Fairport Convention : 'Celebration' Granada TV (UK), 1981

[@nbenefiel]

I lived in Dublin in the seventies. My housemate was friends with Sandy Denny. She visited us a few times. We sat by the fire, sang, and drank tea all night. I’ll never forget her or Swarb.

[@skylarkman2000]

Sandy died far too young. Amazing singer songwriter.

[@nbenefiel]

@@skylarkman2000 we were devastated when we head of her death.

[@robertruddell2032]

The chasm between Richard Thompson's incredible guitar playing & his choice of a tee-shirt is astounding ...

[@iainrace6550]

that is actually hilarious

[@BarryMonks]

:)

[@TimLondonGuitarist]

Its an anti-fashion statement, Swarbrick was good at that

[@moonbeamchaos]

Actually, it’s his choice NOT to wear a t-shirt, but instead a total dweeb short-sleeved “sport shirt” that goes well with sandals and black socks!

[@tonybaker7484]

Richard Thompson?

[@alexkawamartins8548]

Fabulous!!! Pegg and Mattacks always incredible!!! Fairport Convention FOREVER AND EVER!!!

[@hoisin75]

the other members rightly have legendary status, but for my money Simon Nichol is one of THE most underdated musicians and singers

[@irina-me5rr]

Почему, все его ценят и любят!

[@hoisin75]

@ translation please

[@mapior]

One of the best rhythm sections of all time - Dave Pegg & Dave Mattacks

[@AQuags]

And they will be reunited once again at this year's Cropredy Festival. RT is playing a 'one off' set with SN, DP, DM and Christine Collister as his backing band on the Friday night. I can't wait!

[@markiliff]

...not forgetting Simon

[@benbeasley6230]

Totally agree - DM one of the most under-rated drummers of all time..

[@hectorlp1298]

Absolutely! BTW also kudos to Mike Harding. He was a terrific performer himself in the local Bolton folkclubs and went on to be a great Radio and TV music host - including the promotion of Eva Cassidy

[@shnootch]

Love those guys! Deep swing...

[@ronaldzwicker5537]

I'm glad this show is out here on KZbin. Having been a Fairport fan from the beginning & having seen them on the "Full House" American tour, a few comments. As all will agree, Richard is a musical genius. Singer/guitarist/songwriter extraordinare, who somehow continues to get better with age, especially with regard to his singing voice. Swarb (RIP) was a fine fiddler & singer, & wrote some great Fairport songs in collaboration with RT. DM is just a rock solid drummer who can play in any musical format. Check out his CV. Simon has become a very fine lead vocalist & an underrated guitarist. That brings us to Peggy. He's Fairport's somewhat hidden weapon, his strong, melodic & at times unpredictable bass lines add so much to their sound. He joined the band in 1970 after a "courtesy" audition set up by Swarb. The other members weren't expecting much as Peggy was known as a folk player. To quickly move on, the band had him play "Matty Groves" while playing it faster & faster, trying to lose him. Didn't happen & he's still with Fairport. I see them every chance I can.

[@billythedog-309]

From the beginning - 1967?

[@bustedfender]

The real ale version of the Grateful Dead. National treasures all.

[@patrickcrowther9195]

Real ale much more conducive to good music than LSD, in my opinion.

[@jeffreylemal7432]

Saw richard last July in a free concert behind the woodbridge nj high School. he will be playing again in june.a true musical genius.

[@Jlipnicki]

@@patrickcrowther9195 Perhaps a bit of both, not that I have ever tried ir.

[@namcat53]

They're two completely different sounds. No English band has ever attained the mind expanding, incredible 4 hour Grateful Dead experience if you'd ever had some good LSD with Dark Star, St. Steven, The Other One, etc...NO comparison to that. I love both bands dearly, but clearly The Good Ol' Grateful Dead on a great night or day were absolutely the best, both down to Earth and Interstellar. Pigpen too! C'mon...You had to be there then to know. If you weren't you don't know.

[@alistairfinlay2772]

That's was an awesome trip down memory lane for me brilliant footage of fairport convention although I never saw them. Thanks mike 👌🇬🇧🎸🎤🥁❤

[@michaelw.4434]

Great to see live footage,i love their album babbacomb Lee!

[@mikewilson3581]

What a lineup! And Linda Thompson as a bonus.

