TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

If Iconic Media can send the press release a day or so early, I can do the same in passing it on and starting a thread on the subject!  :)

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1 JANUARY 2012

1967-2012: Fairport Convention celebrates anniversary

45 years and still going strong

 

Fairport Convention, one of the most enduring names in rock and pop, celebrates 45 years as a band this year.

 Formed in north London during the 'summer of love', Fairport Convention played its first gig on 27 May 1967 in a Golders Green church hall. The band rapidly became popular on the club and college circuit. A record contract followed and Fairport went on to pioneer a new musical genre, British folk rock.
 
Championed by John Peel, Fairport went through frequent personnel changes in its early days nurturing world class talents such as Richard Thompson and the late Sandy Denny along the way. However, maturity brought stability and the current line-up has been together for over a dozen years.

Fairport Convention has outlived most of its contemporaries from the fertile 60s music scene and, 45 years on, remains one of the busiest bands around. During that time, the band has won a coveted BBC Lifetime Achievement Award and Radio 2 listeners voted Fairport's groundbreaking album Liege & Lief  'The Most Influential Folkrock Album of All Time'.

Fairport Convention and its 45-year history will be the subject of a major music documentary to be screened on BBC4 television during 2012.

The current line-up of Simon Nicol (lead vocal, rhythm and electric guitars), Dave Pegg (backing vocals, bass guitar, mandolin), Ric Sanders (violin), Chris Leslie (lead vocal, fiddle, bouzouki, mandolin) and Gerry Conway (percussion and drums) still packs venues on its frequent tours. For the past 32 years the band has also staged one of the UK's major music festivals, Fairport's Cropredy Convention.

"Forty-five years is quite a milestone," says co-founder Simon Nicol, "but we don't intend to rest on our laurels. Fairport is a band that always looks to the future. I think the key to our longevity is live performance. We've never been a studio band  - we much prefer being out there in front of an audience. Our festival at Cropredy also plays a role in sustaining us as a band - it is a highlight of so many peoples' year because it has a great feeling of continuity."

Fairport will be celebrating its forty-fifth anniversary throughout the year. The band will start 2012 with a forty-date British tour beginning on 21 January and continuing until early March. The concerts will feature songs from Fairport's recent studio album, the critically-acclaimedFestival Bell, as well as material drawn from the band's extensive repertoire.

In August, the band's festival at Cropredy will also reflect the anniversary with special guests and Fairport alumni in attendance. Co-founding member Richard Thompson will play a headline set at the event.
Two new CD releases will add to the celebrations in 2012. By Special Request is a studio album featuring brand new versions of Fairport's most popular songs from the past 45 years. But this isn't just any old 'greatest hits' compilation - it is the band's loyal fans who have chosen the songs. Through Fairport's website and social media, the fans were invited to list their individual 'top twenty' from the band's repertoire. These lists were analysed and the dozen most popular numbers were re-recorded for this album.

 The second anniversary release revives one of Fairport Convention's most popular musical projects. Last year saw the fortieth anniversary of Babbacombe Lee, the band's 1971 'folk rock opera'. To mark the occasion, the band performed the work in its entirety at every concert on their 2011 Winter Tour. They also performed it during their set at Cropredy in August. These performances were recorded and will be released in a new live version of the original concept album.
 

ENDS (600 wds)

 

39 date tour, I fancy, not 40 (which does sound better)  ::) ;)

A BBC4 documentary ??? Excellent news...

http://fairportconvention.com/general_news.php

I trust someone has already suggested the 'Stars on 45' concept to the boys (you probably have to be at least 45 to remember Stars on 45)...I can just imagine a megamix Fairport (with an 80's drum machine backing) through the eras storming up the charts.  Possibly...

 :-\ :)

Now there's a thought! (I remember them well)

As one of the 45+ brigade I am looking forward to the BBC documentary rather more than the Stars on 45 megamix...

Look forward to the documentary. BBC4 has some great music programmes.

Out of interest, why does the article refer to what Ric plays as a  violin, and what Chris plays as a fiddle? They look the same to me!

As I understand it, the instrument is a violin, and fiddling is a style.
But what do I know, I'm a drummer!

I am also a drummer so what do i know but a fiddling friend who i was playing with last night ( stop it Bill) has a violin and an american fiddle. Different instruments, different sounds. The American isn't miked and is a much scratchier 'rustic' noise. Obviously good for bluegrass stuff. I agree though that fiddling is a style of violin playing. Swarb and Chris L are fiddlers. Ric isn't,IMHO. I still think of Ric as a heavily tinged jazz player. Sometimes I just want the melody.

