TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

And why? There's a fiver on this.

Nine, by a very long way.

Packed with great choons, I love trevors voice and in terms of the greats of the Fairport Canon;

Nine
Hexamshire Lass
Polly on the Shore
Bring Em Down
Possibly Parsons Green


Rosie
Rosie
Knights of the Road


Germany V's England really.

Nine every time................Rosie, sentimental schmaltz

Cheers Nigel

I wouldn't have put it QUITE like that myself  ;)...but ultimately, that's my view too.

Nine is a milimetre away from being a truly classic album.  Rosie has a couple of great songs on it.  Not even close in my book...

Also, Nine holds together as a coherent and consistent album. Rosie feels like a random collection of songs somewhat thrown together, which, given the circumstances of its recording, it basically was. Love Hungarian Rhapsody though.  :)

I can already see where this is going...  :)  Keep 'em coming though, are there no Rosie champions among us?

C'mon my Rosie and rosin up bow, for the more I learn, the less I seem of to know my Rosie (Anna........)

Hmm... in places, yes, but as has been mentioned elsewhere before, the second half is pretty weak; quite what the thinking behind Big William and Pleasure & Pain was I'm not sure. Other than that, it is a good album, and generally better than Rosie.

Nine is one of my favourites in the whole Fairport canon. As mentioned previously, there are a couple of weaker tracks on it, but even they are listenable. I've said before in a different thread here some time ago that the current FC lineup should revive Bring 'Em Down, or if the trend for "another anniversary, another album recreation" catches on, then a Nine recreation would be most welcome. (Simon or R**** M***** as Trevor, Chris L as Swarb if Swarb doesn't want to do it, the others present and correct).

As much as I really love Rosie album, it's more of a Swarb record. Nine is a very strong FC album.

Wow !  This was a lot tougher for me than I thought. I had both side by side and acted as if I had to buy/choose just one to keep..... after MUCH deliberation, the Rosie album wins ---(in a squeaker)  I think the Hen's March  does it for me.

I can never hear Rosie without seeing the opening credits to the sitcom which the music was used for. Young nieve policeman walks down road etc Never really think of it as a fairport song.
 

Having paid out for both records as they were released, Rosie wasn't disappointment, but Nine was a joy.

I put Nine in my Fairport top three (with L&L and Jewel in the Crown).
The sound quality of Nine on vinyl was also outstanding.

Has to Nine. One of their best albums in my view and agree with Maart. Rosie has the feel of a Swarb outing more than an FC offering.Still a great album though. ;D

Nine, despite one or two duds - having said that, my soft spot for especially The Plainsman on Rosie remains firm. I don't consider Rosie to be a bad album. Could have done with less syrup though ...

Both these albums come from a time when I was away from Fairport, my teenage years being more taken up with girls, Rory Gallagher, girls, Hawkwind and girls.

However, as I understand it, Rosie was a partial retread of an unreleased album ("At The Manor"), the remnants being "Rosie", "Matthew Mark Luke & John", "Me With You" and "My Girl", all credited to Dave Swarbrick or in conjuction with Dave Pegg. Nine has "Big William" (credited to Swarbrick/Lucas) from those sessions, although it's (unclear to me) if any were re-recorded or just transferred over. I've read that "Big William" differs significantly between the two, but haven't heard the former version, so can't comment directly.

Perhaps those who have heard the aborted album tracks may care to comment?

As such, both albums are patchy, Rosie's commonly acknowledged nadir being "Hungarian Rhapsody" which smacks of desperation to fill the album with another track, to me  Mind you, "Me with you" isn't half as twee as it thinks it is.

Then again, Nine has "Possibly Parsons Green"!  :o

So, Skirks, in answer to your question, on balance, "Nine", as a more coherent offering, at least in retrrospect, 37 years later.

I like Possibly Parsons Green!  Jerry plays a blinder on it for starters.  Good Trev vocal too.

