TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Hi Dave,

I just thought that I would like to say that one of my all time favourite albums ever is Smiddyburn.
As the album contains in the main members of the 'Full House' Fairport (Beryl Marriott, Bruce Rowland and John MC Cormack aside on one set of tunes) Its production values are for me the finest that I have for this particular Fairport Line up. It still sounds so lush and if Fairport as the full house line up were to have continued recording, this album hints at just how strong the band members are when they perform together.

Not really a question here I guess more an acknowledgement  ... thanks for being.
A true musical giant.

Regards

Simon

And I'd just like to add that your version of Sandy's 'It Suits Me Well' is just beautiful.  That song always makes me sniffle for some reason...

Jules

Seconded -

I wonder Swarb why there is only one vocal on that album the rest being instrumentals? For me your voice was at its absolute best around that time, as It Suits Me Well shows.

David W

many thanks all, funnily enough this forum has made me think of times gone and reach to record rack, whoch is something i dont do so often, and i thank you all. smiddyburn and flittin are big favs of mine, the arranging of the material took ages esp stuff like the rakes of solihad,i lived in smiddyburn at the time and travelled down to london to do it. glad you all seem to like suits me well, actually to be honest i think while the voice may sound ok, the phrasing is extremely wooden, i was under direction to sing it that way, back in those days noone thought i could sing (it was a battle check out old clippings) and thats why there is only one song on it,John wood wasnt happy with me singing, nor the j word or any reviewers.they took a lot of confidence away from me . but now times have changed and for some time now i get complimented on my singing and very nice it feels too.

They were fools for saying those things, Swarb.  Your singing on Now Be Thankful ranks as one of the ultimate vocal performances of all time in my book.

Maybe you sounded too Brummie for 'em?  But really, Dylan blew the lid off what was supposed to be singing and what wasn't.  I'm surprised they were all so narrow minded.

In short - you were a bloody good singer!

 :)

Jules

PS  I'd like to have heard the critics manage to sing a song like The Hexhamshire Lass!!!

Seconded! Your voice is my favourite voice ever.I could listen to you all day! and sometimes do ;D ;D i love your phrasing.

Hi Swarb,

Thirded. I was listening to music last night and was amazed with your beautiful voice. I listened to Mathew Mark Luke and John and Wizard of The Wordly Game. Astonishing vocals. Now Be Thankful, to me, ranks as the greatest song ever recorded. The lyrics are amazing but the singing is what makes the song. No one else could have done it. You were born to sing Now Be Thankful.

Pat

thanks a lot, all of you

Get the feeling you're preaching to the converted here Swarb?  ;)

I can see a growing number of Fairporters past and present lining up to have their egos massaged on this message board!

 ;D

Must admit to being a bit ignorant about Smiddyburn. To me it's the name of a street in Kingsbarns in Fife where I used to live. A mate of mine lives there and it was he who lent me his copy of RT's guitar,vocal LP which was the first Fairport-related album I ever heard. Opened up a whole world of wonderful music. Now I'm at it... calm down, calm down!

yes o do ta

I'll just add one thing.  When I first heard you sing, Swarb, it was when I bought Full House.  I thought to myself, oh my - who can follow Sandy?  Well Simon and Richard both sounded very mic-shy on that record (they've come a long way since!), and Peggy gave it his best shot, as he always does, but you sounded like a natural born singer from the get go.  So confident and assured.  I'm quite angry that nay-sayers dented your confidence.   >:(

Jules

thanks

Oh I totally agree... amazing voice on an amazing song... nobody else could do it such justice

Is there any chance of getting your solo albums re-released, as they are just fantastic. I have Swarb 1&2, Smiddy and Flittin' on vinyl, but because they are on vinyl, I don't play them that often. I'd also be nice to have Lift the Lid and Listen on CD, as vinyl copies are bloody expensive (saw one for £60-£70 once)

Were there any extra tracks recorded but didn't make the final albums? I'd be great to have an enhanced CD of each of the albums

Ollie

swarb 1 & 2 is here :

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Swarbrick-Vol-2-Dave/dp/B00000592K/ref=pd_bbs_4?ie=UTF8&s=gateway&qid=1202406792&sr=8-4

Smiddy/ flittin here :

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Smiddyburn-Flittin-Dave-Swarbrick/dp/B000003IX7/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=gateway&qid=1202406792&sr=8-12

I know i'm being fussy, but I'd quite like them on seperate CD's.

yes you are being fussy

allof them are on cd i think, but fellow talkawhilers might be able to assist you in locating them swarb

It was released on CD - on the Storyville label cat.no. 102 5702 with sleevenotes by Ken Hunt, 2003.
http://www.storyvillerecords.com/default.aspx?tabID=2633&productId=26968&state_2838=2

Also available there, its follow up/companion album The Ceilidh Album, cat. no. 102 5703 credited to Dave Swarbrick & Friends.
http://www.storyvillerecords.com/default.aspx?tabID=2633&productId=26969&state_2838=2

Looks like they're still available; I bought mine elsewhere when they came out so I have no experience with Storyville, but there they are.

... and Amazon.co.uk seems to be easier and cheaper still.

ta

One of the very best!  

Phrasing's already been mentioned - and that's one of the things I really love about your singing.  I always think your phrasing is very 'Sandy' (i.e. a lot of the things I love about her phrasing also seem to be there in yours)... I wondered whether you think your singing was influenced by hers, because I've always thought it probably was?

To Althea From Prison is the song I always mention as an example of what a wonderful singer you are/were.  It is absolutely sublime.

I didnt or wasnt influenced by anyone i dont think when it came to singing, the crooners of the 40.s maybe, but  sand ,no i dont think so .Interesting what you say, we both had such a love of trad singers and perhaps thats the common demominator.

Thanks.  I'd often wondered.  I obviously just made that link because you both happened to phrase songs in a way that I really love.

...or - Chris has just put in his two-penn'orth here - maybe you were both subconsciously influenced by 40s stuff?  (thinking of Sandy's Whispering Grass here).  Probably talking rubbish, but just a thought!   ;D

Well, whatever... Sandy and Swarb: 2 of my favourite singers!

And very nice of yoy to say so