That's always been my beef with the post-85 lineup.  They were so keen not to have another Swarb they forgot the one thing that (again,, obviously, IMHO) a folk-rock band needs.  And when they finally got the guy that should have got the job in the first place into the band he couldn't play his lead instrument.  Go figure....!

I dunno, I think Ric's violin fits in well with the post-85 sound, and it fitted with the Albion Band well too. Now, though, I think I prefer Chris' playing with the current sound; Celtic Moon is a testament to that. Still think Ric's an awesome player though, and love his contribution to the band.  :)

I too think Ric is an awesome player.  Rise Up Like the Sun is one of my very fave albums ever... Nothing he's ever done within Fairport has got even close....

Not sure that's entirely his fault, though...

That would be a fun way to start the Wintour and Cropredy, before the band come on.

as he seemsto be the main arranger for the band it possibly is ...

And I don't believe he was for Rise Up Like The Sun.

Fairport at 45... Is that RPM?
No seriously when I get to be 45 (*if*) I will tell you what they're like :)

Really? I've never been under that impression.

Ric is undoubtedly a Jazz musician... he can play notes that most people didn't even know existed! He plays beautifully and to my mind is one of the greatest musicians ever.

I'm sure Ric told me once that "the difference between a Violin and a Fiddle, is attitude". Ric certainly got attitude so that makes him a Fiddler!  ;D

Further more, I'm sure Chris refers to his Violin as a "scraper"!

Back on topic - It's ready for pre-order! http://www.fairportconvention.com/catalogue.php?cmsCategoryID=9&DisplayType=DisplayCatContents

WOW! WHAT A TRACKLISTING! and the samples sound FANTASTIC!  ;D

Even on tinny little laptop speakers!  ::)

Sounds like the chaps have put a LOT of thought into reworking & rearranging the back catalogue.  Looking forward to hearing this in full on a proper system.

Tempted to pre-order both CDs, but as it's less than 3 weeks till Tewkesbury...

If that isn't a live album title waiting to happen, I don't know what is!

 ;D  I'd buy it on the strength of the title alone!

Do I detect a female guest voice on Farewell Farewell?

Also, has anyone worked out how to buy the two albums together rather than in two seperate transactions?

Yep.  Just go to http://www.fairportconvention.com/catalogue.php

...click buy now on one, then buy now on t'other, then check out.  Simples (for me at least).

I'm refusing to listen to the clips til I have the albums in my hand....

No, I think it's Chris singing incredibly high. I had to listen a few times...

There's something very over-produced about the harmony vocals. I can't quite tell what it is, but it doesn't sound natural.

Thanks David. It seems to be working now. On my previous couple of attempts when I clicked on the second album it deleted the first.



Autotune? (Shudder!)

ordered justa couple of seconds ago.


C'mon, postie what's keeping you?

It won't be posted for 2 weeks from what I read earlier.

I gave in and gave that clip a listen.  It does, sadly, sound an awful lot like it has been autotuned (or had some such similar treatment).  Yikes...

Yep - posted on the 19th according to the 'office drudge'..we'll know more after then, I guess!

If they get here by the first night of the tour,I'll be happy..it's my birthday the day after and I'm dying to know what I bought myself.

The new arrangements sound wonderful, really looking forward to the Wintour now :)

I have to say, I had a suspicion on listening that that might be the case. I really, really hope not, though! What has the world come to if Fairport Convention are using autotune?!

Didn't stop me ordering both albums.

I ordered both new CDs a couple of hours ago.  The clips of Fotheringay and Farewell, Farewell sound especially promising.  I'm just sad that Sloth doesn't appear on By Popular Request.  I really want to hear the current lineup tackle Sloth with no guests.

I probably listen more to Ric's Jazz playing than his folk stuff these days, as I listen to the album he did with Soft Machine quite often, and the album he did with John Etheridge gets spun every now and then. I haven't listened to any post-1985 Fairport for ages...

The new CD sounds good... Think I'll have to pre-order them tomorrow at work. Their website isn't Mac Friendly.

Not sure I agree that it isn't a woman guest on Farewell, Farewell. The "you lonely travellers all, the cold north wind" part sounds to me like Chris and another voice, or else it is Chris adding the second higher part. Not sure I have ever heard him hit anything like that in all his years. But moot point until someone gets the cd. Fotheringay in that little snippet sounds AMAZING...and very different. Red and Gold, Sir Patrick Spens and Jewel In The Crown sound good as well.

