Gladys' Leap

Last updated

Gladys' Leap
FairportGladysLeap2.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 1985
RecordedApril–May 1985
StudioWoodworm Studio, Barford St. Michael, Oxfordshire
Genre British folk rock
Length38:01
Label Woodworm
Producer Simon Nicol, Dave Mattacks, Dave Pegg
Fairport Convention chronology
Tipplers Tales
(1978)
Gladys' Leap
(1985)
Expletive Delighted!
(1986)

Gladys' Leap is the fourteenth studio album by Fairport Convention, released in August 1985. It was recorded in April and May 1985 at Woodworm Studios, Barford St. Michael, Oxfordshire, UK. It was produced and engineered by Simon Nicol, Dave Mattacks and Dave Pegg and the assistant engineers were Tim Matyear and Mark Powell. The album features the first contributions to a Fairport album by founding member Richard Thompson since Rosie in 1973. Thompson wrote the opening track "How Many Times" and played lead guitar on "Head in a Sack".

Contents

The title comes from Gladys Hillier, who was a postwoman for Cranham, a village near Stroud in Gloucestershire, England. As a short-cut, to save a two-mile walk, she used to jump a three feet (~ 1 metre) wide stream on her round. [1] In 1977 the Ordnance Survey agreed to name the spot in her honour, and in 2005 a footbridge was built across the stream. [2] Fairport heard the story, and named the album in Gladys' honour.

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]

Track listing

Side one (The Folkside)
  1. "How Many Times" (Richard Thompson) - 3:29
  2. "Bird from the Mountain" (Ralph McTell) - 4:51
  3. "Honour and Praise" (John Richards) - 5:21
  4. "The Hiring Fair" (Ralph McTell, Dave Mattacks) - 5:53
Side two (The Backside)
  1. Instrumental Medley '85 - 5:08
    1. "The Riverhead" (Dave Pegg)
    2. "Gladys' Leap" (Dave Pegg)
    3. "The Wise Maid" (Traditional; arrangement by Simon Nicol and Dave Pegg)
  2. "My Feet are Set for Dancing" (Cathy Lesurf, arranged by Bill Martin) - 4:01
  3. "Wat Tyler" (Ralph McTell, Simon Nicol) - 5:36
  4. "Head in a Sack" (Dave Whetstone) - 4:23

Personnel

Fairport Convention
Additional personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairport Convention</span> British folk rock group

Fairport Convention are an English folk rock band, formed in 1967 by guitarists Richard Thompson and Simon Nicol, bassist Ashley Hutchings and drummer Shaun Frater They started out influenced by American folk rock, with a set list dominated by Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell songs and a sound that earned them the nickname "the British Jefferson Airplane". Vocalists Judy Dyble and Iain Matthews joined them before the recording of their self-titled debut in 1968; afterwards, Dyble was replaced by Sandy Denny, with Matthews later leaving during the recording of their third album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Pegg</span> English bass guitarist, multi-instrumentalist and record producer (born 1947)

Dave Pegg is an English multi-instrumentalist and record producer, primarily a bass guitarist. He is the longest-serving member of the British folk rock band Fairport Convention and has been bassist with a number of folk and rock groups including the Ian Campbell Folk Group and Jethro Tull.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Albion Band</span> British folk rock band

The Albion Band, also known as The Albion Country Band, The Albion Dance Band, and The Albion Christmas Band, were a British folk rock band, originally brought together and led by musician Ashley Hutchings. Generally considered one of the most important groupings in the genre, it has contained or been associated with a large proportion of major English folk performers in its long and fluid history.

<i>Full House</i> (Fairport Convention album) Fairport Convention album

Full House is a 1970 album by British folk rock group Fairport Convention, their fifth since their debut, Fairport Convention in 1968, and their first without a female vocalist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simon Nicol</span> Musical artist

Simon John Breckenridge Nicol is an English guitarist, singer, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. He was a founding member of British folk rock group Fairport Convention and is the only founding member still in the band. He has also been involved with the Albion Band and a wide range of musical projects, both as a collaborator, producer and as a solo artist. He has received several awards for his work and career.

<i>Jewel in the Crown</i> (album) 1995 studio album by Fairport Convention

Jewel In The Crown is the eighteenth studio album by folk rock band Fairport Convention which is viewed by many as the best record produced by the line-up which had been formed in 1985 for the one-off project Gladys' Leap. While few of the tracks were self-penned, it features tracks from many of the band's favourite writers including Huw Williams, Ralph McTell and Julie Matthews.

