Sandy Denny, Fairport Convention and other related folk-rock

[Gisbourne]

BTW does anybody know why Unhalfbricking was so named? I remember hearing an interview with Richard Thompson around release time when he said he would reveal all in 30 years. Heard nothing yet...

According to the notes in the little booklet that comes in the Remastered
version of the album (CD) it was (from memory here - this might not be
totally accurate) a bit of a favourite nonsense term that Sandy came up with
while they were playing some kind of word game together in their van. There
isn't any more detail than that though in the booklet.

I love Fairport Convention, but mainly the "classic period" stuff rather than
their latter days, and I like both their first album Jefferson-wannabe stuff and
their Liege & Lief folk stuff (the folk stuff much more though as it's much
more musical). I went to see a little set of short films at the
Barbican last weekend especially to see a 15 minute film of Sandy Denny
performing 3 songs solo. She wasn't at her best but I was still very glad to
have seen it. Such a beautiful voice.

 

[Roadkill]

I like that sort of thing, if you include Lindisfarne in there...

My ex-boyfriend used to run a fansite for them. I've got some photos of when he met the band when they played near here. Personally, i always thought they were dull as ditchwater - although their onetime lead singer, Alan Hull, did some good solo stuff. Statues and Liberties, which he died whilst recording in 1996, is well worth a listen.

Doggy, I'm surprised you can remember much of the Levellers, given the amount you'd drunk! They were superb, though, although the Oysterband were something else. Absolutely awesome live band. Great albums, too.

 

[editor]

My ex-boyfriend used to run a fansite for them. I've got some photos of when he met the band when they played near here.

Lindisfarne started life as a credible, politicised alt-folk type bunch, notching up an impressive track record of well reviewed albums and a reputation as a great live band.

And then they did Fog On The Tyne with Gazza!
One reputation soiled forever!


Alan Hull was a top songwriter and apparently a good sort too though...

 

[Roadkill]

I can well believe they were good to start off with. I should give those tapes my ex gave me of some of their earlier another stuff a listen...

Fog on the Tyne was unforgivable though!

 

[Idris2002]

Lindisfarne started life as a credible, politicised alt-folk type bunch, notching up an impressive track record of well reviewed albums and a reputation as a great live band.

And then they did Fog On The Tyne with Gazza!
One reputation soiled forever!


Alan Hull was a top songwriter and apparently a good sort too though...

Which Lindisfarne CD should I get then? I defer to your expert judgement in this matter.

And what was so bad about collaborating with Gazza? As novelty records go, Fog on the Tyne wasn't that bad - and why shouldn't they try and cash in on the Gascoigne phenomenon? Artistic credibility is a very fine thing, but it doesn't always pay that well, does it?

 

[editor]

Which Lindisfarne CD should I get then? I defer to your expert judgement in this matter.

The Fog On The Tyne album's pretty good, as is Nicely Out of Tune (both on the fabulous Charisma label).

The Gazza thing was unspeakably horrible.

 

[Wolfie]

the more I think about it Idris the more I reckon you should give Steeleye Span a listen if you haven't already - I'm not a fan of this kind of music really but I much prefer Maddy Prior's voice to Sandy Denny's


and if you're really interested in that whole era of folk rock stuff put your anorak on and check out the Pete Frame Fairport Convention Rock Family Tree - and there's a PDF of it downloadable here

 

[Idris2002]

Was listening to the Steeleyes in the past half hour actually! But you're right, they're very good as well.

Now, I'm going to get all nationalistic on you, and ask, does anyone remember Irish folk-rock heroes Horslips?

The second-worst boss I ever had was a big fan, used to play them in his car. Which is really the only time I've ever heard them, they've kind of been written out of history back home.

And my Da was in a pub in Castlebar once, and realised he was sitting next to Horslips, whom he described as an incredibly depressed looking bunch of sods.

Pity they're not still together, they could do a novelty record with Roy Keane. Or something.

 

[Derian]

Was listening to the Steeleyes in the past half hour actually! But you're right, they're very good as well.

Now, I'm going to get all nationalistic on you, and ask, does anyone remember Irish folk-rock heroes Horslips?

The second-worst boss I ever had was a big fan, used to play them in his car. Which is really the only time I've ever heard them, they've kind of been written out of history back home.

And my Da was in a pub in Castlebar once, and realised he was sitting next to Horslips, whom he described as an incredibly depressed looking bunch of sods.

Pity they're not still together, they could do a novelty record with Roy Keane. Or something.

