Tag Archives: Simon Nicol

Al Stewart: Love Chronicles

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In September 1969, “CBS” label released “Love Chronicles”, the second Al Stewart studio album. It was recorded 1968 – 1969, and was produced by Roy Guest, John Wood and Al Stewart.

Personnel:

  • Al Stewart – vocals, guitar
  • Jimmy Page – guitar
  • Simon Breckenridge (Simon Nicol) – guitar
  • Mervyn Prestwyck (Richard Thompson) – guitar
  • Brian Brocklehurst – bass
  • Brian Odgers, John Paul Jones, Ashley Hutchings- bass
  • Harvey Burns – drums
  • Martyn Francis (Martin Lamble) – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Al Stewart

  1. In Brooklyn
  2. Old Compton Street Blues
  3. The Ballad of Mary Foster
  4. Life and Life Only
  5. You Should Have Listened to Al
  6. Love Chronicles

Fairport Convention: Full House

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In July 1970, “Island” label released “Full House” the fifth Fairport Convention album. It was recorded February – April 1970, at “Sound Techniques Studio” in London,”Vanguard Studios” in New York City,  and was produced by Joe Boyd.

Personnel:

  • Simon Nicol– vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, bass guitar, electric dulcimer
  • Richard Thompson– vocals, electric guitar, sleeve notes
  • Dave Swarbrick– vocals, fiddle, viola, mandolin
  • Dave Pegg– vocals, bass guitar, mandolin
  • Dave Mattacks– drums, percussion, harmonium, bodhran
  • John Wood – engineer
  • Superwives – design

Track listing:

  1. Walk Awhile – Richard Thompson, Dave Swarbrick
  2. Dirty Linen – traditional, arr. by Dave Swarbrick
  3. Sloth – Richard Thompson, Dave Swarbrick
  4. Sir Patrick Spens – traditional, arr. by Dave Awarbrick, Richard Thompson, Dave Pegg, Dave Mattacks, Simon Nicol
  5. Flatback Caper – Ronald Cooper, Turlough O’Carolan
  6. Doctor of Physick – Richard Thompson, Dave Swarbrick
  7. Flowers of the Forest – traditional, arr. by Dave Awarbrick, Richard Thompson, Dave Pegg, Dave Mattacks, Simon Nicol

 

Fairport Convention: Unhalfbricking

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On July 3, 1969, “Island” label released “Unhalfbricking”, the third Fairport Convention  album. It was recorded January – April 1969, at “Sound Techniques” and “Olympic Studios” in London, and was produced by Joe Boyd, Simon Nico, Sandy Denny, Richard Thompson, Ashley Hutchings, Simon Nicol and Martin Lamble.

Personnel:

  • Sandy Denny – vocals, harpsichord
  • Richard Thompson – acoustic andf electric guitars, electric dulcimer, piano accordion, organ, backing vocals
  • Marc Ellington– vocals
  • Simon Nicol– electric and acoustic guitars, electric dulcimer, backing vocals
  • Ashley Hutchings– bass, backing vocals
  • Martin Lamble– drums, stacked chair backs
  • Dave Mattacks– drums
  • Dave Swarbrick – fiddle
  • Trevor Lucas– triangle
  • Iain Matthews– backing vocals
  • John Wood – engineer
  • Diogenic Attempts Ltd. – design
  • Eric Hayes – photography

Track listing:

  1. Genesis Hall – Richard Thompson
  2. Si tu dois partir – Bob Dylan
  3. Autopsy – Sandy Denny
  4. A Sailor’s Life – traditional, arranged by Denny, Thompson, Simon Nicol, Ashley Hutchings, Martin Lamble
  5. Cajun Woman – Richard Thompson
  6. Who Knows Where the Time Goes? – Sandy Denny
  7. Percy’s Song – Bob Dylan
  8. Million Dollar Bash – Bob Dylan

Richard Thompson: Hand Of Kindness

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In June 1983, “Hannibal Records” label released “Hand of Kindness”, the second Richard Thompson solo album. It was recorded in 1983, at “Olympic Studios” in London, “Ocean Way Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Joe Boyd.

Personnel:

  • Richard Thompson – vocals, guitar
  • Simon Nicol- guitar
  • John Kirkpatrick- accordion, concertina
  • Dave Pegg – bass guitar
  • Dave Mattacks – drums
  • Pete Zorn – saxophone, backing vocals
  • Pete Thomas- saxophone
  • Aly Bain- violin
  • John Hiatt, Bobby Kingand Clive Gregson – backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Richard Thompson.