<i>"Babbacombe" Lee</i> 1971 studio album by Fairport Convention

"Babbacombe" Lee is a 1971 album by British folk rock group Fairport Convention, which tells the life story of John Babbacombe Lee, a Victorian-era alleged murderer who was condemned to death but was reprieved after the gallows failed on three occasions to work properly. After the commercial and chart success of its predecessor, Angel Delight, the album sold disappointingly, though it was critically acclaimed, and is regarded by the authors of The Electric Muse (1975) as the first "folk rock opera". It was the band's seventh album since their debut in 1968.

<i>Live at the L.A. Troubadour</i> 1977 live album by Fairport Convention

Live at the L.A. Troubadour along with its reissued counterpart House Full are the only live Fairport Convention albums recorded while Richard Thompson was a full-time band member. It was recorded in 1970 on the Full House tour and was reissued in 1986 and again in 2007, with modifications. Seven of the eight tracks are available on the House Full album with one being found only on this album.

<i>House Full: Live at the L.A. Troubadour</i> 1986 live album by Fairport Convention

House Full: Live at the L.A. Troubadour not to be confused with its earlier counterpart Live at the L.A. Troubadour is the only currently available live Fairport Convention album to feature Richard Thompson as a band member.

<i>Moat on the Ledge: Live at Broughton Castle, August 81</i> 1982 live album by Fairport Convention

Moat on the Ledge: Live at Broughton Castle, August '81 is a live folk rock album by Fairport Convention. The album was produced by Simon Nicol and Dave Pegg.

<i>Angel Delight</i> (album) 1971 studio album by Fairport Convention

Angel Delight is the sixth album by the British folk rock band Fairport Convention, released in June 1971. This was the first Fairport Convention album without guitarist Richard Thompson, and the lineup consisted of Simon Nicol, Dave Swarbrick, Dave Pegg, and Dave Mattacks (drums).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairport's Cropredy Convention appearances</span> British folk festival roster

This is a list of artists who have played at the various Fairport Convention Fairport's Cropredy Convention over the years.

<i>Rosie</i> (album) 1973 studio album by Fairport Convention

Rosie is a 1973 album by British folk rock band Fairport Convention, their eighth album since their debut in 1968.

<i>The Cropredy Box</i> 1999 live album by Fairport Convention

The Cropredy Box is an album by Fairport Convention recorded at their annual live concert in Cropredy, Oxfordshire, England to celebrate the band's thirtieth anniversary in 1997. Featuring many songs for which the band had become noted, the set also features performances from many former members including violinist Dave Swarbrick, original vocalist Judy Dyble, and Ralph McTell. Commentary is provided by their first manager, Joe Boyd, and Ashley Hutchings.

<i>Expletive Delighted!</i> 1986 studio album by Fairport Convention

Expletive Delighted! is a 1986 album by British folk rock band Fairport Convention, their fifteenth studio album since their debut in 1968. It is the band's only album consisting solely of instrumental tracks, despite the claim "Lyric sheet enclosed" on the album cover.

<i>In Real Time: Live 87</i> 1987 studio album by Fairport Convention

In Real Time: Live '87 is a 1987 album by British folk rock band Fairport Convention. Although appearing to consist of recordings of concert performances, the album was largely recorded at The Mill studio, Farnham, Buckinghamshire, with audience responses dubbed on later, reputedly taken from a recording of a John Martyn concert.

<i>Old New Borrowed Blue</i> 1996 studio album by Fairport Convention

Old New Borrowed Blue is the nineteenth studio album by folk rock band Fairport Convention, although for this release, they were billed as "Fairport Acoustic Convention" as it was the band's first all-acoustic album in 29 years. Part studio, part live, it was recorded to publicise a tour of the United States and consisted of cover versions, new songs and classic tracks dating back to the band's early career. Dave Mattacks, who had provided drums and electronic instrumentation for previous albums, was absent.

<i>Live at the BBC</i> (Fairport Convention album) 2007 compilation album by Fairport Convention

Live at the BBC is a compilation album by English folk-rock band Fairport Convention released in 2007. It includes tracks recorded for the BBC for various radio programmes between 1968 and 1974 and consists of four CDs in a fold-out package with a fifty-page booklet including song lyrics and numerous contemporary photographs.

<i>By Popular Request</i> 2012 studio album by Fairport Convention

By Popular Request is the twenty-sixth studio album by British folk rock band Fairport Convention, released in January 2012. It is a compilation of studio re-recordings of previous material.

References

  1. Location: 51°48′26″N2°09′36″W / 51.80718°N 2.15987°W
  2. Hamilton, Alan (11 August 2005). "A bridge too late to spare a country postwoman's muddy boots". The Times. London. Retrieved 17 May 2008.
  3. Allmusic review