He must be one of the most reissued artists ever, especially by Talking Elephant (who themselves always seem to change covers every few years).  

I feel the same way. If memory serves corrected the label that produced Guv’nor folded, but 5 was in the works and Talking Elephant stepped in? Don’t quote me on that, just going off memory

What! You haven't got a copy of "Folk Aerobics"?! Shame on you, David!

I nabbed a cheap copy some years back - the (ahem) "vocal" tracks don't get played too often (OK, just once or twice)!

Incidentally, how does 'Five' fit in with the rest of the Guv'nor series?  Why is it not part of that series?  There's some really good stuff on it...

ps And the deeper one delves, the more insane the task looks... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/236028988127?itmmeta=01K95GWBJEKBJH0M3MJHM9AHMD&hash=item36f46c8adf:g:gqEAAOSw9Mln6TPu  

It was for sure the weakest one, but then I don't much care for Ashley's music post 1980.

Jules

Indeed. I mean collectively Free Reed unearthed a lot of great stuff in all the boxes, including the Martin Carthy one, and I will accept some range of lo fi if the tracks are cohesive and worthwhile to the collector in me. I didn't mind the themed approach on the 2 Fairport sets, Richard's, Peggy's, and Swarb's but for some reason I find this one irksome!

Whilst in Southport for Mike Courtney's 70th birthday party at the weekend, we popped in to the Roy Castle Charity Shop there and picked up

Runrig - Mara
Jaco Pastorious - Word Of Mouth
Pink - I'm Not Dead

for a grand total of £1.

Happy with that.

As a put on a CD and sit back and enjoy experience, you're absolutely spot on (but then I think that with quite a few of the Free Reed boxes).  Just stabilising the volume levels would have been a start....

A proper review: https://atthebarrier.com/2025/11/03/fairport-convention-the-tung-auditorium-liverpool-live-review/

In happier news, it's November & it's "30 Days of Dead" time.

Free downloads for everyone.

https://www.dead.net/30daysofdead