[@terri-b7492]

This is so steeped into the Old English ways,that makes me so proud

[@frankmorgan6173]

Fabulous - even living in the UK I had no idea this programme existed! Many thanks.

[@elissatap3673]

The commentary is completely delightful!

[@Mpshfromlowell64]

Outstanding performance from a band who would have been as big as the Beatles if there was any real justice in the world....

[@RobHollanderMusic]

Well no, but they were great on their own terms and I love them still.

[@JesseCaine]

I love Ricahard T, and Dave Swabs, but - I have to write and say I disgree. The Beatles tower over even them, in my humble opinion.

[@Mpshfromlowell64]

OK, if not the Beatles, maybe the Stones... :)

[@matthewjdouglas6471]

@@Mpshfromlowell64 I like your commitment. They are fine musicians. Actually better band than the Beatles in that sense. I agree. I think they would out play the Beatles easily.

[@matthewjdouglas6471]

I think I sort of agree with you sir.

[@skylarkman2000]

Amazing band, amazing music.

[@sarafolden1900]

I have loved you guys since,oh say 1972 when I was 12yrs old. When I was 20 I sang one misty misty morning and Alison Grose to my children when they were little babes. Im just so sorry that it didnt skyrocket off the planet for sure! God Bless my fair and lovely Englishmen and women! You are truly a real and beautiful force. My favorite song is Gaudete, so rich and old English. The Latin words are so neat sounding! Thank you for sharing them all with all the world. Keep rocking your style!

[@debcevans]

Gaudete was a Steeleye Span song.

[@spinecat]

All Steeleye Span songs...

[@namcat53]

Sara...It's Steeleye Span you're thinking of, not these guys.

[@moonbeamchaos]

Um…wrong band.

[@davidshinn6501]

Must be a steeleye troll😅

[@markiliff]

As classic lineups go, this is surely the best. Thanks so much for sharing

[@brucevair-turnbull8082]

I saw Fairport when they reformed in around 1984 with Simon Nicol, Dave Swarbrick, Dave Pegg and Bruce Rowland at the Brighton Dome. Fond memories.

[@DarkeningSkies1]

What a gem this is! I'm sorry this line up couldn't have stayed together (in the early 80s) long enough to record a couple more albums- Linda could've been included too- they were my favorite lineup of Fairport

[@mickspastik4227]

Linda is the great lost Fairport singer. She should have joined the band when Sandy left.

[@wideeyedandfretless]

And 40 years later the buggers are still going!!!

[@seegee8564]

Yep, saw them last night in Manchester.👍🏻

[@rubyramone]

Holy SHIT!!! Never knew this existed! Thank you!

[@goodun6081]

Rubyramone, What you said!😀

[@charlesnolan7602]

Great broadcast- first time viewing for me Dec 4, 2019...!!

[@cynthiahughes271]

Right behind ye, after looking for old Cropredy foootage. Being from across the ocean, I got to go one time only, in 1993. What a treat this! Sloth so beautiful.

[@rca88]

@Folk rock. Australian rock. More. -- thanks for this post, from one of your subscribers. i've watched a few clips from this show here and there. It's great to see the whole thing. Sloth is special - Pegg's bass solo is quiet and fn great. Lots to like all the way through.

[@grendel_nz]

So cool to see this. Thank you 😊

[@atleengelstad5303]

This is a true gem.... I am obsessed with all things beatles, and every new "beatley" footage I welcome..., and this is MY Beatles.... simly love it, with all its flaws and imperfections.....

[@peterrear2864]

Must have seen them 20 plus times,,,great band

[@dr.arikgreenberg25]

Mike Harding is hilarious with his classically English understated humor, wryly and surreptitiously interspersed with helpful information.

[@mysterysurf4554]

@9:38 Burn!

[@troygaspard6732]

So cool to hear Richard and Linda sing Wall of Death

[@houghmagandie]

Except the sound on the vocals is extremely dry

[@taffyjones281]

What a wonderful surprise - I never knew of the existence of this, fabulous stuff. It is nice to hear the band with a female voice, as nothing quite beats the "Sandy" era. It makes you wonder what they could have achieved with Linda.

[@troygaspard6732]

Full House is a great album.