As it's two weeks till release, think I'll wait till the Oxford gig, but sounds very exciting.

Bit surprised that WKWTTG not included as it was second in the voting by a long way. Also Come All Ye which I have long wanted to hear them open up with (lyrics coudl always be adjusted).  Otherwise I can see this getting a lot of play.

Very pleasantly surprised by the song samples - this stuff sounds good!

Jules

It may be that they think they have covered this recently with the version from 2008 featuring Chris While, which I'm not sure they could top. Come All Ye is a good call.

Looking forward to getting both new CDs - and hopefully getting them scribbled on at the same time. Must book tickets!

At the risk of sounding dense, what's an autotune? :-[

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto-Tune

Be afraid!   ;)

 

Ooer missis!  That don't seem right at all....... Sometimes ignorance is indeed bliss! :-X

No mention of a guest artist on the CD, not had a chance to listen to it yet.

Right, now I've listened to it a couple of times, I *think* it is Chris's voice, but if it hasn't been treated then someone must've had the poor bloke's proverbials in a vice.

Okay, so Walk Awhile is pretty much as normal, as is nd The Hiring Fair. There's some really interesting use of stereo on Matty Groves, Farewell is a nice surprise, very well done. Nice whistles on CMM too.

I know that it is definitely Chris's voice and no auto tune was used. He just has an amazingly versatile voice and is able to sing in tune!

Both albums and tour ticket just arrived in the same post this morning.Coffee'n cornflakes first then FC bonanza to follow... :)

Yes both albums arrived here too. First thought is that they are both beautifully packaged, especially BL the packaging for which is also witty and enlightening as regards precise songwriting credits. Less Swarb than I had previously imagined.

I am aboit halfway through By Popular Request at the moment and it is wholly listenable with some imaginative rearrangements. It won't supplant the originals but it will certainly earn repeat listenings in its own right.

I agree with this. Very listenable, and some nice rearrangements.

However, I could have done without the lapse into cheesy Titantic-like flutes... Needs. More. Electric. Guitar.

Haven't had a chance to listen to Babbacombe Lee Live yet.

Full details please!

Jules

As GubGub said,the packaging for this (and BBL) is very attractive indeed,triple gatefold cover and everything, but,more importantly,as I discussed with Anna Ryder at Brum Town Hall a couple of years ago,they SMELL nice too.We both have a penchant for sniffing newly printed items - the tour programme being the nasal stimulation at that time.I 'spose I'd better listen to it now I've inhaled.

Walk Awhile: reliable bounce along knee bender same as ever
Crazy Man Michael:as Heather said,sounds good with the whistle,which reminded me of my old group when we did it with a flute instead of Swarb's fiddle.
Hexamshire Lass:Always loved this, it's good having Chris in the band so Swarb era songs can be revisited.
Hiring Fair: is better without the keyboards,although DM's arrangement was atmospheric,electric keys never sound right to me in an acoustic setting,so with a mandolin playing that part...good version.
Red And Gold:Never a huge fave with me,not that I don't like it you understand, but I can get behind the sentiment,especially at Cropredy,and this version is better than the original,I think,with Edmund deservedly getting to record a studio version,as his horn part makes it ..just so.
Sir Patrick Spens:No Swarb,but reasonably mighty I 'spose.
Genesis Hall:Not that different from the Old,New....version.Like Crazy Man Michael,it's nice to hear that Simon can give a good strong performance of songs Sandy originally sang.
Farewell Farewell:The most different version on here.Could be a Christmas song almost.More whistles, giving the band a more Irish feel,than the Englishness they usually have.
Rosie:see Hexamshire Lass.
Matty Groves:I originally thought oh not again when I saw this had made the tracklist,I didn't vote for it...BUT I think this is my favourite new version on this album so far.It suits this line up,like the rocked up Maart era Matty suited them.....nice,fresh arrangement,some effective echo effects.
Fothringay:When this album idea came up,I could hear Simon singing this and he does as well as I imagined.I miss the harmonies on the outro though,there's a little snippet at the beginning of this,but it's less atmospheric with violin playing that part.
Jewel In The Crown:not that much different.
Meet On The Ledge:Like Matty...I thought why bother? How many versions do you need? Works best when you're IN the crowd....but I guess it's appropriate to the concept of the album to round it off nicely.

Conclusion:More succesful result than I thought it would be..not something you'd play once and forget about it.Most tracks don't add much to the originals, but suit the current line up quite nicely and don't pale in comparison to the more familiar recordings.Best tracks on first listen..Farewell Farewell and Matty Groves.

