Rare 1969 Fairport live recording

Subject: Rare 1969 Fairport live recording
From: Tony Rees
Date: 15 May 21 - 05:22 AM

In March 1969, Fairport Convention in their "Unhalfbricking" lineup headlined a live concert entitled "Folk Meets Pop" at the Royal Festival Hall, London. An audience tape of their set (4 songs) has circulated among collectors for many years but not been more generally available. Now it is... see Fairport Convention: "Folk Meets Pop", 1969 - enjoy!

Cheers - Tony

Subject: RE: Rare 1969 Fairport live recording
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 15 May 21 - 07:41 AM

The sound is atrocious, not worth listening.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Rare 1969 Fairport live recording
From: Tony Rees
Date: 15 May 21 - 12:10 PM

Hi Dave, as noted in the accompanying text, the original audio tape is rather poor and there is a limit to the degree that it can be enhanced, but if you are a fan and are able to listen through the hiss (as I can) there is an irreplaceable gem there. Each to his/her own I guess...

Clinton Heylin originally graded this recording 2/5 (mildly unlistenable). Probably that is being a little kind; however it is better than the 1/5 (unutterably dire) that was his worst opinion for some others of a similar vintage, and which even I have trouble listening to. I am guessing that it is a case of different strokes for different folks.

Regards - Tony

Subject: RE: Rare 1969 Fairport live recording
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 15 May 21 - 12:33 PM

At least it's free..

I remember buying rare bootleg CDs from Camden market stalls,
or dodgy blokes with a briefcase in the carpark,
back in the 1990s..

discs costing 15 quid or quite a lot more..

..with no guarantees they wouldn't sound just as shite...


This is one area of existence where the internet is an absolutely life-changing benefit for humanity...

Subject: RE: Rare 1969 Fairport live recording
From: Tony Rees
Date: 15 May 21 - 03:16 PM

I believe (paraphrasing a mate from the 70s who used to have no trouble listening to crackly old blues recordings off 78s) that by engaging a "built in Dolby system in the head" it is possible for the brain to experience the music that lies inside the hiss or crackle exterior. Alternatively, play it loud in another room and listen through the door :)

When I was "improving" this recording to the best of my ability and playing it back on big speakers in my listening room, I actually did enjoy listening to it although again as stated in the accompanying note, not exactly a hi-fi experience.

I will happily concur that of the recordings I have put up thus far (list here, also this one kindly posted for me by Colin Harper), this one has the poorest sound quality, but then again it is the only one that features Sandy Denny... (not that I made the recording in this case, I am just trying to ensure that it can be heard).

Regards - Tony

Subject: RE: Rare 1969 Fairport live recording
From: Tony Rees
Date: 16 May 21 - 01:49 AM

Some interesting comments here, on the Richard Thompson Facebook thread: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2209546417/permalink/10158875598626418/

- Tony

Subject: RE: Rare 1969 Fairport live recording
From: nickp
Date: 16 May 21 - 06:06 AM

You certainly have to be really interested to listen (I am and have). However, much as we would like that time machine (assuming quality reorders survive the backwards trip)we have to make do with what we have. After all, if you want (I think it was) Edison's 'Mary, Mary, quite contrary' early recording you have to put up with a huge amount of noise.
Nick

Subject: RE: Rare 1969 Fairport live recording
From: Gordon Jackson
Date: 16 May 21 - 07:08 AM

For me, the best Fairport lineup by a mile. Also, for me, a recording so awful I can't listen to it. Of interest to historians, perhaps.

Subject: RE: Rare 1969 Fairport live recording
From: nickp
Date: 16 May 21 - 07:44 AM

Yep it's grim. Having said that, it's worth listening to Sailors Life at least. Probably the earliest live recording of it, only about a month after it was first performed.

Subject: RE: Rare 1969 Fairport live recording
From: Nick
Date: 16 May 21 - 09:02 AM

Probably shouldn't do this but I thought I'd just have a little tinker with it and clean it up a little. Causes other problems but I removed most of the 'guy frying chips' noise. I could probably do it a little better but it was just something to do on a Sunday morning between Andrew Marr and the football :)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ard7xepbnkrupf0/FairportLive.mp3?dl=0

It's about 60mb

Subject: RE: Rare 1969 Fairport live recording
From: nickp
Date: 16 May 21 - 09:39 AM

Interesting. Tony you said you'd had a try at eq. Is the version you loaded before or after?