[@davidshinn6501]

My favourite FC album😊

[@cityzen2717]

Lyrics Let me ride on the Wall Of Death one more time Let me ride on the Wall Of Death one more time You can waste your time on the other rides This is the nearest to being alive Oh let me take my chances on the Wall Of Death You can go with the crazy people in the Crooked House You can fly away on the Rocket or spin in the Mouse The Tunnel Of Love might amuse you Noah's Ark might confuse you But let me take my chances on the Wall Of Death On the Wall Of Death all the world is far from me On the Wall Of Death it's the nearest to being free Well you're going nowhere When you ride on the carousel And maybe you're strong But what's the good of ringing a bell The switchback will make you crazy. Beware of the bearded lady Oh let me take my chances on the Wall Of Death Let me ride on the Wall Of Death one more time Oh let me ride on the Wall Of Death one more time You can waste your time on the other rides This is the nearest to being alive Oh let me take my chances on the Wall Of Death Let me take my chances on the Wall Of Death Oh let me take my chances on the Wall Of Death Source: LyricFind Songwriters: Richard John Thompson

[@jublaim]

Reading Peggy's book "Off the Pegg" this summer, oh wow I'm trying to track videos along the way. This is wonderful!

[@raymerrington607]

Recall an evening with Richard, Linda and Simon at Manchester Uni Folk night. about the time of wanna see the bright lights tonight. Starter as Folk/rock but in second set was Rock. Around 15 of us in audience. A night to remember.

[@JStarStar00]

This had to be one of the first -- if not THE first -- public performances of "Wall of Death." Richard and Linda had recorded the song in 1980 for the long-legendary Gerry Rafferty demo sessions, but it remained unreleased. The classic version on the album "Shoot Out The Lights" was not recorded until November 1981, or 3-4 months after this performance.

[@jaiji]

The musicianship here is superlative.

[@andrewcutts7416]

Thanks for putting this on. A classic line-up.

[@bobzubb]

my goodness...what a treat! Musical heroes...

[@paulsummerside]

Great period of Fairport.

[@peterweston7739]

great line up, and live sound, harking back to the very best days of fairport, and performances at uni, and showing what a grta live ban thye were at their best-sorry i never saw them with sandy though...

[@patrickcrowther9195]

Richard Thompson, the ‘Man from C&A’ years. What a genius musician.

[@robertruddell2032]

Ah, that's where he acquired the t-shirt ...

[@joehiggs100]

Great, thanks, Mike Harding must have borrowed his specs from Timmy Mallett.. Richard doesn't look too happy, though he smiles on the mandolin trio. Top sound, camera work and vision mixing, GTV was ahead of the game back in the day.

[@westonwindsorian]

Bloody brilliant :-)

[@jagtone]

Wow. Thanks so much for sharing this.

[@debcevans]

Another name for "Sword Dance" is "Ghillie Callum." My daughter is a highland dancer and my son was a dance piper at times, so it is ingrained into my brain.

[@davepower7170]

jeez I remember Mike Harding on TV many many mons ago......I loved Fairport

[@alastairthomson2835]

Wonderful

[@timdieu2377]

This is obviously great music, but having seen the band many timesrecently it's amazing how much better they are now. The line up here is good, but moving on now with Ric Chris and Dave Mattocks, it's like fine wine ready to drink. Just great.

[@davidshinn6501]

Not really.But current full band with DM is stronger again.

[@wolfetom10]

Interesting to hear an early version of Wall of Death, and i'm glad Thompson kept working on it. This version sounds fine, but what ultimately was released with that jangly Byrds-like guitar sound, was exhilirating.

[@Anybloke]

Lovely to see this. According to Patrick Humphries' book Meet On The Ledge, they also played Now Be Thankful with the CWS band but it had to be dropped for making the show too long.

[@andrewdale3695]

In his lifetime of dodgy facial hair Swarb surely never outdid this moustache

[@johnhawkins9826]

Superb playing by Fairport, disappointed no mention of Sandy Denny who got it all up and running with those timeless songs of hers

[@skylarkman2000]

Sandy died far too young. Amazing singer songwriter.

[@thomasmazur6916]

Great group. Love Closing Time as the best exit song.

[@silverapples75]

Swings like the clappers! Absolute killer!