I think they'd have been better to ditch the horrible Irish fluting and use brass instead... I saw Kate Rusby do this.

The Babbacome Lee Live CD is absolutely brilliant.

Not sure if brass would be appropriate for CMM,not medieval enough,but yes it works with Kate, and Roy Harper's Old Cricketer is sublime with the nostalgic feel of the brass.

But as we have discussed many times around here, that is never going to happen with this line up. 21st century Fairport have branded themselves as an essentially acoustic act and that's what you're gonna get.



Of the 13 individual musical pieces, Swarb gets writing credit on just 6, 3 of those being co-writes with Peggy. There are two "trad"/externally sourced pieces and the remaining 5 items are by Peggy & Simon either together or solo. I think it is fair to say that Swarb had a hand in most of the highlights though.

I never liked that first version.  It'll be interesting to see if I can enjoy the song with the new arrangement.

Jules

Full details please!   ;D

Jules

Buy the CD!  :P



Have you heard the version from Old, New, Borrowed, Blue? That is my personal favourite. No keyboard. Effective use of fiddle harmonics. The new version is similar but less atmospheric I think.

Yes - that release is probably my favourite Maart era album - note the lack of heavy electric guitar! - I was thinking of the studio versions of the originals against these new ones so it didn't spring to mind,as a live performance,but I'd agree that is the best version to date.

My only criticism would be that Swarb sounded like he was going to pop round with a fag behind his ear, and do something indescribably filthy out by the bins once he got there, whereas Chris sounds like he's going to meet up to discuss which day the recycling should go out. And I should stress that that's the only downside to the collection that has occurred to me so far. The rest sounds wonderfully fresh, revitalised, as live, and I was pleased to hear that Simon has elected to play electric (on that tricky Walk Awhile lick for example) where he's commonly played acoustic before. And it's a welcome final answer to all those "Where do I start with Fairport Convention?" questions. It's also quite warming to read the many fulsome asides to DM's contributions to the original arrangements and such in the sleevenotes.      

 ;D  

He does doesn't he? Well he will in my head every time I play Nine from now on.

I was thinking of Farewell, Farewell and brass, not CMM.

Although I've not heard many medieval Brass songs.

Fairport don't do filthy, but I know exactly what you mean. Most of these old folk songs seem to be about murder or bonking.

You haven't heard the naughty Sailor's Alphabet?  ;) ;D

Widow of Westmoorland's Daughter isn't exactly clean.  Or Doctor of Physick.

Very true

I meant Fairport in its 21st Century Acoustic incarnation. Back then it was wall to wall filth. ;)

I don't think CL does dirty as well as DS.

Back on topic, I actually like the flutes in CMM, as they're not too overbearingly cliched and Irish. The album is fine, despite my criticisms. I suspect I'll listen to this one quite often. It's the only time I've ever heard the Hiring Fair and not wanted to vomit. A low point of any Fairport Concert to me used to be that heart sinking moment when DM stepped away from the drum kit and headed for the keyboards.

I can never quite work it out properly, but does this song seems to put me in mind of a soixante-neuf with all its putting head where feet were before.

No I haven't heard that.  Oh and :P to you an' all!   ;)

Jules

Great quote, Skirky!

Jules

Oh alright then. To put you out of your misery...

Little Did I Think (Swarb)
I Was Sixteen Pt 1 (Peggy/Simon)
John My Son (Peggy)
I Was Sixteen Pt 2 (Peggy/Simon)
St Ninian's Isle/Trumpet Hornpipe (Ronald Cooper/Trad)
Sailor's Alphabet (Trad)
John Lee (Swarb)
Breakfast In Mayfair (Simon)
Trial Song (Swarb/Peggy)
Cell Song (Swarb)
The Time Is Near (Peggy)
Dream Song (Swarb/Peggy)
Wake Up John (Hanging Song) (Swarb/Peggy)

Thanks Gub.  Actually no surprises for me there - that's pretty much how I thought it was, except maybe I Was Sixteen.

Jules

I think The Time Is Near surprised me. It sounds every inch a Swarb song to my ears.

Tuppence worth here...I wasn't expecting to enjoy this at all but, this very Sunday morning, I enjoyed it very much.

I notice that Dave Pegg is credited only with bass (and not vocals) on By Popular Request, though clearly he does sing on it.  What's up with that?

I just received the two new albums across the pond here in Ohio via today's mail.  I'm now halfway through BPR and really love the new incarnation of Farewell Farewell.  Can't wait to get to the Babbacombe Lee Live disc.  

