Old Memorabilia: "Fairport Fanatics"

[samnitzberg (Sam)]

I was looking through some old memorabilia the other day -- searching for something completely un-Fairport-related -- and found an old fan newsletter called "Fairport Fanatics" put out by someone here in the States.  No idea I even had this, barely recall it even existed, don't even know how I have it.  So I've scanned the 10 pages and uploaded them to my web storage, for everyone's enjoyment.  This issue is from 1984.  Some of it's pretty entertaining, it's all quite low budget.  Page 2 has part of an interview the writer seems to have had with Dave Pegg.  Anybody seen any of this before?

http://home.comcast.net/~grebztinmas/Scans/Fairport%20Fanatics%201.jpg
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[davidmjs]

Anybody seen any of this before?

Nope...but I love fanzines so thanks for that...

[jude]

Page 208 made me laugh....

[Chris]

Wasn't iot this that grew into Dirty Linen?

[jude]

Wasn't iot this that grew into Dirty Linen?

Think it possibly is, TJ would appear to be TJ McGrath

[Chris]

Who is resident on the RT email list....

[jaypeter (Peter)]

On 205, below Nancy Reagan and the Elephant, is an ad for Fairport videos inc Farewell Farewell, A Peculuier old Weekend, Broughton Castle, a Weekend in the Country. Any copies of these still around??

[Edthefolkie]

There are two precariously balancing on a shelf above my head as I type - Weekend in the Country (1983) and Peculier Old Weekend (1982). Come to think of it I've got an older one somewhere which is pretty unwatchable as the soundtrack has loads of noise from the genny on it. In fact all of them are a bit ropey as the cameras used then were too insensitive for the fairly low level of stage lighting. There must be some bits on YouTube.

They do turn up on Ebay for about a tenner, which is jolly annoying as they were about £25 new!  They were made by an outfit in Doncaster, at that time called Videotech - chap called Howard ran it. Think they're still in Donny, they do old local heritage film to DVD thingies now.

Regarding the original fanzines, thanks for uploading 'em Samnitzberg - brilliant! The hoops people had to go through before the Interweb. And thanks for the words of "She is Woman" TJ, my wife REALLY enjoyed that song when Simon sang it around 1984.    

[Jules Gray]

There are two precariously balancing on a shelf above my head as I type - Weekend in the Country (1983) and Peculier Old Weekend (1982). Come to think of it I've got an older one somewhere which is pretty unwatchable as the soundtrack has loads of noise from the genny on it. In fact all of them are a bit ropey as the cameras used then were too insensitive for the fairly low level of stage lighting. There must be some bits on YouTube.

They do turn up on Ebay for about a tenner, which is jolly annoying as they were about £25 new!  They were made by an outfit in Doncaster, at that time called Videotech - chap called Howard ran it. Think they're still in Donny, they do old local heritage film to DVD thingies now.

A DVD set collecting all those old videos together would be a thing of joy.

Jules

[H (Heather Smith)]

And thanks for the words of "She is Woman" TJ, my wife REALLY enjoyed that song when Simon sang it around 1984.    

Well if you fancy a nice surprise for her, it's on the first disc of the recently released Simon & Swarb live album 'When We Were Very Young'

[Peter H-K]

 And thanks for the words of "She is Woman" TJ, my wife REALLY enjoyed that song when Simon sang it around 1984.    

I'm so thick that I've never really been able to work that song out. Irony? Or supreme offensiveness?

[samnitzberg (Sam)]

Wasn't iot this that grew into Dirty Linen?

I don't think so, but I could be wrong.  Dirty Linen was made right here in Baltimore by Paul Hartman, and I think he started it and it was always from here, while this Fairport Fanatics piece is out of Connecticut.  

Now that I look at it, there is one other name that appears in it - Ken Roseman - someone I knew years ago, maybe that's where I originally got it.  He used to write reviews, and has liner notes on a few albums.

