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Ollie
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« on: April 17, 2007, 05:13:27 PM » |
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All the FC albums that have RT on them are widely regarded as FC's best. But does that mean that RT made Fairport good?? Discuss...
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"Tradition must be respected, convention can be broken; but only when you know which is which."
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Anna
I'll be Susan
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« Reply #1 on: April 17, 2007, 06:33:59 PM » |
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Oooooo, open that can of worms over there while you're at it Ollie - this one could run and run.
IMHO...
RT's a genius lyricist. (and guitarist and songwriter all round really)
But my favourite FC lineup ever (I think) is Simon, Maart, Ric, Peggy, DM
(Although I'd love to add Chris to that one if I could...)
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Flute player seeks ragtime band...
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fat Billy(Bill)
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« Reply #2 on: April 17, 2007, 06:36:52 PM » |
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All the FC albums that have RT on them are widely regarded as FC's best. But does that mean that RT made Fairport good?? Discuss...
another time, another place, another band. time moves on and the music is just as good, just different |
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Nick Reg
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« Reply #3 on: April 17, 2007, 10:07:21 PM » |
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RT would would make anyone look good. The best line ups were those with Maart or RT in. They lack that cutting edge without the lead guitar but are still a great live band.
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There's a man with a mullet going mad with a mallet in Millets
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GubGub (Al)
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« Reply #4 on: April 17, 2007, 10:43:50 PM » |
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It is all a matter of taste I guess. Undoubtedly the early albums are the most critically highly regarded but I like stuff from almost every era of the band & whilst Full House is probably my favourite album & I love all RT's post Fairport work, there are non RT Fairport records (Angel Delight, Babbacombe Lee, Nine, bits of Gladys Leap, Five Seasons & WKWTTG for instance) that I prefer to much of Liege & Lief & Unhalfbricking.(I know. Heresy again! I like those albums too, just not as much.)
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Ollie
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« Reply #5 on: April 17, 2007, 10:52:23 PM » |
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It is all a matter of taste I guess. Undoubtedly the early albums are the most critically highly regarded but I like stuff from almost every era of the band & whilst Full House is probably my favourite album & I love all RT's post Fairport work, there are non RT Fairport records (Angel Delight, Babbacombe Lee, Nine, bits of Gladys Leap, Five Seasons & WKWTTG for instance) that I prefer to much of Liege & Lief & Unhalfbricking.(I know. Heresy again! I like those albums too, just not as much.)
I personally find some of L&L a wee bit dreary. Stuff like The Deserter, Matty Groves and Reynardine. |
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"Tradition must be respected, convention can be broken; but only when you know which is which."
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Ancient Muse (Andy)
As nature intended
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« Reply #6 on: April 17, 2007, 11:28:31 PM » |
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RT would would make anyone look good.
That sounds like a back-handed compliment  ... along the lines of any time I've been on a quiz show it was to make the others look good ... |
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Fruit flies like a banana
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Bob Barrows
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« Reply #7 on: April 18, 2007, 02:17:21 AM » |
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It is all a matter of taste I guess. Undoubtedly the early albums are the most critically highly regarded but I like stuff from almost every era of the band & whilst Full House is probably my favourite album & I love all RT's post Fairport work, there are non RT Fairport records (Angel Delight, Babbacombe Lee, Nine, bits of Gladys Leap, Five Seasons & WKWTTG for instance) that I prefer to much of Liege & Lief & Unhalfbricking.(I know. Heresy again! I like those albums too, just not as much.)
I personally find some of L&L a wee bit dreary. Stuff like The Deserter, Matty Groves and Reynardine. Matty Groves? Dreary?   |
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David W
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« Reply #8 on: April 18, 2007, 08:35:00 AM » |
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RT didn't make Fairport good BUT IMHO he did make them exciting, especially when partnered with Swarb.
That is for me what the current line up misses - the musicianship is always great, the performances fine but lacking a certain excitement, the unknown factor which certain combinations of people bring to a party.
Richard's talent as a guitarist and band leader is that he is an exciting performer with an edge to his personality and charisma that comes through.
Jackdaw
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Will S
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« Reply #9 on: April 18, 2007, 08:48:12 AM » |
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Yes, RT is brilliant, but I don't think that you can say he made Fairport 'good' all on his own.
What would they have been in those years without Ashley's enquiring mind, Sandy's voice, Swarb's fiddle, etc, etc?
He was one member of a bunch of exceptional musicians producing great, groundbreaking music.
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All the diamonds in the world
That mean anything to me,
Are conjured up by wind and sunlight
Sparkling on the sea
(Bruce Cockburn)
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Sir Martin
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« Reply #10 on: April 18, 2007, 08:54:09 AM » |
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Yes, RT is brilliant, but I don't think that you can say he made Fairport 'good' all on his own.
