Bob Pegg / Mr Fox - news

Subject: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: Mark Coyle
Date: 08 Jul 06 - 06:32 AM

Hi all,

I have just received an email from Bob Pegg with some great news.

"Just to let you know that, at the end of July, Sanctuary plan to release a double CD, Bob Pegg, Keeper of the Fire: the Anthology, which will include Bob Pegg and Nick Strutt, The Shipbuilder, and Ancient Maps, as well as 40 minutes of rarities and unreleased material. I've been closely involved with the whole process. Complete lyrics are already available at www.firekeeper.co.uk.

Also very soon Vinyl Japan are re-releasing He Came from the Mountains, the first album I made with Carole Pegg.... they're also keen to bring out the album Carole and I made with Sydney Carter."

cheers
Mark

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 08 Jul 06 - 11:28 AM

Mr Fox re-union? They had a great collection of material that we could all enjoy all over again.

Lots of people have been through Fairport, so to speak, but the music that they interpreted and created continues to maintain its credibility.

Who might be in Mr Fox 2006?

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: GUEST,Ian Pittaway
Date: 08 Jul 06 - 02:33 PM

I have that album with Sydney Carter on *very* scratchy vinyl. It would be greeeeeeeat to have it on pristine CD.

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: Mr Fox
Date: 08 Jul 06 - 03:17 PM

Wow!.......Just - wow!

It's about time (As you can guess from my Mudcat name, I'm a HUGE fan of all things Pegg). I wonder if one of the rarities is the version of 'Bones' he recorded for the BBC? And I hope 'The Werewolf of Old Chapeltown' is on it.

I don't know if Carole and Bob are willing to record and/or perform together again after all this time but if not, the 'Shipbuilder' band could re-form as Mr Fox.

Again..... WOW!

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Jul 06 - 03:48 PM

What songs are on the album made with Sydney Carter?
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 08 Jul 06 - 03:54 PM

I was in touch with Bob about other matters and the end result was him answering all my questions and sending me his last CD - What an exceptionaly nice bloke. Looking forward to hearing this one.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 08 Jul 06 - 08:01 PM

Nice to hear that there might be some re-releases and even nicer that we may hear some previously missed stuff.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 08 Jul 06 - 11:01 PM

music life can't get better news than this..


i got the old vinyls of most of this..
which through circumstance been stuck in my mums attic since 1978..

cant wait to buy new CDs.

but i wish someone could find original 2 track tapes of 1st mr fox lp

and try to do something modern and 21st century digital filtering


to tame the too obtrusively mental over enthusistic drumming


on the 1st mf fox LP..

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 09 Jul 06 - 09:14 AM

Hi Mark
What great news... high time indeed...
Any further detail on Vinyl Japan's plans? I googled Vinyl Japan but the search only brought up an obscure indie label which can't be right - so do you have any contact details?
I'm game to cover anything that comes out of course, my editor's primed. Anything we can do to get this stuff out there again is fine by me!

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 10 Jul 06 - 07:21 AM

He used to be a very intersting artist. he took a very unconventional view of songwriting and its a pity - I'm not sure the folkscene works out to everyones advantage. well I'm damn sure it doesn't.

His songs would have made great little feature films or videos.

A clever and thoughtful artist.

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: GUEST,Nigel Spencer (cookieless)
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 04:45 PM

Did the reissue of 'He Came From the Mountains' ever happen? Couldn't find anything when I googled it, other than a reference to Vinyl Japan going under in 2006 (in relation to another band). In any case wasn't this a Trailer release first time round, which means it's probably languishing on the Celtic Music stockpile?...

Be nice to see it getting a second airing. I bought the Mr Fox two-albums-on-one-CD reissue and I have to say, in my deeply humble opinion it's the best British folk rock record ever made, without a doubt. Excellent original songwriting in the vein of the darker end of trad, unusual instrumentation, prominent use of drone, Carol's fantastic sawing violin style. Truly the missing link between the Velvet Underground and early Steeleye Span... the reissue of Bob Pegg's solo work is well worth getting yer mits on too, if only for the sublime 'Jesus Christ Sitting on Top of a Hill in the Lake District'...

