Angel Delight: "less than the sum of its parts"

[Neil Morrell]

I have never understood why people don't like this album. It is one of my favorites. Almost all the songs are great. Lord Marlborough is my favorite FC track. It has great vocals. It is a solid album.

ps  Does anyone know of any live versions of Lord Marlborough or when it was played live?

There is another pretty good version on Disk 3 the "Fairport Un-conventional" box set - A Fairport History.

[Dr Monk]

A testament to the diversity of tastes here must surely be the fact that not even those praising Angel Delight have mentioned Journeyman's Grace yet!

Its a belter, and one of my favourite fairport tracks ever,I believe Ric said it was his favoutite at a gig a couple of years ago, I always enoying hearing it live.

[red max]

I had another lookat the unConventioNal book last night, and there's a similarly lukewarm comment about Tippler's Tales, which I reckon is another great album. Pah!

I remember talking to an ardent Fairport fan who felt that Swarb's growing dominance after RT's departure wasn't entirely a good thing, that under his watch the band's subtlety and variety suffered. I could see his point, but I suppose it depends on what "flavour" Fairport you prefer. I can listen to their trad-arr stuff til the cows come home, but get quite bored when they play Dylan songs

[Anna]

Wasn't gonna get involved with this one, as a newbie.  But c'mon, there's some truly FAB stuff in the post-'86 repertoire.  For me, I don't "get" Fairport before then really.  There are still some blinding tracks though, even in the early stuff.

And I Like The Crowd.  Takes me there.  Journeyman's Grace is fab too, especially when Chris sings it (that'll open another can of worms)

I'll go away now, to have a proper listen to Sir William Gower...

[greglin (Gregg)]

I really like Angel Delight - for me the title track  captured the mood set by the earlier albums. There's not a weak track on it - and while some of the production may sound dated it's great to go back to it on a regular basis. Gottle was bought unheard 'cos it was FC, but has remained unlistened to therafter - 'nuff said.

i also remember FC on TOTP promoting Angel Delight

And, although off the AD topic,  while we're doing personal faves, I still rate Tipplers and Bonny Bunch as in my top 5 FC albume - I'm gutted that I haven't got'em on CD. I know the quality of the vocals have been panned ( and somebody recently in another thread slagged Bruce's drumming !!!! Tut tut.......just listen to Run Johhny Run !!! & Adieu Adieu ), but there's a fluidity and heart to those recordings that shine through - even if I have to llisten to 'em on vinyl or my trusty Civil War cassette player.

That was all too much like work at this time of the day - they're open and I'm off for a pint................

[Amethyst (Jenny)]

I'm with Anna here on The Crowd...  it takes me to that lovely crowded field especially on a cold, wet winter's day...

.. and besides I'm n annA rydeR fan too

[Tasha]

I'm with Anna here on The Crowd...  it takes me to that lovely crowded field especially on a cold, wet winter's day...

.. and besides I'm n annA rydeR fan too

The sentiments of "the Crowd" are great its just that the song isn't that good
I'm afraid I'm with Jim et al really - I prefer pre 1985 Fairport.Not to say that they haven't done some cracking tracks since then but..... The oldies are the best

[Penguin (Dunc)]

All this talk of the early Fairport albums has finally made me decide to purchase their back-catalogue, as the earliest CD I have of Fairport is actually "In Reel Time".

Just to be a complete anorak I think I'll buy them in the order they were originally released (but in blocks of four to save on p&p). 

Should keep me occupied for a while. 
Dunc

[Tasha]

All this talk of the early Fairport albums has finally made me decide to purchase their back-catalogue, as the earliest CD I have of Fairport is actually "In Reel Time".

Just to be a complete anorak I think I'll buy them in the order they were originally released (but in blocks of four to save on p&p). 

Should keep me occupied for a while. 
Dunc

Dunc you must! have fun and let us know what you think!

[PLW (Peter)]

it did well in the UK album chart at the time entering the top ten I believe.
 

. . .and got them on to the front page of Melody Maker with the headline "Fashionable Fairport". There's an anorak's memory for you!

[Nick]

A couple of years ago, ITV used parts of the Track "Angel Delight" in the trailers for the last series of "Cold Feet" (Except for the last episode - they used an abridged version of "End of a Holiday".  In fact around that time ITV used quite a lot of Fairport in trailers - There was a programme about Undertakers where they used "Bankruptured".  Never quite found out why, but they stopped after a while.)

I think that was due to a guy called GarethWR, who used to come on this board from time to time. He worked at ITV and had a certain responsiblity involving song selection for trailers etc and managing the royalty payments etc.

Thinking about it, he's not been on here for a while... I wonder where he went/what happened to him. Gareth, are you still around? Hope you're ok!

Cheers

Nick

[Anne T]

All this is really whetting my appetite! As a relative newcomer (and, like Penguin, an anorak), I have been buying the back catalogue in order. I have the first five so far, so "Angel Delight" is next...I was trying to pace myself, but this thread is making me impatient.

So far, "Full House" is my favourite. I did vote for "Leige and Lief" on the BBC2 poll 'cos I really wanted to Fairport to win, but I don't think anything could actually be better then "Sloth" and "Now be thankful".

[Pat Helms]

For me, Angel Delight is like a brown ale.  The cover even reminds of a brown ale!  When I'm at the market deciding over some great IPAs, ESBs, stouts, porters, etc, I usually overlook this humble style.  But when I decide to have pint of it at a bar or someone's house, I am immediately surprised and reminded of how satisfying a brown ale can be!  And, without deviation, I always order another!

[mikec]

In which case Wiley, mines a pint as well !!!

[Simon Nicol]

Staffan: it wasn't a cemetery: it was a recycling place specialising in ornamental masonry. Not far from Saffron Walden as you ask.
And if you want to re-acquaint yourselves with lost childhood sweeties, www.aquarterof.co.uk seems to have closed down (boo hoo!) but www.yumyumtummyrumble.co.uk seems to be there.
Always happy to help!

[Amethyst (Jenny)]

'Spangles'...  they don't sell 'Spangles' 

[Chris]

And if you want to re-acquaint yourselves with lost childhood sweeties, www.aquarterof.co.uk seems to have closed down (boo hoo!)

I've just clicked on that link & gone straight to their website....try again, Simon!

[Amethyst (Jenny)]

Aha.. now I know what happened to Spangles!!

[Keith]

www.yumyumtummyrumble.co.uk seems to be there.

Always happy to help!

STAR BAR.

YES!

[Tasha]

A couple of years ago, ITV used parts of the Track "Angel Delight" in the trailers for the last series of "Cold Feet" (Except for the last episode - they used an abridged version of "End of a Holiday".  In fact around that time ITV used quite a lot of Fairport in trailers - There was a programme about Undertakers where they used "Bankruptured".  Never quite found out why, but they stopped after a while.)

I think that was due to a guy called GarethWR, who used to come on this board from time to time. He worked at ITV and had a certain responsiblity involving song selection for trailers etc and managing the royalty payments etc.

Thinking about it, he's not been on here for a while... I wonder where he went/what happened to him. Gareth, are you still around? Hope you're ok!

Cheers

Nick

He just suddenly dissapeared - his job was making the on air promos for programmes coming up he used loads of Oysterband Fairport and Tull whenever he could.I IM'd him a couple of times once he'd dissapeared to no avail and that was that.