Meet on the Ledge

[mickf]

I've been a fan of Fairport since I first heard them on record in the early 70s, but I didn't actually get to see them live until my first Cropredy, which was 1984.  So can any of you knowledgeable types out there tell me when they began playing 'Ledge' as the encore and how it morphed into the anthem it has since become?  

(I recall a year or two back Simon telling the audience at one of the Wintour gigs (think it was Brum) that Richard Thompson had 'tossed off' the song very quickly - to ensuing sniggers, of course.)  

[Will S]

I first saw them live around the same time as you - well maybe a year or two later - by which time Meet... was well established as the closer.  It appears as the last song on Farewell, Farewell, so they were playing it back then at that point in the show.  But when they began playing it there, I don't know.  I suspect it wasn't untilaround then, and then it became established through closing the Cropredy reunion shows, but those who saw them back in the 'old days' might know more than me.  It certainly doesn't appear on either Live Convention or the Before The Moon live album when Sandy was back singing with them in 1974.

[Shankly (Peter)]

it must have been round about then that it became the final number - I've got a recording of a show in Cologne in 1984 when it was played in the middle of the set, but pretty much every one I have after that date, it's the closing song.

[davidmjs]

I'm pretty certain that the first time I saw them live ('81 or '82, at the Wimbledon Theatre) they played it as the last song and encored with Matty instead.  Jonah looked most confused by whatever was going on (maybe a setlist SNAFU or something?).

I've definitely seen them when it hasn't been played at all at least a couple of times (one year at Canterbury Marlowe - maybe '93ish - springs to mind), but there was definitely an air of 'what the hell happened there?' about its non-appearance.  I think they encored with WKWTTG instead on that occasion.  I think another time might have been Swansea in Jan 1997, if that was the year of Chris's first tour.

It doesn't feel quite right.  

[David (terrrrrrrr)]

Really taxing the memory banks here. Not sure if it's the answer you're looking for, but it's my best attempt. MOTL has been played live from almost the day it was written. Then, like now, it's just a great song, with a very sing-along-able chorus. Audience reaction will have been noted, and as it's popularity increses, it gets moved up the set list. Then with the longevity of Fairport, it just took on a whole new meaning.

Nice question btw...

[Jules Gray]

MOTL has been played live from almost the day it was written.

Not actually true, to the best of my knowledge.  Other than a single airing in '69, I don't think it was attempted live again until the late 70s.  The record was no sooner out than the crash happened.  By the next gigs the band were doing the L&L material.

Am I right about this, folks?

Jules

[David (terrrrrrrr)]

MOTL has been played live from almost the day it was written.

Not actually true, to the best of my knowledge.  Other than a single airing in '69, I don't think it was attempted live again until the late 70s.  The record was no sooner out than the crash happened.  By the next gigs the band were doing the L&L material.

Am I right about this, folks?

Jules

I bow to your greater knowledge. Age plays funny tricks...

[Jules Gray]

It may have been more than one outing in '69, but it was certainly retired for many many years.  It probably brought up too many raw memories of Martin Lamble, with whom the song was very much associated post crash.

Jules

[RobertD]

I seem to remember reading that it really didnt take on its "anthem" close the show status until sometime around '79, as already mentioned. Certainly on Farewell,Farewell it has that feeling about it. I did think Fairport put it aside essentially up to that point.

I do know that for many a show here in the U.S. they didnt always play it or Matty when I saw them in the 90's onwards, though this was sometimes a case of doing two sets a night and the band wishing for some semblance of variety I imagine.

[Barry]

I seem to recall from Patrick Humphries' book that it was played at Martin Lamble's funeral and then not until the "farewell" tour in 1979.

[Jules Gray]

I seem to recall from Patrick Humphries' book that it was played at Martin Lamble's funeral and then not until the "farewell" tour in 1979.

That sounds familar to me too, Barry.

Jules

[mickf]

It may have been more than one outing in '69, but it was certainly retired for many many years.  It probably brought up too many raw memories of Martin Lamble, with whom the song was very much associated post crash.

Jules

I thought it wasn't played for a while, but I wasn't sure, hence the question. The explanation above seems to make sense. But I'm learning all sorts on this thread, so thanks everyone.

[Col D]

I seem to recall from Patrick Humphries' book that it was played at Martin Lamble's funeral and then not until the "farewell" tour in 1979.

You're right there Barry, it didn't get reinstated until '79, normally as an encore. After the crash they effectively drew a line under their career up to that point, retired the whole of the current repertoire and started again from scratch with L&L. Unless you count Si Tu Dois Partir on Top of the Pops, which was three months after the crash, but as they were mining for a TV show I guess that doesn't count as a live performance anyway. It wasn't until Sandy rejoined that they did anything from the first three albums again, when WKWTTG and occasionally She Moved Through the Fair were brought into the live set.

[steve ropeyboat]

I heard them live a couple/three times in the late sixties and I don't recall them playing it.  As it was a favourite of mine, I'm sure it would have registered if they had.  As an aside, I played in a pub band in the Ilford area, called Ropey Boat, in the seventies and MOTL was one of our staples.  It always got a good reception.  I like to think it was because of our brilliance but I suspect it was because it was such a good song

[Andy]

Simon said a while back that the only ever-present song in the Fairport sets over the years is "Matty Groves".

[Barry]

Simon said a while back that the only ever-present song in the Fairport sets over the years is "Matty Groves".

And even that was dropped by the Rising For The Moon line-up in favour of Tam Lin.

[Andy]

Simon must have forgotten that!

[Bridgwit (Bridget)]

We saw FC a few years back in Aberdare (don't ask) and I'm sure they didn't end on MOTL but I can't remember what they sang instead   maybe WKWTTG ....

I like MOTL - a lot - but I find it a wee bit depressing so I tend to stay away from it

[davidmjs]

I like MOTL - a lot - but I find it a wee bit depressing so I tend to stay away from it

It's the most uplifting comforting song I know.  Which is probably why I always blub all the way through it..  

[David VB]

I saw them on the acoustic tour a couple of years ago when they finished with Best Wishes the Steve Ashley song. Seemed very wrong. It had been a very good evening but the absence of MOTL let me feeling quite flat.