Righty-ho, this time we get to the last 3 tracks on the CD.
Track 12 is “Matty Groves” (9.19). Quite simply, this is the best ever live recording of this song. Sandy Denny reverts to a classic “Liege & Lief” delivery of the vocals. There then follows a magnificent and varied romp of an instrumental finish, which only uses the somewhat repetetive riff from the 1969 studio version right at the end. This is a marvellous piece, and about a million times better than the “uneasy” one which appears on “Fairport Live Convention”.
Track 13 is “Sir B. MacKenzie” (6.01). [This is shortened title of a very long title (qv above) of a short and brisk instrumental which was on the B side of the 1970 single “Now Be Thankful” (qv above)]. Dave Swarbrick introduces this one, which again was clearly an encore, as “a collection of dance tunes (which it turns out to be). He takes the opportunity to explain the drumming problem, and to introduce Paul Warren.
Track 14 is “Who Knows Where The Time Goes” [sic; no “?”] (6.27). Again, this is the best ever live recording of the song, though it still sounds wrong with a violin. To his credit, Dave Swarbrick is at his subtle best in keeping the instrument very subdued here, which helps a lot. Sandy Denny tries to recreate the “Unhalfbricking” (qv above) vocal delivery, and makes a very reasonable stab at it. There is quite a nice instrumental middle 8, which also adds much to the excellence of the thing. This track makes a splendid cadence to this priceless CD.
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