[@timothyclair5710]

Linda sounds great on Sloth

[@lastnickeldrifter]

Excellent, ta!!! ♥

[@edbettega6123]

With Linda Thompson on vocals on "Poor Will & The Jolly Hangman". One of my all time favourite bands. They came to Perth, Western Australia to promote "Rosy" and again with the addition of Sandy Denny to promote "Nine". At the time I preferred the "Rosy" line-up because of the awesome instrumental work of Dave Swarbrick and Jerry Donohue. Their solos were less prominent on the Sandy tour.

[@田中和人-x9z]

フルハウスメンバーにリンダ いいですね。ありがとう。

[@MrGinger62]

This is new. Wow!

[@thefutureispast5848]

Anyone notice the resemblance of Dave Pegg to Brian Cant from Playaway?

[@bustedfender]

thefutureispast 58 Cant can’t (couldn’t) drink like Deep Egg, though.

[@mayaadobe]

Jethro Tull really owes these guys a lot

[@fabrikk60]

The lineup of Tull on their live album "A Little Light Music", is literally 50% Fairport.

[@TimLondonGuitarist]

Good clean version of Sloth at the end, well mixed, but no fiddle solo

[@fabrikk60]

In Thompson's recent book :Beeswing", he mentions why he left Fairport in 1971. Mainly, the music was way too fast for his liking, and the other guys refused to slow down (Swarb liked to take speed too). Listen to the 1970 "Live at the Troubador" album; they practically sound like the Pogues. I wonder if, in this 1981 reunion, they had to promise Richard they wouldn't get too crazy-fast?

[@FossilisedFishooks]

Pity they didn't interview the band...they are always hilarious

[@bustedfender]

29:02 Peggy’s solo

[@patrickcrowther9195]

Busted Fender Brilliant, wasn’t it?!

[@rca88]

@@patrickcrowther9195 no kidding! harmonic tapping on the bass!

[@redcalx9568]

I would fight and die like a Viking for this band and banner ip68jd xxx

[@davidryan7386]

I never knew Linda got to FC gig. No Matty Grove's or tam lin or sailors tale. :-( Guessing she didn't want to tamper with her friend Sandy's legacy. If I am not mistaken this is the R&L Thompson band of that era with swarb. Nice to see Simon k keeping up with RT/swarb on dirty linen. Never knew he was picking along with that. A real treasure. Still haven't heard House full, this will do for now.

[@nozzer16]

Linda did Cropredy with them one year too.

[@suepep8673]

😂 awesome.

[@alemaran]

Good morning. I ask where can I have this "electric folk family tree". Thanks.

[@nearlyoutofideas]

Do a search for Pete Frame Fairport family tree. He did a couple of versions, the later one going up to the mid 1980s, I think, and released a few books of various other family trees.

[@namcat53]

Originally, they were trying for a Jefferson Airplane sound. They never got there; the Airplane lightyears beyond, yet Fairport could get close certainly on a skillful level Richard's guitar going in an amazing and soaring direction/feel and Sandy equally as gifted. Thanks for this!

[@davidshinn6501]

Why not credit the whole band equally.

[@MilesBellas]

11:34 ash drop

[@Pierre-de-Standing]

How many times did Simon change his shirt? All excellent stuff!

[@lesliegprice6652]

To put this in perspective,the band was broken up,this was a temporary line up just for the show hence Linda guesting, when the band got going again it was a different set of musicians, classic Fairport was Sandy Denny, Ian Matthews as singers , the and that plays now has players from this era,but can never recreate it exactly as sadly both Swarb and Sandy have passed on.......

[@LilyBlackBand]

❤️

[@rickdiaz7239]

Wow! Celtic soul at it's best! Heard of this band but never HEARD the band until now. While I can hear American influences in these songs they still have the imprint of Celtic folk in there also. Over here it would almost certainly be compared to bluegrass. I can see why Jimmy Page and the rest of Zep loved Sandy Denny even though she had probably passed by the time this was filmed.Looking up her music, its pretty amazing stuff too! Great band!

[@davidshinn6501]

Anglo Scottish band then a bit of Auss and US with Trevor and Jerry.

