Fairport:The Island Years Mega Box.

[bassline (Mike)]

Calm down - it's not happening - yet!

As they've done Sandy Denny and John Martyn sets,there's a chance they might.

Do you think they will?
What extras do you want/think will be in it?
Would you buy it?

[Jules Gray]

Oh bloody hell.  Now you've said it, it's going to happen, isn't it?  More records to buy all over again.

If they put the 1970 Gold Star studio sessions in it, then I won't be able to help myself.  

Jules

[davidmjs]

Ha ha ha ha ha...can you imagine them agreeing on who to write the sleeve notes?  

[GubGub (Al)]

That's a really strange co-incidence. I was tracking down my Dylan CD cases today ahead of the new Complete Albums box set appearing next month so that I can donate them to a charity shop. They were sharing a storage box with my Fairport CD cases. The storage box is now half empty and I thought to myself that it would be really useful if someone would put out an equivalent box set for Fairport and save me some space!

So I guess the answer is, yes I would but I don't think it will happen. Universal see Sandy as the saleable commodity, not the band and they have flogged that particular horse nearly to death.

[GubGub (Al)]

Sorry to double post but it has just occurred to me that as Universal now also own the rights to both the Polydor and Vertigo back catalogues, the box could cover the entire period from 1967 - 1979.

[Jim]

I want to say dont give the bastards the chance to fleece the fans again, but i fear it will only spur the grasping gits on.
 I wonder how the John Martyn box is selling? They are still pushing it like a clapped out lada on fb

[davidmjs]

Sorry to double post but it has just occurred to me that as Universal now also own the rights to both the Polydor and Vertigo back catalogues, the box could cover the entire period from 1967 - 1979.

When I was talking to a friend about my purchasing the new Bob megabox I mentioned my desire for a 67-79 Fairport completo one.  I'd love it of course, but it won't happen.

[DaviD J (was geriatrix)]

I've still got the FC 25th Anniversary Island Box Set. And what a sad effort that was. 4 perfectly normal Island CDs in a box! Catalogue number FCBX1. Even that was a bit lame. And I've just got it down from its home on the top shelf and I can't even open it:it seems to have locked itself solid. I remember that the adverts at the time promised some sort of leaflet history with it, and Island couldn't even get that together, so they went out leafletless.

[Jules Gray]

When I was talking to a friend about my purchasing the new Bob megabox I mentioned my desire for a 67-79 Fairport completo one.  I'd love it of course, but it won't happen.

But you have all of those albums, David!

Jules

[Jules Gray]

I've still got the FC 25th Anniversary Island Box Set. And what a sad effort that was. 4 perfectly normal Island CDs in a box! Catalogue number FCBX1. Even that was a bit lame. And I've just got it down from its home on the top shelf and I can't even open it:it seems to have locked itself solid. I remember that the adverts at the time promised some sort of leaflet history with it, and Island couldn't even get that together, so they went out leafletless.

And isn't that the same box where all the CDs got disc rot?

Jules

[DaviD J (was geriatrix)]

Probably. But as I might need a chisel to open the cardboard box, they'll probably be well mullered, rot or no rot!

[davidmjs]

When I was talking to a friend about my purchasing the new Bob megabox I mentioned my desire for a 67-79 Fairport completo one.  I'd love it of course, but it won't happen.

But you have all of those albums, David!

Jules

A good point, well made (actually, I have all the music, of course, but some of it electronically)...still one can never have too many copies of Gottle...

[GubGub (Al)]

I've still got the FC 25th Anniversary Island Box Set. And what a sad effort that was. 4 perfectly normal Island CDs in a box! Catalogue number FCBX1. Even that was a bit lame. And I've just got it down from its home on the top shelf and I can't even open it:it seems to have locked itself solid. I remember that the adverts at the time promised some sort of leaflet history with it, and Island couldn't even get that together, so they went out leafletless.

And isn't that the same box where all the CDs got disc rot?

Jules

Yup. It was the only way to get hold of those albums at the time. They were only released independently subsequently. I have subsequently replaced three of the four with later reissues.

[RobertD]

I picked that 4cd set at the time and was mightily pleased, but less so now because they definitely have bronzing as Al discussed/informed me awhile ago :-( All are in line to be replaced soon in my case

[Gouty (Gary)]

The thing is - and I know we're only talking about a hypothetical box set of previously released Island albums with possible 'extras' - but (and particularly in the case of the Sandy and JM sets where 'new' stuff just keeps on cropping up) what is definitive? Fairport's an ongoing concern, after all, and, in the long run, won't 1979/the end of their Island tenure (or whenever...) be regarded as just another date in their chequered history..?

And which 'extras' do we really need? Surely the bottom of the barrel's already been scraped. I have a b*****g     of the first Fairport gig I ever attended and it means a lot to me but I'm sure it wouldn't be of much interest to anyone else, yet lo-fi recordings form an important part of expensive box sets...

I'd love the John Martyn box but I could buy a new stair carpet for that price!

[bassline (Mike)]

There's the Gold Star sessions,as Jules mentioned,and the Manor Sessions,that we know about that would be better than lo-fi,but why the record companies can't release them as they are,or in a stand alone rarities only box is beyond me....apart from the obvious expoit the fans who already have everything reason.
I believe every previously unreleased track from Sandy's Who Knows...box is now available elsewhere,even if you don't include the mega box,it's ridiculous.
The sooner record companies die the better.
 

[Jules Gray]

The thing is - and I know we're only talking about a hypothetical box set of previously released Island albums with possible 'extras' - but (and particularly in the case of the Sandy and JM sets where 'new' stuff just keeps on cropping up) what is definitive? Fairport's an ongoing concern, after all, and, in the long run, won't 1979/the end of their Island tenure (or whenever...) be regarded as just another date in their chequered history..?

Not really.  The Island Years are still seen as the band's essential core discography, I think.

And which 'extras' do we really need? Surely the bottom of the barrel's already been scraped.

The 1970 Gold Star Sessions!  So, that's a 'no' from me.

Jules

[Alan2]

I've still got the FC 25th Anniversary Island Box Set. And what a sad effort that was. 4 perfectly normal Island CDs in a box! Catalogue number FCBX1. Even that was a bit lame. And I've just got it down from its home on the top shelf and I can't even open it:it seems to have locked itself solid. I remember that the adverts at the time promised some sort of leaflet history with it, and Island couldn't even get that together, so they went out leafletless.

And isn't that the same box where all the CDs got disc rot?

Jules

I have that box and am happy to say all 4 of the discs are okay.

[Jim]

Last time i looked al the discs were ok, but they have all been superceded by newer remasters and i play most of my stuff in mp3 nowadays so when the cd gets put away it rarely comes out again

[Gouty (Gary)]

And which 'extras' do we really need? Surely the bottom of the barrel's already been scraped.

The 1970 Gold Star Sessions!  So, that's a 'no' from me.

Jules

Ashamed to say I'd never heard of these sessions until now   (Surrenders Fairport badge; folk-rock licence revoked...)