Folk
Music Of The British Isles & Europe
England
The
Etchingham Steam Band -> Bob Fox
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FAIRPORT CONVENTION |
Compass 4332 |
XXXV |
● CD $16.98 |
The world's longest lived folk/rock
band is now in its 35th year and for their new album they
revisit some of the songs from the past. They are careful to
avoid the most obvious choices which have been recycled many
times and, instead, feature lesser know titles (mostly from
their later years) including Madeleine/ The Happy Man/ The
Crowd/ The Deserter/ I Wandered By A Brookside/ Everything But
The Skirl/ Now Be Thankful and others.
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FAIRPORT
CONVENTION | Free Reed FRQCD 35 |
Fairport Unconventional - Rare,
Live And Classic |
● CD $74.98 |
Four CD box set devoted to this
great folk rock band featuring 75 tracks - mostly currently
unavailable including rare live, radio and TV performances,
outtakes and demos (including their first from 1967). Each CD
has a different theme and set comes in a box with a 148 page
book, a definitive "family tree" and a Cropredy
souvenir booklet.
FAIRPORT CONVENTION: A Sailor's Life (Southampton, 1969)/ A
Shattering Live Experience (BBC Radio Session, 1969)/
Accountancy Shanty (Live in Hull, 1989)/ Adieu Adieu (TV
Performance, 1976)/ Angel Delight (Cropredy, 1997)/ Autopsy
(1968)/ Battle Of The Somme (Troubadour, 1970)/ Bonny Bunch Of
Roses (Live In Australia , 1977)/ Breakfast In Mayfair (Sandy
Denny/Simon Nicol Vcls, 1973)/ Come All Ye (Liege & Lief
Out-takes , 1969)/ Crazy Man Michael (Out-take, 1969)/ Dear
Landlord (1968 )/ Dirty Linen (Cropredy, 1988)/ Farewell
Farewell (Fairport Rehearsal Tape, 1969)/ Farewell To A Poor
Man's Son (BBC-TV Babbacombe Lee, 1973)/ Fiddlestix
(Australian Single, 1973)/ Flowers Of The Forest (London,
1977)/ Fotheringay (Symonds On Sunday, 1969)/ General Taylor
(Live In Chicago, 1972)/ Genesis Hall (Cropredy, 1993 )/ Get
Together (1967)/ Here's To Tom Paine (Weston-Super-Mare,
1997)/ Hexamshire Lass (Capital Radio, 1976 w Dan Ar Bras)/
Hiring Fair (Cropredy, 1989)/ I Don't Believe You ('Nine'
Out-take, 1973)/ If I Had A Ribbon Bow (Single, 1967)/ It's
Now Or Never (with Steve Tilston, 2000)/ Jewel In The Crown
(Apollo 1995)/ John Gaudie (Bottom Line, 4 Mar 1998)/
Journeyman's Grace (1970)/ Lay Down Your Weary Tune (1st Radio
Session,'67)/ Lord Marlborough (El Pea, 1971)/ Matty Groves
(Special compiled multi-version)/ Maverick Child (David Rea
/Tom Farnell Line-up, 1972)/ Meet On The Ledge (BBC, 1968)/
Meet On The Ledge ({overture} (Cropredy, 1990)/ Mr Lacey
(Dutch TV, 1969 )/ Naked Highwayman (Bottom Line, 1998)/
Nottamun Town (Alternative Version, 1968)/ Now Be Thankful
(BBC World Service, 1970)/ One Sure Thing ({excerpt} Sound
Techniques, 1967 - Fairport's First Demo Re/ Percy's Song
(1968)/ Polly On The Shore (Live, 1973)/ Poor Will & Jolly
Hangman (Moat On The Ledge, '82)/ Red And Gold (Cropredy
1996)/ Reno Nevada (French TV, 1968 )/ Reynard The Fox (TV
Performance, 1987)/ Rising For The Moon (BBC Session, 1974)/
Rosie (Melbourne Assembly Hall, 1996)/ Rubber Band (Simons
Records, 1980)/ Sad Song (The Manor Sessions, 1972)/ Si Tu
Dois Partir (Radio Recording, 1968)/ Sir B Mckenzie (1976)/
Sir Patrick Spens (1969)/ Slip Jigs And Reels (Oxford Apollo,
1995)/ Sloth (UBU, 1974)/ Staines Morris (Philadelphia Folk
Fest, 1970)/ Stranger To Himself (UBU, 1974)/ Summer Before
The War (BBC In Concert, 1990)/ Suzanne (1968)/ Tam Lin (Liege
& Lief Out-takes , 1969)/ The Crowd (Woodworm, 2002)/ The
Deserter (BBC, 1970)/ The Lady Is A Tramp (BBC Top Gear,
1968)/ The Wood And The Wire (Cropredy 1999)/ Time Is Near
(Roger Hill/tom Farnell Lineup, 1972)/ Time Will Show The
Wiser (1968)/ To Althea (Cropredy 1984)/ Walk Awhile (Bumpers,
1970)/ Wat Tyler (York, 1992)/ Who Knows Where The Time Goes
(BBC, 1968)/ Wings (Cropredy, 1997)
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|
FAIRPORT
CONVENTION | Island (UK) IMCD 289 |
House Full - Live At The L.A.
