|
Will S
|
 |
« on: February 16, 2026, 04:37:24 PM » |
|
As I'm listening to Dream Attic for the first time in years, I'm reminded that on the recordings for that album his band included a violinist (Joel Zifkin). I can't think of many other albums or tours where he has included a fiddler in his line-up. I remember when the BBC left the TV Centre they recorded a concert of him with Swarb (though I don't think that has ever been released), but can anyone else remember him working with a fiddler?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
All the diamonds in the world
That mean anything to me,
Are conjured up by wind and sunlight
Sparkling on the sea
(Bruce Cockburn)
|
|
|
|
Nick Reg
|
|
« Reply #1 on: February 16, 2026, 06:04:09 PM » |
|
Henry The Human Fly and Morris On for starters.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
There's a man with a mullet going mad with a mallet in Millets
|
|
|
|
ColinB
|
|
« Reply #2 on: February 16, 2026, 06:27:00 PM » |
|
On Electric he had Stuart Duncan on fiddle and on Sweet Warrior Sara Watkins played on a couple of tracks with two violins and a viola on She Sang Angels to Rest.
Seem to remember Aly Bain played on the Jimmy Shand song on Rumor & Sigh.
I'll let someone else check all his other albums.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
quodlibet (Ian)
Squeeze it, Eliseao
Folkcorp Guru 2nd Dan
 Offline
Posts: 1316
Loc: Hereford. UK
In nīz bogzarad
|
|
« Reply #3 on: February 17, 2026, 09:54:58 AM » |
|
Aly Bain on Amnesia and Hand of Kindness. And then, just for fun, there's this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNIJ0fcCRCY |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
A Brittunculus is not such a bad thing to be.
|
|
|
|
Will S
|
|
« Reply #4 on: February 17, 2026, 10:55:24 AM » |
|
Oh that is fun! I do remember seeing Aly Bain's name on Hand of Kindness, now you mention it, though I wouldn't have said his contribution is very noticeable - I shall have to listen again. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
All the diamonds in the world
That mean anything to me,
Are conjured up by wind and sunlight
Sparkling on the sea
(Bruce Cockburn)
|
|
|
|
Jules Gray
|
|
« Reply #5 on: February 17, 2026, 11:18:17 AM » |
|
On Shirley Collins' No Roses album, Richard plays alongside Barry Dransfield on Murder of Maria Marten.
Jules
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Now be thankful for good things below
|
|
|
|
Will S
|
|
« Reply #6 on: February 17, 2026, 12:43:07 PM » |
|
I think Electric is one of the gaps in my RT collection. I was thinking more of times when he has consistently used a fiddler on a tour or an album, rather than odd appearances. He seems to have done that more with squeezeboxes - John Kirkpatrick in particular.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
All the diamonds in the world
That mean anything to me,
Are conjured up by wind and sunlight
Sparkling on the sea
(Bruce Cockburn)
|
|
|
|
Shane (Skirky)
|
|
« Reply #7 on: February 17, 2026, 11:44:49 PM » |
|
A couple of reflections - one, working with Swarb might have put him off forever… Notably, Aly Bain was his go-to guy for at least a couple of albums.
Otherwise, a fiddle player does one thing of two things - either also sings, or demands a solo in every song. If you’re in a band where there are flourishes and counterpoints around every corner then clearly there’s room. If that’s what your vibe as a singer and guitarist is, then why bother?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Lock the gates Goofy - take my hand, and lead me through the world of self.
|
|
|
|
RobertD
|
|
« Reply #8 on: Yesterday at 12:41:22 AM » |
|
Some additions, after perusing the collection-
Chris Leslie on Time To Ring Some Changes from Hard Cash, also a few cuts on Sweet Talker
Aly Bain also on Rumor And Sigh, Hokey Pokey
Tom McConville on Mirror Blue,
Sid Page on You? Me? Us?
