TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Fairport Convention: Come All Ye – The First 10 Years. 7 CD Box Set released via UMC 28th July.  £55 from the tax dodgers.

July 28th sees the release of this lavish Fairport Convention CD box set, Come All Ye – The First 10 Years. Compiled by Andrew Batt, the curator of the very successful show, ‘The Lady – A Tribute To Sandy Denny’, which toured the UK in 2012, this collection celebrates Fairport’s first 10 years, beginning with their eponymous debut for Polydor in 1968, through all of their seminal albums for Island Records and finishing with tracks from their two albums for Vertigo, The Bonny Bunch of Roses and Tippers Tales.

Of the 121 tracks featured here, 55 are previously unreleased. Highlights include key tracks from all of their classic albums, single B-sides, BBC Radio Sessions, 5 songs from the French TV programme, ‘Pop 2’ (December 1970), 5 songs from the Television show, ‘The Man They Couldn’t Hang’ (1971) and the audio for an entire concert at The Fairfield Halls, Croydon (December 16th 1973) plus 2 songs recorded live for the Scottish Television programme, ‘Anne Lorne Gillies – The World of Music’ (1976). The set comes complete with liner notes by respected English writer, Patrick Humphries, author of many highly regarded books including,  ‘Nick Drake – The Biography’ ( Bloomsbury 1998 ), ‘Richard Thompson – The Biography’  ( Music Sales Ltd 1997 ) and ‘The Many Lives of Tom Waites’ (Omnibus Press 1989).

Tracklisting:

DISC ONE

01: Time Will Show The Wiser ( 3:05 ) from Fairport Convention
02: Decameron ( 3:42 ) from Fairport Convention
03: Jack O’ Diamonds ( 3:30 ) from Fairport Convention
04: One Sure Thing ( 2:53 ) from Fairport Convention
05: I Don’t Know Where I Stand ( 3:38 ) from John Peel’s Top Gear programme  2/6/1968
06: You Never Wanted Me ( 3:15 ) from John Peel’s Top Gear programme  2/6/1968
07: Fotheringay ( 3:04 ) from What We Did On Our Holidays
08: I’ll Keep It With Mine ( 5:53 ) from What We Did On Our Holidays
09: Mr Lacey ( Sandy on Vocals ) ( 2:55 ) from the Sandy Denny box set
10: Eastern Rain ( Sandy on Vocals ) ( 3:48 ) – Previously Unreleased
11: Nottamun Town – A Capella version  ( 1:48 ) – Previously Unreleased
12: Meet On The Ledge ( 2:50 ) from What We Did On Our Holidays
13: Throwaway Street Puzzle ( 3:27 ) – B Side  on What We Did On Our Holidays remastered
14: Reno Nevada ( 2:23 ) from the David Symonds radio show 6/1/1969
15: Suzanne ( 5:25 ) from John Peel’s Top Gear programme  1/9/1968
16: A Sailors Wife ( without Swarb ) ( 11:23 ) from the Sandy Denny box set
17: Genesis Hall ( 3:35 ) from Unhalfbricking
18: Autopsy – Alt Take ( 4:33 ) – Previously Unreleased
19: Who Knows Where The Time Goes ? – Alt Take ( 5:19 ) – Previously Unreleased

DISC TWO

01: Dear Landlord ( 4:08 ) from Unhalfbricking
02: Si Tu Doir Partir ( 2:25 ) from John Peel’s Top Gear programme  6/4/1969
03: Percy’s Song ( 5:28 ) from John Peel’s Top Gear programme  1/9/1968
04: Ballad of Easy Rider ( 4:54 ) – Guitar Vocal
05: The Deserter – Rehearsal version ( 4:40 ) - Previously Unreleased
06: Come All Ye – Alt Take ( 5:27 ) from the Sandy Denny box set
07: Reynardine ( 4:31 ) from Liege and Lief
08: Matty Groves – Alt Take ( 7:43 ) from the Sandy Denny box set
09: Farewell Farewell ( 2:38 ) from Liege and Lief
10: Quiet Joys Of Brotherhood – Take 1 edit  ( 6:42 ) from Liege & Lief Deluxe Edition
11: Tam Lin ( 7:46 ) from John Peel’s Top Gear programme 27/9/1969
12: Sir Patrick Spens ( 3:44 ) from John Peel’s Top Gear programme 27/9/1969
13: The Lark In The Morning medley  ( 4:12 ) from John Peel’s Top Gear 27/9/1969
14: Bonny Bunch Of Roses ( 10:48 ) – Full House Out-Take