Damn it all! I'm still waiting for Pay-Day so I can order this... getting MOST impatient  >:(

Love what Gerry says about DM in his sleeve notes. Class.

Got BPR a few days ago. The only disappointment initially was Hexamshire Lass which to my ears seems to be missing the big crashing chords after the intro (cf with the version with Dan Ar Bras on guitar). Then I actually listened to it and the interplay between Simon and Peggy, especially Peggy's bass line, is fab. Fotheringay also stood out. It will be on repeat in my car for a while. I think it's a CD I will be coming back to often.

Is it just me or would it be better balanced and more representative with at least one instrumental on there? Maybe Lark In The Morning medley - where did that come in the voting?

I like the packaging too, similar to Festival Bell.

I must have a read of that at some point.  Sounds interesting.

Jules

That's an interesting point. I'm not sure whether any instrumentals made the top 20. On the other hand, "Sloth" did and they predictably chose to ignore that.

I think it is a shame in a way that nothing from the last 15 years made the list (though they would not have been amongst my personal choices). It seems a little disrespectful to Chris Leslie. I guess the favourite would have been John Gaudie and there may not have been much they could do to make it sound significantly different from the original recording.

Can we still see the voting results? I can't remember if I checked it out or not.  ???

Found it - so from the top twenty,there's 13 on the album,
Rising For The Moon,Tam Lin and Now Be Thankful have already been redone by this line up
and Who Knows..by almost this line up...
leaving Sloth,A Sailor's Life and Come All Ye - two of which are long songs with instrumental sections which would maybe require Simon to wig out with an electric guitar solo,which he may not be too keen to do.  :(

 

Well the first amazing thing was it took exactly 7 days for this to arrive which is quicker than things get her form across the state so thank you Fairport for speedy response.

After Festival Bell I was excited to hear this CD although there was some concern as some of these songs are pretty well fixed in my memory, and I've not always enjoyed other reworkings in the context of new albums. I have to say its a triumph just enough changes to make the songs interesting again and a sufficient lack of reverence in dealing with them, I can't get all the way through Red and Gold though, I just don't like the song.

Hopefully they are saving A Sailor's Life for Cropredy, it really does deserve another live workout.

Neil

Not had mine yet - getting worried.

Mine arrived today - 5 days after order.

Decided to bite the bullet and order both new CDs - can't wait until March and worried in case they sell out before the end of the tour!

I intended purchasing at the gig, but like you, I don't know that I can wait that long!  I seriously doubt that they will sell out though.  ::)

You are right to buy your FC cd's at the earliest opportunity Shirl because at the gig, you'll be wanting to buy a Kieran Goss album or two. Kieran is an inspired choice as support for the tour, he's a really lovely chap with a great voice !
Listening to the Kieran Goss Trio Live cd as I write and lovin' it..

Couldn't resist temptation any longer and ordered both CD's yesterday. Haven't told the folks yet, I want it to be a nice surprise for them on the day they arrive (hopefully before Feb 10th, as that's the first wintour date we're off to), It will be nice for them to not have to spend as much on Merch this year, especially as there's no T-Shirt available.

Both FC CD's duly ordered. I knew I would not be able to wait until March...... ::)

You know it makes sense :)

Having now listened to both (long car journey yesterday) I can safely say you'll not be disappointed, Shirl.

The postman has been.  :D

i hope he cleaned it up, red laccy bands are one thing, but really that is beyond the pale

 ;D ;D ;D ;

The CDs have arrived at last.  ;D

Mine have arrived tooo :D ;D

Bought both from Peggy on the merch table before the Tewkesbury gig - they are both excellent - I'm sure you'll enjoy them Shirl & Dave!

Really enjoying 'By Popular Request' Signed by the chaps after the show on Tuesday.  {:-)

I was  in two minds about ordering this album. After all, I have all these tracks on other albums right? Like most of us?  (Yes, I KNOW we are revisiting old faves here, obviously)
I placed the order eventually, partly out of sheer curiosity and partly because of my affection for The Chaps.   ::)

Everything on this album (including the wonderful sleeve notes and excellent photo) is top notch, IMO. The arrangements are fresh and vibrant, the production is wonderful and the Chaps are in excellent form.

To anyone out there who thinks it will merely duplicate their original Fairport collection – YOU ARE SO WRONG! (Please forgive the shouting).
I urge any of you who are thinking along those lines to change your minds immediately and place your order.  ;D

As you were.  8)