Noah's Ark Trap (Nic Jones album)

Subject: RE: Noah's Ark Trap
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 03 Jul 11 - 12:36 PM

Red font eh - well I can't help all that, I only judge what I hear from the LP compared with any other from that time or before for that matter. We will play the other one we have tomorrow - "Nic Jones".

Subject: RE: Noah's Ark Trap
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 03 Jul 11 - 12:24 PM

Not knowing the circumstances of the recording a fair judgement is hard to reach.===

The circumstances were that Bill had not all that long since left Topic Records where he had been chief recording engineer, and set up a studio at his own flat in North Villas, Camden Town, where he produced the early recordings on his Leader & Trailer labels ~~ a pun involved here, of course: the Leader label was from his own name, but reserved for genuine traditional singers, who were, he thought, the *Leaders* of the folk revival; the Trailer label was for the revival singers who followed in their wake.

It is not surprising that the records he produced in such circumstances, even with his enormous expertise, were not always right up to the standard of his best work for Topic.

And, yes, Bonzo: of course we are getting offended on behalf of someone else, an old friend who has been subjected to what his traducer has admitted to being abuse from a position of complete ignorance both of the man and of his circumstances at the relevant time.

~Michael~

Subject: RE: Noah's Ark Trap
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 03 Jul 11 - 10:27 AM

Getting offended on behalf of somebody else are we???

Subject: RE: Noah's Ark Trap
From: GUEST,Gareth Merengue
Date: 03 Jul 11 - 09:50 AM

if you knew nothing about the man, why did you call him an idiot?

Only an idiot would call another man an idiot whilst knowing little or nothing about him.

Subject: RE: Noah's Ark Trap
From: gnomad
Date: 03 Jul 11 - 09:40 AM

You were lucky to be able to listen to the LP, Bonzo, there are not that many copies around.

Recording quality? Older technology of course, but I'll grant that there were higher-quality examples from that era. Not knowing the circumstances of the recording a fair judgement is hard to reach. You could (if you wish) record it to H/Drive then tweak it to your own satisfaction.

Why no remaster? See numerous earlier threads on Bulmer and/or Celtic music. When you have read them you will conclude that a decently-remastered reissue would be a lovely, but seriously unlikely, event.

Subject: RE: Noah's Ark Trap
From: RolyH
Date: 03 Jul 11 - 09:18 AM

Here we go!

Subject: RE: Noah's Ark Trap
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 03 Jul 11 - 08:48 AM

Why have these early albums not been remastered and issued on CD?

Subject: RE: Noah's Ark Trap
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 03 Jul 11 - 08:47 AM

I know nothing about the man. I simply observe the appalling recording quality and perhaps the pressing.

Subject: RE: Noah's Ark Trap
From: GUEST,Mike Yates
Date: 03 Jul 11 - 07:40 AM

To call Bill Leader an "idiot" just shows how little you known about the man. Without him, the folk world would be a much poorer place.He is one of the outstanding people behind the Britsh folk revival of the 60's and he recorded some of the greatest singers and musicians of the time. Without him, the world would be a far poorer place today.

Subject: RE: Noah's Ark Trap
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 03 Jul 11 - 07:13 AM

Bill Leader is a master; take him out of the equation and the revival wouldn't be a tenth of what it is. Listen to Bright Phoebus - still the best sounding folkrock album ever - or Times and Traditions for Dulcimer, the production of which alone makes me weep. There are few truly Godlike figures in the Revival - MacColl, Lloyd, Bellamy, and, of course, Bill Leader. Respect, honour, and eternal deference to the Lee Perry / Phil Spector / Connie Plank / Martin Hannet / Manfred Eicher of Folk Music.

Subject: Noah's Ark Trap
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 03 Jul 11 - 07:04 AM

We played this LP over breakfast - some observations:

Nic is superb of course

Recording balance is awful

No top end

Very low volume

What was that idiot Leader thinking of by releasing such a poorly recorded LP of such great performances?