DISC THREE

01: Walk Awhile ( 3:51 ) – Live in Concert on Pop2 – 5/12/1970 - Previously Unreleased
02: Dirty Linen ( 3:55) – Live in Concert on Pop2 – 5/12/1970 - Previously Unreleased
03: Sloth ( 12:17 ) – Live in Concert on Pop2 – 5/12/1970 - Previously Unreleased
04: Journeyman’s Grace ( 4:47 ) – Live on Pop2 – 5/12/1970 - Previously Unreleased
05: Sir B.McKenzie ( 4:29) – Live in Concert on Pop2 – 5/12/1970 - Previously Unreleased
06: Flatback Caper – Live 1970  ( 5:57 ) - Previously Unreleased
07: Doctor of Physick – Live 1970  ( 3:52 )  - Previously Unreleased
08: Poor Will and The Jolly Hangman (5:34 ) from Guitar, Vocal
09: Bonnie Black Hare – Alt Take ( 3:04 ) - Previously Unreleased
10: Lord Marlborough ( 3:24 ) from Angel Delight
11: Banks of the Sweet Primroses ( 4:11 ) from Angel Delight
12: Breakfast In Mayfair ( 3:07 ) from Babbacombe Lee
13: Little Did I Think ( 1:52 ) from The Man They Could Not Hang - Previously Unreleased
14: John Lee ( 1:48 ) from The Man They Could Not Hang - Previously Unreleased
15: Cell Song ( 4:27 ) from The Man They Could Not Hang - Previously Unreleased
16: Time Is Near ( 2:49 ) from The Man They Could Not Hang - Previously Unreleased
17: Dream Song ( 4:14 ) from The Man They Could Not Hang - Previously Unreleased
18: Farewell To A Poor Man’s Son ( 5:16  ) from The Man They Could Not Hang

DISC FOUR

01: Sweet Little Rock ‘n’ Roller – Live at the LA Troubadour ( 3:55 ) from Guitar Vocal
02: That’ll Be The Day ( 2:02 ) from The Bunch
03: Think It Over – Sandy Denny rehearsal version ( 2:31 ) - Previously Unreleased
04: Maverick Child ( 4:03 ) Previously Unreleased
05: Sad Song aka As Long As It Is Mine ( 5:06 ) Previously Unreleased
06: Matthew, Mark, Luke & John ( 3:05 ) Previously Unreleased
07: Rattle Trap ( 2:05 ) Previously Unreleased
08: Sheep In The Meadow ( 4:10 ) Previously Unreleased
09: Rosie ( 3:34 ) Previously Unreleased
10: Country Judy Jane ( 2:36 ) Previously Unreleased
11: Me With You ( 3:23 ) Previously Unreleased
12: My Girl ( 4:05 ) Previously Unreleased
13: To Althea from Prison ( 2:25 ) Previously Unreleased
14: Knights Of The Road ( 3:52 ) from Rosie
15: The Plainsman ( 3:19 ) from Rosie
16: Matthew, Mark, Luke & John from the Old Grey Whistle Test ( 3:44 ) Previously Unreleased
17: Brilliancy medley from the Old Grey Whistle Test ( 3:55 ) Previously Unreleased
18: Polly On The Shore ( 4:53 ) from Nine
19: Fiddlestix (The Devil In The Kitchen) without orchestra ( 2:49 ) Previously Unreleased
20: Possibly Parsons Green ( 3:41 ) – OZ 7” single mix Previously Unreleased
21: Bring Em Down ( 5:55 ) from Nine

DISC FIVE

01: Sloth – Live in Sydney  ( 11:31 ) from Live Convention
02: John The Gun ( 5:05 ) – John Peel session 6/8/1974
03: Down In The Flood ( 3:27 )  – John Peel session 6/8/1974
04: Rising For The Moon ( 4:18 ) – John Peel session 6/8/1974
05: After Halloween ( 2:54 ) Byfield Demo – Alt Take Previously Unreleased
06: Restless ( 3:59  ) from Rising For The Moon
07: White Dress ( 3:24 ) Live on LWT (on Rising for the Moon deluxe edition)
08: Stranger To Himself ( 2:52 ) from Rising For The Moon
09: Dawn – Alt version ( 4:09 ) from the Sandy Denny box set
10: One More Chance – Alt Take ( 7:52 ) Previously Unreleased
11: All Along The Watchtower – Live in Oslo in 1975  ( 4:22 )
12: When First Into This Country ( 2:28 ) from Gottle O’ Geer
13: Sandy’s Song aka Take Away The Load ( 3:34 ) from Gottle O’Geer
14: Royal Seleccion No 13 ( 4:24 ) from A World of Music: Anne Lorne Gillies 26/11/1976 Previously Unreleased
15: Adieu Adieu ( 2:35 ) from A World of Music: Anne Lorne Gillies 26/11/1976 Previously Unreleased
16: Reynard The Fox ( 2:59 ) from Tipplers Tales
17: Poor Ditching Boy ( 3:46 ) from In Concert – STV 1976 Previously Unreleased
18: Flowers Of The Forest ( 3:50 ) from In Concert – STV 1976 Previously Unreleased

