'Fairport by Fairport'

[Jay Peter]

Very, very sad.

[Sandra]

I read the "corrections." For the record, Dylan went electric in 1965.  

But to be fair, so far as I know, he didn't use electric guitar in his 1965 UK tour which is being alluded to - that happened two months later in July 1965 at Newport FF.

[GubGub (Al)]

I read the "corrections." For the record, Dylan went electric in 1965.  

Yes but didn't tour the UK with a band until '66.

[davidmjs]

I was sort of going through the list and thinking actually the vast majority of this is fairly minor stuff, until I got to the last page.  I hadn't realised the issue with Nigel himself and how the book whilst carrying his name isn't really his book either.  The last little paragraph is heartbreaking.  Oh dear oh dear...

[Peter H-K]

This settles it once and for all for me - I'm not buying this book.

Jules

Nope, me neither.

[davidmjs]

I had always assumed Swarb been in Scotland was the reason he didn't rejoin in 85. He would now seem to reject this.
 

That's interesting.  As I remember at the time it was fairly out in the open that he was concentrating on Whippersnapper, and that his hearing issues meant it was completely unviable for him to be in a loud electric band....I mean he was struggling enough on stage as it was in the early 80's in that area.

[Adam]

I certainly haven't heard Swarbs take on what happened in '85 before - I always assumed it was hearing and Scotland (might be faulty memory, but I thought that's what he said on the it all comes round again video)...I'm currently in the interval at Fairports gig in Wimborne, and have noticed a couple of asides from Simon re:Swarb ("don't mention his name"). Hope it does all blow over...great gig, though, with a cracking Doctor of Physik the highlight so far..

[Jules Gray]

I read the "corrections." For the record, Dylan went electric in 1965.  

I think Swarb meant that Dylan's first electric appearances in the UK were in 1966.

Jules

[John From Austin]

I had always assumed Swarb been in Scotland was the reason he didn't rejoin in 85. He would now seem to reject this.
 

That's interesting.  As I remember at the time it was fairly out in the open that he was concentrating on Whippersnapper, and that his hearing issues meant it was completely unviable for him to be in a loud electric band....I mean he was struggling enough on stage as it was in the early 80's in that area.

I can't remember the source, either, but I too recall reading or hearing years ago with reference to Gladys' Leap that Swarb declined an offer to overdub violin parts on music that the others had already selected and/or written, arranged and recorded without his involvement.  I'm glad that he has stated this for the record again, with a fuller explanation of the additional considerations.

I bought the posh edition as an early Christmas present to myself last year.  Still haven't read it.  Will do so with Swarb's errata in hand and the knowledge that Jerry, RT, Maart, Bruce, DM and others might not fully concur with it either.

[Jules Gray]

I can't remember the source, either, but I too recall reading or hearing years ago with reference to Gladys' Leap that Swarb declined an offer to overdub violin parts on music that the others had already selected and/or written, arranged and recorded without his involvement.  I'm glad that he has stated this for the record again, with a fuller explanation of the additional considerations.

I'm thinking that the source was Schofield's book that came with Free Reed's Fairport UnConventional set.

Jules

[Dan O.]

I can't remember the source, either, but I too recall reading or hearing years ago with reference to Gladys' Leap that Swarb declined an offer to overdub violin parts on music that the others had already selected and/or written, arranged and recorded without his involvement.  I'm glad that he has stated this for the record again, with a fuller explanation of the additional considerations.

I'm thinking that the source was Schofield's book that came with Free Reed's Fairport UnConventional set.

Jules

There's also the relevant section of "The Woodworm Era" by Fred Redwood and Martin Woodward.
Simon is quoted as saying "The main reason why Swarb disliked the album [Gladys' Leap] was that he wasn't involved in it..." and "Swarb is very much a one-trick pony. He'd make a lousy juggler. It just so happened that around '85 he was focusing all his energies on Whippersnapper."

