Tag Archives: Simon Nicol

Fairport Convention: Myths And Heroes

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In January 2015, “Marty Grooves Records” label released “Myths and Heroes”, the 27th Fairport Convention album. It was recorded at “Woodworm Studios” on Oxfordshire, UK, and was produced by John Gale, Simon Nicol, Chris Leslie, Ric Sanders, Dave Pegg and Gerry Conway.

Personnel:

  • Simon Nicol – vocals, acoustic and electric guitar
  • Chris Leslie – vocals, mandolin, bouzouki, violin, banjo, celtic harp, tenor guitar, chromatic harmonica, whistle
  • Ric Sanders – violin, keyboards, ukulele, bass ukulele
  • Dave Pegg – vocals, bass guitar, bass ukulele, double bass, bouzouki, mandolin, tenor banjo
  • Gerry Conway – drums, percussion
  • Matt Pegg – bass guitar
  • Jake Thornton – alto saxophone
  • Benjamin Hill – alto saxophone
  • Emma Jones – tenor saxophone 
  • Rob Spalton – trumpet
  • Joe Broughton – violin
  • Paloma Trigas – violin
  • Aria Trigas – violin

Track listing:

  1. Myths and Heroes – Chris Leslie
  2. Clear Water – Ralph McTell
  3. The Fylde Mountain Time / Roger Bucknall’s Polka – Chris Leslie, Dave Pegg
  4. Theodore’s Song – Chris Leslie
  5. Love at First Sight – Chris Leslie
  6. John Condon – Richard Laird, Sam Starrett, Tracey McRory
  7. The Gallivant – Ric Sanders
  8. The Man in the Water – Rob Beattie
  9. Bring Me Back My Feathers – Anna Ryder
  10. Grace and Favour – Chris Leslie
  11. Weightless / The Gravity Reel – James Wood, Chris Leslie
  12. Home – PJ Wright
  13. Jonah’s Oak – Ric Sanders

The Albion Band: Rise Up Like the Sun

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In March 1978, “Harvest” label released “Rise Up Like the Sun”, the debut Albion Band (The). It was recorded in 1977, at “Olympic Studios” and “Sound Techniques Studios” in London, and was produced by Joe Boyd and John Tams.

Personnel:

  • Simon Nicol – vocals, acoustic and electric guitar
  • John Tams – vocals, melodeon
  • Graeme Taylor – acoustic and electric guitar
  • Phil Pickett – bagpipes, trumpet, shawm, crotales
  • Pete Bullock – piano, organ, synthesizer, clarinet, saxophone
  • Ric Sanders – violin, electric violin
  • Ashley Hutchings – electric bass
  • Michael Gregory – drums, percussion, mandolin
  • Dave Mattacks – drums, tambourine
  • Vic Gamm – engineer
  • Dave Ansley – art direction
  • Josh Partridge – painting
  • Pete Vernon – photography

Track listing:

  1. Ragged Heroes – John Tams
  2. Poor Old Horse – traditional
  3. Afro Blue – Mongo Santamaria
  4. Danse Royale – anonymous
  5. Ampleforth – traditional
  6. Lay Me Low – John Tams
  7. Time to Ring Some Changes – Richard Thompson
  8. House in the Country – Maggie Stewart
  9. The Primrose – traditional
  10. Gresford Disaster – Ric Sanders

Fairport Convention: Festival Bell

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In January 2011, “Matty Grooves” label released “Festival Bell”, the twenty-fifth Fairport Convention studio album. It was recorded in 2010, at “The Bowman’s retreat” in Oxfordshire, UK, and was produced by John Gale,

Personnel:

  • Simon Nicol – vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass ukulele
  • Dave Pegg – vocals, bass guitar, ukulele, mandolin, acoustic guitar
  • Chris Leslie – vocals, mandolin, bouzuki, violin, Portuguese guitar, ukulele, whistle
  • Ric Sanders – violin, ukulele, keyboards, bass ukulele, backing vocals
  • Gerry Conway – drums, percussion
  • Frank Skinner – banjo ukulele
  • Joe Brown – ukulele, backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Mercy Bay – Chris Leslie
  2. Rui’s Guitar – Chris Leslie
  3. Danny Jack’s Chase – Ric Sanders
  4. Reunion Hill – Richard Shindell
  5. Wouldn’t Say No – Chris Leslie
  6. Around the Wild Cape Horn – Ralph McTell
  7. Celtic Moon – Mark Evans, Carolyn Evans
  8. Ukulele Central – Chris Leslie, Ric Sanders
  9. Albert and Ted – Ric Sanders, Dave Pegg
  10. Darkside Wood – Chris While
  11. London Apprentice / Johnny Ginears – Ralph McTell, Ric Sanders
  12. Rising for the Moon – Sandy Denny
  13. Danny Jack’s Reward – Ric Sanders
  14. The Festival Bell – Chris Leslie

Fairport Convention: The Five Seasons

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In December 1980, “New Routes” label released “The Five Seasons”, the seventeenth Fairport Convention studio album. It was recorded April – August 1990, at “Woodworm Studios” in Barford St. Michael, Oxfordshire, and was produced by Dave Mattacks and Simon Nicol.

