Today we continue wirh Simon Nicol’s notes, and maybe even finish them. We left them where he had been saying this was going to be a Swarb solo thing.
“Fairly soon, the solo project was abandoned. Now we were talking Fairport Convention again. Or actually Fairport. (Yes this was the only album that dropped the Convention) [in God’s good providence! The noble name was spared the shame of this record.]. Some of these tracks survived and are in your hands right now. But the project was redirected back to London, to the wonderful underground 24hoursadayishowwedoitthere demo studio at Island, Chiswick. (Thanks for the late night beans on toast Suzanne!) This was where I got involved. Gulp. I was toying with the idea of being a recording engineer at the time, having been on the other side of the glass for years and getting above myself. I’d also been out doing gigs with me me mates Swarb and Peggy recently as an acoustic trio called, quite accurately, The Three Desperate Mortgages. Few who saw us need reminding, therapy maybe, but not reminding. My closeness to the chaps (which was never distant and hopefully never will be) led to a very happy period of my life. I could call some shots, I got a lot of experience, I got to record with some wonderful pals of Bruce’s: Benny and Graham just for a start, and I had my chance to say to Martin Carthy down the talkback – “No Martin; that’s not up to snuff, let’s try it once more” (!!!?!) Next thing you know – I was back in the band. If there’s a lesson here, well, you’ll have to search me…
PS. Listening to the record now: SOUNDS GOOD [well, that’s a matter of opinion, Simon.]
Simon Nicol, Oxfordshire 1999″
Next time, the music!
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