first time in yonks,(my vinyl copy got just the one spin),I listened to it not as a Fairport album,or even a Swarb album,but just an album with some familiar musos on it,and it was a more enjoyable experience because I wasn't comparing it to anything else.It must have been OK because I played it again the next day,and I wasn't thinking 'I'll not have to play that again' afterwards.

I can't for the life of me remember what I thought about it when it came out, only that When first into this country and The frog up the pump were the only tracks I really liked, the rest was too mellow. Still remained a loyal Fairport fan and just waited for the next and probably better one.

The FC discography is full of "one-offs" due to all the line-up changes, but this is the most one-off ! Personally I have to agree that it's probably their worst. If only they could have utilised the full possibilities of twin fiddles & Dan Ar Bras, it could have been a superb album. I don't understand Swarb's claim that it was supposed to be a solo album - why then, is it largely songs rather than instrumentals ? His comments are remarkably similar to Ian Anderson's when "A" was converted from a solo LP to a Tull LP !
My vinyl copy has a photo of the full band whereas other copies have a photo of Swarb alone - it would be interesting to know which came first !

What difference would that make?  Is Swarb only allowed to do instrumentals on a solo record?   ???

Jules

It is probably a reflection of the fact that Swarb's solo albums tend to be made up of instrumentals with just one or two songs (if any)

From what I've seen through the years: The UK/European copies have the band photo. US copies just Swarb...

Musical merits aside, though, at least Gottle had a nice cover. I can't bear to look at the cover of Sense of Occasion...  :o

I can defend it for Frog Up The Pump and Cropredy Capers. When thought of as an experimental work the latter track makes more sense. Is it possible to blend folk & funk? I have always had a soft spot for it but those two tracks aside it is not an album I listen to and is probably alone in that respect amongst the run of albums from 68 - 79.

There are several I rarely listen to from 99 - 07.

It will always be viewed as a Fairport oddity, but not as a Fairport Convention oddity  ;)

Simon's notes about his view of things from the producers chair probably speak the truth about it. Seemed like it may have actually been fun to record things like Don't Be Late, and Limey's Lament, and in that regard I quite like about half of it, though seldom play it in part. Thinking of adding the 'Convention' to it in Itunes so it slots in with all the other Fairport albums so I remember to play it more!

Folk-funk? I should think so... I have a copy of the Reel & Soul Association album, and that makes a fine job (IMO) of blending soul with "folk" instruments & arrangements.   :)

It holds a special place in my heart as a few years ago I purchased Swarbs own copy of the album which I have framed in the hall. ;D

I guess this answers my question what Swarbrick thinks about it.  :)

He sold all his albums. :)