DISC SIX – Live at Fairfield Hall 16/12/1973

01: Polly On The Shore ( 5:12 ) Previously Unreleased
02: Furs and Feathers ( 5:11 ) Previously Unreleased
03: Tokyo ( 3:09 )  Previously Unreleased
04: Cell Song ( 5:05 ) Previously Unreleased
05: The Claw ( 3:01 ) Previously Unreleased
06: Far From Me ( Old Broken Bottle ) ( 3:47 ) Previously Unreleased
07: Brilliancy medley / Cherokee Shuffle ( 4:14 ) Previously Unreleased
08: Days of 49 ( 6:20 ) Previously Unreleased
09: Fiddlestix (The Devil In The Kitchen)  ( 3:07 ) Previously Unreleased
10: Dirty Linen ( 4:33 ) Previously Unreleased
11: Matthew, Mark, Luke & John ( 6:34 ) Previously Unreleased
12: Possibly Parsons Green ( 3:39 ) Previously Unreleased
13: Sir B. McKenzie ( 6:21 ) Previously Unreleased
14: Down In The Flood – Full version  ( 3:45 ) Previously Unreleased
15: Something You’ve Got- Full version  ( 3:00 ) Previously Unreleased

DISC SEVEN – Live at the LA Troubadour 1/2/1974

01: Down In The Flood ( 3:13 )
02: The Ballad Of Ned Kelly ( 3:59 )
03: Solo ( 5:34 )
04: It’ll Take A Long Time ( 5:35 )
05: She Moves Through The Fair ( 4:15 )
06: The Hens March Through The Midden & The Four Poster Bed ( 3:17 )
07: The Hexamshire Lass ( 2:44 )
08: Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door ( 4:33 )
09: Six Days On The Road ( 3:44 )
10: Like An Old Fashioned Waltz ( 4:20 )
11: John The Gun ( 5:10 )
12: Down Where The Drunkards Roll – Alt Take ( 4:30 ) Previously Unreleased
13: Crazy Lady Blues ( 4:02 )
14: Who Knows Where The Time Goes ( 6:54 )
15: Matty Groves ( 7:05 )
16: That’ll Be The Day ( 3:23 )

So roughly 50p a track.

Blimey! I think it's fair to say this isn't the usual Anthology cut & paste job.  :o

I'm so in!

Jules

And reading that tracklist, the thing that most excites me is the prospect of finally having the non-edited BBC version of Journeyman's Grace with Richard on it!

Also, "A Sailor's Wife".  Heh heh heh.

Jules

Just when I thought I could feed my piggy bank  ;D

Or £1 a track for the unreleased ones if you've got the rest, as I imagine many Talkawhilers will have.  Still good though.

That's a whopper!  :o

Wow - looks good!  But out of my price at the moment, especially when I already have over half of it.  Will have to hope it comes down a bit.

Having that.   :)

Still no "Billy The Orphan Boy's Lonely Christmas"  :(

I'm in

There are just so many Fairport compilations, mostly recycling the same stuff, but in this case... where do I pay?  :-\

I'm mad. Considering I've only played my Fairport Unconventional box a handful of times at best, and my Cropredy box is a virgin, I'm still considering this purchase.

I think it's something to do with renewing one's interest.

Same here really, although the Cropredy Capers box gets a good airing usually a couple of months before... err Cropredy... ::)

Tempting, but I think I've all the Fairport I need for now... :)

The latter is rather better than the former imho.

Spin advertising this for £44, though I would never order it from them. That is about the price I shall be looking for to reflect the percentage of the contents that I do not already own.

Amazon will drop the price sooner or later then.

Jules

They generally do, in my experience.

Hilariously it has gone up! Just under £60 now.

It'll go down, and possibly up again, at least once,  my guess is.

If you use Firefox or Chrome as your browser, install The Camelizer (https://camelcamelcamel.com/camelizer) extension, which shows the prices over a period of time and also can be set to give alerts. It works quite well!

^ Cheers Andy. WHat 'll they think of next?   8)

Cheers Andy.

That's on my birthday list immediately!

I have a minor complaint that the entire disc 7 (L.A. Troubador 1974) duplicates a previous release (Disc 2 of Rising For the Moon Deluxe), but otherwise I'm very pleased to add this to my collection.  :)

Yes, that is annoying.  I wouldn't even say that the show in question belongs on this box set.  They could have made room for more studio stuff.