[bassline (Mike)]

Patrick Humphries' Meet On The Ledge says that Ric was asked to play on Gladys' because Swarb was in Scotland,then says Swarb hated the l.p, 'Only because he wasn't on it - says Simon' and refused to play any of it at Cropredy.It was after this that he mentioned Swarb's hearing problems.
Fred Redwood and Martin Woodward's The Woodworm Era expands on this slightly,suggesting (interesting in view of another current thread) that being concerned about becoming a nostalgia act with no more new material coming out since the '79 split,Simon,and Peggy decided a new album was needed.DM was available,but 'Swarb was in Scotland (mentioned once more in the intervening text).....
Regardless of this,in his abscence,the remaining band members made Gladys's Leap.A fiddler was needed,so the obvious choice was Chris Leslie.But he was very much involved with Swarb and his new outfit,Whippersnapper.Simon and DM had worked with Ric Sanders in the Albion Band...he duly filled in and did an excellent job......
The trouble started when Swarb heard Gladys's Leap.He thought it was dreadful...
"The main reason why Swarb disliked the album was that he wasn't involved in it." was Simon's summary of events.
This book then describes Swarb refusing to play the new stuff at Cropredy,and the rest of the band being concerned that the album was well received by critics and fans so it would be ludicrus not to play it live.They reasoned that as Swarb had his other band,and had tinnitus,if they were to reform the band as a going concern,they had to do it without him.
Schofield's Fairport UnConventional book tells us that at the start of 1985 'Swarb headed home to Scotland while the rest of the band took time out in Oxfordshire....' plans were made for a new album ' but Swarb was up in Scotland and busy with Whippersnapper.'
and then continues the story pretty much as above.
The Swarb book however,says that 'Swarb's residency in Aberdeenshire obviously severely restricted his activities...this was partly under doctor's orders....When Fairport .....decided to start recording again,Swarb already had other commitments and it was not practicable for Swarb to be included-the subject of some bitterness at the time.In 1983,Swarb had moved down to Preston Capes in Northamptonshire.....

[Mr Cat (Lewis)]

The official FC website has a potted history by DP, which includes a reference to Swarb's non involvement with Gladys' Leap..

http://www.fairportconvention.com/dave_pegg_history.php

[GubGub (Al)]

Have just read Swarb's corrections. Hmmm. Some good points, some trivial though the argument in the final paragraphs is well made.

However, I can't see what the author/editors would have stood to gain by deliberately misrepresenting some of this stuff. It seems to me therefore that somebody must have said these things at some point and it may therefore be a case of differing memories from different people. Perhaps the problem stems from just using a single source for the anecdotes.

The whiff of the book being some sort of power play by Peggy & Simon to profit the current band just feels unlikely to me but that is what Swarb implies. Whether or not there is any truth in that, it is hard to envisage a reconciliation any time soon and indeed there is a suggestion that relations within the band have always been much more fractious than we have previously been led to believe.

I still don't believe it is a willfully dishonest book or a cynically opportunist one. It is just not very well written and is both too subjective and too in awe of its subject.

[Mr Cat (Lewis)]

I see Nigel Scholfield is coming to Adderbury in November to talk about Fairport and folk..perhaps a good occasion to clear the air?

[Andy]

I'd suggest that the cock-up theory always wins over the conspiracy theory.

[MarkC]

I read the "corrections." For the record, Dylan went electric in 1965.  

Yes but didn't tour the UK with a band until '66.

You know that, and I know that; but that's not how it read. The issue is accuracy, right?

(In case no one figured it out, I am just trying to lighten the mood.)