Personnel:

  • Dave Mattacks – drums, percussion, keyboards, harpsichord, mixing
  • Simon Nicol – vocals, guitars, dobro, mixing
  • Maartin Allcock – vocals, guitars, bouzouki, mandolin, accordion, keyboards
  • Ric Sanders – violin
  • Dave Pegg – vocals, acoustic and bass guitars
  • Tim Matyear – engineer
  • Barry Hammond – mixing

Track listing:

  1. Claudy Banks – traditional
  2. Cup of Tea! / A Loaf of Bread / Miss Monahan’s – Maartin Allcock, traditional
  3. All Your Beauty – Barry Lowe, Martin White
  4. Sock In It – Dave Whetstone
  5. Gold – Peter Blegvad
  6. Ginnie – Huw Williams
  7. Mock Morris ’90 (The Green Man/The Cropredy Badger/Molly On The Jetty) – Ric Sanders
  8. The Card Song / Shuffle the Pack – Maartin Allcock, Dave Mattacks, Simon Nicol
  9. The Wounded Whale – Archie Fisher, traditional

Martin Allcock

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On September 16, 2018, Martin Allcock died aged 61. He was a musician (violin, guitar, bass, keyboards, pipes), and record producer, best known as a member of Fairport Convention, Jethro Tull, and The Mission. As a musician, he recorded with a number of bands and musicians including Ralph McTell, Simon Nicol, Kieran Halpin, Beverley Craven, Steve Ashley, Dan Ar Braz, Robert Plant, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Les Barker, Ashley Hutchings, Billy Connolly, Judith Durhamlin, Steve Tilston, Maggie Boyle, Chris Leslie, The Simon Mayor Quintet, WAZ!, Dave Pegg, Steve Gibbons, David Hughes, Sally Barker, Emily Slade, Alistair Russell, John Wright, Swarb’s Lazarus, Mike Billington, The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican, Scott Doonican, Dave Burland, and Lisa Starnini. Allcock released four solo albums.

Fairport Convention: Sense of Occasion

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On February 12, 2007, “Matty Grooves” label released “Sense of Occasion”, the 24th Fairport Convention studio album. It was recorded in November 2006, at “Woodworm Studios, Oxfordshire, and was produced by Mark Tucker, Tic Sander, Simon Nicol, Gery Conway, Dave Pegg and Chris Leslie.

Personnel:

  • Ric Sanders– violin
  • Simon Nicol– vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, twelve-string guitar
  • Gerry Conway– vocals, drums, percussion, harmonium
  • Dave Pegg– vocals, bass guitar
  • Chris Leslie– vocals, mandolin, bouzouki, violin

Track listing:

  1. Keep on Turning the Wheel – Chris Leslie
  2. Love on a Farmboy’s Wages – Andy Partridge
  3. The Bowman’s Return – Ric Sanders
  4. South Dakota to Manchester – Chris Leslie
  5. Spring Song – Chris Leslie
  6. Polly on the Shore – music by Dave Pegg, lyrics by Dave Swarbrick, Trevor Lucas
  7. Just Dandy – Ric Sanders
  8. Tam Lin – traditional, arranged by Dave Swarbrick
  9. In Our Town – Chris Leslie
  10. Edge of the World – Chris Leslie
  11. Hawkwood’s Army – Pete Scrowther
  12. The Vision – Bob Miller, John Flanagan
  13. Your Heart and Mine – Ric Sanders
  14. Untouchable – Glenn Tilbrook, Christopher Braid
  15. Galileo’s Apology – PJ Wright
  16. Best Wishes – Steve Ashley

Albion Dance Band: The Prospect Before Us

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In February 1977, “Harvest” label released “The Prospect Before Us”, the debut Albion Dance Band (as The Albion Dance Band) album. It was recorded in 1976, at “Sound Techniques” and “Olympic Studios” in London, and was produced by Ashley Hutchings and Simon Nicol.

Personnel:

  • Ashley Hutchings– vocals, electric bass guitar
  • Simon Nicol- electric and acoustic guitars, piano
  • Michael Gregory – drums, nakers, percussion
  • Philip Pickett- curtals, shawms, recorders, crumhorns, bagpipes, rackets, chalumeux, synthesizer
  • John Sothcott, – vielle, citole, crumhorn
  • Graeme Taylor- electric guitar, piano
  • Shirley Collins- vocals.
  • Eddie Upton – vocals, caller
  • John Tams- vocals, melodeon
  • John Rodd – vocals, concertina, tambourine
  • Dave Mattacks- drums, piano, electric piano

Track listing:

  1. Uncle Berhard’s / Jenny Lind
  2. The Hunt Is Up
  3. Varsoviana
  4. Masque
  5. Huntsman’s Chorus
  6. Minuet
  7. Wassail Song
  8. Picking of Sticks / The Old Mole
  9. Merry Sherwood Rangers (live version)
  10. La Sextie Estampe Real
  11. I Wish I was Single Again
  12. The Whim
  13. Hopping Down in Kent
  14. Horse’s Brawl
  15. On Christmas Night All Christians Sing (The Sussex Carol)
  16. Merry Sherwood Rangers (studio version)

Fairport Convention: Red & Gold

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In December 1988, “Rough Trade” label released “Red & Gold”, the 16th Fairport Convention studio album. It was recorded September to November 1988 at “Woodworm Studios” in Barford St. Michael, Oxfordshire, and was produced by Simon Nicol.