Subject: RE: Rare 1969 Fairport live recording
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 16 May 21 - 10:42 AM

Recent versions of audio restoration software is far more advanced and effective than anything most amateur enthusiasts have in their toolbox.

Naturally it's bloody expensive.
Though cut down semi-pro versions are slightly more affordable..

Small groups of competent amateur restorers could club together..

Music tech literate folkies,
should now be able to make better jobs of cleaning up shite quality old recordings.

Providing the original recorded tapes still exist,
and haven't been binned in favour of keeping and distributing previous botched audio restoration digital transfers..

Bootleg collectors have had to put up with too many dire amateurish attempts at dehissing and declicking, etc.

Unfortunately not just bootlegs have been ruined by cack-handed audio 'restored' transfers,
with the original tapes being disposed of or lost..

Proper profit oriented and cost-cutting record labels have been just as guilty...

Subject: RE: Rare 1969 Fairport live recording
From: Nick
Date: 16 May 21 - 10:50 AM

Was that aimed at me :) ?

Subject: RE: Rare 1969 Fairport live recording
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 16 May 21 - 11:02 AM

Btw, for folks who are not already aware of this..

We have now reached an era of technology,
when finished stereo (and presumably mono) recordings
can be manipulated and effectively remixed.
Individual instruments and singers can be be soloed, removed, or replace.

.. and for restoration purposes, elements of these tracks can be individually enhanced improved and repaired..

Lite versions of this software is affordable, with a not too steep learning curve.

The results are reported as being surprisingly more effective than we had ever hoped could exist outside of science fiction..

Maybe I can finally get rid of the annoying drums from that M* F** album...???

I've not investigated it, but de-reverb software is available as well..
Those 1960s record producers did like lashings of plate reverb on solo folk singers..

The 21st century is bloody brilliant...!!!

Subject: RE: Rare 1969 Fairport live recording
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 16 May 21 - 11:10 AM

Nick - .. of course not.. unless you're feeling a tad guilty...

I'll tell you who I did have in my mind while typing,

.. actually I'd better not, best be diplomatic..

We're still hoping that one day there may be professionally competent lovingly remastered reissues...

Subject: RE: Rare 1969 Fairport live recording
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 16 May 21 - 11:40 AM

While I'm having a tea break from clearing out my old mum's house..

I've recently heard about this software

https://hitnmix.com/

Full and lite versions currently available on promo discount.
Also free trials available.

All this year I've been preoccupied with getting my mum into care, and all the other necessary arrangements, under lockdown restrictions..
So even if I could justify buying the lite version, I'll have to add it to everything else I have no time to be getting on with..

Being optimistic, this looks like one of the better new softwares of its type,
and I'm guessing should effectively compliment the popular relatively affordable izotope audio enhancing/restoration programs...???

Subject: RE: Rare 1969 Fairport live recording
From: GUEST
Date: 16 May 21 - 01:42 PM

Sod it, I'm bored and fed up, so I just bought the lite version
while still discounted, to cheer myself up...

But It'll be bloody ages before I get to install and try it..



Any of you guys.. how good would it be if it can [better than any other method so far]
separate out solo singers from shite audio recordings...????

So their vocal can then be further carefully restored and de-noised as far as possible..


It seems to be a British company [yeah.. go patriots...]
and they offer academic discounts [depends - got any kids who are students...???]

Subject: RE: Rare 1969 Fairport live recording
From: GUEST
Date: 16 May 21 - 02:31 PM

Izotope RX8 is the industry standard and was what I (quickly) used

Subject: RE: Rare 1969 Fairport live recording
From: Tony Rees
Date: 16 May 21 - 03:01 PM

A number of posts back, the question was asked which version I had put up on youtube... it was the one *after* some limited "restoration" as I was able to do, to (subjectively) improve the audio quality a bit from the "flat" version as per the tape that I received.

If anyone wants the "unimproved" version (which really does sound rather poor) to experiment with themselves, message me and I can put it on my dropbox for download. It might make an interesting "virtual class exercise" to see who can do the best job with it... On the other hand, it would be also great to find a better quality copy to use as the base material, but I would not know where to start looking, unfortunately.