Plus, Now Be Thankful should be on this set in some form or another.

Jules

Oh, I hadn't noticed that. The set is beginning to look less attractive to me now. I may just download the bits I don't aready have.

I'm in!

Apparently, tracks 4-12 on Disc 4 are the long-lost Manor Album, from 1972.

Strange isn't it really to include a whole unreleased album from a lesser lineup and only cherry pick from the more celebrated lineups?

Far more sensible to have issued The Manor Sessions separately and keep this to being a true 'best of'.

I'm still buying it.

Jules

Except that Island/Universal have already issued a true "best of" this year at a fraction of the price so what would have been the point of too much duplication? This one is for the hardcore fans I think.

There can't be many here who haven't heard or got a copy of the Manor tapes, but if you are of thatnumber just so you don't get suicidal when the box turns up, there was a very good reason for not releasing them in 1972. They were awful. Rosie, the album is light years better and it wasn't worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as Angel Delight.
But hey, make your own minds up.

*raises hand*

Jules

As Jim says, don't lose any sleep over it. Nothing beyond mediocre.

I disagree.  I rate the Manor Tapes...the recordings are clearly just demos (and need to be heard as that) but I like the delivery and the singing.  Would have been an interesting direction.

And another.

Me neither

I never even heard of the  Manor Tapes. Now I feel like I should hear them.  ;D

Nor me,  but I'm Ok with not hearing them  :)

http://www.innerviews.org/inner/swarb.html

Here's an old interview with Swarb that I hadn't read previously. He mentions the Manor sessions and laments that they saw the light of day.

I wonder whether it will be available on the music-streaming service of one's choice?

For me the big attraction to this set is Disc 6 - the 'Nine' line-up live.  I saw them on that tour a couple of weeks earlier in Edinburgh & I have extremely happy memories of that gig - they were on fire & absolutely at the top of their game.

Also the tracks on Disc 5 which are taken from TV shows both coincidentally made & aired in Scotland in 1976.  I had an off the set cassette recording of the STV show & the version of Flowers of the Forest is fantastic.  On the same show they played an early version of Jams O'Donnell's Jigs which is radically different to the version released on Bonny Bunch of Roses & could have been included.

Oh & like several others above I've not heard the Manor sessions - apart from the couple of tracks which emerged on Fairport Unconventional.

As all of our money currently goes on my wife's healthcare, it'll be file sharing for me.

Hi All,

I compiled this set, so i'm pleased to read so many positive comments! it certainly wasnt a cut and paste job, but a real labour of love. Some may know the work ive done on all the Sandy Denny re-issues over the years, so know that i take these things seriously! This boxset was concieved as a 'best of' for fans, bringing together the best of the studio work, BBC recordings, unreleased material and live performances. As always when doing these things, one has a wishlist, but there arent as many session reels surviving as you might think, but i worked hard to find new material from every era.The boxset is also handsomley designed and contains many rare photographs- not easy to do at this stage of the game as most have been seen!

Thought i'd just address a few things that have come up in the earlier posts:

The Manor album sessions, have been mixed from the original masters so are in far superior sound to anything that has emerged from them before, on the bootleg or other official releases- some are also different versions. They would not have been given a release as a set in themselves- so this box is the best place for them, and including this short-lived line up in a set looking back at all the line ups of the first decade is appropriate. Some of these recordings are pretty good i think, and stand up to their Rosie counterparts, and the Manor version of Althea is just lovely. But the whole point of a set like this is to make things available and fans can make up their own minds. With the bootleg, the band get nothing- making these recordings available officially in the best quality possible is a good thing all round i think. Swarb actually released a couple of the bootleg recordings, and had thought about making the whole thing available.

Yes disc 7 duplicates the LA Troubadour concert I issued on the Rising deluxe, bar an alternate performance of Down Where the Drunkards Roll. The principal reason for this was that I was on such a tight deadline on the Rising set that there were several things in mixing and mastering that i was never happy with- the version on this boxset is superior in quality, and is perfect! Overall its such a good performance that it deserves to be heard again, so forgive the duplication. It also works well alongside The live concert on disc 6 of the Nine line up, which is simply sensational (its one of my fave things on this set)- amazing to think that these concerts are barely a month and a half apart. Both concerts contain rare meaterial that either never appeared on a studio album or was never performed again, so i wanted both included here, to show the breadth of material covered by the band in this period.

The box is intended to act as a great overview and each disc has been sequenced to flow perfectly, so its still a pleasure popping one of the cds on and listening from beginning to end hearing the recordings you do know in amongst those you dont!

enjoy

Andrew

It looks like you have done a great job based on the track listing, and considering I have all the other fairport related boxed sets and I intended to purchase this one you must have doen something right. Only one question is this the first of five for each ten years of fairport's existence?

