Rising for the Moon
Encyclopedia
Rising for the Moon is a Fairport Convention
album. It reached number 52 in the UK albums charts. This was the last Fairport album to feature Sandy Denny.
During this period the band was dubbed by fans — in a tongue-and-cheek manner — "Fotheringay Convention" and "Fotheringport Confusion", as the core of Fotheringay
(Denny, her husband Trevor Lucas, and Jerry Donahue) joined the remaining members of the early '70's version of Fairport (Dave Pegg, Dave Mattacks and Dave Swarbrick) for this version of the band. Lucas, an Australian, and Donahue, an American, joined Pegg, Swarbrick, and drummer Dave Mattacks in 1973 for the recording of the album "Rosie". Denny travelled with the band while they toured in 1974 and began performing with them on stage.
This was the first Fairport Convention album not to involve John Wood in the production, and the only one not to feature any traditional material. With a number of solid songs penned, they entered the studio for recording sessions. Although still firmly rooted in the folk-rock vein, producer Glyn Johns
brought a more polished and pop influenced sound to the recording. Mattacks left midway through the sessions and was replaced by drummer Bruce Rowland.
This was the last Fairport record to reach the UK charts prior to Red & Gold
in 1989; it entered the chart on 12 July 1975, and stayed just one week, reaching no. 52. The band (especially Denny) pinned their hopes on "Rising For The Moon" to finally be their breakthrough album; unfortunately, that level of popularity never materialized and, in December 1975, after touring in support of the album, Donahue left the band, followed shortly by Denny and Lucas. Carrying on as Fairport Convention, Pegg, Swarbrick and Rowland recruited several short-term replacements before persuading founder member Simon Nicol to return.
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...
album. It reached number 52 in the UK albums charts. This was the last Fairport album to feature Sandy Denny.
During this period the band was dubbed by fans — in a tongue-and-cheek manner — "Fotheringay Convention" and "Fotheringport Confusion", as the core of Fotheringay
Fotheringay
Fotheringay was a short-lived British folk rock group, formed in 1970 by singer Sandy Denny on her departure from Fairport Convention. The band drew its name from her 1968 composition "Fotheringay" about Fotheringhay Castle, in which Mary, Queen of Scots had been imprisoned...
(Denny, her husband Trevor Lucas, and Jerry Donahue) joined the remaining members of the early '70's version of Fairport (Dave Pegg, Dave Mattacks and Dave Swarbrick) for this version of the band. Lucas, an Australian, and Donahue, an American, joined Pegg, Swarbrick, and drummer Dave Mattacks in 1973 for the recording of the album "Rosie". Denny travelled with the band while they toured in 1974 and began performing with them on stage.
This was the first Fairport Convention album not to involve John Wood in the production, and the only one not to feature any traditional material. With a number of solid songs penned, they entered the studio for recording sessions. Although still firmly rooted in the folk-rock vein, producer Glyn Johns
Glyn Johns
Glyn Johns is a musician, recording engineer and record producer.-Career:He has worked with such artists as Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Easybeats, The Band, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Eagles, Eric Clapton, The Clash, The Steve Miller Band, Small Faces, Spooky Tooth, The Ozark...
brought a more polished and pop influenced sound to the recording. Mattacks left midway through the sessions and was replaced by drummer Bruce Rowland.
This was the last Fairport record to reach the UK charts prior to Red & Gold
Red & Gold
Red & Gold is a 1988 album by folk rock band Fairport Convention.The album was released on the Rough Trade label, leading David Fricke, Rolling Stone's reviewer to comment...
in 1989; it entered the chart on 12 July 1975, and stayed just one week, reaching no. 52. The band (especially Denny) pinned their hopes on "Rising For The Moon" to finally be their breakthrough album; unfortunately, that level of popularity never materialized and, in December 1975, after touring in support of the album, Donahue left the band, followed shortly by Denny and Lucas. Carrying on as Fairport Convention, Pegg, Swarbrick and Rowland recruited several short-term replacements before persuading founder member Simon Nicol to return.
Side one
- "Rising for the Moon" (Sandy DennySandy DennySandy Denny , born Alexandra Elene Maclean Denny, was an English singer and songwriter, perhaps best known as the lead singer for the folk rock band Fairport Convention...
) - 4:07 - "Restless" (Trevor LucasTrevor LucasTrevor George Lucas was an influential folk artist, a member of Fairport Convention and one of the founders of Fotheringay...
, Peter Roche) - 3:58 - "White Dress" (Dave SwarbrickDave SwarbrickDave Swarbrick is an English folk musician and singer-songwriter. He has been described by Ashley Hutchings as 'the most influential [British] fiddle player bar none' and his style has been copied or developed by almost every British, and many World folk violin players that have followed him...
, 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....
) - 3:43 - "Let It Go" (Denny, Swarbrick, 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...
) - 2:00 - "Stranger to Himself" ( Denny) - 2:50
- "What Is True" (Denny) - 3:33
Side two
- "Iron Lion (Lucas) - 3:27
- "Dawn" (Denny, Jerry DonahueJerry DonahueJerry Donahue is an American guitarist and producer primarily known for his work in the British folk rock scene as a member of Fotheringay and Fairport Convention as well as being a member of the rock guitar trio The Hellecasters.-Biography:Donahue was born in New York, the son of big band...
) - 3:43 - "After Halloween" (Denny) - 3:38
- "Night-Time Girl" (Swarbrick, Pegg) - 2:55
- "One More Chance" (Denny) - 7:55
Bonus reissue tracks
- "Tears" (Lucas) - 4:09
- "Rising for the Moon" (Denny) - 3:06
- "Stranger to Himself" (Denny) - 2:17
- "One More Chance" (Denny) - 3:46
Personnel
- Sandy DennySandy DennySandy Denny , born Alexandra Elene Maclean Denny, was an English singer and songwriter, perhaps best known as the lead singer for the folk rock band Fairport Convention...
: vocals, piano - Trevor LucasTrevor LucasTrevor George Lucas was an influential folk artist, a member of Fairport Convention and one of the founders of Fotheringay...
: vocals, rhythm guitar - Dave SwarbrickDave SwarbrickDave Swarbrick is an English folk musician and singer-songwriter. He has been described by Ashley Hutchings as 'the most influential [British] fiddle player bar none' and his style has been copied or developed by almost every British, and many World folk violin players that have followed him...
: vocals, violin, mandolin, dulcimer - Jerry DonahueJerry DonahueJerry Donahue is an American guitarist and producer primarily known for his work in the British folk rock scene as a member of Fotheringay and Fairport Convention as well as being a member of the rock guitar trio The Hellecasters.-Biography:Donahue was born in New York, the son of big band...
: lead guitar - 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, 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 ("Rising for the Moon", "Restless", "White Dress", "Dawn", "One More Chance") - Bruce RowlandBruce Rowland (drummer)Bruce Rowland is an English rock drummer best known for his memberships of The Grease Band and folk rock band Fairport Convention. He is also a prolific session musician.-Early career:...
: drums ("Let It Go", "Stranger to Himself", "What Is True", "Iron Lion", "After Halloween", "Night-Time Girl")