I liked the Horslips. I have 'The Book of Invasions' here. Excellent album, imo.

 

[lintin]

I liked the Horslips. I have 'The Book of Invasions' here. Excellent album, imo.

Check out Sandy Denny's solo album 'Sandy' - wonderful.
Horslips guitarist Johnny Fean used to play pubs in North London in the 90's - and very good he was too.

 

[wayward bob]

well fresh from the robin of sherwood thread i could hardly deny i love me some folk. sandy denny was wonderful. "they said that it was snowing in astounded tones upon the news..." is the most haunting opening line i know. and her version of "whispering grass" is definitive in my book.

and i know the first steeleye span album by heart and have inflicted my terrible singing of it on my daughter all her life too. not quietly either

anyone who's into british folk should be watching folk britannia on bbc4, last one on friday night (17th). it's on uknova if you want to catch up. i only caught a few minutes of the middle one where everyone died in the late 70s but what i saw was riveting.

oh and where are nick drake and billy bragg in this thread?

oh AND who said

I am a 'tunes' person which is another reason why folk does not appeal as it can be very lyrics based.

are you tripping?

 

[blossie33]

No, never touch the stuff

 

[Idris2002]

Billy Bragg has at least engaged with the tradition, and maybe even made a contribution to it (look at Eliza Carthy's take on 'King James Version', for example).

But I couldn't really consider Nick Drake folk, really. . . he was always in the 'sensitive singer-songwriter' file. And while there's some of his stuff I like, I think he was the blueprint for the licensed whinging of people like Jeff Buckley.

 

[Jim]

Billy Bragg has at least engaged with the tradition, and maybe even made a contribution to it (look at Eliza Carthy's take on 'King James Version', for example).

Billy Bragg has covered some top folk songs from the revolutionary and of the spectrum. The most famous probably being the world turned upside down by Leon Rosselson. If you want subversive lyrics you can't get much better than Leon. Also Robb Johnson (on tonight I think). Both of whose songs are expertly sung by Roy Bailey-- Billy Bragg played a gig with Roy at the Albert Hall to celebrate Roy's 40 years of folk singing. Also in that gig were Tom Robinson, Robb Johnson, Martin Carthy and Tony Benn. The MC was Chris Smith. A truly unusual and amazing event.

So yes, I think Billy Bragg is rightly associated with the folk scene, albeit the political wing

 

[danny la rouge]

Sandy Denny. Next April will be the 30th anniversary of her death. It's unbelievable, really. She still sounds fresh, and bloody wonderful. A great voice, maybe the best English folk voice on record.

One of my favourite tracks is the demo of I'm A Dreamer. It's Sandy at the piano running through a demo version of one of her own compositions for Rendezvous (not her best album: her career was losing direction, her manager husband probably behind some inappropriate song choices with an eye on commerciality, as her alcohol abuse worsened), and though hesitant, it brings out the beauty of both the song and her voice. Amazing.

 

[Meltingpot]

I like her singing "Who Knows Where The Time Goes".

 

[danny la rouge]

Who knows, indeed.

 

[Divisive Cotton]

 

[danny la rouge]

I'm listening to that now, as it happens, DC.

 

[longdog]

Would it be sacrilege to say her voice gets on my tits? It's all too 'la la la' for my liking.

 

[danny la rouge]

You're entitled to your opinion. It's just that you're clearly wrong.

 

[Firky]

You'd probably like Rachel Unthank then, dad.

Late November is probably my favourite

 

[danny la rouge]

Yes, she's quite good, son. Saw her in the Arches in Glasgow earlier this year.

 

[Firky]

They get some good stuff there, I sometimes take a look at it because Glasgow is only about an hour and a half away in the car.

 

[Firky]

106 miles just checked

 

[danny la rouge]

Well, next time you go, you should visit your old Dad. You know your Mum would like that.

 

[Firky]

I might be up there at New Year, depends what "the lads" are doing! We used to go to Edinburgh but I don't think one of them is that keen anymore since he got his head kicked in... anyway am derailing your thread, give my love to mum.

 

[danny la rouge]

106 miles just checked

You'd need to average a little over 70 mph to do that in an hour and a half.

 

[Firky]

Up the A1 and over onto the M8, done it more times than I care to remember.

 

[editor]

I'm really enjoying the 'Like An Old Fashioned Waltz' 2012 reissue which has some lovely alternative taks and BBC sessions (it's on Spotify).
'No End' (piano version) is lovely. Never really appreciated how moving the lyrics are.