Can we know what the packaging is like yet??

Thanks Andrew. Always nice to hear from the source.  [;-)

Hi Brendan, I Would love to do more Fairport sets! Actually one of the hard things on this boxset was avoiding previously released bonus material whilst still covering all bases, and making it a comprehensive journey through the first 10 years.

Hi Alan,
The packaging was designed by the redoubtable Phil Smee, and is based around a woodcut design with a different one on each cd cover inside- with so many line-ups a photo wasnt appropriate. The booklet is a hard back with a faux leather binding, beatifully laid out- lots of nice pics, and i asked some photographers to go back to their negs for new scans etc so their will be some great unknown images for fans.

best

Andrew

Sounds great, Andrew.  I'm really looking forward to it.  I may even end up forgiving you for not including Now Be Thankful.   ;)

Jules

Thanks again Andrew.

Alan.

Thanks Andrew.  It's really good to hear from the compiler with reasoning behind the choices, etc.  We're such nerds (well, some of us anyway :)) that we always have questions about these sets, and what really is new, and what has been heard before.

Thanks from me too. It's good to know the reasoning for the selections. You sound like a perfectionist!

It all comes round again.

https://www.spincds.com/coming-soon/live-salinas-california-1983-cd-53531

This I already have from 1997. In the proper 3CD jewel case the first release came in. (If it's the same set, which I think it is). I rather like the part where Ashley tells the story of the group.

Hi Alan, this is a different boxset, this one is the best of the first decade including studio recordings, outakes, live recordings and BBC material.

Hi Diane, yes that word has been mentioned  ;D

Another point of interest for the collectors out there; the recordings from The Man They Could Not Hang programme, are not off-air, like those issued on the expanded Babbacombe Lee CD but sourced from the BBC master in their archive - The Olympia live recordings are also from the masters in the INA archive.

best

Andrew

I think he knows that.

Wrong thread, Alan!   ;D

Jules

::
Yes, thankyou i do know that. It's a bit off topic in this thread, I agree. Should have been in the Reissues of Interest thread, really. I was just thinking boxed sets.  ::) :-[

Can you do the same with Steeleye please ? ;D ;D

The forthcoming box set seems to have once again not found room for the BBC radio version of 'Mr. Lacey' that originally graced Richard's '(Guitar, Vocal)' compilation in 1976. It wasn't on the Live at the BBC set either. That's a shame, as it's a storming version.

But I would argue that it's a good version of a not very good song.

The absence of any version of Now Be Thankful is, however, a major oversight.

Jules

He he. I have my Ryko 2LP Guitar Vocal.  ;D

I think this will be a very suitable 65th birthday pressy for me ..  ::)

Now chaps ... if you all contribute 30p each  you can sign it and present it to me at an appropriate evening venue when Fairport will be playing, The bar will be free and there will be a full buffet running.  O0 [;-)    

ohhh bu***r  We are all entitled to dream .. However i think i will be on my wish list even if i do have to buy it myself  :P

I don't understand: why don't you want it for another 25 years?

Want this. Pricey at the moment.

Yes.  I too am still awaiting the (inevitable) price drop.

Jules

But is it inevitable? Certainly these sorts of items don't seem to drop on Amazon like they used to. Prices seem to be fixed at least in the short to medium term.

You could well be speaking the truth there, Gub.

Jules

i'm curious about how many copies of the box have been made. given the beaut design, i'm thinking it's a one-off production. so, post Crops, will there be more than half a dozen left? revealing all (cor blimey), and the absolute emphatic push comes to shove reason for my post - can i delay until early november so's i can buy it for myself for Christmas??

I've seen nothing to suggest that it's a limited edition.

Jules

If it had been limited, I think they would have made a point of telling  everyone, cunning devils that they are. Lots of us, myself included, are still suckers for a limited edition.

I wouldn't suggest it's limited in a numbered edition fashion, but I'll warrant it'll be pretty near the bottom of the list when it comes to prioritizing a reprint/re-press once/if the initial run have gone.

E-mither from the good folks at Amazon.
It's in't post.  :D  8)
No Autorip mentioned in't E-mither  :(

Autorip available now Jim. I got an email at a minute past midnight!

Ditto

Cheers chasps
All OK here as well

Look what just arrived...

