Bootlegs

[Ces]

Bit controversial! But what do you think of bootlegs? Not, dodgy copies of Jewel In The Crown but "unofficial live recordings'. Swapped not sold. Do you think they steal from the pockets of artists? Or do you think they actually help increase sales of official releases?

[Nuthouse]

The Grateful Dead encouraged it & if memory serves, even made provision so that DeadHeads could get a decent recording... hardly hurt their finances I reckon 

[Maart]

I'm all for it as long as the artist doesn't lose from it. I think it does lead on to more legit sales. Some of my favourite albums are bootlegs. I like the way Peter Gabriel sells his own bootlegs. You can buy the gig you saw, warts and all. Richard Thompson does it too. As I've said elsewhere, the FC I played with were much better live than on album mostly, and I'm glad there are some live recordings which reflect much better what the band was about. Thanks to a bootleg from Italy I have a recording of when Robert Plant played at Cropredy and we did a whole Zep set and I got to be Jimmy Page...

Maart

PS Somewhere there's a vid of JT when we played in Brazil in 1988 or 1989 which I'd love to have again. Also the Swansea Heineken festival when Ric was injured and Swarb played. Full House lineup and I got to be RT!!!

[Ces]

Also the Swansea Heineken festival when Ric was injured and Swarb played. Full House lineup and I got to be RT!!!

Been searching for a copy of that gig for years. Twas a great night. Typical July evening in Swansea - howling winds and lashing rain , though it was free...which was nice.

I remember that I had just started pouring my picnic when Fairport came on and thinking "Hang about?! ...That's...no....it can't be! (or words to that effect! ) SWARB!!!! '

A magical evening ensued - stuff like Sloth, Hexhamshire Lass, Me With You was played I think. And played very well - cos there can't have been much rehearsal time?

Was it just the one gig that Swarb stood in for?

[Maart]

I don't think there was any rehearsal time, but everyone onstage (including me as I'd been a big fan before I went for the autograph and got thrown in the van for 11 years!) knew all the stuff so it was a doddle and had an edge. Ian Burgess sent me a cassette of it once but it's gone the way of all cassettes (I hate them!).

THis was the only gig that this lineup played as CJL was available for all the others.

Swarb looked pretty good today and even walked about a bit for me. Top stuff. Jill was there too and it was a very nice hour and a half before I joined the Brum rush-hour (not recommended) then gave up and went to Saleem's for my tea then drove home to Wales, ynde?

Maart
Back home for a few minutes in Harlech, Cymru

[Ces]

Better renew me Friends of Fairport subscription then! Wish I knew how to transfer cassesttes to CD...supposed to be quite straightforward (if you're not a dozy ****...which rules me out)

I do honestly remember the gig quite well (allowances made for age & alcohol consumption, of course). And it really was a great night.

Really pleased to hear Swarb was looking good. Poor sod's faced so many trials and tribulations. Can't wait to see him back treading the boards.

Celtic Connections gig go OK?

[gower flower (Shirl)]

Maart, please give our deepest love to Swarb and Jill. 

Gower flower

[Maart]

Celtic Connections gig go OK?

Toptastic. I'll be putting lots of pics on my website later this week but I have to go record with Yusuf first.

Maart

[Andy]

"Toptastic"?

Are you Nicey Or Smashy?

Seriously, glad all went well.