David Rea R.I.P.

[Thor-Rune]

So sad to read on Swarb's facebook page about the passing of David Rea. David was a member of the Fairports during their troublesome year of 1972 and recorded an unreleased album with the band that year (although some of the songs have been released in later years). This fine folk musician was also involved in rock music, amongst them US hard rock band Mountain for whom he co-wrote their most famous song "Mississippi Queen" amongst others. David also released some solo albums. The title track of the first of these ("Maverick child") was one of the songs he also recorded in his largely unchronicled spell with Fairport Convention. Rest In Peace, David!

[RobertL]

More..

http://oregonmusicnews.com/2011/10/28/david-rea-guitarist-singer-songwirter-dies-in-portland-at-65/

RIP David Rea

[Thor-Rune]

Other songs he co-wrote for Mountain was the title track of "Flowers of evil" and "For Yasgur's farm" - their heart felt tribute to Max Yasgur, owner of the site of the Woodstock Festival in 1969 (where Mountain actually appeared).

[quodlibet (Ian)]

I'm sorry to hear of his passing. His album "Slewfoot", made with members of The Dead contained a version of "Rosie"

[bassline (Mike)]

Sad news.I only just found a copy of the Manor Sessions in the past fortnight and I've been listening to that.I had no idea of the connection to Mountain.
R.I.P David.

[Jim]

RIP David, a fairporter i never got to see with the band, did anyone?

[KascadeDan]

RIP My Friend

[Peter H-K]

It's a shame that only with sad news do I learn of a Fairport/Grateful Dead connection, despite having been a fan of both for decades. Members of the Dead playing on a version of Rosie?! Wow! I've got to hear that!

[Keith E Rice]

Repeat of post I made to the Jefferson Starship board (www.jeffersonstarshipsf.com) yesterday where a regular poster (PurpleCat), who produced Rea's last 2 albums, announced his passing and where they're mostly discussing the Ian & Sylvia or Mountain stuff.



Interesting to hear some different perspectives on Dave Rea.

As a Fairport fan - and never having tracked him anywhere else - it seemed to me that was his big chance - been and gone. Not, er, that Fairport were/are exactly mega-huge on anybody's scale.... but Fairport were at a don't-know-what-the-****-to-do-next stage and Dave & Tom Hill(?) were the first attempt to move forward. Most, including Fairport, say it didn't work and it took the MEGA-arrivals of Jerry Donahue and Trevor Lucas to really get the next phase fired up.

Don't doubt it but nonetheless there are some really nice Rea/Hill tracks knocking about. The Fairport box set has a couple (officially) from the abandoned 'Manor sessions' - there are others appaently if you know where to look. Plus, there is a gorgeous instumental of the Swarbrick-Pegg-Rea-
Farnhill line-up on the Old Grey Whisteltest repeats...again if you know where to look."

[RobertD]

Repeat of post I made to the Jefferson Starship board (www.jeffersonstarshipsf.com) yesterday where a regular poster (PurpleCat), who produced Rea's last 2 albums, announced his passing and where they're mostly discussing the Ian & Sylvia or Mountain stuff.



Interesting to hear some different perspectives on Dave Rea.

As a Fairport fan - and never having tracked him anywhere else - it seemed to me that was his big chance - been and gone. Not, er, that Fairport were/are exactly mega-huge on anybody's scale.... but Fairport were at a don't-know-what-the-****-to-do-next stage and Dave & Tom Hill(?) were the first attempt to move forward. Most, including Fairport, say it didn't work and it took the MEGA-arrivals of Jerry Donahue and Trevor Lucas to really get the next phase fired up.

Don't doubt it but nonetheless there are some really nice Rea/Hill tracks knocking about. The Fairport box set has a couple (officially) from the abandoned 'Manor sessions' - there are others appaently if you know where to look. Plus, there is a gorgeous instumental of the Swarbrick-Pegg-Rea-
Farnhill line-up on the Old Grey Whisteltest repeats...again if you know where to look."

On Fairport Unconventional there is one, not a couple from the Manor Sessions-Maverick Child. Also it was Roger Hill, and Tom Farnell who kicked about with Fairport for a very brief time leading up to the Manor Sessions. I will have to look for the video you mention, but the only one I have seen from that era is The Hanging Song, which does not have David Rea in it. In any case, an interesting guy, RIP

[Jules Gray]

Plus, there is a gorgeous instumental of the Swarbrick-Pegg-Rea-
Farnhill line-up on the Old Grey Whistle Test repeats...again if you know where to look."

Pretty sure David Rea didn't play on the Whistle Test broadcast.

Jules

[Thor-Rune]

The Fairport Unconventional box DOES include two tracks, not just one, from the Manor sessions: "Maverick child" (a David Rea song) and "Sad song" (written by Swarb). On the Swarb box set you can also hear the Manor version of the song "Rosie". On Peggy's box "A box of Pegg's" you can hear the Manor version of "Matthew, Mark, Luke and John". So that's four Manor tracks out there. Did I miss any others?

T-R

[Jules Gray]

Nice work there, Thor-Rune.

Jules

[RobertD]

The Fairport Unconventional box DOES include two tracks, not just one, from the Manor sessions: "Maverick child" (a David Rea song) and "Sad song" (written by Swarb). On the Swarb box set you can also hear the Manor version of the song "Rosie". On Peggy's box "A box of Pegg's" you can hear the Manor version of "Matthew, Mark, Luke and John". So that's four Manor tracks out there. Did I miss any others?

T-R

Serves me right for posting so late in the evening....My mistake, and thanks for the correction.

[Neil]

The Fairport Unconventional box DOES include two tracks, not just one, from the Manor sessions: "Maverick child" (a David Rea song) and "Sad song" (written by Swarb). On the Swarb box set you can also hear the Manor version of the song "Rosie". On Peggy's box "A box of Pegg's" you can hear the Manor version of "Matthew, Mark, Luke and John". So that's four Manor tracks out there. Did I miss any others?

T-R

Serves me right for posting so late in the evening....My mistake, and thanks for the correction.

No Rosie on my Box of Pegg's, it's the version on Swarb.  Anyway the Rea was a  local musician in the Pacific Northwest. I saw him twice at the Horse Brass pub and never had the nerve to approach him, even though he seemed very down to earth.

Neil

[Jules Gray]

The Fairport Unconventional box DOES include two tracks, not just one, from the Manor sessions: "Maverick child" (a David Rea song) and "Sad song" (written by Swarb). On the Swarb box set you can also hear the Manor version of the song "Rosie". On Peggy's box "A box of Pegg's" you can hear the Manor version of "Matthew, Mark, Luke and John". So that's four Manor tracks out there. Did I miss any others?

No Rosie on my Box of Pegg's, it's the version on Swarb.  

Re-read, Neil.  Rosie on Swarb box, Matthew, Mark... on Pegg box.

Jules

[PaulT]

RIP David

[Neil]

The Fairport Unconventional box DOES include two tracks, not just one, from the Manor sessions: "Maverick child" (a David Rea song) and "Sad song" (written by Swarb). On the Swarb box set you can also hear the Manor version of the song "Rosie". On Peggy's box "A box of Pegg's" you can hear the Manor version of "Matthew, Mark, Luke and John". So that's four Manor tracks out there. Did I miss any others?

No Rosie on my Box of Pegg's, it's the version on Swarb.  

Re-read, Neil.  Rosie on Swarb box, Matthew, Mark... on Pegg box.

Jules

aah these old eyes

[vanessa]

May the four winds blow him safely home-R.I.P

[David W]

Has anything appeared on the main fc site yet that I have missed.