The Cropredy Concert (1997)

Recorded Live at Cropredy on Friday 12th August 1994

 

1. Road to Kingdom come Rod Clements 6:49
2. All fall down Alan Hull 3:30
3. Elvis lives on the moon Alan Hull 4:06
4. City Song Alan Hull 3:54
5. Lady Eleanor Alan Hull 5:21
6. Evening Alan Hull 6:36
7. Day of the Jackal Alan Hull 4:57
8. We can make it Alan Hull/Ian McCallum 4:45
9. Train in G Major Rod Clements 5:30
10. Walk in the sea Alan Hull 4:04
11. Drinking Song Alan Hull 5:47
12. Meet me on the corner Rod Clements 2:39
13. Run for Home Alan Hull 5:18
14. Clear White Light PT 2 Alan Hull 3:48

Album Cover Info 

ROD CLEMENTS       Vocals, Guitar, Mandolin
ALAN HULL          Vocals, Guitars
STEVE CUNNINGHAM   Bass
RAY LAIDLAW        Drums, Percussion
MARTY CRAGGS       Vocals, Saxophone, Flute, Whistle

Thanks to:
IAN BYROM          Front of House Sound Engineer
DAVE DENHOLM       Guitar Technican
DAVE BAINBRIDGE    Sound Remix and Edit Engineer
GARY CARVERHILL    Design
MICK ILDERTON & STEVE JOHNSON   Digital Imaging

"That old bugger Pegg [Dave Pegg/Fairport Convention] had been wanting us at Cropredy for years, but he couldn't bear parting with the money !" said Lindisfarne founder member and drummer Ray Laidlaw recently.

This comment gives a good indication of the kind of relationship that has existed between Lindisfarne and Fairport for nigh on thirthy years. In many ways, it is hard to understand why it took so long for Lindisfarne to get to the annual hootenanny deep in the heart of Oxforshire. Somehow, the two bands seemed forever to be bracketed together - Lindisfarne with their roots very much in the delta and Chicago blues and the inspired, lived-in storytelling of Woody Guthrie, allied to the genius of Alan Hull - and Fairport, the epitome of very English classic story telling in fine songs and tunes. Two contrasting but quintessentially British bands.

Their friendship began in the late sixties, when Lindisfarne, under their former name of Brethren, supported the classic 'Unhalfbricking' Fairport line-up on numerous U.K. college and club dates. It is an historical fact that Lindisfarne enjoyed their first ever 'post-gig' curry under the guidance of their Fairport chums after a storming 'double-header' gig at UMIST in Manchester. Later, in the early seventies, Lindisfarne and Fairport 'did some time in America'. They played concerts together and separated for club gigs, managing to cope with the rigours of U.S. touring with a blend of mutual, musical respect, conviviality and alcohol enhanced merry-making. On one memorable occasion Lindisfarne played a week-long residency at San Francicso's 'Boarding House' venue, (the same week that 'Fog on the Tyne' hit the number one position in the UK album charts). Lindisfarne's U.S. record company, Elektra, had graciously agreed to foot the bar bill in celebration of Lindisfarne's homeland success. Both bands gleefully assumed that the bar tab extended to the whole week. Fairport were playing at another club nearby, but managed to finish early enough to arrive every night during Lindisfarne's set, announce their arrival with a cursory wave and then proceed to demolish their fellow countrymen's booze. At the end of the week-long engagement, Lindisfarne discovered that a) the tight-fisted record company had only agreed to pay the first-night bar bill and b) so much Californian wine had been consumed by the Fairports that when Lindisfarne went to pick up their pay cheque they actually OWED the venue money !

Over the years both bands have had similar careers and often found themselves performing on the same bill at festivals sponsored by breweries... Theakstones Festival at Nostell Priory was one example. Also at Nostell Priory was Dave Pegg's 'other band', Jethro Tull, and Ralph McTell - for whom a 'scratch' band was assembled which included various Lindisfarne's and Fairports. Ralph - known as 'Uncle Ralph' since his appearance at Alan Hull's Folk Club in Whitley Bay in 1969 when he was responsible for persuading the frustrated and as yet unsigned Lindisfarne to preserve with their quest for a recording deal. Five years later, the Lindisfarne off-shot, Jack The Lad (whose third Charisma album 'Rough Diamonds' was produced by Fairport's Simon Nicol) toured Britain with Ralph, in the wake of his massive success with 'Streets Of London'. Lindisfarne's Rod Clements had played bass on 'Streets" and Ralph has written several songs for Fairport. More connections, more shared experiences.

It was inevitable that, when the time was right, (i.e. when Pegg could be persuaded to part with the lolly,) that Lindisfarne would be invited as Special Guests to Cropredy. That eventually happened in 1994. Their performance in front of the most critical audiences around was confirmation that Lindisfarne had matured into one of the finest, roots based bands the U.K. has ever produced. As Ian Burgess from Friends Of Fairport magazine, 'The Ledge', observed:

It was important that the band were appreciated for what they have always been; a bloody tremendous 'live' band. Alan Hull revelled in the occasion and he was well pleased that the band was in top form. Those who had never before experienced Alan's huge talent - or longtime fans for whom it was to be their last living sight of the man would surely agree that there have been few better opportunities to experience the Lindisfarne magic. "Another milestone in the group's history as they proudly march on" as our Friend Of Fairport commented - and all the better in the company of so many other good friends, "Live" At Cropredy, 1994.

I wonder if Peggy, Simon, Martin et-al managed a chorus or two of 'Meet Me On The Corner' that night... apparently, the song was a regular in the tour bus after Fairport gigs.