Cheers - Tony

Subject: RE: Rare 1969 Fairport live recording
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 16 May 21 - 03:20 PM

We are 21st Century folkies..

We can rebuild it. We have the technology...!!!

[apparently.. no longer wood or coal fired steam engines...]


The lite Izotope RX is frequently knocked down cheap in online promotions.
Possibly some times free, like other Izo lites occasionally are...

[I'm still waiting for a flash sale on the full RX8,
that I can afford...]

This new advanced AI tech for isolating voices and instruments in genuinely groundbreaking,
and surely will get even more effective...???


There are other similar new isolation and restoration programs worth looking out for in sales,
but I'm too far away from my home base to check details...

I'll need a fuller toolkit to eventually tackle audio cassettes of our band's punk era live gigs
from 40 odd years ago...

Grumpy traddies could strip guitars and banjos out of old recordings...!!!???

Subject: RE: Rare 1969 Fairport live recording
From: Nick
Date: 16 May 21 - 03:55 PM

I’d be quite interested in an unimproved one. Not sure I can make it much better but one likes a challenge

Subject: RE: Rare 1969 Fairport live recording
From: Tony Rees
Date: 16 May 21 - 03:59 PM

I have put the "unimproved" copy I received up at https://www.dropbox.com/s/j1d873rf0x6dy4r/Fairport%2069%20Folk%20Meets%20Pop.wav?dl=0 . The file is 290 MB. (it may disappear at some point when I need the space for something else). Go for it!

- Tony

Subject: RE: Rare 1969 Fairport live recording
From: Nick
Date: 16 May 21 - 04:30 PM

Received - thank you :)

Subject: RE: Rare 1969 Fairport live recording
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 16 May 21 - 10:23 PM

Thank You

TONY and PUNK!

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

What a grand challenge.

Subject: RE: Rare 1969 Fairport live recording
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 16 May 21 - 10:33 PM

NICK

That is quite amazing - well done!

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

I like drop-box.

Subject: RE: Rare 1969 Fairport live recording
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 17 May 21 - 08:17 AM

Quality was irrelevant back in 1980s tape trading days, and believe me some of those tapes were appalling but it didn't matter!!!

Subject: RE: Rare 1969 Fairport live recording
From: Nick
Date: 17 May 21 - 11:32 AM

I tried but couldn't do much better - but thanks for the file.

Second Try

Subject: RE: Rare 1969 Fairport live recording
From: Tony Rees
Date: 18 May 21 - 01:21 AM

Hi Nick - appreciate your efforts - it seems like the program does a great job of removing the hiss, but what is left is a bit jerky/processed sounding ... maybe the algorithms do not work so well on really poor source material. I may have a go with analogue tricks such as recording to cassette with Dolby C on and then playing back with Dolby B, if I get the time... otherwise we wait for a better original to turn up, if it exists, maybe :(

Cheers - Tony

Subject: RE: Rare 1969 Fairport live recording
From: Reinhard
Date: 18 May 21 - 01:38 AM

Can't you ask Neil Wayne which source he used for A Sailor's Life on the Free Reed anthology Fairport unConventional?

Subject: RE: Rare 1969 Fairport live recording
From: Nick
Date: 18 May 21 - 04:33 AM

Tony Rees o I was quite gentle but there are two things - the hiss and a horrible noise at about 3.5-4.5k which are horrible. It's a compromise and to be honest either outside the scope of my capabilities or perhaps my patience haha. Album to mix so it was a distraction!

Subject: RE: Rare 1969 Fairport live recording
From: Tony Rees
Date: 18 May 21 - 06:29 PM

Thanks Nick for trying anyway. Funnily enough I did a boost at 3.5-4.5k for my "improved" version as posted to youtube, plus an overall increase in treble in case it brought out some top end to the vocals (with accompanying increase in hiss of course), plus some volume-dependent bass boosting, but these should not be there on the "unimproved" original...

RE contacting Neil Wayne - yes that might be worth while if there is anyone on this group that knows him and can ask ... otherwise Clinton Heylin, Geoff Wall and Brian Hinton all know of this tape and have commented on it elsewhere, maybe they have better copies - perhaps will discover this thread one day and chime in, or someone can ask them.

If I do have any more luck with "cleaning" I will advise in due course.

Cheers - Tony