Notes to "Years"
Archie Fisher I first wanted to record six years before this album was made. Davy Graham (always a severe critic) had returned from the Edinburgh Festival then and told me about a singer he'd herd there. A singer, he said, who could be to folk music what Frank Sinatra is to popular ballad. I telephoned Archie, or rather tried to, the same day; and for several days after that. But he was away doing concerts - or upstream somewhere.
And through the recent years he has gone on to be come a kind of Dean-figure in the folk world.
As for Barbara: well, she is the only girl I have ever heard to sing folk music with true soul. By soul I mean the kind one expects to hear out of Detroit. Her sound is dramatic, compelling, convincing...
Both Archie and Barbara have paid their dues to traditional folk, many times over, before moving towards the contemporary songs heard in this set. A lot of the songs here are by Archie himself: remarkable, personal statements, pages torn out of his autobiography. Others, equally fine, are by his friend Rab Noakes.
Contrasts. The rich gentleness of Archie's voice and the sensitivity of his guitar-playing, alternating with Barbara's deep feeling and grit. Usually he accompanies her songs, sometimes the two voices come together, one buttressing the other, or - in unison- filling out the hook of a chorus.
The main thing is, like the different faces of a coin, they have made it work together. There is a real musical affinity, with no loss of individuality. And they have got it on record. - RAY HORRICKS.
Add this to Sheila's post and you've got the back cover. All that's mising is the note Red - Mono Blue - Stereo and the fact it was laminated with CLARIFIOL.
love, john.