Troubadour |
● CD $10.98 |
10 tracks, highly recommended. Previously
available on Hannibal. A marvelously exciting live set
recorded live at the Troubadour in Los Angeles in 1970
featuring the great line up of Richard Thompson, Dave
Swarbrick, Simon Nicol, Dave Pegg & Dave Swarbrick. This
album is a considerably revised version of the album that
was originally issued as
Live At The Troubadour. This version features 3 additions -
the centuries old ballad Sir Patrick Spens, the
lovely Staines Morris and the beautiful march Battle
Of the Somme plus a different and better version of the
monumental Sloth . Held over from the previously
album are a couple of instrumental sets, Richard's chilling
and exciting version of Matty Groves and one of my
all time favorite songs Banks Of Sweet Primroses. The
tracks issued previously seemed to have been remixed to give
more presence to the vocals and to Richard's guitar. A
tremendously exciting album (FS)
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| FAIRPORT
CONVENTION | Island (UK) IMCD 290 |
Heyday |
● CD $10.98 |
20 tracks, 72 mins, highly recommended A
real treat for Fairport fans - this is a reissue of the
1987 album featuring live cut for various BBC radio
programs in 1968 and '69 plus eight bonus, previously
unreleased, tracks. These recordings cover the period from
just after the release of their debut album on Polydor in
early 1968 through the release of their seminal
"Liege And Lief" in late 1969 and the line up on
most of the tracks is Sandy Denny, Ian Matthews, Richard
Thompson, Simon Nicol, Ashley Hutchings & Martin
Lamble. The earlier sessions find them sounding rather
like a U.S. West Coast folk rock band performing songs
from Eric Anderson, Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, Leonard
Cohen, Richard Farina and others while the later sessions
find a greater emphasis on original songs by Sandy &
Richard as well as their groundbreaking electrification of
traditional songs. Although some of the earlier
performances are not exceptional the group sounds like
it's having a good time and it's always a pleasure to hear
Sandy's superb vocals and to hear Richard playing a
differnt style guitar to the one we're used to. Songs
include Close The Door Lightly When You Go/ Some Sweet
Day/ Suzanne/ I Still Miss Someone/ Gone, Gone, Gone/
Shattering Live Experience/ You Never Wanted Me
(Sandy's breathtaking performance of this Jackson C. Frank
song is alone worth the price of this album)/ Fotheringay/
Cajun Woman/ Reynardine and more. Includes brief
original LP notes from Joe Boyd and new and more elaborate
notes from Ashley Hutching. (FS)
FAIRPORT CONVENTION: Autopsy (bonus Track)/ Bird On A
Wire/ Cajun Woman (bonus Track)/ Close The Door Lightly
When You Go/ Fotheringay (bonus Track)/ Gone Gone Gone/ I
Don't Know Where I Stand/ I Still Miss Someone/ If It
Feels Good You Know It Can't Be Wrong/ Nottamun Town
(bonus Track)/ Percy's Song/ Reno Nevada/ Reynardine
(bonus Track)/ Shattering Live Experience/ Si Tu Dois
Partir (bonus Track)/ Some Sweet Day/ Suzanne/ Tam Lin
(bonus Track)/ Tried So Hard/ You Never Wanted Me (bonus
Track)
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|
FAIRPORT
CONVENTION | Island (UK) IMCD 291 |
Liege & Lief |
● CD $14.98 |
10 tracks, 53 mins, essential. The crown
jewel in Island's recent series of newly remastered
reissues of classic Fairport Convention albums. This
1970 album is probably Fairport's finest hour and a
pivotal album in the development of English folk-rock
and a big influence all over the world. This is the
greatest line up of the band with breath takingly
beautiful vocals by Sandy Denny with Richard Thompson/
guitar, Dave Swarbrick/ fiddle, Simon Nicol/ guitar,
Ashley Hutchings/ bass guitar and Dave Mattacks/ drums.
The songs are mostly traditional along with a few
written by band members in tradional vein. Fabulous
versions of Matty Groves and Tam Lin plus Come
All ye/ Farewell, Farwell/ Instrumental Medley/ Crazy
Man Michael, etc. This newly remastered version has
a cleaner and richer sound than previous issues and
includes two previously unissued tracks from the Liege
& Lief sessions - the epic traditional ballad Sir
Patrick Spens and an exquisite rendering of Richard
Farina's Quiet Joys Of Brotherhood (a different
take to the one previously issued). The set comes with a
16 page booklet with new notes by Ashley Hutchings and
producer Joe Boyd, the original vintage illustrations
from the LP set and some wonderful photos taken in 1969
at Farley Chamberlayne where the band rehearsed for this
album. (FS)
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| FAIRPORT CONVENTION |
Mooncrest CRESTBCD 042 |
The Cropredy Box |
● CD $23.98 |
Three CD set featuring highlights of the 1997 Fairport
Convention reunion festival which is held at Cropredy. This concert marked
the 30th anniversary of the band and over two nights traced the history of
the band featuring many of the musicians who played in the band over the
years. Richard Thompson, Simon Nicol and Dave Mattacks appear on more than
half the tracks and other musicians and vocalists include Ashley
Hutchings, Judy Dyble, Vikki Clayton, Dave Pegg, Dave Swarbrick, Bruce
Rowland, Jerry Donahue, Ric Sanders and many more. Songs includes Jack
O'Diamonds/ Mr Lacey/ Genesis Hall/ Come All Ye/ Matty Groves/ Walk
Awhile/ Poor Will & The Jolly hangman/ Rain/ Sloth/ John barleycorn/
Red And Gold/ JohnGaudie/ Meet On The Ledge and more.
