Fiddlestix on Raven Records

[Dave Brzeski]

I was searching through a box of empty CD cases recently, when I found a copy of this Australian compilation. I must have bought it at the Cropredy bootsale several years ago, as I'd forgotten ever having it. Couldn't work out why it had been dumped in there, until I tried to rip it to mp3.

Exact Audio Copy read it as having just one data track, even if I used the anti copy protection software I picked up to reclaim the right to rip my own CDs for my iPod!
I then looked at it in explorer, but in that case it wasn't recognised at all. Tried it on my DVD player & it registered as a CD, but came up with the message "can't play".

Now, do I have a bad copy, which somehow found it's way over to blighty, or is there some strange arcane reason I can't make it work in anything?

Also, it claims to have previously unreleased versions of 4 tracks. Were these just previously unreleased in Australia, or the whole World & have they been compiled elsewhere since?

The tracks in question are...
Sir Patrick Spens
Banks Of The Sweet Primroses
Days Of '49
Jenny's Chicken / The Mason's Apron

[folkfreak (Alexander)]

Hi,

I have backed up my whole record and cd collection on hd (and for the iPod) I did not have any problms with the Fiddlestix CD. I also used EAC.
So I assume it is something with your copy. Or maybe some CD Drives can do better with copy protected CDs....I have more Raven CDs and I think none of them have copy protection.....


Alex

[Tony F]

Dave,

I, too, have burned a few stray songs from my cd for a personal compilation without incident.  

The exclusive tunes, to my knowledge, are Days of '49 and the wonderful Rosie-era Jenny's Chickens/Mason's Apron.  And they were definitely worth the purchase, I'd say.  Sir Patrick Spens & Banks of the Sweet Primroses are the same versions from House Full (LA Troubadour) ~ not sure why those are on there, they're not even in the stated timeframe of 72-84!  

I imagine the studio Fiddlestix was a real rarity when this came out, before the Unconventional box and remastered Nine.  

[Jules Gray]

I've had CDs like that before - they came down with some form of 'CD rot', but my copy of Fiddlestix is fine.....or at least it was last time I played it!

I would say it's likely that your copy won't recover from its present condition, Dave, and you may have to get a replacement.  

Jules

[Chris]

I think member MichaelH might know something about this!

[Jim]

my copy is fine and ripped no problem

[Dave Brzeski]

I figured I had a bad copy. No doubt why the last owner flogged it at a bootsale for £7 (according to the price ticket). I can't return it, since I bought it secondhand, so I guess I'll wait until another cheap copy shows up. Too poor right now to go buying import compilations for a couple of tracks.

[Jules Gray]

I figured I had a bad copy. No doubt why the last owner flogged it at a bootsale for £7 (according to the price ticket). I can't return it, since I bought it secondhand, so I guess I'll wait until another cheap copy shows up. Too poor right now to go buying import compilations for a couple of tracks.

Before you give up all hope, try it on a different PC or two.  If one reads it, burn a copy pronto!  It's a long shot, but it might work.

Jules

[Dave Brzeski]

If you knew me better, you'd have known that I tried 3 drives on 2 PCs as a matter of course, plus, as I said, it doesn't play on anything. If it had been corrupted with CD rot, the chances are it would still have shown the tracks in EAC, even though they wouldn't rip. This shows as having just one data track, so I'm guessing it was  a faulty disc from the get go.

[Jules Gray]

If you knew me better, you'd have known that I tried 3 drives on 2 PCs as a matter of course, plus, as I said, it doesn't play on anything. If it had been corrupted with CD rot, the chances are it would still have shown the tracks in EAC, even though they wouldn't rip. This shows as having just one data track, so I'm guessing it was  a faulty disc from the get go.

Then whoever sold you it was a swine!  

Jules

[Paul]

You can get recovery programs on the internet that will do a sector by sector copy. That way something may be salvageable.

Paul

[Dave Brzeski]

It won't be THAT hard to replace, as has been pointed out to me in a private message. We're not talking some sort of extreme rarity here after all.
As far as recovery is concerned, I doubt it's worth going to that much effort Paul. Chances are it's a case of the desired information never having made it on to the disc in the first place.
If I want it that badly, I can find another copy. After all, it's not even a release I'd bothered to buy brand new at the time....

... having just typed that, it occurs to me that I really ought to check my collection carefully for the possible existence of another copy, before doing anything rash! LOL

[fstix (Michael)]

I think member MichaelH might know something about this!

Not much more than others, as it was John Penhallow who compiled this CD.  I certainly can't comment on ripping issues.

Re its contents - yes, the Devil In The  Kitchen / Fiddlestix studio version was very rare for a few decades.   Being the name of a rare Aust-only single and the Aust Friends of Fairport fanzine, it was a natural inclusion.

Days Of '49 only appeared on an Attic Tracks cassette previously /  Mason's Apron was 100% previously unreleased / the version of Possibly Parsons Green is a rare single B-side edit.

Re the Sir Pat / Banks anomaly, it doesn't make sense to me either!  I think JP was under the impression these were different versions to Full House but turned out to be the same but it was too late to change it.   Still out of the stated timeframe anyway...

[Jules Gray]

Re the Sir Pat / Banks anomaly, it doesn't make sense to me either!  I think JP was under the impression these were different versions to Full House but turned out to be the same but it was too late to change it.   Still out of the stated timeframe anyway...

I always figured they were included because the Troubadour LP was released in 1976, despite including performances from 1970 - I presumed that's how the mistake was made.

Jules

[fstix (Michael)]

That might have been the thinking, yes.

[Tony F]

 the version of Possibly Parsons Green is a rare single B-side edit.

Oh, right, the live Possibly Parsons Green.  Is it an edited version, then?  Great as is, of course.

[Jules Gray]

 the version of Possibly Parsons Green is a rare single B-side edit.

Oh, right, the live Possibly Parsons Green.  Is it an edited version, then?  Great as is, of course.

Not live, just the studio version edited.  Right?

Jules

[fstix (Michael)]

Yep - original is 4.40, this version is 3.43.

[Tony F]

Oh, that's disappointing.  The liner notes say it's live, and I took them at their word (especially given the different time length), guess I never memorized the studio version sufficiently to recognize this was the same version.  

Here's what the liner note booklet says/claims:

"Next is a rendition of a Lucas/Roach collaboration from the Nine album, 'Possibly Parsons Green,' recorded at the start of the tour in December 1973 at London's Rainbow Theatre.  It's a delight to note how effortlessly the group carries off this complex song live, dow to the intricate vocal harmony parts!"  

It goes on to say that it was only previously released on the same cassette-only release that "Days of 49" comes from.  If this is not true, than I have to remove this track from the "live Rosie" anthology I put together...!

[fstix (Michael)]

I've just listened to the track in question - I'm sure it's the studio version despite what the notes say.  The Expletive Delighted site agrees too - http://musikfolk.co.uk/expletive-delighted/index.html

The live one is faster paced too.

So unfortunately it seems the notes are wrong - possibly (!) written before the CD itself was finalised, I would guess.