Cheers

Nigel

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: Dave Roberts
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 05:45 PM

Excellent news. I too bought the two-in-one CD of Mr Fox and The Gypsy when it came out and it has given me hours of listening pleasure (my copy of the original 'Gypsy' LP came to grief in the early 70s when my brother, who was restoring an old Austin Mini, managed to cover it in fibreglass goo).

And I recall, in the 90s, talking to Richard Walker , who used to present Radio Shropshire's Folk Show before his untimely death, and his asking me if I thought he could 'get away' with playing 'The Gypsy' in full on his show (some radio station bosses at that time used to go a bit wobbly at the thought of anyone playing anything over two and a half minutes long).

I said the song should be played in full or not at all (although I did once, for shame, edit it down to about five minutes for a purpose I forget and it still made sense).

So Richard duly played the whole thing on the show, and dedicated it to me!
One of the highlights of my life, I assure you.

Incidentally, Richard played some interviews with Bob Pegg on the same show and I recorded them from the radio.

I probably still have them, but I have so many tapes, disks etc around the place that i wouldn't know where to start looking.

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: GUEST,Greycap
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 06:59 PM

I played session guitar on 'He came from the Mountains' ... I'm good for a reunion if anyone is interested.
Roger Knowles

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 26 Jan 08 - 07:23 AM

I bought the Bob Pegg set; Ancient Maps is a hoot, but Bones lives up to my every expectation, having first read of it in an interview with his Bobness (why not?) back in the late 70s in a copy of what was then known as Southern Rag. A mate of mine saw him doing it solo in Newcastle and remains impressed to this day; but hearing the recording I can say Bones is a reduction to the consummate essence of all the Peggery that went hitherto, though my only experience of the man thereafter was 'Beasts' at Washington Arts Centre circa 1983, which, after a gloriously ritualised introduction, turned out to be a kiddies show...

I've still got The Gypsy on vinyl, curious cover, with a polythene slip case complete with foam band that automatically 'cleans' the record each time you replace it! Love The Houscarpenter; and we once did a Gypsy Trail, following via all the places mentioned in The Gypsy, and even did an impromptu performance for the tourists at The Buttertubs.

Barry Lyons went on to join Five Hand Reel with Gaughan et al; their first album is still a favourite of mine, not least for The Maid of Listowell. Must dig it out one of these days! Has anyone got a tape of their BBC In concert, circa 75/76-ish? I've got fond memories of that one...

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: Dave Roberts
Date: 26 Jan 08 - 11:22 AM

Yes, funnily enough I recall Bob Pegg saying during the course of one of the Richard Walker interviews I may, or may not, still have that it was all the rage at one time to do the 'Gypsy Trail'

Also on 'The Gypsy' is a superb version of 'All The Good Times' which led my erstwhile colleague (and now Mayor of Congleton) Mike Parsons to come up with my favourite 'mondegreen' of all time, mistaking the line 'the hunter has hung up his horn' for 'the hunter has swallowed his horse'.

I've mentioned this at least twice now on Mudcat, and will continue to do so until someone laughs.

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: GUEST,Nigel Spencer (cookieless)
Date: 26 Jan 08 - 11:30 AM

Tee hee! I will admit to letting out a little chortle when I read that, Dave, but it would be a shame if it stopped you from bringing it up again if the opportunity arises...

Not heard Five Hand Reel, Sean, but they are on my list of bands I must listen to.

It would be nice if Roger, above, felt like expanding on his post...

Cheers

Nigel

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: Dave Roberts
Date: 26 Jan 08 - 12:37 PM

Thank you, Nigel.

The Mayor Of Congleton us still convinced he's right about that line. by the way..

No wonder they're re=organising local councils...