Personnel:

  • Maartin Allcock– vocals, guitars, bouzouki, mandolin, accordion, keyboards
  • Dave Pegg– vocals, acoustic and bass guitars
  • Simon Nicol– vocals, guitars, dobro
  • Ric Sanders– violin
  • Dave Mattacks– drums, percussion, keyboards, harpsichord
  • Tim Matyear – engineer
  • Rob Braviner, Mark Tucker – engineering
  • John Dent – mastering
  • Mike Dolan – mixing
  • David Gleeson, Spencer Richards – artwork
  • Malcolm Holmes – booklet design
  • Dawn Robertson, John Woodward – photography

Track listing:

  1. Set Me Up – Dave Whetstone
  2. The Noise Club – Maartin Allcock
  3. Red and Gold – Ralph McTell
  4. The Beggar’s Song – traditional,arranged by  Maartin Allcock
  5. The Battle – Ric Sanders
  6. Dark Eyed Molly – Archie Fisher
  7. The Rose Hip – Ric Sanders
  8. London River – Rod Shearman
  9. Summer Before the War – Huw Williams
  10. Open the Door Richard – Bob Dylan

Fairport Convention: Babbacombe Lee

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In November 1971, “island” label released “Babbacombe Lee”, the seventh Fairport Convention studio album. It was recorded August – September 1971, at “Sound Techniques” in London, and was produced by John Wood and Simon Nicol.

  • Sandy Denny– vocals
  • Simon Nicol– vocals, guitar, dulcimer
  • Jerry Donahue- lead guitar
  • Trevor Lucas- rhythm guitar
  • Dave Swarbrick– vocals, fiddle, mandolin
  • Dave Pegg– vocals, bass, mandolin
  • Dave Mattacks– drums, electric piano, harmonium

Track listing:

All tracks by Simon Nicol, Dave Mattacks, Dave Swarbrick, Dave Pegg, Trevor Lucas and Jerry Donahue.

The album story is about the life of John “Babbacombe” Lee, murderer who was condemned to death but reprieved after the gallows failed on three occasions to work properly.

The tracks are listed episodically rather than as discrete tracks, reflecting the structure of the narrative.

  1. John’s reflection on his boyhood, his introduction to Miss Keyes and The Glen, his restlessness, and his struggles with his family, finally successful, to join the navy
  2. This was the happiest period in his life. All locked set fair for a career until he was stricken with sickness and invalided out of his chosen niche in life. Reluctantly and unhappily he turned to a number of menial occupations and finally returned to the services of Miss Keyes
  3. Tragedy now strikes hard. The world’s imagination is caught by the brutal senseless[ness] of the apparent criminal who slays his kind old mistress
  4. John was hardly more than a bewildered observer at his own trial, not being allowed to say more than a few words. The tides of fate wash him to the condemned cell where he waits three sad weeks for his last night on earth
  5. When it comes, he cannot sleep, but when he does, a strange, prophetic dream comes to him, and helps him to bear the strain of his next day’s ordeal as scaffold and its crew try in vain three times to take his life

Vashti Bunyan: Just Another Diamond Day

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In December 1970, “Philips” label released “Just Another Diamond Day”, the debut Vashti Bunyan album. It was recorded November – December 1969, at “Sound Techniques” in London, and was produced by Joe Boyd.

Personnel:

  • Vashti Bunyan- vocals, acoustic guitar
  • Mike Crowther – guitar
  • Simon Nicol – banjo
  • Christopher Sykes – piano, organ
  • John James – dulcitone
  • Robin Williamson- fiddle, whistle, Celtic harp
  • Dave Swarbrick- fiddle, mandolin
  • Robert Kirby- string and recorder arrangements
  • Joe Boyd- liner notes
  • Jerry Boys – engineer
  • John James – cover art

Track listing:

All tracks by Vashti Bunyan, except where noted.

  1. Diamond Day
  2. Glow Worms
  3. Lily Pond
  4. Timothy Grub
  5. Where I Like to Stand – Vashti Bunyan, John James
  6. Swallow Song
  7. Window Over the Bay – Vashti Bunyan, Robert Lewis
  8. Rose Hip November
  9. Come Wind Come Rain
  10. Hebridean Sun – Vashti Bunyan, Robert Lewis
  11. Rainbow River
  12. Trawlerman’s Song – Vashti Bunyan, Robert Lewis
  13. Jog Along Bess
  14. Iris’s Song for Us – Vashti Bunyan, Wally Dix, Iris Macfarlane