Here Live Tonight

[GubGub (Al)]

I discovered the existence of this Australian cassette only release while reading Fairport By Fairport. I am amazed that nobody has ever tried to licence it for a CD issue and I wish they would. I was completely unaware of it but would love to hear it, especially for the Maart era performance of Sloth, of which no other recording has appeared.

The archive Fairport releases seem to have dried up of late. Surely this should be a contender?

[RobertD]

Thats interesting, and it certainly could be no worse than the repackaged, or recorded audio off of DVD's with unfortunate titles along the lines of From Woodworm To Cropredy Where The Times Goes To Portmeirion, Matty Groves To Meet On The Ledge Polly On The Shore, Rosie.  

[Graham B]

It would be great if a live Maart era CD were released in the Archives series and it sounds like "Here Live Tonight" could be interesting.

I would paticularly like to hear a live version of "Wounded Whale" with Maart's big guitar solo at the end.

As for a live version of "Sloth" from the Maart era there is a really good official live recording of this out there on "The quite Joys of Brotherhood" two CD plus DVD set.

This was version was recorded at Cropredy in 1986. The tracks on the two CD's in this set are taken from "The Other Boot" and "Third Leg" recorded at Cropredy in 1986 and 1987. The DVD is an interview with Simon and Peggy.

The exact same 2 CD's (but not the DVD this time) were re-released again in 2011 - this time entitled "More Things We Did On Our Holidays" and it looks like it is still available.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=More+Things+We+did+on+our+holidays

It's a nice clear recording and a fantastic performance.

Cracking stuff!

[Graham B]

Another Maart era gem is the DVD "Live Legends" recorded in 1990.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fairport-Convention-Live-Legends-DVD/dp/B00019RAFI/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1358941641&sr=1-1

This is a great performance with excellent sound quality - it's a shame we don't get the full Metal Matty intro to "Matty Groves" but other than this all the misic is exactly the same as on the CD "Cropredy to Portmeirion". It just in far better quality sound on the DVD. The sound on "Cropredy to Portmeirion" is dire by comparison.

An archive series CD from the better quality recording of this concert with the full Metal Matty intro would also be nice.

[GubGub (Al)]

As for a live version of "Sloth" from the Maart era there is a really good official live recording of this out there on "The quite Joys of Brotherhood" two CD plus DVD set.

This was version was recorded at Cropredy in 1986. The tracks on the two CD's in this set are taken from "The Other Boot" and "Third Leg" recorded at Cropredy in 1986 and 1987.

That's true and I have The Other Boot/Third Leg CDs but Richard Thompson guested at that festival so I presume (though I wasn't there) that he plays on that track. I would like to hear it by just the core band of the time which Live Here Tonight includes.

And actually I would like to hear the current line up tackle it with a more acoustic approach. I think it would be interesting. There is a Swarb/Simon duet version that proves it can be done and would act as a good template to build on.

[davidmjs]

And actually I would like to hear the current line up tackle it with a more acoustic approach. I think it would be interesting. There is a Swarb/Simon duet version that proves it can be done and would act as a good template to build on.

This one also helps the argument http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5PeOHJt7-c

[Graham B]

In the booklet accompanying "The Quiet Joys" set the notes written by Ian Burgess says that Sloth "featured the massed ranks of the band with both Richard and Jerry taking on solos, Maartin Allcock, Ric Sanders and Dave Pegg doing likewise".

If this was indeed the line up I really wish I'd have been there to see it.

The 2012 version was pretty good too with Richard and Jerry there again.

[folkfreak (Alexander)]

I prefer the sound of 4play to the one on Here live tonight/More live tonight.
They sound like they are made of very uneven monitor mixes. Musically they are great of course.

Alex

[Staffan]

I can only support what has been said about a good live recording from the group during this era. Michael Hunter of Fiddlestix is maybe the person to make a proper release of it, transferring it from cassette to CD? I am not sure whether he is involved with Aussie Friends of Fairport, but at least he's close to the source....
Having vivid memories of two Gothenburgh gigs by this line-up 1986 and 1987, I share the view that a live recording from early in this line-up's career, would be exciting to the fans.
And I can tell you - although very into RT:s guitar playing in Fairport - Maart did some stunning electric guitar work in e.g. "Sloth"!
By the way, the tracklisting of the 1986 Gbg gig also included Wat Tyler, Instrumental medley '85, Portmeirion, John Barleycorn and Jack Frost, so there might be some additional tracks around to add to the cassette numbers ( they only add up to about an hour's playing time)....

[fstix (Michael)]

 Michael Hunter of Fiddlestix is maybe the person to make a proper release of it, transferring it from cassette to CD? I am not sure whether he is involved with Aussie Friends of Fairport, but at least he's close to the source....

As close to it as can be, as I did start the Aust FoF back in 1985     (despite what a couple of sources have said at times).  The cassettes were compiled by John Penhallow however.  I'd be surprised if there was ever an official release, though mind you the Trevor Lucas Attic Tracks set, and various of the Sandy ones have come out in legit form more recently.

I do have copies of Here/More Live Tonight here that I haven't played for a while, and I seem to recall had playing issues last time I tried.  But maybe I should digitise them while I still can...

[quodlibet (Ian)]

   But maybe I should digitise them while I still can...

Good idea! Good material in need of wider circulation.  

[Staffan]

   But maybe I should digitise them while I still can...

Good idea! Good material in need of wider circulation.  

I wholeheartedly support a release and will gladly preorder a copy!

[fstix (Michael)]

Um, well OK.  I've transferred the cassette to digital.

The story is that there were 2 cassettes available - Here Live Tonight and More Live Tonight.  The second one had some more from the concert that didn't fit on the first C60, along with some extras (CD bonus tracks - CDs were new then and not everyone had a player, I think that was the reasoning for that).  I was provided with a C90 of the whole gig, with all the tracks together in order and that's what I've digitised.  Actual running time 94 mins.

If there was any issue, it could be with the mix in various places (straight from the desk) and a very loud, sort of compressed sound often throughout, often accompanied with stereo effects from speaker to speaker.  It's listenable and can be tempered to a degree, as I've done with one track which I may share in a while.    Also things like Peggy's bass disappearing at the start of Instrumental Medley 85, then reappearing with a loud bang near the end!

But as to a legit release, that'd be up to the band and a willing record company which is kind of out of my hands - but if any such person is taking note here.........

[fstix (Michael)]

OK, here's one example from Here Live Tonight.  "The Guinea Pig In The Microwave" may not be a familiar title but I'm sure the tunes will be better known.   This is with the sound worked on a little bit, to sound less compressed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZewEc8fmDI8

[Graham B]

Thanks Michael. Nice one.

It takes me back to when I first saw Fairport on the Red & Gold tour.

[fstix (Michael)]

And here's Jams O'Donnells Jigs, replete with stereo effects in the extended outro: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i58sSRFHRYo

[Staffan]

Just like I remembered it!

Thanks Michael!