[jaypeter (Peter)]

 And thanks for the words of "She is Woman" TJ, my wife REALLY enjoyed that song when Simon sang it around 1984.    

I'm so thick that I've never really been able to work that song out. Irony? Or supreme offensiveness?

Yep. One or the other.

[bassline (Mike)]

Funnily enough I obtained A Peculier Old Weekend yesterday, but I'm not allowed to say more. The Home Service song - Don't Let 'Em Grind You Down(?) - was excellent.Hope I get to hear it at Cropers next year.
I also hope the boys have more luck with the Sailor's Alphabet on the Wintour!

[Edthefolkie]

Well if you fancy a nice surprise for her, it's on the first disc of the recently released Simon & Swarb live album 'When We Were Very Young'

Heather, yes I know! I bought "When We Were Very Young" on Thursday at Croppers, picked up missus and daughter on Sat and put it in the car CD on the way to the pub. "She Is Woman" didn't exactly go down a storm, "The Dogs All Had A Party" even less!  

[folkfreak (Alexander)]

Hi,
I remember they had an ad in many A New day magazines at the end of the eighties.And in one issue it is mentioned that they got a new name...... can't recall more. Have to check the A new day magazines of that time.

Alex

[davidmjs]

There are two precariously balancing on a shelf above my head as I type - Weekend in the Country (1983) and Peculier Old Weekend (1982). Come to think of it I've got an older one somewhere which is pretty unwatchable as the soundtrack has loads of noise from the genny on it. In fact all of them are a bit ropey as the cameras used then were too insensitive for the fairly low level of stage lighting. There must be some bits on YouTube.

They do turn up on Ebay for about a tenner, which is jolly annoying as they were about £25 new!  They were made by an outfit in Doncaster, at that time called Videotech - chap called Howard ran it. Think they're still in Donny, they do old local heritage film to DVD thingies now.

Regarding the original fanzines, thanks for uploading 'em Samnitzberg - brilliant! The hoops people had to go through before the Interweb. And thanks for the words of "She is Woman" TJ, my wife REALLY enjoyed that song when Simon sang it around 1984.    

£25?  I'm sure they weren't were they?  I remember The Boot cassette costing £7.50 and the 1982 vid being £8 at Cropredy '84.  memory's a funny thing though.

[Edthefolkie]

I know David, I can hardly believe it myself. Somehow I got a flyer from Howard Johnston of Videotech advertising the 1982 vid at £25. I don't know if I got it from them or at Cropredy, but I put the flyer into the tape case and it's been there for 28 years! I suppose it's under a quid a year then....

Videos were incredibly expensive in the early 80s. My missus got me Life of Brian for Christmas one year and I found out it had cost her over 30 quid. Even blank tapes were about £10-12.

I had a surreal experience when visiting dad in law in Suffolk - he had just bought a "portable" (around 10 kg) JVC VHS recorder plus separate camera and possessed ONE blank tape. He said I could have a go but I'd need to buy another tape. So I nipped down to the TV shop in Diss where the elderly assistant said "Oh. Ah. Video Tapes. 'E might 'ave some in the back. Bit experimental though aren't they?" You try telling the kids that today etc.    

[Jim]

 i seen to remember the various boot cassettes costing about £11 when new
but time is probably playing tricks with me, but yes the videos were horribly expensive

[davidmjs]

 i seen to remember the various boot cassettes costing about £11 when new
but time is probably playing tricks with me, but yes the videos were horribly expensive

Hey Lordy, I claim my prize...

i am staring at a 1985 Cropredy programme (about to be listed on eBay - did you see what i did there?!) and in the flyer that is inside it states The Boot costs £7.50 inc p&p (that may be cos it's a year or so after they were released at that point of course).  

Still can't believe those vids cost £25 back then, mind...

ps Cropredy in 1985 (day and a half, as opposed to 2 days and a half, of course)?  £15 of your English pounds please.