But yeah, Nine is far far better to Rosie.  Rosie sounds like what it is - a patchwork from different sessions.  It also sounds like Swarb is running low on ideas.  He'd written well before, and would again, but some of his songs on Rosie are unremarkable.  Trev's songs are the best things on there for my money.  The album is by far the weakest album released under the Fairport Convention name up until that point, and indeed only Gottle O' Geer would rob it of that title before the decade was out.  Rosie doesn't suck, but it's for fans only.

Nine on the other hand is the work of a newly galvenised band firing on all cylinders.  Swarb's back on form, Trevor's on form, Jerry's on form, DM's back full time in the drum chair.  That lineup could have gone on to make other great records I think, and much as I love Sandy, I think her return to Fairport upset the chemistry of the Nine band.  Maybe later would have been better for everyone.  I dunno, just speculation.

But, before I ramble on and on and on, the answer is Nine.  For Polly On The Shore, Althea, Hexhamshire Lass, Bring 'Em Down, and, yes, Possibly Parsons Green.  Quality.

Jules

I genuinely do love that track. I appreciate that it is a complete throwaway but it is a rare Dave Pegg writing credit and it makes me laugh!

While we're at at it, I like Big William, Pleasure & Pain and Possibly Parsons Green from Nine too.  :)

I do think Big William was a mistake.  It lets the side down for Nine.

Jules

Thank you everybody, erudite and insightful in the finest TAW tradition!  :)
I appear to have been going in from each end of the Fairport canon and am about to finally meet in the middle...

I recall the uncertainty of Fairport's future after the post Simon line-ups had foundered, the relief when "History" had a new, unreleased, track ("Hen's March") & the the joy at the subsequent release of "Rosie". Any album that has Sandy, Richard & Linda, Rulf McTeal + (thank you deity of choice) DM, has to be pretty special. We could have ended up with "The Manor Sessions" version (shudder) & history would have been utterly different. In the context of it's release, "Rosie" was an utter joy that pointed in a new & exciting direction. The first inkling I had of how good "Nine" would be was one Sunday at The Roundhouse & hearing a pre-release airing of  "Polly On The Shore" over the PA. between bands. Spine-tinglingly special. Both "Rosie" & "Nine" occupy a special place & I could no more choose one over the other than have a favourite child.  :)

In old vinyl terms, Side One of Nine is as good as anything they ever did. Assured, confident, instrumentally brilliant. I remember being disappointed when I bought Rosie, and thinking maybe my favourite band's best days were behind them. But those first five tracks of Nine really blew me away: two stylish trad ballads - Hexamshire Lass and Polly, an astonishing instrumental medley, and a sublime version of To Althea From Prison (which should still be in the repertoire, sung by Chris). Side B was a relative disappointment (four not particularly distinguished songs by the standards of their own track record), but they'd done enough in those first 20 minutes to restore my faith. I saw that band (with and without Sandy) several times over the next few years and it was a little golden period.

I don't think either of them are "great" albums (in the way that L and L, Full House and Unhlafbricking are), but Nine is one of the most memorable.

For me it's Nine every time.

I just listened to both and Nine is tighter and a much better listen.

In fact, I'm going to list to Nine again!  :)

Sprung on an unsuspecting audience one beautiful night just as Reynardine was a couple of years ago. :)

One further amen to that.

Jules

Oh go on then...I'll stick my vote in for that as well !

similar to what someone else stated previously, the time around "Rosie2 was a bit fruaght for followers of FC what with Simon and DM's departures, line-ups that didnt work out and possible dropping of the FC name, so when Rosie came out it was a great relief and while not in the same league as the records that preceeded it, it wasnt a total flop and had more than a couple of  redeeming tracks.
   When "Nine " was released things were a bit different, DM had returned to the fold and Jerry and Trevor were fairly well established as part of the band so the lp reflected this in its swagger and confidence making it a fairly indespensible part of the Fairport canon.
   So for me its "Nine" by some distance
thats my take on "FC The Pub Rock years"

I'd have said 1976-79 were more the 'pub rock years'.

