Nine or Rosie?

[quodlibet (Ian)]

I recall the uncertainty of Fairport's future after the post Simon line-ups had foundered, the relief when "History" had a new, unreleased, track ("Hen's March") & the the joy at the subsequent release of "Rosie". Any album that has Sandy, Richard & Linda, Rulf McTeal + (thank you deity of choice) DM, has to be pretty special. We could have ended up with "The Manor Sessions" version (shudder) & history would have been utterly different. In the context of it's release, "Rosie" was an utter joy that pointed in a new & exciting direction. The first inkling I had of how good "Nine" would be was one Sunday at The Roundhouse & hearing a pre-release airing of  "Polly On The Shore" over the PA. between bands. Spine-tinglingly special. Both "Rosie" & "Nine" occupy a special place & I could no more choose one over the other than have a favourite child.  

[PLW (Peter)]

In old vinyl terms, Side One of Nine is as good as anything they ever did. Assured, confident, instrumentally brilliant. I remember being disappointed when I bought Rosie, and thinking maybe my favourite band's best days were behind them. But those first five tracks of Nine really blew me away: two stylish trad ballads - Hexamshire Lass and Polly, an astonishing instrumental medley, and a sublime version of To Althea From Prison (which should still be in the repertoire, sung by Chris). Side B was a relative disappointment (four not particularly distinguished songs by the standards of their own track record), but they'd done enough in those first 20 minutes to restore my faith. I saw that band (with and without Sandy) several times over the next few years and it was a little golden period.

I don't think either of them are "great" albums (in the way that L and L, Full House and Unhlafbricking are), but Nine is one of the most memorable.

[Bridgwit (Bridget)]

For me it's Nine every time.

I just listened to both and Nine is tighter and a much better listen.

In fact, I'm going to list to Nine again!  

[Malcolm]

 and a sublime version of To Althea From Prison (which should still be in the repertoire, sung by Chris).

Sprung on an unsuspecting audience one beautiful night just as Reynardine was a couple of years ago.

[Jules Gray]

 and a sublime version of To Althea From Prison (which should still be in the repertoire, sung by Chris).

Sprung on an unsuspecting audience one beautiful night just as Reynardine was a couple of years ago.

One further amen to that.

Jules

[Dan O.]

 and a sublime version of To Althea From Prison (which should still be in the repertoire, sung by Chris).

Sprung on an unsuspecting audience one beautiful night just as Reynardine was a couple of years ago.

One further amen to that.

Jules

Oh go on then...I'll stick my vote in for that as well !

[Jim]

similar to what someone else stated previously, the time around "Rosie2 was a bit fruaght for followers of FC what with Simon and DM's departures, line-ups that didnt work out and possible dropping of the FC name, so when Rosie came out it was a great relief and while not in the same league as the records that preceeded it, it wasnt a total flop and had more than a couple of  redeeming tracks.
   When "Nine " was released things were a bit different, DM had returned to the fold and Jerry and Trevor were fairly well established as part of the band so the lp reflected this in its swagger and confidence making it a fairly indespensible part of the Fairport canon.
   So for me its "Nine" by some distance
thats my take on "FC The Pub Rock years"

[Jules Gray]

thats my take on "FC The Pub Rock years"

I'd have said 1976-79 were more the 'pub rock years'.

Jules

[Nick Reg]

Neither is amongst my favourites but my copy of Rosie has had more plays than has 9. I like HR too

[Harbottle (Martin)]

"Bring 'em Down" is one of my favourite FC songs. I like Nine. I don't like Rosie, but oddly, find Hungarian Rhapsody a fun song.

[David W]

Nine every time - Hexhamshire Lass, Polly, Bring em Down, Althea nuff said

DW

[GubGub (Al)]

"Bring 'em Down" is one of my favourite FC songs.

Mine too. I have always thought it should occupy a similar position in their repertoire to Sloth. It is a song that has the potential to expand and be transcendent through improvisation. There is a blisteringly good version of it on the Before The Moon live album.

[Big Dave]

Been mulling over this.  Whilst Rosie itself is  one my top 5 FC ditties, in album terms it is Nine hanfdsdown and without a doubt, just for the confidence, power and joy that it puts out.

[Staffan]

As several have pointed out, "Rosie" was welcomed as a sign of life from a much-loved band. The old A side of the LP is a strong one to my mind and I don't really mind the ditties on side B. (I like ditties sometimes)
"Nine" to me is an effort of a gigging band that really has come together as a band. Strong on both songs, vocals and instrumentally, it has almost no weaknesses. I happen to like "Big William", too!  
"Nine" is an album I return to quite frequently, and -also as has been stated earlier - todays lineup could find a good oldie or two here!
"Nine" 9 points (!)
"Rosie" 7 points

[gower flower (Shirl)]

I must fish out these two and have a listen. It's been ages!  

[Jules Gray]

"Nine" 9 points (!)
"Rosie" 7 points

Oooh!  Are we doing points?!?!  

Rosie - 4 out of 10 (if 5 is an averagely OK album, I feel it falls somewhat short)

Nine - 8 out of 10 (9 would have been funnier, but I have to dock a couple of marks for 'side 2' not managing to keep up the standards set by 'side 1')

Jules

[Poor Will (Bill)]

Nine for me, although Rosie has a certain charm.

[hendo (Dave)]

Both these albums come from a time when I was away from Fairport, my teenage years being more taken up with girls, Rory Gallagher, girls, Hawkwind and girls.

However, as I understand it, Rosie was a partial retread of an unreleased album ("At The Manor"), the remnants being "Rosie", "Matthew Mark Luke & John", "Me With You" and "My Girl", all credited to Dave Swarbrick or in conjuction with Dave Pegg. Nine has "Big William" (credited to Swarbrick/Lucas) from those sessions, although it's (unclear to me) if any were re-recorded or just transferred over. I've read that "Big William" differs significantly between the two, but haven't heard the former version, so can't comment directly.

Perhaps those who have heard the aborted album tracks may care to comment?

As such, both albums are patchy, Rosie's commonly acknowledged nadir being "Hungarian Rhapsody" which smacks of desperation to fill the album with another track, to me  Mind you, "Me with you" isn't half as twee as it thinks it is.

Then again, Nine has "Possibly Parsons Green"!  

So, Skirks, in answer to your question, on balance, "Nine", as a more coherent offering, at least in retrrospect, 37 years later.

Ah, the Hawkwind, Gallagher years, i remember them well.

[Shane (Skirky)]

 Mind you, "Me with you" isn't half as twee as it thinks it is.

That's a lovely phrase.  

[Delfini (Diane)]

Rosie was the first one I bought after hearing Fairport for the first time, so it has a special place.

I will now need to go and listen to both to check. (thereby cleverly avoiding housework)