[attachment deleted by admin]

Got to wait until Monday for mine :-(

I'm not in the remotest bit sorry for double posting here  but i just have to let you know that if you havn't got or ordered the box and you are thinking of hanging on in case it gets a reprint or cheaper, dont wait and take that chance, it is wonderful and a reminder of the reason we are here in the first place.
    Yes, I've got multiple copies of the records and a good proportion of the tracks are taken straight from the original lps but there's enough unreleased material here to delight and thrill. And that's just from a cursory listen to some of the mp3s downloaded from amazon. I cant wait for the actual box to arrive.
     The whole reason many of us will be sat sitting, drinking, eating, chatting and laughing together in a fortnight is contained in this box set. If Fairport was a house(yes i know it is as well ) then the reason it is still standing is that the foundations were so well constructed in the early years.
     It is bloody great and the manor sessions are in a quality never before heard on the boots even if some of the actual tracks are not what we associate with FC and it isnt difficult to see why they were not released until now but they did lead to the 9 line up and it is shown off in all its majesty herein.
     Brilliant music, great memories

I had thought about that too, but looking at Amazon and iTunes, you'd pay about £40 for that, and still not get all the unreleased items (some are marked 'Album Only').  Amazon are currently asking £30.99 for the MP3 version.  

I will certainly wait until after Cropredy to see what happens to the price, but it looks like I may just have to bite the bullet...

Do let us know what the packaging, booklet and other extras are like, Paul, while I steel myself to decide whether I go for more than just the download.

I did eventually take the plunge but not through Amazon. I am not expecting to see any product for several months. See elsewhere for details.

I may have to see if it is streamable from any f my various media streaming subscriptions.

Packaging and booklet are very good indeed, Will - there's an A3 (?) poster of the front box illustration, the hardback booklet is sturdy and classy to look at and hold, includes full tracklisting (of course!), a brief band history (overview level, so nothing we aficionados don't already know!) but some new - to me - photographs.

Each disc comes in a shrink-wrapped card sleeve (no inner bag) so care needs to be taken when removing/replacing.  The previously unreleased tracks are denoted with a * on the tracklist on each CD sleeve, so are easily identifiable.

Well worth it, I'd say!

Hats off to all involved with the compilation and production.  Certainly shows the 25th anniversary 4CD set as the cash-in job I felt it was at the time.

Now - where to start - do I listen chronologically, or at the Angel Delight era ("MY" FC) or with the live discs?

ordered and delivery announced for Monday.
Druing the weekend I will listen to the AutoRip teasers.

It's partially available on Spotify at the moment. About a third of the tracks are not available for streaming. The choice of the unavailable tracks seems very random to me...

Looks like the same tracks that are labelled 'Album Only' on Amazon and iTunes are unavailable on Spotify.  Some are the previously unreleased tracks, but not all.  So yes, an apparently random selection...

A cracking endorsement from Jim, so I'm tempted to indulge.

My main question is : if I go for the £30.99 download option from Amazon, will I receive the tracks that read "Album Only" ? Is there any way of finding out if this is the case ?

I'll be ever so slightly miffed if I download the set only to find they're exclusively available on the physical set only.

Yes, you should get them.  Album Only means you can't download them separately, but only as part of a complete album download.

Thanks Will, just as I thought. Am sampling the parts of the set available on S*****y, and still tempted to go for the whole lot...

The Album only thing means you cant buy those particular tracks separately.
If you buy the album on mp3 you get all the tracks that are on the CDs.

I've been listening to discs 1-5 from the set in the car, having burnt them to an mp3 disc from the auto rip and there's some great stuff on there - both the familiar stuff (Decameron never fails to tingle the spine) - and the alternative takes (Eastern Rain).
I've just picked up the actual set from next door, having missed the delivery due to working nights. It's a nice little package, albeit the kazzillionth different shape for a box set that I've squeezed into a shelf like a game of Tetris over the past 25 years of box set collecting.
A special treat was seeing my name in the book due to a weeny little contribution I made during the compilation of it. Thanks for that Andy, that means a lot. Cheers !

Don't ever try to pull out the one at the bottom or you lose the game!

Thanks to Spotify I've managed hear the discs.
Ahhh....what a fine period that was.

Thanks Jim, PaulT and bassline Mike (glad you appreciated the credit - i really needed to check something to make sure my mix was right)
I'm glad your all liking the boxset- its nice for me to finally hear feedback since finishing it awhile back and having to keep schtum!
best
Andrew

Thanks for your hard work on the box set, Andy, the unheard stuff is jaw droppingly great although I still don't rate the manor sessions even when presented in glorious HiFi.

I don't suppose it has arrived yet, Gub?

Jules

You don't suppose correctly!

Based on the length of time it took last time I pre-ordered something from the vendor, I expect it around mid September. However, as I ordered Neil Young's Hitchiker at the same time, if they wait for that before dispatching, I may be drawing a pension before I see either item.

I keep wanting to buy it from them.  Still the best price going.  But, really, I should know better.

Jules

With you there, Jules!

