Jewel in the Crown (album)
Encyclopedia
Jewel In The Crown is a 1995 folk-rock album by 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 featured tracks from many of the band's favourite writers including Huw Williams, Ralph McTell
and Julie Matthews
.
Studios, six tracks were re-worked by the legendary producer Gus Dudgeon; and overall it's generally considered one of the most satisfying of Fairport's releases, post-Nine
. It was also the last studio album recorded by the Nicol, Pegg, Mattacks, Allcock and Sanders line-up.
Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention are an English folk rock and later electric folk band, formed in 1967 who are still recording and touring today. They are widely regarded as the most important single group in the English folk rock movement...
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
Gladys' Leap
Gladys' Leap is a folk rock album by Fairport Convention originally released in August 1985. It was recorded in April and May 1985 at Woodworm Studios, Barford St. Michael, Oxfordshire, UK...
. While few of the tracks were self-penned, it featured tracks from many of the band's favourite writers including Huw Williams, Ralph McTell
Ralph McTell
Ralph McTell is an English singer-songwriter and acoustic guitar player who has been an influential figure on the UK folk music scene since the 1960s....
and Julie Matthews
Julie Matthews
Julie Matthews is an award-winning singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. She has been a member of some of the most influential British folk duos and groups and is acknowledged internationally as a major songwriter, with her work being covered by a wide range of artists and...
.
History
Initially mixed by Fairport themselves and long-time collaborator Mark Tucker at the band's WoodwormWoodworm Records
Woodworm Records was a record label created in 1979 to enable the British folk-rock band Fairport Convention to release their album Farewell Farewell. The album was a recording of performances taken from the band's 1979 farewell tour...
Studios, six tracks were re-worked by the legendary producer Gus Dudgeon; and overall it's generally considered one of the most satisfying of Fairport's releases, post-Nine
Nine (Fairport Convention album)
Nine is the ninth album by the British folk rock group Fairport Convention and, according to Allmusic, is their most uneven.-Side one:#"The Hexhamshire Lass" – 2:31...
. It was also the last studio album recorded by the Nicol, Pegg, Mattacks, Allcock and Sanders line-up.
Track listing
- "Jewel in the Crown" (Julie MatthewsJulie MatthewsJulie Matthews is an award-winning singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. She has been a member of some of the most influential British folk duos and groups and is acknowledged internationally as a major songwriter, with her work being covered by a wide range of artists and...
) – 3:32 - "Slip Jigs and Reels" (Steve TilstonSteve TilstonSteve Tilston is an English singer-songwriter.-Early years:Steve Tilston was born in Liverpool and raised in Leicestershire. Tilston was a graphic designer before taking up music in 1971, living in Bristol at the time, where he recorded his first album "An Acoustic Confusion". In the early...
) – 4:52 - "A Surfeit of Lampreys" (Maartin AllcockMaartin AllcockMaartin Allcock , also known as Martin Allcock, is a multi-instrumentalist musician and record producer.-Biography:...
) – 3;19 - "Kind Fortune" (Traditional, arranged by Fairport ConventionFairport ConventionFairport Convention are an English folk rock and later electric folk band, formed in 1967 who are still recording and touring today. They are widely regarded as the most important single group in the English folk rock movement...
) – 2:37 - "Diamonds and Gold" (Ben Bennion/Maartin AllcockMaartin AllcockMaartin Allcock , also known as Martin Allcock, is a multi-instrumentalist musician and record producer.-Biography:...
) – 4:14 - "The Naked Highwayman" (Steve TilstonSteve TilstonSteve Tilston is an English singer-songwriter.-Early years:Steve Tilston was born in Liverpool and raised in Leicestershire. Tilston was a graphic designer before taking up music in 1971, living in Bristol at the time, where he recorded his first album "An Acoustic Confusion". In the early...
) – 4:32 - "The Islands" (Ralph McTellRalph McTellRalph McTell is an English singer-songwriter and acoustic guitar player who has been an influential figure on the UK folk music scene since the 1960s....
/Maartin AllcockMaartin AllcockMaartin Allcock , also known as Martin Allcock, is a multi-instrumentalist musician and record producer.-Biography:...
) – 4:33 - "The Youngest Daughter" (Traditional, arranged by Maartin AllcockMaartin AllcockMaartin Allcock , also known as Martin Allcock, is a multi-instrumentalist musician and record producer.-Biography:...
) – 2:06 - "London Danny" (Jez LoweJez LoweJez Lowe is an English folk singer-songwriter. Lowe was born and raised in County Durham, in a coal mining family with Irish roots. He is known primarily for his compositions dealing with daily life in North-East England, particularly in his hometown of Easington Colliery. He performs both as a...
) – 3:50 - "Travelling by Steam" (Huw Williams) – 4:57
- "Travel by Steam" (Traditional, arranged by Ric SandersRic SandersRichard 'Ric' Sanders is a British violinist who has played in jazz-rock, folk rock, electric folk and folk groups, including Soft Machine and Fairport Convention.-Biography:...
) – 3:47 - "She's Like the Swallow" (Traditional, arranged by Maartin AllcockMaartin AllcockMaartin Allcock , also known as Martin Allcock, is a multi-instrumentalist musician and record producer.-Biography:...
) – 3:14 - "Red Tide" (Rob Beattie) – 4:36
- "Home Is Where the Heart Is" (Clive GregsonClive GregsonClive Gregson is an English singer/songwriter, musician and record producer. He has toured in bands, provided backup for well-known musicians, and written songs that have been covered by Kim Carnes, Norma Waterson and Nanci Griffith.-Solo:At the end of 1984 Gregson released his first solo record,...
) – 4:41 - "Closing Time" (Leonard CohenLeonard CohenLeonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
) – 5:40
Production
- Produced by Fairport Convention at the band's Woodworm Studios
- Mixed by Mark Tucker and Fairport
- Jewel In The Crown, Diamonds And Gold, The Naked Highwayman, The Islands, Red Tide, and Closing Time mixed by Gus Dudgeon and Mark Tucker
Personnel
- Simon NicolSimon NicolSimon John Breckenridge Nicol is a guitarist, singer, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. He was a founder member of British folk rock, or electric folk group Fairport Convention and is the only founding member still in the band...
- lead vocal, acoustic and 12-string guitars - Maartin AllcockMaartin AllcockMaartin Allcock , also known as Martin Allcock, is a multi-instrumentalist musician and record producer.-Biography:...
- electric and acoustic guitar, keys, bouzar, bodhran, accordion, triangle, backing vocals - Ric SandersRic SandersRichard 'Ric' Sanders is a British violinist who has played in jazz-rock, folk rock, electric folk and folk groups, including Soft Machine and Fairport Convention.-Biography:...
- violins - Dave PeggDave PeggDave Pegg is an English multi-instrumentalist and record producer, arguably most visible as a bass guitarist. He is the longest-serving member of the pre-eminent electric folk band Fairport Convention and has been bassist with a number of important folk and rock groups including The Ian Campbell...
- bass guitar, acoustic bass, electric guitar, mandolin, backing vocals - Dave MattacksDave MattacksDave Mattacks is a rock and folk drummer. Best known for his work with Fairport Convention, Mattacks has also worked both as a session musician, and as a performance artist...
- drums, percussion