Choose The Set for 2017

[Henry Tompkins (Pete)]

I've got it!  
I'd put a smug emoticon but I've turned mine off - just for the hell of it.
I may turn them back on again later!

[Andy]

This is visible on my PC using any browser that I have, so I'm mystified as to why others don't.

This is what I see at the bottom of a page. The pink-circled "reply" is the full version with pictures etc and the blue-circled version is the "quick reply". You'll have to ask Colin why you don't see it.

[Photo over 400 days old. Removed by Admin.]

[YaBB Master (Colin)]

This is visible on my PC using any browser that I have, so I'm mystified as to why others don't.

It's selected in     Profile -> Look & Layout Preferences  (Near the bottom.)

[Will S]

Thanks Colin.  I have it now!

[GubGub (Al)]

The trouble is,and it has become more and more apparent, in the last few years that the Cropredy set is just the wintour set adjusted for whatever musician is at hand to spice up the Cropredy set, hence Tom Robinson and that Kershaw chap, they seem so fond of, polluting what was once the highlight of  a fairport fans year not to mention French rock operas, so awful that even the heavens complained bitterly.

But they do make an exception in the big 5 & 0 anniversary years. The 2012 set was sublime. It must be getting difficult with a diminishing pool of alumni willing/able to participate. Revisiting the past with the help of the likes of Larkin Poe during that set worked far better than it might have looked on paper and is probably the way forward with the right choice of supporting musicians.

[GubGub (Al)]

The Frog Up the Pump

It is a brave man indeed who nominates a track from Gottle O Geer! (though I am sort of with you on this one)  

[jimc]

Tricky. To me it depends a lot who's playing, but

Ballad of Easy Rider
Close to the Wind
Crazy Man Michael
Eastern Rain
Farewell Farewell
I'll Keep it with Mine
One More Chance
Percy's Song
Polly on the Shore
Reynardine
Si Bheag Si Mhor
Sloth
Tale in Hard Time
Tears
The Deserter (LL)
The Plainsman
Tune set with Foxhunter's Jig in
Wizard of the Worldly Game
Wounded Whale
Anything they can persuade Julianne Regan to sing.

[hendo (Dave)]

Tricky. To me it depends a lot who's playing, but

Ballad of Easy Rider
Close to the Wind
Crazy Man Michael
Eastern Rain
Farewell Farewell
I'll Keep it with Mine
One More Chance
Percy's Song
Polly on the Shore
Reynardine
Si Bheag Si Mhor
Sloth
Tale in Hard Time
Tears
The Deserter (LL)
The Plainsman
Tune set with Foxhunter's Jig in
Wizard of the Worldly Game
Wounded Whale
Anything they can persuade Julianne Regan to sing.

If they're doing Tears does that mean Ken Dodd will be there?
Sorry Jim couldn't resist.
Interesting list though . Made me rethink.
The variety of people's choice does show how hard it would be to get a concensus.

[Polly Oxford (Andie)]

So far i've thought  'oh yes, i agree with that' to virtually every list ( except the ones that include Sloth   )
Must have a serious muse on this.....
 - But for a cover can i have reprise of the RT  Grapevine, pretty please?

[Ronald]

The Frog Up the Pump

It is a brave man indeed who nominates a track from Gottle O Geer! (though I am sort of with you on this one)  

I know not many people like it, but I think the album is not too bad and The frog up the pump is a rather good instrumental.

[Shane (Skirky)]

My Love is in America
I’m Already There
Hanging Song
Cell Song
Chelsea Morning
Million Dollar Bash
Sloth
Journeyman’s Grace
Sickness and Diseases
Woman or a Man
Hiring Fair
Claudy Banks
Slip Jigs and Reels
John Gaudie
Canny Capers
Walk Awhile
John Condon
The Lark in the Morning
Learning The Game
Bird from the Mountain

I let them off Tokyo and A Cup of Tea... on compassionate grounds.

[Chris Dennis]

They want us to include "infrequently, if ever, played tracks" but these are hardly likely to feature in the overall top 20 based on 1 point per song.

It would be good to split it into eras as mentioned by other posts as if they had only just done Matty Groves, for example, on the latest album then it wouldn't make the top 20 purely on the number of times it had been played over the years.  Conversely if John Condon had been on one of the early albums I'm sure it would be up there with the best of them now.

I fear the set will be heavily weighted to oldies and very few from the excellent studio albums released by the current and longest serving line-up.

[davidmjs]

I fear the set will be heavily weighted to oldies and very few from the excellent studio albums released by the current and longest serving line-up.

We exist in very different worlds.  

I suppose I do have some sympathy with the band trying to find a solution that pleases all parties (and probably ends up pleasing none).

[Field 7 is Heaven (Trev)]

There are some things you don't mess with.

Christmas needs to stay on December 25th. The Cup final needs to be in May and Fairports need to end every live performance with Matty groves followed by Meet on the Ledge.

[YaBB Master (Colin)]

I fear the set will be heavily weighted to oldies and very few from the excellent studio albums released by the current and longest serving line-up.

From experience even trying to split it into eras won't placate the 'Heyday' brigade.
They will become enraged that the fifth best song on L&L has to be dropped, to make room for anything recorded after 1975.

   

[hendo (Dave)]

They want us to include "infrequently, if ever, played tracks" but these are hardly likely to feature in the overall top 20 based on 1 point per song.

Chris, I suspect that with all bands, 'infrequently , or rarely played tracks ' are that for a reason, i.e people don't like them much.
There is always the argument,do bands play their hits or new or unknown stuff?
At Cropredy, people seem to want bands to do their well known material.
I enjoyed watching Robert Plant and Priory  of Brion at Cropredy,doing rarer, unknown R and B,songs from the 60's. It did not go down well with the majority of the audience.
Sadly, sometimes, you have to give an audience what they want.
A thought. Recent Ian Anderson gigs have seen him doing new stuff in the first half and classic stuff, often audience requested ,in the second. Could Fairports adopt this model in concert?

[hendo (Dave)]

I fear the set will be heavily weighted to oldies and very few from the excellent studio albums released by the current and longest serving line-up.

From experience even trying to split it into eras won't placate the 'Heyday' brigade.
They will become enraged that the fifth best song on L&L has to be dropped, to make room for anything recorded after 1975.

  

Possibly cos the fifth best song on L and L is better than anything recorded after 1975?
Big Kiss Colin
Hopefully I am not a Heydayer. Bring Tam Lin and Wounded Whale back in to the set with a screaming lead guitar.
As I have said before.... Fairports have been several different bands, you need representation from all of them.
The question of course is, can the present line up play some of the material? Maart's, RT's and Donahues absence makes some material unlikely.

[Chris]

It's a serious anniversary. Those tracks Chris mentions generally get played most/every year (choices from, of course)

Just for *one* year, listen to tracks from their history you rarely hear - what's so wrong with that?

[hendo (Dave)]

It's a serious anniversary. Those tracks Chris mentions generally get played most/every year (choices from, of course)

Just for *one* year, listen to tracks from their history you rarely hear - what's so wrong with that?

I have no problems with that at all Colin. It would appeal to me.
The questions are,
Could the present band recreate some of them?and
Would the majority of a Fairport concert audience want to hear rarer tracks?

[Chris]

I don't think it would affect ticket sales, but agree that pax need to be informed on purchase - which can easily be done in the venue diary blurb & in FC newsletters

Conversely, of course, it might bring back to the audience long-lost fans of the old tracks :-)