I am prepared on this occasion to give them 2 months from the release date. I shall then invoke the assistance of my credit card company if no product is forthcoming.

Stick to Amazon, customer service second to none... unlike ebay.

Until recently I would have agreed with you but they have hiked their prices lately and they are now too expensive in many cases, this being one of them.

It's a tenner more there, and with unemployment looming ever closer on my horizon, a tenner is truly a tenner.

Jules

I've treated myself to this.  ;D

Ok, so I've only got to disc three, but I love it! Superb selection of tracks so far, and put together in a thoughtful order so it 'flows'. Some unexpected gems, and a couple of moments of 'dust in my eyes'. Ive never heard the other verse on Cell Song before, I think.

Excellent  ;D

Given my travails with Spin CDs, I have succumbed and ordered a copy of this from a different vendor.

Should the Spin copy ultimately arrive, I intend to sell it for what I paid for it, £49.99.

I will give Spin until the end of September to fulfil the order before implementing proceedings against them via my card issuer to recover the cost.

I cannot therefore guarantee that I will have a copy to sell but if anyone provisionally wishes to register an interest in buying it for that price, in the event that it appears in the next 6 weeks or so, please PM me.

I'm up to Disc 6, Live at Fairfield Hall 16/12/1973.

Having completed Discs 1-5, Disc 6 is the most exciting discovery for me. It's a pristine soundboard recording of a Nine-era show, featuring material from Rosie, Babbacombe Lee (which I have never heard with this line-up), and of course Nine, plus singer-songwriter material from John Prine and Bob Dylan.  It's a real treat to hear this.

A few thougts.

It is of course a 5 star set. Any flaws that exist are insufficient amongst such a wealth of material to significantly tarnish its lustre. But flaws there are. Firstly, why the poster? What does it really add? Is what is left of the record industry still under the impression that they are pedalling Fairport Convention CDs to 15 year old boys who will pin this up on their bedroom wall? Is there anybody at all who is likely to display this poster? I suspect not.

Also, the arrangment credit for Bruce Rowland on the Goldstar version of Bonny Bunch of Roses surely cannot be right as it was recorded more than 4 years before he joined the band.

The set also falls prey to a mistake that many sets of this type make. Just because something is rare does not mean it is desireable. I cannot, for example, see that the pedestrian run through of All Along The Watchtower on disc 5 does anything to enhance Fairport's legend. Similarly the performance by the "final" line up of Flowers Of The Forest is poignant because of its timing and placement on the set but the limitations of the source tape undermine it fatally.

Farewell To A Poor Man's Son on my copy will not play at all. Anybody else had this problem?

Finally, as good as they are, two live discs recorded within a few months of each other does rather unbalance the box in favour of that fairly brief period in the band's history, even taking into account the 10 year timeframe that this set is intended to cover. It is a shame that no professional recordings of shows from 1969 or 1971 for example seem to exist to balance things out but the compilers can only work with what they have.

On the other hand. The studio and radio material has never sounded better. The outtakes are mostly enlightening and discs 4 & 6 respectively are the real finds here. Disc 4, containing the Manor Sessions, a terrific outtake of Think It Over by The Bunch and two stellar recordings from OGWT is genuinely eye opening whilst the Fairfield Halls concert on Disc 6 is so tight and fleet of foot that it makes the better known performance with Sandy, recorded at The Troubadour a few months later and featuring on disc 7, sound rather stodgy by comparison.

Or thoughts. What a shame I can't type.

You know what else is good about this compilation?  I've had cause to extract a few tracks to WAV files and can happily say the whole "loudness wars" thing has been avoided. :)   I see so many recent releases / reissues that have been badly over-compressed and made so loud that they lose all semblance of subtlety, and in some cases are wall-to-wall waveform with no room to breathe.  Not with this set!  

My true response would be auto-edited here, but is along the lines of "thank goodness".  It actually shows care for the music itself, which is apparently becoming a rarer thing in the world of production and / or mastering.

All true.

On the other hand, having listened to it a few times now, I do find myself questioning some of the selections and omissions. The absence of Now Be Thankful is an obvious glaring error. Not only should it be present, it would probably have made a better title for the box, given its celebratory nature. Surely one of the many versions of the less than essential Matthew Mark Luke & John could have been sacrificed for its inclusion.

I would also question the inclusion of a solo demo by Sandy. What is the criteria here? If we have solo Sandy then why not solo Swarb or Richard or some of Ashley's exploits? Which leads me on to The Bunch. I have no argument with the quality of any of the music that has been included but why is it there? Yes there were several members of Fairport involved in The Bunch project but so there were in Morris On or The Compleat Dancing Master or Smiddyburn. Where do you draw the line? Here it seems to be somewhat arbitrary.