What would they have been in those years without Ashley's enquiring mind, Sandy's voice, Swarb's fiddle, etc, etc?
He was one member of a bunch of exceptional musicians producing great, groundbreaking music.
Good answer - Fairport have always been blessed with sheer musical ability beyond anything that yer Keiser Cheifs et al can even imagine in their wildest dreams. But RT, Sandy and Swarb are all world class no matter how you measure it. Did RT make Fairport Great? yes in my eyes, but they would be great nevertheless with a lineup including Sandy and Swarb. |
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fat Billy(Bill)
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« Reply #11 on: April 18, 2007, 09:11:47 AM » |
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I agree with most of the comments here but we must take into consideration the sheer talent in the current line up, especially Simon, who in my opinion is a greatly underestimated musician.
While his style may not leap off the stage at you he is a superb guitarist able to turn his hand to most things.
But hey, I enjoy all the fairport incarnations so what the hell do I know
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abby (tank girl)
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« Reply #12 on: April 18, 2007, 12:30:49 PM » |
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. But does that mean that RT made Fairport good??
nope. |
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it'll be fine.......
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Nick Reg
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« Reply #13 on: April 18, 2007, 12:41:53 PM » |
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RT would would make anyone look good.
That sounds like a back-handed compliment ... along the lines of any time I've been on a quiz show it was to make the others look good ... Don't think I meant it like that . Doh!! |
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Ollie
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« Reply #14 on: April 18, 2007, 04:40:41 PM » |
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It is all a matter of taste I guess. Undoubtedly the early albums are the most critically highly regarded but I like stuff from almost every era of the band & whilst Full House is probably my favourite album & I love all RT's post Fairport work, there are non RT Fairport records (Angel Delight, Babbacombe Lee, Nine, bits of Gladys Leap, Five Seasons & WKWTTG for instance) that I prefer to much of Liege & Lief & Unhalfbricking.(I know. Heresy again! I like those albums too, just not as much.)
I personally find some of L&L a wee bit dreary. Stuff like The Deserter, Matty Groves and Reynardine. Matty Groves? Dreary? I personally find the L&L version dreary, the new live one is brilliant |
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Mindwarper
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« Reply #15 on: April 18, 2007, 06:10:19 PM » |
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I think he was there during a magical time when things were new. Everone was fresh faced and trying new things. RT added a voice or style to FC. But others have added their style as well. It is like a conversation. He was there at the beginning, but we are still talking. Without him, the talking still happens. He was just there adding his uniqueness at the magical beginning.
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Woodpecker
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« Reply #16 on: April 18, 2007, 06:38:33 PM » |
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I can see why Ollie might have the views of L&L that he does.
If Matty etc had not moved on and changed in 38 years why are we all bothering, hopefully the band believe that they do it better every time, if not why are they bothering.
But for those of us who heard that L&L line up there wasn't a weak link and interplay between all of them was thrilling both in terms of music and ideas. Put into a context where we'd never heard anything like it so that the whole concept was so unexpected I can't imagine there'll ever be anything like it again.
It was as startling in its own way as hearing Sgt Pepper for the first time.
I do hope that current music will sometime deliver something like this for Ollie to remember in 40yrs time.
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david stevenson
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« Reply #17 on: April 18, 2007, 06:49:43 PM » |
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Back to the original question:
Yes.
What's next?
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I built the ships that sailed this river
I cut the stones that built this town
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Jules Gray
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« Reply #18 on: April 18, 2007, 07:46:19 PM » |
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I personally find some of L&L a wee bit dreary. Stuff like The Deserter, Matty Groves and Reynardine.
Horses for courses - The Deserter is my favourite track on L&L. My own take on the question - RT *helped* make them great, but every good Fairport lineup has beena team effort. Sandy and Swarb in particular areevery bit as legendary in my book. Having said that, I still prefer 'the mothership' to any of the members' subsequent solo careers and later bands. Including RT. Jules |
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peterwales
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« Reply #19 on: April 18, 2007, 08:27:33 PM » |
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I think he was there during a magical time when things were new. Everone was fresh faced and trying new things. RT added a voice or style to FC. But others have added their style as well. It is like a conversation. He was there at the beginning, but we are still talking. Without him, the talking still happens. He was just there adding his uniqueness at the magical beginning.
I think that probably is the key to it all; for me those earlier albums were the best but they were also very much of their time- an exciting period, not just musically, but socially, politicaly, even spiritualy. RT'S writing sort-of reflected the perhaps naive excitement of those days. Don't forget that Fairport started off, almost as a Dylan tribute band in those very early, heady days. |
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