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 26 Jan 08 - 05:28 PM

It occured to me today that it wasn't Beasts, rather Beasties - Beasts being a shockingly below-par 70s ITV series scripted by the otherwise impeccable Nigel Kneale. We arrived late for the gig, to find Bob Pegg & his female companion (whose name escapes me) already started, intoning a darkly ceremonial story in fine Pegg style in near darkness as we stumbled to our seats & settled in to the gratifyingly eldritch vibe. Then the piece finished - the lights went up and we found ourselves sitting in the midst of three dozen kids with the Beasties female saying "Did that scare you, Children? It was a bit spooky, wasn't it?". Embarrassed, moi?.

As for my own companions on that occasion, I know they still have sleepless nights about it to this day, so I shan't traumatise them any further by naming them here. I was sensible; I sought out professional help, thus I can discuss the incident without flinching.

Five Hand Reel - nice first album, but I was very young & it's years since I last heard it, but bits of it linger fondly.

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 26 Jan 08 - 05:39 PM

Back to the original question then - as Nigel S asked, Did the reissue of 'He Came From the Mountains' ever happen? Has anyone any news of this?

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 26 Jan 08 - 05:45 PM

As Nigel says, it's "languishing" in a Harrogate dungeon.

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: GUEST,Nigel Spencer (still Cookieless)
Date: 26 Jan 08 - 06:19 PM

Grrr! It's enough to put you off what is otherwise a fairly pleasant Yorkshire town for life!

Nigel

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: oombanjo
Date: 26 Jan 08 - 06:25 PM

Great. I still have the vinyl. and still played.

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: Giant Folk Eyeball (inactive)
Date: 26 Jan 08 - 06:30 PM

Ah, found my cookie!

I suppose getting hold of the vinyl has to be the way forward for now, then...

Right! So has anyone got a vinyl copy of 'He Came From the Mountains' in reasonably good nick that they'd consider selling at a not-too-silly price?

If so, please PM me.

Cheers

Nigel

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: GUEST,Greycap
Date: 27 Jan 08 - 05:52 AM

Not a lot to expand, Nigel, I'd worked with Nick Strutt for a few years.
When he joined Bob & Carol Pegg, they needed a Charlie Poole-type guitar player for the title track, Nick suggested me, I went to London, played on the record, maybe two tracks, can't remember(it's a long time ago, got paid, came home.
I don't even have a copy in my collection,
Roger Knowles

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 27 Jan 08 - 06:25 AM

Sad to say I don't even have a copy of the vinyl LP, which is why I was so keen to get that planned CD reissue.

If anyone out there might be able to burn me a copy from a good vinyl source, then you'd be making an old man pretty happy (and grateful!) in his dim twilight years...

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: GUEST,Peter Ford
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 01:45 PM

Does anyone remember hearing Mr Fox with 'Take me to the Captain' live? I was privileged to hear this at St Martrin's College in Lancaster in about 1972 and have never forgotten it. Bob kindly sent me the lyrics a few ears ago, but I would very much like to hear from anyone who remembers this song.
Best wishes

Peter

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 01:58 PM

Did anything come of the vinyl re-issues I wonder? For the curious I think they're still available on-line via various blogs - well worth checking out, especially And Now it is So Early with Sydney Carter. Category - along with Bright Phoebus - unclassifiable, although I dare say the OP would have found a pigeon hole for it in his bizzare systematic taxonomy evolved during his brief flirtation with folk.

Otherwise, see HERE.

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: the Folk Police
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 02:09 PM

More Bob Pegg news...

There's also an excellent piece about Mr Fox in the current fRoots, an extract from Rob Young's new book, Electric Eden.

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 21 Feb 12 - 11:17 PM

Found this when looking for something else:-

Bob & Carole Pegg with Sydney Carter - And Now It Is So Early, The Songs of Sydney Carter 1972 Galliard GAL 407 Rare Folk

Currently for sale on eBay (starting price £35) till 26 Feb, 2012, 17:25:01 GMT:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bob-Carole-Pegg-And-Now-So-Early-Songs-Sydney-Carter-1972-V-RARE-/270916167310?pt=UK_Records&hash=item

Described as follows:-

"13 songs from the Quaker songwriter and poet Sydney Carter performed by himself and Bob and Carole Pegg of Mr Fox. A very rare release from the Great Yarmouth-based Galliard Ltd. Long out of print and extremely hard to find. Recorded at Livingston Studios New Barnet by Nic Kinsey.