The box would have been better confined to material recorded and/or released by the full band (in whichever incarnation) under its own name rather than dilute itself by focussing on individuals or side projects. Indeed, to anthologise the side projects that the band members indulged in between 1967 & 1978 would make a fascinating box in its own right.

"To Althea From Prison" is solo Swarb.  :)

A perfect, all-satisfying-to-everybody compilation is impossible, I think - even a 7CD one.  I'm just happy  to have it for the rarities and in some cases, improved sound of previously released material.

This!



And this!

Jules

I bought the box at my local record shop a few weeks back and now I've finally listened to all the seven discs. The sound is fantastic and there are many things that I hadn't heard before that are great. The french radio recordings of the Full House line up stands out and I really like the final songs on disc 5 by the Swarb-Pegg-Nicol-Rowland line up. But as a whole  I feel that the box is unbalanced (as mentioned here by Al earlier). It is as if the interest to document Sandy came first and Fairport without her took second place (if not third). There are so many of tracks from 73-74 in proportion to other periods in the bands first ten years that we can talk about revisionist history writing here. Surely there should have been place for Now Be Thankful and Angel Delight and other great performances that now is left out instead of three versions of Down in the Flood, the sloppy version of All along the Watchtower, three versions of Matthew, Mark... and the Bunch tracks.  On Youtube there are many fine sounding recordings (Rockpalast and Norwegian tv) of the line up with Dan Ar Braz that could have been included. Instead of two live cd:s with the "Rising for the Moon-line up" that is already more documented live than any other there could have been a concert from the Farewell tour and of course the last single.
Now I go into hiding...

I ordered my copy 3 weeks ago.  Still no sign.  No, it's not from Spin, yet still I smell a big furry rat.   >:(

Jules

Down to £34.99 on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0716RR5Q7/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Jules

Thanks Jules. Glad I held out.  :)

It’s the same price in HMV as well, I knew it would come down eventually! Picked it up today.

Can’t wait to listen. I’m surprised there was so much more unreleased stuff!

Listening to the set over the past couple of days.  Some thoughts:

1) The mastering is largely fantastic.  The only exceptions are the tracks taken from less-than-stellar sources, where they probably couldn't do any better.

2) There are bags of fascinating alternate versions and rare tracks.

3) The first two discs in particular are a joy from start to finish.

4) Boy am I glad that David Rea didn't join up full-time.  His singing does nothing for me at all.

5) It's bloody hard to open each individual disc, each one being sealed in tight-fitting plastic.

6) I'm still vexed that Now Be Thankful isn't on it.  Yeah, I know, "let it drop, Jules".   ;D

Jules

Guess I jumped the wrong way on both this (not waiting long enough), and on the Jethro Tull Songs From The Wood expanded box (waited too long, and currently at nearly £70 on Amazon) :(

This.

I'm thinking that it was going to be two versions until the live gig discs were added late on in the project, but jeez, even two versions of this song are two versions too many.  It's not that it's a bad song, just that it's largely unremarkable.

This should and could have been a 5-star set, it just needed one final rethink and re-edit.  They should have run it past us lot first.

Jules

Might have got "Billy The Orphan Boy....."  ;D

... or even the rude Sailors' Alphabet!  :o

I listened to that just yesterday.....and there's not a chance!   ;D  :o

Jules

When can we stop calling it the New 7cd box?

When someone releases a newer one? ;)

My copy only arrived yesterday.  :)

Just got to disc six, the live set by the Nine lineup.  I didn't expect such great sound and such stellar performances - this is the highlight of the entire box!

Jules

So ... for someone like myself who has all the original studio albums plus Heyday, House Full, Live Convention & Farewell, Farewell ... and who doesn't like too many recordings of the same song .. which is the better buy - this or the "Unconventional" box set ?!?  :)  

If you can only buy one, buy this (the Free Reed boxes all have their flaws, some of them deeper than others, but are all worth owning nonetheless).

This.

Jules

It has to be said that this song is the highlight of disc 7.  Loved it.

I thought I could hear Sandy struggling with her vocals on this concert though.  I've heard people say that she wasn't at her best, vocally, during this period, but I'd never really noticed before.  She sounds like she's trying really hard but that familiar ease he had with singing seems just out of reach.

Jules

Must have been a Christmas offer - back up to £57.45 now and sold out on HMV!  :'(   :(

Christmas until around New Year.  It went back up a while ago, alas.

Jules

It's only taken me three and a bit years, but I've finally picked up a sealed copy of this - for under £50, which I'm rather pleased about  :)

Strangely, there seems to be a flurry of low price copies of this around (including for instance still sealed copies for £45 inc p&p on eBay - it's not me selling, honest!). It's well worth that kind of cash.