Customer Reviews

Gottle O'Geer

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In December 1975, Fairport Convention were split straight down the middle with the departures of Sandy Denny, Trevor Lucas & Jerry Donahue. Dave Pegg and Dave Swarbrick were the only survivors on the good ship Fairport and the band was still committed to Island Records, to turn in a final album under the band's name. This record called: "Gottle 'O' Geer" was the result.

This 1976 release by Swarb, Peggy and Drummer, Bruce Rowland is almost always at the top of the list as the most un-popular Fairport Convention album of all time. Well it's not at all that horrible!

But, with nine tracks, and a slim running time of 31 minutes this one is indeed short. This record, had begun as an Dave Swarbrick solo record, so outta the gate it's: "When First into This Country" and it fades into a song already in progress, but it's good, with bright guitars and a nice lead guitar thrown in as well. Except for the slightly rude start it's a fine begining. "Our Band", sounds like a: jug-band has met up with a jazzy piano man, it's over quickly. "Lay Me Down Easy" will no doubt be popular at Swarb's next wake, it features some fine piano by Bruce, but this does not sound like Fairport at all, this is closer to the works of The Band than it is to British Folk Rock.

The Fourth track is called; "Cropredy Capers", and get this, it's a DISCO NUMBER! I have no idea what the chaps were thinking, but here it is. My favorite number is next and it's called; "Frog Up The Pump" and it's a lively jig medley that showcases Peggy & Swarb in their more comfortable musical area of Traditional Folk. This song, would have been the ideal direction for the entire record. But, on the very next cut, they go R & B on us with the piano again leading the way on: "Don't Be Late" with the dreaded saxophone solo intact. Oh, boy this ain't Fairport, not even close!

"Sandy's Song", written by Sandy Denny is excellant and needs a revival on the concert stage, but NOT ONE of these tunes have ever been performed live by the band. But, with a little revamping, "Sandy's Tune" could be a classic for the lads, as it's that good. Track 8, I just don't want to talk about it. The final cut is 'Limey's Lament" and it's not bad, but, again it needs a new arrangement to make it a 'Proper' number {Chris Leslie?}.

Well there you are, a review of; "Gottle O' Geer", if you are a Fairport Completist, you already own this, if not....

This is far from a great album or great Fairport album, yet it's not a bad listen, either. It starts off on a (rather country-ish) British traditional song ("When First Into This Country"), and contains probably the most straight-ahead, acoustic traditional Irish fiddle tune on it also, but aside from that it's mostly pop/rock with an occaisonal dab into country. I have to say, the song which started side 2 of the vinyl "Don't Be Late" (kind of a marketplace seller's pitch thing goin' on with the lyrics) is really catchy and fun, and made me bump this up from 2 stars. Also, the last track "Limey's Lament" is (as another reviewer commented) kind of a predecessor of REM's "It's the End Of The World As We Know It", with fiddle! There's also a kind of unremarkable, but spacey fiddle improv over a funky rhythm.

There is an album actually called "Monty Python's Contractual Obligation". Apparently, the Pythons owed one more album on the contract they'd signed with the record label.

My ex-wife and i dubbed this album (as this review is titled) "Fairport Convention's COntractual Obligation"

Yup -- Fairport owed the label (Island, i believe) an album and converted what was apparently supposed to be a Swarbrick "solo" album (with the rest of the Usual Suspects sitting in) to a "Fairport" (no "Convention") album.

Yup -- it's a collection of mostly second-rank pieces. (A Major Exception being "Sandy's Song" ("Take Away the Load"), written by the late Sandy Denny.)

But, ya know -- when i hear people slamming Billy Joel for how "derivative" of REM's "It's the End of the World" his "We Didn't Start the Fire" is, i think of the fact that REM are known Thompson/Fairport fans, and i think of the wonderful cut called "Limey's Lament" on this album, and i chuckle quietly.

(The cover art on this album is a parody of/homage to Norman Rockwell's "Saturday Evening Post" covers; the jester's face is a caricature of Swarb.)

I TELL YOU WHAT!!! OLE FAIRPORT HAS MANY TYPES OF ALBUMS,AND THIS IS NO ACCEPTION,STILL KEEP'N THAT GOOD OLD BRITISH ROCK BEAT,NOT TO FORGET THE FOLK SOUND. SWARBRICK IS THE GRAND MASTER ON THIS LIL DIDEE,INCLUDING SOME OF THE OTHER ORIGINAL MEMBERS. YOU WILL LOVE IT.