Carole Pegg: vocal, fiddle, percussion / Bob Pegg: vocal, guitars, recorders, whistles, melodeon, percussion

Tracklist:

A1. Come, Love, Carolling

A2. Run the Film Backwards

A3. Glass of Water

A4. Last Exit to Brooklyn

A5. Up at the House of Cecil Sharp

A6. Port Mahon

B1. Shake and Shiver

B2. The holy Horses

B3. Judas and Mary

B4. Friday Morning

B5 Doctor Spock

B6. The Candlelight

B7. George Fox

Vinyl: One very small blemish side 1 (hairline needle-skip on track 5) otherwise VERY GOOD/EXCELLENT - close to Near-Mint Sleeve: Some wear/creasing on the black laminated jacket, overall in good condition. Extensive sleevenotes. "

Ross

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 21 Feb 12 - 11:42 PM

BOB PEGG - KEEPER OF THE FIRE THE ANTHOLOGY CD

Re the original post -

Available from Italy via eBay, Buy-it-now price of EUR 22.99 + EUR 7.00:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BOB-PEGG-KEEPER-FIRE-ANTHOLOGY-CD-COME-NUOVO-/140689370222?pt=CD&hash=item20c1bd6c6e

The first CD contains the albums "Bob Pegg and Nick Strutt" and "The Shipbuilder". The second CD has "Ancient Maps, a number of bonus tracks and the "Bones Suite".

Ross

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 22 Feb 12 - 04:01 AM

That reminds me, I was planning to add some of those Sydney Carter songs to my casual singaround rep. - though do I recall the prospect harsh reprimands from the Carter legal camp? In any case, it's a damn fine wee album, well deserved of its near mythic status. The details miss out the fact that Carter sings on it himself.

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 22 Feb 12 - 09:25 AM

"performed by himself and..." suggests he may have contributed?

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 24 May 20 - 11:46 AM

Mr Fox - The Gipsy

The link above should take you straight into a visual trip through the Yorkshire Dales, starting in the fair city of Bradford where Mr Lee had his scrapyard and folk drank Tetley's Ale in those good old unlocked-down days...   

You will also hear a familiar song, from the original Mr Fox album as background. This has been a project Bob has wanted to do for ages. Hence the taking of photographs up hill and down dale in many a spot we've holidayed in over the years.

Enjoy! And Bob will much appreciate it if you can give it a thumbs up Like and pass it on to anyone else who may like it too.

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 24 May 20 - 04:39 PM

Thanks for the link it was very good indeed.
Bob was guest at our club about three years ago and gave us a great night; I'll put the word out among the members to take a look.

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: G-Force
Date: 24 May 20 - 05:17 PM

Also on 'The Gypsy' is a superb version of 'All The Good Times'

Well it would have been superb if it wasn't for the most inept, out of tune bass guitar playing I've ever heard. Shame really.

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: GUEST,Eric Smallwood, Middlesbrough
Date: 14 Jan 21 - 02:06 PM

Saw Mr Fox on local TV playing Dancing Song at Lion Inn, Blakey Ridge, N York Moors in late 60's/early 70's and was hooked! Brilliantly different "paganish" folk rock, absolutely loved the totally different sound and feeling. So bought the double LP and played it to death!!! Play them on utube now, still brill   ...   Question - has the music balance been toned down on Gypsy on more recent digital recordings, cos I think it has. Class stuff.

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 14 Jan 21 - 02:47 PM

Mr Fox CDs I've bought between the 1990s and about a decade ago,
are for me a bit blighted by drumming that's..

.. let's just say, drumming that's not quite up to Pentangle's high standard...

I'd have preferred a mix with the drums turned down to a less obtrusive level..

But, I'd guess the multitrack tapes are long gone...???

Subject: RE: Bob Pegg / Mr Fox news
From: GUEST,Nick Dow
Date: 14 Jan 21 - 03:06 PM

Bob's an old Pal of mine, I think he would agree with you.