[@DiggoryDiggory]

The whole thing minus ads? Not for me. The first song was interrupted half way through crassly by an ad and the exact same thing happened on the second Swarbrick tune at which point I've given up. Why does everything have to be bloody monetised? Waste of time

[@nearlyoutofideas]

I'd recommend using the Brave browser which has its own built in blocker for ads, trackers etc. I never see any ads on KZbin that way.

[@DiggoryDiggory]

@@nearlyoutofideas I'd rather the video wasn't monetised. After all, it's not something you produced or paid for, just a transfer from a Granada UK tape. Frustrating.

[@nearlyoutofideas]

@@DiggoryDiggory That's the copyright owners of particular songs claiming them to monetise, not me! It's extremely common, and sometimes sees the video disappear altogether if not monetised by them. It's totally out of my hands, and it would definitely require massive chutzpah for anyone else to try to claim personal credit for anything like this.

[@isusekdragi123ify]

is there dvd to buy??????????????

[@ParcelOfRogue]

Why did he grow that bloody moustache

[@StealthyAssassin007]

Wait why did Simon sing Richards part...?

[@dbitgood1]

What's with the glasses?

[@timhancock6626]

Its Mr Harding !.....I saw Mike H. twice at Leeds University. Actually it could have been four times as I was slightly drunk and seeing double. I can still recite "Napoleons Retreat from Wigan". I'm afraid I thought this Fairport lineup was too dominated by the Fiddle and the loss of Ashley Hutchings and Sandy Denny was a hole too big to fill.

[@namcat53]

Sandy's SO much better.

[@moonbeamchaos]

Linda is not “with the band” - she’s just there with Richard because they were performing together then.

[@ianhiles2678]

"...With a Bob Dylan song, in French". :-)

[@barreltapper]

If you've got to go, go now. Si tu dois partir etc

[@TimoKotilainen62]

Host got spider eyes!

[@TheFunkadelicFan]

What's Linda doing there?

[@degustosycolores3820]

kicking ass, of course!!

[@silverapples75]

Mike Harding's dreadful cringe patter nearly ruins this.

[@jmulvey371]

The host's glasses have got to go.

[@namcat53]

Yes.

[@ameliatighe6737]

there he is again with a cig in his mouth. dave van ronk has a song called singing cancer blue the said the thinking mans cigarette smoke pot

[@armandom28]

thompson looks utterly bored and unemotional

[@patrickcrowther9195]

armandom28 He always did. He let his music do the emoting.

[@robertogalvez2423]

I think those were the days he had tensions with Linda.

[@celsoescobar9630]

Sorry, but Linda's voice compromised all the songs in which she appeared. I know she can sing better than this !

[@degustosycolores3820]

HOW DARE YOU??? 😂

[@celsoescobar9630]

@@degustosycolores3820 According to Wikipedia: Linda lost her voice for two years as a result of spasmodic dysphonia.

[@degustosycolores3820]

Celso Escobar that happened after the divorce! Thats post 1982 and it didn’t last for two years. Till this day she has to inject botox in her vocal chords to be able to sing!

[@grendel_nz]

WoD was a new song, still playing around w it. Maybe the monitors weren't great. I like her singing, altho she did look a little nervous sometimes her. I hate stage fright. She has a pure clean voice :)

[@RobHollanderMusic]

Nerdy but good.

[@seanod7157]

For me Linda's voice adds nothing. In fact it sounds terrible. I know this may be sacrilegious to many, but there it is.

[@simonmawson2382]

Odd ain’t it. I agree that on some of these recordings Linda (and all the others too) don’t sound their best. But here I think she’s in top form.....the country singer supreme

[@laburgy]

I hear Grace Slick in some of Linda's phrases on the first track, and really enjoyed her voice. Never heard that line-up and I am not a Fairport fan per se, I do enjoy good music and especially male/ female vocal harmonies.

[@novocain13]

As far as I know did Linda Thompson suffer from serious stagefright, and lost her voice completely after the release of her solo debut album, One Clear Moment, in 1985. That may be the reason for her bad performance here. Hysterical Dysphonia is no joke..

[@seanod7157]

Per Lunheim I'm sure you're right. I shouldn't be critical.

[@johanncat-s007]

I hear what you mean. She's sharp (tonally, that is) on some tracks, as though she couldn't hear what's going on, which seems unlikely.

[@neilpiper9889]

Dave Swarbrick I turn off bye