Fairport Convention: Celebrating 40 years of 'Gladys' Leap' ! Special Edition out now

Out now - FAIRPORT CONVENTION: Gladys’ Leap (40^th Anniversary Special Edition)

Talking Elephant Records / Proper Music Distribution

*** Remastered + extensive booklet ***

Interview requests taken

Gladys Hillier : With Thanks to the Postal Museum

August 4^th 1985 saw the release of the first Fairport Convention studio album in seven years. The first at the copies were on sale at the band’s sixth annual reunion five days later. This re-release celebrates the 40^th anniversary of ‘Gladys’ Leap’

“This venerable folk-rock institution have gone through a whole host of personnel changes over the years, and this eminently listenable 1985  offering featured the slimmed down Fairport line-up of singer and guitarist Simon Nicol, bassist Dave Pegg and drummer Dave Mattacks. Founder member Richard Thompson also contributed to the proceedings for the first time since the 1973 album ‘Rosie’, penning the opening track, ‘How Many Times’ and chipping in on lead guitar on ‘Head In A Sack.’ The finished product should be required listening for roots music devotees everywhere, particularly Ralph Mc Tell's two classic songwriting co- compositions, ‘Wat Tyler’ and ‘The Hiring Fair’. “. Other Special guests included future Fairport, Ric Sanders and Kathy Lesurf.

A very English story to mark the return of a very English band -

Despite the fact that the original inner sleeve of the album contained detailed information about the inspiration behind the LP’s title, several accounts of Fairport’s’ releases have got this wrong. Gladys Hillier was a postwoman in the village of Cranham, near Stroud in Gloucestershire, from 1942. Her round was divided by a fast-flowing brook. To reach the nearest bridge required a two- mile walk, so Gladys took to jumping across the brook at its narrowest point (about a yard wide). Locals nicknamed the spot ‘Gladys’ Leap’. After she retired in 1977, after 35 years of service, a successful campaign had the spot formally named as Gladys’ Leap on Ordnance Survey maps. The Fairports liked the story and named the album after her too. Twenty years on, in 2005, a footbridge was erected on the spot with a commemorative plaque.

. (with Thanks to Kevin Bryan, Messenger Newspapers and Nigel Schofield)

Tracks:

How Many Times

Bird From The Mountain

Honour and Praise

The Hiring Fair

Instrumental Medley ’85 (The Riverhead, Gladys’ Leap, The Wise Maid)

My Feet Are Set For Dancing

Wat Tyler

Head In A Sack

The Hiring Fair