Jules

Neither is amongst my favourites but my copy of Rosie has had more plays than has 9. I like HR too ;D

"Bring 'em Down" is one of my favourite FC songs. I like Nine. I don't like Rosie, but oddly, find Hungarian Rhapsody a fun song.

Nine every time - Hexhamshire Lass, Polly, Bring em Down, Althea nuff said

DW

Mine too. I have always thought it should occupy a similar position in their repertoire to Sloth. It is a song that has the potential to expand and be transcendent through improvisation. There is a blisteringly good version of it on the Before The Moon live album.

Been mulling over this.  Whilst Rosie itself is  one my top 5 FC ditties, in album terms it is Nine hanfdsdown and without a doubt, just for the confidence, power and joy that it puts out.

As several have pointed out, "Rosie" was welcomed as a sign of life from a much-loved band. The old A side of the LP is a strong one to my mind and I don't really mind the ditties on side B. (I like ditties sometimes)
"Nine" to me is an effort of a gigging band that really has come together as a band. Strong on both songs, vocals and instrumentally, it has almost no weaknesses. I happen to like "Big William", too!  ;)
"Nine" is an album I return to quite frequently, and -also as has been stated earlier - todays lineup could find a good oldie or two here!
"Nine" 9 points (!)
"Rosie" 7 points

I must fish out these two and have a listen. It's been ages!  :-[

Oooh!  Are we doing points?!?!   :D

Rosie - 4 out of 10 (if 5 is an averagely OK album, I feel it falls somewhat short)

Nine - 8 out of 10 (9 would have been funnier, but I have to dock a couple of marks for 'side 2' not managing to keep up the standards set by 'side 1')

Jules

Nine for me, although Rosie has a certain charm.

Ah, the Hawkwind, Gallagher years, i remember them well.

That's a lovely phrase.  :)

Rosie was the first one I bought after hearing Fairport for the first time, so it has a special place. :)

I will now need to go and listen to both to check. (thereby cleverly avoiding housework)

Re: Possibly Parsons Green, re-listen to the version on Live at the BBC.  Sandy provides an indispensable harmony vocal throughout and elevates the song to a new height.

I never skip a Rosie or Nine song when it pops up on the iPod.

On a quick count up of the opinions I find as follows

For Nine:- 16

For Rosie:- 3

Undecided (at my discretion, Peter, I couldn't quite decide on your stance, please forgive me) 4

Therefore, I would suggest based on results so far, Nine wins to date.

Does that answer the bet question Skirkmeister?

Big Dave (Adjudicator, who's brave enough to argue?)  ;)
 

I must admit haven't listened to "Nine" before, so just ordered on Amazon for £3.97. There also have "Rosie" and that only costs £3.49. So if we go on the more expensive the better, they also come down on the side of Nine.

Thanks BD - a suitably judicious summing up of the situation, I feel.  :)
Next week - Nine vs. Full House in the second round... ;D

That's presuming Full House makes it through the qualifing round against Angel Delight  ::)

A sort of FC F.A.Cup do you mean Nick?  ;)

Full House would certainly beat Angel Delight since Poor Will rejoined the side.   :D

Jules

I'd tend to agree but it might go to extra time. Angel Delight puts up a surprisingly strong performance from its depleted side and may bring its high chart position off the subs bench!

 ;D ;D ;D
More!
More!
Mooooooreee!!!

Since the rules regarding additional substitutions were changed, there have certainly been some interesting options regarding what could previously have been seen as walkovers. But then, as they say, there are no easy games in the FC Cup. Apart from Gottle O' Geer at home...  ;D

Angel Delight is viewed as the underdog of the knockout stages, but nobody can write them off.  With Lord Marlborough playing up front, and Sir William Gower also match fit, they could cause problems.  I can see the Bonny Black Hare getting a booking or two though, for his saucy behaviour.

Jules

"Bring 'em Down" was the first track I ever heard from FC and it knocked me out. Still does. So for that reason alone, I suppose I would pick Nine. But I love both records very much.