Maartin Allcock

[NigelT]

I thought the reception for Maartin on Saturday night was lovely, and he was clearly moved. It is so sad to hear the news about his health.  Forgive me Fairporters, but I wasn't really aware of his input into the band until fairly recently, and this was the first time I've heard him play, other than last year at the 50th shindig. The version of Matty Groves was stupendous - can anyone point me at a recorded live version which is like Saturdays? Also any other recommendations for further listening would be most welcome. Ta  

[David W]

I thought the reception for Maartin on Saturday night was lovely, and he was clearly moved. It is so sad to hear the news about his health.  Forgive me Fairporters, but I wasn't really aware of his input into the band until fairly recently, and this was the first time I've heard him play, other than last year at the 50th shindig. The version of Matty Groves was stupendous - can anyone point me at a recorded live version which is like Saturdays? Also any other recommendations for further listening would be most welcome. Ta  

The 25th Anniversary double cd is probably the best for Maart era brilliance:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/25th-Anniversary-Concert-Fairport-Convention/dp/B000NJVWQO

DW

[DarrenWilliams]

This is a live recording of a New York Bottom Line concert from (I'm guessing) 1993ish. Ends with a storming version of Metal Matty. Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/wGGr4_elQ28

[spooley (Simon)]

The version of Matty Groves was stupendous - can anyone point me at a recorded live version which is like Saturdays?

You can hear the actual performance on Radio Oxford's Cropredy programme on the BBC Iplayer:
  https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06g5bnd
The "Metal Matty" intro starts at 5:37:27

[GubGub (Al)]

The version of Matty Groves was stupendous - can anyone point me at a recorded live version which is like Saturdays?

You can hear the actual performance on Radio Oxford's Cropredy programme on the BBC Iplayer:
  https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06g5bnd
The "Metal Matty" intro starts at 5:37:27

Alternatively, the full Metal Matty is available on the CD of the 1992 Cropredy Festival and also I think on the live album From Cropredy To Portmeiron but you might want to double check the latter.

[DarrenWilliams]

Was the Cropredy 1992 'Metal' Matty the first time they played that arrangement? I don't recall them playing that version on the 92 Winter tour.

[GubGub (Al)]

Was the Cropredy 1992 'Metal' Matty the first time they played that arrangement? I don't recall them playing that version on the 92 Winter tour.

You may be right, though I think it did get played on tour, whether before or after I can't recall.

[DarrenWilliams]

Another good Maart-era song is The Wounded Whale from Five Seasons. There is a version on youtube where Maart himself comments on it and talks about playing the solo on a guitar that once belonged to Jerry Donahue. He says its one of his favourite solos of his career.

[StephenGiles]

Without access to my cassettes at home, I think they played Metal Matty on a BBC Nightride session in 1989, but if anyone knows the whereabouts of (reel master) Dave Gaule, he would surely know. Lost touch with that great chap some years ago!

[Chris]

I was hoping for the Wounded Whale on Saturday.....

And the suggestion was to put out Maart's last performances (at Cropredy, but likely last live as he says), not to find a several years old performance!

[GubGub (Al)]

I was hoping for the Wounded Whale on Saturday.....

And the suggestion was to put out Maart's last performances (at Cropredy, but likely last live as he says), not to find a several years old performance!

Was it?

can anyone point me at a recorded live version which is like Saturdays? Also any other recommendations for further listening would be most welcome. Ta  

[NigelT]

Excellent - thanks everyone!

As hinted in my original post, I lost touch with Fairport over the years, but I am on a voyage of discovery now. I love finding some 'new old', and this started at last year's Cropredy, when the wallet took a battering...oh dear, here we go again..!!

[Jim]

Saturday nights performances are out there on the interweb, the radio broadcast and recorded on the field

[Jamie73]

Without access to my cassettes at home, I think they played Metal Matty on a BBC Nightride session in 1989, but if anyone knows the whereabouts of (reel master) Dave Gaule, he would surely know. Lost touch with that great chap some years ago!

Yes, they did play Metal Matty in 1989 on the radio - it was a late night session I remember that! I remember vividly that the show ended with (Richard Skinner?) closing the show with Iain Matthews' If You Saw Thro' My Eyes which I'd never heard before.

[John From Austin]

Was the Cropredy 1992 'Metal' Matty the first time they played that arrangement? I don't recall them playing that version on the 92 Winter tour.

The laser disc (remember those?) of Cropredy 1987 (packaged, re-packaged and re-re-packaged many times since) has a very fine Metal Matty.

[YaBB Master (Colin)]

Well here is a lesson to us all.

Last night Maart posted in this topic, objection to something that had been said. I messaged him asking what he would like done. Keep everything, or just delete all references. He came back to me this morning with a personal message and the issue has been edited out.

Marrt's message finished:

As for me, the matter is over, the man is forgiven, and let's all move on. Life really is too short...

Everybody remember that.

[StephenB]

Ok - moving on, with peace and love and a group hug. Bad timing meant that the only section of the concert I missed was the whole section featuring Maart, up to the the second verse of Matty. So, I'm asking (and yes I have looked), does anyone know of an online video of this section? (and if so could they link to it please).

[Andy]

I'm assured that the official videos of Crops 2018 will turn up on YouTube shortly. Meanwhile the audio can be heard and downloaded from BBC Radio Oxford.

[StephenB]

Thanks Andy

[Pugwash]

Comme le Solei from Maart’s Chilli Morning is my ringtone.

Odd effect playing the album especially as it’s the first track. I knew it was the album, still didn’t stop all my senses telling me I had a call!

Brill album btw.