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| FAIRPORT CONVENTION |
Raven 47 |
Fiddlestix - The Best Of Fairport, 1972-1984 |
● CD $18.98 |
19 tracks, 75 mins, highly recommended In spite of the title
the earliest cuts here are from 1970 - two tracks recorded live at the
Troubadour in Los Angeles (Sir Patrick Spens/Banks Of Sweet Primroses)
and previously issued in shorter versions on the "House Full"
album. There are several cuts from "Rosie" and "Nine"
(1973) with Trevor Lucas and Jerry Donahue in the band. Trevor was a
stunning singer and his version of Polly On The Shore is a real
spine chiller. From the same period are a couple of live cuts (Days Of
'49/ Possibly Parsons Green) previously only available on a limited
edition Australian cassette. There are three tracks by the group when
Sandy Denny rejoined them - her vocal on Rising For The Moon is
simply spellbinding. There are five cuts drawn from their "Bonny
Bunch Of Roses" and "Tippler's Tale" LPs from 1977 &
'78 - some of their less inspiring work. There are also more goodies - an
Australian only single, an unissued instrumental medley and tracks from a
solo Swarb album and a Simon/Swarb album. Great sound and 16 page booklet
is full of interesting details and neat photos. (FS)
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| FAIRPORT CONVENTION |
Varrick 029 |
Expletive Delighted |
● CD $14.98 |
This 1986 album is a delightful all instrumental set on
which the line up at the time (Dave Pegg, Dave Mattacks, Ric Sanders &
Simon Nicol) are joined by multi-instrumentalist Maartin Allcock who joins
in on guitars, bouzouki, bass, etc. The tunes are mostly originals by band
members, some of which are very traditional in flavor (The Rutland
Reel/ Sack the Juggler/ The Cat On The Mixer/ 3 Left Feet )
with the band playing in a manner as whimsical as the titles. It's
interesting to compare Ric Sanders' classically flavored fiddle playing with
former Fairporter Dave Swarbrick's more florid style. The group do a very
tasteful rendition of the traditional Sigh Beg Sigh Mor and a great
driving version of John Kirkpatrick's composition The Gas Almost Works
which is left off the track listing on the cover. The album ends up with a
tribute to English instrumental group The Shadows with versions of some of
their most popular tunes with guest guitarists Richard Thompson and Jerry
Donahue lending a hand. (FS)
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| CHRIS FOSTER |
Green Man 001 |
Traces |
● CD $17.98 |
12 tracks, 54 mins, recommended A pleasant surprise - the
first new album in more than 20 years by this performer who I thought had
completely vanished off the scene. Chris is an excellent and compelling
singer with a distinctive voice and is also a very fine guitarist whose
playing subtly enhances his vocals. There are ten traditional songs and
two from the acid pen of Leon Rosselson. Although most of the traditional
songs are fairly familiar Chris often finds unfamiliar versions and his
expressive performances breathes life into the most familiar of songs and
his interpretions of Rosselson's songs are striking. Includes The Bold
Princess Royal/ When A Man's In Love/ The Flower Of Serving Men/ The Coast
Of peru/ The Ranter/ Flying High, Flying Free, etc. (FS)
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| BOB FOX |
Woodworm 035 |
Dreams Never Leave You |
● CD $21.98 |
12 tracks, 54 mins, good Fox is a truly superb singer from
Tyneside who is perhaps best known for his collaborations with Stu
Luckley. He has appeared in various other collaborations over the years
but this is, I think, the first album under his own name exclusively.
That's the good news - the bad news is that the accompaniments by various
Fairport Conventioneers (Dave Pegg, Chris Leslie, Gerry Conway) and others
comes off as very heavy handed and really reduces the impact of the songs.
The songs are a mix of traditional and contemporary but often seem
inappropriate in these settings - the two Andy Stewart songs Rambling
Rover and Take Her In Your Arms are whimsical delights by Andy
but sound ponderous here. In the right setting Bob could make a killer
album but this isn't it. (FS)
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| BOB FOX & BENNY
GRAHAM |
Fellside FECD 111 |
How Are You Off For Coals? |
● CD $16.98 |
Songs of the mining communities of North East England
performed by singer/ guitarist Fox and singer/ melodeon player Graham with
The Celebrated Working Men Chorus on some cuts. Traditional songs plus
songs by Tommy Armstrong, Johnny Handle, Jock Purdon, etc.
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