  1. Tear-Stained Letter
  2. How I Wanted To
  3. Both Ends Burning
  4. A Poisoned Heart and a Twisted Memory
  5. Where the Wind Don’t Whine
  6. The Wrong Heartbeat
  7. Hand of Kindness
  8. Devonside
  9. Two Left Feet

Fairport Convention: Angel Delight

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In June 1971, “Island” label released “Angel Delight”, the sixth Fairport Convention album.  It was recorded February – March 1971, at “Sound Techniques Ltd.” in London, and was produced by John Wood, Richard Thompson, Dave Swarbrick, Dave Pegg, Dave Mattacks and Simon Nicol.

Personnel:

  • Richard Thompson– vocals, electric guitar
  • Simon Nicol– lead vocals, vocals, guitar, bass guitar, electric dulcimer, violin
  • Dave Swarbrick– lead vocals, mandolin, vocals, fiddle, viola, cuckoo
  • Dave Pegg– vocals, bass guitar, lead guitar, viola, violin
  • Dave Mattacks– vocals, drums, percussion, harmonium , tambourine, bass guitar, piano

Track listing:

  1. Lord Marlborough – traditional
  2. Sir William Gower – traditional
  3. Bridge over the River Ash – traditional
  4. Wizard of the Worldly Game – Simon Nicol, Dave Swarbrick
  5. The Journeyman’s Grace – Dave Swarbrick, Richard Thompson
  6. Angel Delight – Dave Mattacks, Simon Nicol, Dave Pegg, Dave Swarbrick
  7. Banks of the Sweet Primroses – traditional
  8. Instrumental Medley: The Cuckoo’s Nest/Hardiman the Fiddler/Papa Stoor” traditional
  9. The Bonny Black Hare – traditional
  10. Sickness & Diseases – Dave Swarbrick, Richard Thompson

Fairport Convention: Same

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In June 1968, “Polydor” label released the self-titled, debut Fairport Convention  album.  It was recorded in November 1967, at “Sound Techniques” in London, and was produced by Joe Boyd and Tod Lloyd.

Personnel:

  • Judy Dyble– lead vocals, electric and acoustic autoharps, recorder, piano
  • Ian MacDonald(Iain Matthews) – lead vocals, Jew’s harp
  • Richard Thompson– vocals, lead electric and acoustic guitars, mandolin
  • Simon Nicol– vocals, electric 12 and 6 string and acoustic guitars
  • Ashley Hutchings– bass guitar, jug, double bass
  • Martin Lamble– percussion, violin
  • Claire Lowther –cello

Track listing:

  1. Time Will Show the Wiser – Emitt Rhodes
  2. I Don’t Know Where I Stand – Joni Mitchell
  3. If (Stomp) – Ian MacDonald, Richard Thompson
  4. Decameron – Paul Ghosh, Andrew Horvitch, Richard Thompson
  5. Jack O’Diamonds – Bob Dylan, Ben Carruthers
  6. Portfolio – Judy Dyble, Tyger Hutchings
  7. Chelsea Morning – Joni Mitchell
  8. Sun Shade – Paul Ghosh, Andrew Horvitch, Richard Thompson
  9. The Lobster – George Painter, Tyger Hutchings, Richard Thompson
  10. It’s Alright Ma, It’s Only Witchcraft – Tyger Hutchings, Richard Thompson
  11. One Sure Thing – Harvey Brooks, Jim Glover
  12. M1 Breakdown – Tyger Hutchings, Simon Nicol

Richard Thompson: Across A Crowded Room

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In April 1985, “Polydor” label released “Across a Crowded Room”, the third Richard Thompson album. It was recorded September- October 1984, at “RAK Studios” in London, and was produced by Joe Boyd.

