Live Fairport with Maart

[Graham B]

I first saw Fairport in the late 80's on the Red & Gold tour, and the line up with Martin Allcock is still my favourite.

Remember when they swapped instruments for "Close to the Wind" with Peggy on drums DM on keyboards and Maart on fretless bass?

I would love to see another Woodworm Archives release - and what about one from this era?

I thought "Wounded Whale" was so much better live with Maart's extended guitar solo finishing the song.

Fairport played some fantastic versions of songs when Maart was in the group and it would be great if a concert from this time were released.

We do have some live songs from this era of course - as well as the "25th Anniversary Concert" CD recorded live at Cropredy in 1992 there are a few more gems tucked away on the Fairport Unconventional box set:

Wat Tyler (CD3 track 2 from York 1992)
Red And Gold (CD3 track 6 from Cropredy 1996)
Slipjigs And Reels (CD4 track 4 from Oxford Apollo 1995)
The Hiring Fair (CD4 track 10 from Cropredy 1989)
Jewel In The Crown (CD3 track 16 from Oxford Apollo 1995)

These are all great versions of the songs - better than the studio versions in my opinion.

For the time being we can enjoy what we have ...

But what about releasing a complete concert from this era? - maybe York 1992 or Oxford Apollo 1995 as it seems these were recorded at the time. The audio quality on the tracks from both of these concerts seems to be excellent as well - better than the 25th Anniversary set to my ears.

Personally I would love to hear a concert containing "Wounded Whale" and the heavy guitar driven version of "Matty Groves".



 

[Staffan]

...and "Sloth"

[GubGub (Al)]

There is one available, from the 1990 winter tour on an album called From Cropredy To Portmeiron. No Wounded Whale on it though sadly. I agree there were some fantastic live shows from that line up.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cropredy-Portmeirion-Fairport-Convention/dp/B000NJKYRC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1284311613&sr=1-1

[davidmjs]

I'm afraid I never liked that (to me) awful keyboard sound on some songs like the Wounded Whale or The Hiring Fair, but agree about just how strong the lineup could be live...and Maart's geetar was a huge huge part of that. There were some awesome Sat night Cropredy sets in those years....

Its generally the case that the first lineup we see is our favourite, isn't it?

[bassline (Mike)]

That Cropredy To Portmerion set was the second Fairport gig I went to,which set me off collecting anything where 'I was there'.
Whilst I do agree that the keyboard sound was a bit dodgy, The Wounded Whale was always one of my faves.A live version of Spanish Main with Maart would be great too.Dark Eyed Molly hasn't been officially released either as far as I know.(More keys again...).
Off The Desk vol.3 featuring that line up would be nice (unless I'm mistaken in thinking a vol.2 is coming out featuring the current line up).

[Pugwash]

Well each to our own of course but I enjoyed the keys period and the rocky sound of that era. In particular there was one low note in Wounded Whale that reverberated around Crop making it, for me, a most emotional experience.

Incidently following that time Maart told me he was able to create some of the keys stuff through his guitar.

[bassline (Mike)]

Don't forget the Cropredy Capers box too....plenty of Maart era stuff on there - you could make your own Off The Desk.

[Sir Martin]

The cheezy synth was sometimes a bit much, but the full on Maart/DM/RS attack was a wonder to behold, especially in a standing only venue.

Happy days.  

[davidmjs]

The cheezy synth was sometimes a bit much, but the full on Maart/DM/RS attack was a wonder to behold, especially in a standing only venue.

Happy days.  

I think that's half the trouble.  They never play in any standing only venues any more.  

[Amethyst (Jenny)]

I'm glad they don't..  I can't atand for long!!

[davidmjs]

I'm glad they don't..  I can't atand for long!!

I'm not calling for a full scale change of tour venues, Jenny, just a little variety in the mix.  They're a folk-rock band, and a band that lots of people like to shake a leg at too.  I'm tired of seeing them in theatres and art centres.  You even get told to sit down at Cropredy for god's sake!

[Bridgwit (Bridget)]

I was disappointed Maart didn't play this year (at Cropredy). I mean, we had plenty of electric guitar on stage during Excalibur   but I would have liked to have seen Maart up there too at some stage. He brought a great energy and a joie de vivre to their live performances which FC sometimes lack these days. IMHO of course  

[PLW (Peter)]

The cheezy synth was sometimes a bit much, but the full on Maart/DM/RS attack was a wonder to behold, especially in a standing only venue.

Happy days.  

I think that's half the trouble.  They never play in any standing only venues any more.  

Trouble? Is there trouble?

[davidmjs]

The cheezy synth was sometimes a bit much, but the full on Maart/DM/RS attack was a wonder to behold, especially in a standing only venue.

Happy days.  

I think that's half the trouble.  They never play in any standing only venues any more.  

Trouble? Is there trouble?

Only amongst those of us with a 'rock sensibility', I suppose.  But we haven't been given an awful lot to get our teeth into in the last decade and a half in any case, so I don't expect any movement in 'my' direction on the gig venue front.

[jaypeter (Peter)]

Agreed about standing venues. I'd love to see them playng a few small venues like the Half Moon again. Is there a the financial problem with that?  Theatres are all very well, but there's a shortage of atmosphere, you can't go with mates without a lot of faffing about, can't wander about, can't jump up and down etc etc.

[Nick Reg]

The 2 ex members that FC miss the most IMO are RT and Maart . Cant think what the connection is.

[davidmjs]

The 2 ex members that FC miss the most IMO are RT and Maart . Cant think what the connection is.

I'd throw in Jerry to that illustrious duo.  

Beards?  

[H (Heather Smith)]

Agreed about standing venues. I'd love to see them playng a few small venues like the Half Moon again. Is there a the financial problem with that?  Theatres are all very well, but there's a shortage of atmosphere, you can't go with mates without a lot of faffing about, can't wander about, can't jump up and down etc etc.

Must admit, much as I love the current incarnation of the band, a few venues with at least some standing room would really work for me.  Ten years ago they were known to play at the Flowerpot in Derby.  In fact,m that was my first ever gig, Fairport or otherwise, and I really do prefer it.  I really struggle to sit still listening to music (Hell, I'd argue that if you're sitting still the band's doing something wrong!), and the ability to at least tap your feet and jump a bit really makes a gig for me.

[hendo (Dave)]

Now don't get me wrong (he says getting his retaliation in first). I like Chris Leslie as a bloke(based on the few times i have talked to him and the fact he offered to play at our wedding))  and as a musician but..... Occassionally ,with the benefit of hindsight .I wonder what Fairports would sound like if PJ Wright had joined instead of Chris.

[davidmjs]

Now don't get me wrong (he says getting his retaliation in first). I like Chris Leslie as a bloke(based on the few times i have talked to him and the fact he offered to play at our wedding))  and as a musician but..... Occassionally ,with the benefit of hindsight .I wonder what Fairports would sound like if PJ Wright had joined instead of Chris.

Who knows?  More of a folk-rock band I suppose?  

I still think Chris is the/was the PERFECT replacement for Swarb, so I'd have him in the band, just not in the rather odd role he has filled for the last 13 years or so.  I suppose they went in a very different direction with Ric (hasn't his quarter of a century with the band been rather underplayed?) because he wasn't another Swarb.  Which worked well for them.  But still, I'm afraid for me, left me slightly disengaged from the band I fell in love with.  But that's my problem, not theirs!