Nine line-up, what COULD have been?

[Thor-Rune]

Great to see you here, Swarb. I would love to hear your thoughts on something I've been thinking about now and then. One of my favourite FC line-ups is the Nine one from 1973. The Nine album itself still fills me with enormous pleasure.

Now I will be the first to admit that when news of Sandy rejoining hit me, I was delighted about it. And I still love all the great music that came out of it. But I can't help thinking about what could have happened if the Nine line-up had been allowed to develop on it's own. I feel that line-up had so many unexplored possibilities.

Working on Many Ears To Please allowed me the pleasure of many a long conversation with Jerry on the subject and he expressed great delight at having been part of that line-up. As well as a lot of pride of the Nine album itself. I know it's fruitless to speculate but do you have any thoughts on the subject.

All the best from Thor-Rune in Oslo

[Swarb]

well I couldnt agree more, the direction that the nine line up took was very expansive, and dareing, everyone had to be at their absolute peak to play the stuff.Also I believe the material itself was great and the album production too. Gerry himself is a peerless guitarist,and in fact all members it seems to me made am equal contribution to the band.On top of that it was completely angst free, we all got on together and had a huge amount of fun, on, and off stage.the rhythm section of dm, peggy and trevor coupled with the front line of gerry and myself was a powerful combination.Trevor was, and is still one of my fav singers.

[Thor-Rune]

One more thing on the Nine subject. I recall NME (Bob Woffinden, perhaps) interviewed the band in 1973 a while before the album was released and he also previewed the album. But strangely there was no mention of Big William. Instead he wrote about a track called Open All Hours. Which I distinctly remember was described as an up-tempo number "with a touch of metal in its rock", if my memory serves me well. This is an outtake that hasn't yet showed up anywhere and nobody seems to recall the song. How about you? Or did NME just dream it?

Thor-Rune

[Paul]

I am very fond of Jerry's guitar playing.

The image that he has on stage is of somebody who thoroughly enjoys playing, and he also gives the impression that he seems to be genuinely pleased that the audience is enjoying it as well. Is this a reflection of his actual character?

Paul

[Swarb]

I dont recall "open all hours" so I cant help sorry to say. with regard to jerry,he is the sweetest man imaginable,a joy to work with. and yes, he always enjoys the audience reaction, wwhich in his case, is always favourable. look him up on the web ,get his site, and play "the claw" there will no doubt be a mass burning of guitars.Make no mistake folks he is a phenomenon, one of natures freaks on that instrument.

[David W]

Make no mistake folks he is a phenomenon, one of natures freaks on that instrument.

Why do you think over the years Fairport - for all its failings, relative lack of success etc - has attaracted people like Jerry D, DM, Peggy - all of whom would have been, and probbaly were, targets for bigger, moere famous bands?

[Swarb]

just as a little extra to the last posting.A poser for you all, where have you heard Big william before?

[Thor-Rune]

just as a little extra to the last posting.A poser for you all, where have you heard Big william before?

Well, I know a song called Big William was recorded (though not released at the time) by the David Rea FC line up from 1972. But that was totally different from the track that appeared on Nine. The tune, the lyrics, the tempo, the arrangement - everything was different. It was part of the unreleased Manor recording. But I suspect that's not what you had in mind.

T-R

[Jules Gray]

I dont recall "open all hours" so I cant help sorry to say. with regard to jerry,he is the sweetest man imaginable,a joy to work with. and yes, he always enjoys the audience reaction, wwhich in his case, is always favourable. look him up on the web ,get his site, and play "the claw" there will no doubt be a mass burning of guitars.Make no mistake folks he is a phenomenon, one of natures freaks on that instrument.

Agreed - the man was mind blowing at Cropredy last year.  Made me laugh out loud with pleasure.  And also I've 'talked' to him online and he's just so warm and kind.  He's a true class act.

We should get him along to one of these Guest sessions, unless he's already done one.

Jules

[Thor-Rune]

I am very fond of Jerry's guitar playing.

The image that he has on stage is of somebody who thoroughly enjoys playing, and he also gives the impression that he seems to be genuinely pleased that the audience is enjoying it as well. Is this a reflection of his actual character?

Paul

Jerry Donahue is one of the nicest and most generous people it has ever been my pleasure to work with. And not only that: He remembers! The man has a vivid memory of most things he has been part of. He also has a great skill to communicate it. Which made him ideally suited to help me with the Oslo CD. This is all confirmed by his liner notes to the remastered Island FC CD's 1973-1975. This is why the Fotheringay 2 project is in the best of hands. But that's a different topic entirely.

T-R

[Swarb]

you havent answered the big william question yet. tee hee

[Ollie]

you havent answered the big william question yet. tee hee

Dunno but I read something about FC once that included the line 'Fairport are famous for their song Big William' or something like that. A bit odd.

[Swarb]

ok,  listen to sickness and diseases,

[Barry]

look him up on the web ,get his site, and play "the claw" there will no doubt be a mass burning of guitars.Make no mistake folks he is a phenomenon, one of natures freaks on that instrument.

I remember the year the Hellecasters played Cropredy.  I've never seen so many glum amateur guitarists in any one place at any one time   (Nor hear the word "b*****d breathed with such fervour after each guitar solo)

I always loved the Nine line-up as it was about that time I got into Fairport.  First saw Fairport at Greenwich Borough Hall just after Sandy rejoined for the princely sum of 50p.  

[Swarb]

50p  christ no wonder I am skint!

[fstix (Michael)]

Is Big William the one with every known disease, and some without a name...?

[Swarb]

close, but no cigar, if you take a look at the chord sequence, and make a few adjustmebts its the same chord sequence with a different melody for each one. I know cause I liked the sequence i wrote  so much i couldnt bear to only use it once.