Personnel:

  • Richard Thompson– vocals, guitar
  • Simon Nicol– guitar
  • Bruce Lynch– bass guitar
  • Dave Mattacks– drums
  • Alan Dunn – accordion
  • Dave Bitelli(de) – alto saxophone
  • Pete Thomas– tenor saxophone
  • Christine Collister, Phil Barnes, Clive Gregsonand The Soultanas – backing vocals
  • Philip Pickett– shawm, crumhorn, recorder

Track listing:

All tracks by Richard Thompson

  1. When the Spell Is Broken
  2. You Don’t Say
  3. I Ain’t Going to Drag My Feet No More
  4. Love in a Faithless Country
  5. Fire in the Engine Room
  6. Walking Through a Wasted Land
  7. Little Blue Number
  8. She Twists the Knife Again
  9. Ghosts in the Wind

Linda and Richard Thompson: Hokey Pokey

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In April 1975, “Island” label released “Hokey Pokey”, the second Linda and Richard Thompson album. It was recorded September-October1974, at “Sound Techniques” in  London, and was produced by Richard Thompson and Simon Nicol.

Personnel:

  • Richard Thompson – vocals, guitar, mandolin, hammered dulcimer, Electric dulcimer, piano
  • Linda Thompson – vocals
  • Simon Nicol – vocals, guitar, piano, Hammond organ
  • Pat Donaldson- bass guitar
  • Ian Whiteman -piano, Calliope
  • John Kirkpatrick- accordion
  • Timi Donald -drums
  • Sidonie Goossens- harp
  • Aly Bain- fiddle
  • The CWS Silver Band

Track listing:

All tracks by Richard Thompson except where noted.

  1. Hokey Pokey (The Ice Cream Song)
  2. I’ll Regret It All in the Morning
  3. Smiffy’s Glass Eye
  4. The Egypt Room
  5. Never Again
  6. Georgie on a Spree
  7. Old Man Inside a Young Man
  8. The Sun Never Shines on the Poor
  9. A Heart Needs a Home
  10. Mole in a Hole – Mike Waterson

Richard Thompson: I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight

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In April 1974, “Island” label released “I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight”, the second Richard Thompson album, and the first with his then wife, Linda as Richard and Linda Thompson. It was recorded in May 1973, at “Sound Techniques” in London and was produced by Richard Thompson and John Wood. In May 2012, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 471, in its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Richard Thompson– vocals, guitar, Hammered dulcimer,  mandolin,  piano, electric piano, harmonium, whistle
  • Linda Thompson– vocals
  • Pat Donaldson– bass guitar
  • Timmy Donald –drums
  • John Kirkpatrick– accordion, concertina
  • Simon Nicol– dulcimer
  • Brian Gulland –krummhorn
  • Richard Harvey– krummhorn
  • Royston Wood– harmony bass vocals
  • Trevor Lucas- harmony vocals
  • The CWS (Manchester) Silver Band
  • John Wood- engineer

Track listing:

All tracks by Richard Thompson except where noted.

  1. When I Get to the Border
  2. The Calvary Cross
  3. Withered and Died
  4. I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
  5. Down Where the Drunkards Roll
  6. We Sing Hallelujah
  7. Has He Got a Friend for Me
  8. The Little Beggar Girl
  9. The End of the Rainbow
  10. The Great Valerio

John Martyn: Solid Air

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solid_air

In February 1973, “Island” label released “Solid Air”, the fourth John Martyn studio album. It was recorded November – December 1972, at “Island Studios”, “Basing Street”, “Sound Techinques” in London, and was produced by John Martyn and John Wood. The title track “Solid Air” was dedicated to Nick Drake. “Q” magazine ranked the album at number 67 on its list of the “Greatest British Album Ever”, and was was also included in their list of “Best Chill-Out Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • John Martyn– vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, synthesizer
  • John “Rabbit” Bundrick– acoustic and electric piano, organ, clavinet
  • Richard Thompson– mandolin
  • Danny Thompson– acoustic bass
  • Dave Pegg– bass
  • Dave Mattacks– drums
  • Neemoi “Speedy” Acquaye – congas
  • Tristan Fry – vibraphone
  • Tony Coe– saxophone
  • Simon Nicol– autoharp
  • Sue Draheim– violin
  • John Wood – engineer
  • Fabio Nicoli – design
  • Visualeyes – photography
  • John Webster – photography

Track listing:

All Tracks by John Martyn, except where noted.

  1. Solid Air
  2. Over the Hill
  3. Don’t Want to Know
  4. I’d Rather Be the Devil – Skip James
  5. Go Down Easy
  6. Dreams by the Sea
  7. May You Never
  8. The Man in the Station
  9. The Easy Blues