Today, we continue with John Tobler’s 1991 notes in the CD insert, from where we left off last time.
“The new line-up cut the “Full House” album, released in mid-1970, which incuded a traditional dance tune which became a popular item at gigs, “Sir Patrick Spens”, and another song which would become an obligatory inclusion in live gigs for the duration, “Walk Awhile”, but inevitably the start of 1971 saw another personnel change, as Richard Thompson left. In much the same way as it had been impossible to replace Sandy Denny or Ian Matthews, there was no wayfor any new guitarist to fill Thompson’s shoes, so Simon Nicol became lead guitarist for most of 1971 – until Hutchings wooed him away to join The Albion Band, which Hutchings had formed after three albums with Steeleye Span. However, before Simon left Fairport, he played on two more of the group’s albums [the next few tens of words are verbatim, believe me], ” Angel Delight”, which included three tracks reprised on this “Farewell” album: “”Bonny Black Hare” and “The Journeyman’s Grace”, as well as the rather frivolous “Bridge Over The River Ash”, on which all four group members (Swarb, Peggy, Simon and DM) all played violins. Swarb, of course, was the only regular fiddle player, and the results remain of more humorous than musical value.
“Only months later, Fairport’s seventh album, “Babbacombe Lee”, a concept work about a murderer who had cheated the hangman three times when the trapdoor on which he was standing prior to swinging failed to open! Not the group’s finest commercial hour, it nevertheless included “John Lee”, which the group are playing on this tour.”
Well, you get the general meaning anyway…
As ever, much more detail of all this stuff can be found far above in this blog.
The next post will, I think, be a bit of a pivotal one.
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