[Simon Withers]

...an observation…in relation to the Fairport by Fairport book. It has been an interesting journey reading the comments before and after this book came out...there was perhaps a certain expectation (with some Fairport fans…I have to be careful as this is an assumption here) that the book would be a 'warts and all’ tome. I like others (assumption on my part once more) may have purchased the book to get something of a thorough and definitive account of the band from their beginnings, through to the present...a hansom coffee table book with a superabundance of previously unseen images contained within. A faithful document that bridges the gaps which the book 'meet on the Ledge’ by Patrick Humphries did not cover/pursue…(looking back it was quite a brief affair)…and the ‘Unscrapbooking’ …an A4 ring bound project that was sometimes difficult to penetrate because of photocopy technology.

I read the FbF book efficiently and I must say I enjoyed reading it…much of the material/stories had some familiarity (however these stories were layered with more detail than I was personally aware of)…(wishing to be credulous…I have only so much interest in squabbling amongst persons that I do not know personally…I was not really knowledgeable about the ‘Dirty Linen’ in the Fairport (airing) cupboard…the stuff I was aware of (anecdotal) I wanted to believe that those personal rifts had healed (evidence was that many former Fairport members could continue to be seen at Cropredy…or at the Royal Festival Hall (minus Swarb…a Joe Boyed issue?).

How these incredible musicians continued to perform together would be purely based upon my own want… for me the renewal of these artists performing together was always a joy…least not confrontation get in the way. If (I reasoned) undercurrents of conflict persisted, then hopefully a certain level professionalism and mutual respect (age can be a healer) would mean that for an almost indefinite period of time the members of Fairport could still continue to perform together on the same stage…but this is idealism on my part…Fairport history…the idea of family is all well and good…but this family is not related (what is bred in the bone) so perhaps the issuing of contracts and business agreements (for the former members of the Fairport family) could help preserved some integrity and the spirit of the idea of the Cropredy reunion (although the festival dropped the annual reunion approach years ago). Basically I hoped a way could always be found…and I (like others) could/would continue to see ex-Fairport members and the current membership preform together on the same stage.

After reading the book I was a little underwhelmed with it…although the latter part was interesting as my knowledge of the band within the past decade is limited. (I was personally flattered that my name was surprisingly included within the main body of the text…a brief quotation no less). As I read it I was not aware that there would be factual errors contained within (I do not know what I do not Know...see the Donald Rumsfeld philosophy) and I had no concept of just how estranged the story of Fairport could be...if it had indeed been revealed in this book.

It was clear (reading reviews of the book in this forum) that some (who had read the book) felt that it was a little soft...basically there was little dirt dished out…in all it’s gory detail… your knowledge as to what was out there is greater than mine...however in one way through the writing of this book (and all its failings) your wishes have now come true…is Pandora’s box been opened? For my part I have/have had very little knowledge of the bad blood that clearly exists within the Fairport (Family)…what is now clear is that the ‘warts and all ‘material is becoming public knowledge…good for the outside observer…for history? Having read Dave Swarbrick’s notes I empathise with his personal predicament (in relation to the book and his part in the Fairport saga…and I look forward to reading his personal account/book…I hope all past and present members of Fairport survive all this…and that the future writers of this history get it more right than wrong.

[Andy]

Curmudgeon alert - having a bad day today.

Pandora's box was kept firmly closed when FbF was produced. No warts were exposed. In fact several warts were hidden away - several really quite well known episodes were not dealt with at all, perhaps because of potential embarrassment for those concerned, perhaps because the book was never meant as anything other than a compilation of previously written pieces, produced to milk more profit from the fans.

One clue to the compilation aspect is the overlap that much of the book suffers from. Another was the sheer age of some of the interviews. Certain past band members are almost excluded from the book simply because they weren't interviewed by the author in, say, 1985.

The only way that such a superficial approach could be forgiven, in my opinion, would have been to actually make it a coffee table book and included many, many more photos. To see how this can be done properly, see The Rolling Stones At 50, a book I really like.

I sold my copy and I don't miss it at all.

[Jules Gray]

Curmudgeon alert - having a bad day today.

Weirdly, that was perhaps one of your all-time least curmudgeonly posts, Andy.  

Jules