Peter Knight on Industry
Sam Watkins on Sweet Warrior
Stuart Duncan on Electric
David Mansfield on Ship To Shore
Nic Jones & Aly on Pour Down Like Silver
Chuck Fleming on Daring Adventures
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
I'm just a little shy of Surf's Up and I'm deeper than Twist and Shout....Iain Matthews
|
|
|
|
Jules Gray
|
|
« Reply #9 on: Yesterday at 01:23:45 AM » |
|
A couple of reflections - one, working with Swarb might have put him off forever…
I do think about this quite often. Swarb adored Richard, but Richard definitely seemed to hold Swarb at arm's length. I think Swarb was just too much for him. So often he'd work with Peggy, DM, and Simon, but noticeably no Swarb. Using another fiddler with those guys would have looked to much like an obvious snub, and I think that may have been a big reason for him not doing so very often. Turning to John Kirkpatrick's box was a canny way of sidestepping the issue. Jules |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Now be thankful for good things below
|
|
|
|
davidmjs
|
|
« Reply #10 on: Yesterday at 08:00:59 AM » |
|
Let's not forget that after Swarb huffed off out of the 2009 Barbican show, RT went and played solo with him very soon afterwards... These probably belongs here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeLDg-KWWQkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thyAzIzh4r0Fwiw I too have often thought about RT 'not working with' Swarb. But actually, if you think about it, where would he fit in on something like Hand of Kindness? And then it becomes FC. Also personalities...two very very different approaches to life? |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Link to Bluesky (Twitter for normal people) profile by web button on left
|
|
|
|
ColinB
|
|
« Reply #11 on: Yesterday at 01:37:01 PM » |
|
I think Electric is one of the gaps in my RT collection. I was thinking more of times when he has consistently used a fiddler on a tour or an album, rather than odd appearances. He seems to have done that more with squeezeboxes - John Kirkpatrick in particular.
I don't think I've seen him on any tour with a fiddle player in his backing band so it's an instrument he seems to prefer having in the studio rather than on the road, the exception being the Dream Attic live recordings when he had Joel Zifkin in his band. And since Pete Zorn's sad passing he's pretty much stuck with the trio line-up of guitar, bass and drums. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
RobertD
|
|
« Reply #12 on: Yesterday at 04:39:06 PM » |
|
Let's not forget that after Swarb huffed off out of the 2009 Barbican show, RT went and played solo with him very soon afterwards... These probably belongs here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeLDg-KWWQkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thyAzIzh4r0Fwiw I too have often thought about RT 'not working with' Swarb. But actually, if you think about it, where would he fit in on something like Hand of Kindness? And then it becomes FC. Also personalities...two very very different approaches to life? Having played both recently I wondered about the longer explanation of how Fairport ‘not’ Convention got together for Smiddyburn/Flittin’. Probably from a Cropredy reunion thing but still curious |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
I'm just a little shy of Surf's Up and I'm deeper than Twist and Shout....Iain Matthews
|
|
|
Yorkshire Chris
Did you have a Sloppy Guiseppe?
Full Member
Offline
Posts: 126
Loc: Yorkshire (who'd have guessed...!)
|
|
« Reply #13 on: Yesterday at 04:44:56 PM » |
|
Fab! Thanks for pointing me in the direction of these David. Beautiful stuff. Swarb's glance at Richard at 2.59 in Sloth...  |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Adam
I'm looking at you, Cool Cat!
Folkcorp Guru
Offline
Posts: 673
I'm a llama!
|
|
« Reply #14 on: Yesterday at 07:29:16 PM » |
|
As I'm listening to Dream Attic for the first time in years, I'm reminded that on the recordings for that album his band included a violinist (Joel Zifkin). I can't think of many other albums or tours where he has included a fiddler in his line-up. I remember when the BBC left the TV Centre they recorded a concert of him with Swarb (though I don't think that has ever been released), but can anyone else remember him working with a fiddler?
How bizarre; I was also listening to Dream Attic the other day for the first time in years! I really enjoyed it, and it might be the last RT album that I really like every track, maybe because its got a nice full sound. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Chris from Fieldtown
Sorry Bob
Sr. Member
Offline
Posts: 480
Loc: Fieldtown, Oxon
|
|
« Reply #15 on: Yesterday at 07:39:59 PM » |
|
A couple of reflections - one, working with Swarb might have put him off forever…
I do think about this quite often. Swarb adored Richard, but Richard definitely seemed to hold Swarb at arm's length. I think Swarb was just too much for him. So often he'd work with Peggy, DM, and Simon, but noticeably no Swarb. Using another fiddler with those guys would have looked to much like an obvious snub, and I think that may have been a big reason for him not doing so very often. Turning to John Kirkpatrick's box was a canny way of sidestepping the issue. Jules That could be a good explanation of why Swarb didn't turn up too often on RT's work but on the other hand RT's work on Siddyburn is fantastic. He obviously took the project very seriously and put in the graft to work out the amazing guitar parts which help make this a wonderful album musically. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
