Rare boot recording of the Swarb/Peggy/Hill/Farnell lineup

[davidmjs]

This is a new one to me, which has just appeared on 'some of the usual sites'.  Hope I'm not breaking any rules by putting this info in the public domain, as I'm not publicising where it's been posted.  Some interesting material, particularly the Wilson Pickett cover...

Here's what's been posted:

Fairport Convention

72-03-14, Hempstead, New York, USA

WLIR radio broadcast from Ultrasonic Studios

Quality B- (but definitely can be improved without much trouble)

Liberated bootleg. Obtained for $$ in the early 80's from a mail order bootleg dealer in Tempe.

Normal bias unknown Dolby > Chrome bias Dolby B > Audacity > FLAC

I have made no modifications to the sound as it came off the tape in March 2009.

This set list is an improvement over others that are available online.

I am not absolutely sure that "Flatback Caper" finishes at the point marked, and that "O'Carolan's
Concerto" starts there. It might be more reasonable to merge those tracks and label the piece
"Flatback Caper including O'Carolan's Concerto" if someone with more expertise can clue us in.

Track 12 is frequently mistitled (I've seen "Feel It" and "Get On Up"). It is in fact a cover of the
1965 Wilson Pickett song "Don't Fight It" (originally recorded in Memphis for Stax with a backup band
of Steve Cropper, Duck Dunn, Al Jackson, and Isaac Hayes).

The title of track 13 is the real one. The band announces this using the shorthand "Sir B. McKenzie".

1. Walk Awhile
2. Dirty Linen
3. Sloth
4. Flatback Caper >
5. O'Carolan's Concerto
6. John Lee (You're Turning Round Your Fate Again) >
7. The Time Is Near >
8. The Hanging Song
9. My Girl
10. Me with You
11. Matty Groves
12. Don't Fight It
13. Sir B. McKenzie's Daughter's Lament for the 77th Mounted Lancer's Retreat from the Straits of Loch Knombe,
in the Year of Our Lord 1727, on the Occasion of the Announcement of Her Marriage to the Laird of Kinleakie
14. WLIR Radio Announcement
15. Pre-Encore Tuning Up
16. Country Pie

[Bob Barrows]

I've never heard anything from this line-up so I'm looking forward to hearing this. It will have to wait until tonight when I get home from work. 

[Jules Gray]

I've never heard anything from this line-up so I'm looking forward to hearing this.

A handful of tracks on the Free Reed boxes are live recordings by this lineup aren't they?

Jules

[Bob Barrows]

I've never heard anything from this line-up so I'm looking forward to hearing this.

A handful of tracks on the Free Reed boxes are live recordings by this lineup aren't they?

Jules

Maybe, I haven't had any reason to shell out the shekels for those sets as of yet. Maybe this boot will give me a reason ...

[Jules Gray]

Maybe, I haven't had any reason to shell out the shekels for those sets as of yet. Maybe this boot will give me a reason ...

Eh.  Maybe.  Maybe not.  

Jules

[Brendan]

If it is the one I have, it is a pretty good recording, but even on novelty value I prefer the alternate Rosie, although I am unsure whether the Fairport Members would.

[Jim]

i think the chaps could do the drum solo version of Matty
pretty nifty work by Tom Farnell and lotsa brummie accents

[jonmuse]

On the subject of rare/unusual recordings, what ever happened to the Woodworm Archive series?  

[Jim]

it seems to have stalled at vol 2 doesnt it
another opportunity wasted?

[PL (Peter)]

it seems to have stalled at vol 2 doesnt it    Regrettably, it looks like
another opportunity wasted?

                    Absolutely !

[Thor-Rune]

On the subject of rare/unusual recordings, what ever happened to the Woodworm Archive series?  

Not that I know everything about this, but I've heard "Acoustically down under" (which was the mentioned second volume) sold very poorly. So it might have something to do with that.

[Jim]

On the subject of rare/unusual recordings, what ever happened to the Woodworm Archive series?  

Not that I know everything about this, but I've heard "Acoustically down under" (which was the mentioned second volume) sold very poorly. So it might have something to do with that.

waaay to dear at full price for a single cd, and the first vol was sonically about as good as a bootleg, down under was ok soundwise
how about legal, paid for downloads from the website

[davidmjs]

how about legal, paid for downloads from the website

I've followed the experience at dgmlive (Krimson's site) with interest.  They've been running for about 3 or 4 years and must have about 200 downloads available from all eras of the band's history.  According to Fripp's diary only about 18 of the downloads are actually in profit.  I'm not sure of the reasons for this but would have thought the fact that they all have fairly extensive (in house) remastering must be a major reason...plus hosting costs, admin for the charging - that sort of thing.  He's also probably been hampered (exchange rate) until the last few months by charging in US dollars.

In some senses Krimson and Fairport are quite alike....loads of lineups, lots of live stuff around.  I still would like to think there's an economic model that makes sense for Fairport members over the years to earn some money from this kind of stuff.  I'd be happy to donate my archive to such a cause.  I would have thought the main reason against it is the initial outlay....there would have to be staffing/hardware/ etc etc and I'm sure that would involve a 5 figure payout before a single drop of income came in....