Jewel in the Crown (album)

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.

History

Initially mixed by Fairport themselves and long-time collaborator Mark Tucker at the band's Woodworm 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.

Track listing

1. "Jewel in the Crown" (Julie Matthews) – 3:32
2. "Slip Jigs and Reels" (Steve Tilston) – 4:52
3. "A Surfeit of Lampreys" (Maartin Allcock) – 3;19
4. "Kind Fortune" (Traditional, arranged by Fairport Convention) – 2:37
5. "Diamonds and Gold" (Ben Bennion/Maartin Allcock) – 4:14
6. "The Naked Highwayman" (Steve Tilston) – 4:32
7. "The Islands" (Ralph McTell/Maartin Allcock) – 4:33
8. "The Youngest Daughter" (Traditional, arranged by Maartin Allcock) – 2:06
9. "London Danny" (Jez Lowe) – 3:50
10. "Travelling by Steam" (Huw Williams) – 4:57
11. "Travel by Steam" (Traditional, arranged by Ric Sanders) – 3:47
12. "She's Like the Swallow" (Traditional, arranged by Maartin Allcock) – 3:14
13. "Red Tide" (Rob Beattie) – 4:36
14. "Home Is Where the Heart Is" (Clive Gregson) – 4:41
15. "Closing Time" (Leonard Cohen) – 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 Nicol - lead vocal, acoustic and 12-string guitars
• Maartin Allcock - electric and acoustic guitar, keys, bouzar, bodhran, accordion, triangle, backing vocals
• Ric Sanders - violins
• Dave Pegg - bass guitar, acoustic bass, electric guitar, mandolin, backing vocals
• Dave Mattacks - drums, percussion

References