TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Mr D Swarbrick announced today on Facebook he is in the studio working on a live album of unreleased FC material from 76/79.  ;D

now thats what i call music

Ace.

I wonder if this will include any actual unreleased songs, or just new versions of songs we already have. Either way, I'm in; you can never have too much '70s Fairport.

What would be even better, is a complete 1970 Live at the L.A. Troubadour set.

Fab news!

Jules

It's scheduled for spring 2012.Asked if there might be material from Knebworth he replied ...it's a secret.Speculate away....

What Swarb has said on fb so far:
"is in the studio mastering a double fairport album from 76/79"
"All live stuff From my archives"
"Release 2012. Spring, going on cropredy time. And its going to be good. Huzzah!"
"Its peggy, simon, bruce and myself."

What was the knebworth lineup?  

The farewell line up - Swarb, Simon, Peggy & Bruce

Wonder if there was a live recording from the Thoresby gig in July 1979... the fiddle solo in Sloth was amazing!!

I am REALLY happy about this---one of my favorite line ups!

Me too.  My first.  My favourite.  Pure folk-rock.  Perfect....  :)

not my favourite but close, DM is still the drummer for me but Bruce was bloody good and i'm looking forward to this hugely

Have to agree with Jim there, not so much because DM is a better drummer than Bruce,but because of the way DM and Peggy play TOGETHER....one of the greatest rhythm sections ever.

BUT...imho...if you saw some of the shows (or have recordings of some of the shows) from the tail end of the 76-85 period where DM sat in for Bruce (there's a few from the Spring '85 US tour, the last with Swarb, and also one I can think of from a couple of years earlier), there's something sort of 'not quite' about them.

On any normal basis whatsoever, DM (he'd almost certainly be in my Top 5) goes higher up the 'Best Drummer' lists than Bruce, but somehow this 4-piece still sounded perfect.  To me at least...  :)

I would love, almost certainly more (been there, done it) than the early, the L&L, the Full House lineups which I'm sure we will get next year (God willing) to see this lineup play at Cropredy, even in a modified form (DM, maybe Chris to add some vocals and a bit more fiddle).

I agree. 2 very different drum styles. I would not call one or the other better, though---whatever that word means to each of us---just different. Both are amazing.

Fairport have been blessed with 4 excellent drummers - Martin, DM, Bruce and Gerry - each very different in his own style and approach, but all of them right in tune & time with their bandmates.

I'm looking forward to this release as well (as if you couldn't tell...)

Well said...it is strange just how different they all are from each other, but how right they all are for the band.  

Yep, I agree too.  A fine crop of drummers.  DM's my favourite of them, but Bruce isn't far behind.

Jules

Abso-bloomin-lutely! On a related subj.  I have't seen them do Jack O'Rion for 749 years, do they ever do it now? Or is it too Swarb?

I have to say Bruce has always been my favourite Fairport drummer. But actually, all of them offer something different to the band, and have all wowed me in some way or another, DM's drum work on Instrumental Medley '85 and Gerry's drum work on Mercy Bay being just two examples!

Cannot add much really! Sort of sums it all up. I agree wholeheartedly.

It's very much a Swarb piece - he put it all together.  I think it's their finest track post Nine.

Jules

I can see the current line-up doing a version, but it would be nothing like Swarb did it. I know Ric always likes getting his teeth into Fiddle tunes, especially the way they're arranged in that particular track. Much like Babbacombe Lee, I suppose, they could definitely do it justice.

Can't argue with that. Swarb has a threat about him that I can't see in Chris Leslie, fine fellow though he is. It wouldn't be the same.

Jules
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Can't argue with that. Swarb has a threat about him that I can't see in Chris Leslie, fine fellow though he is. It wouldn't be the same.
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Is my memory playing tricks with me? I seem to remember hearing Jack O'Rion live, played by the current line up. Definately heard 'Lord Marlborough' another year....

When this was first mentioned I seemed to remember the same.  But I'm resolutely unconvinced with myself  :)

I wouldn't mind hearing Chris Leslie take on Jack Orion. I'm glad to see that the band has continued to revisit the older songs and CL's vocals on Rising For the Moon was well done. Not sure how I feel about a whole new disc of remakes, but we'll see in a few months! As for a double CD of live FC from the Bonny Bunch/Tippler's Tales era.. I'm genuinely thrilled! Aside from the Farewell, Farewell CD, I haven't heard any other live recordings from that particular line-up. Bonny Bunch & Tippler's have long been two of my favorites from the band and I revisit both quite often. It's most welcome news to hear that Swarb is putting this together. Sign me up! :)