The Cropredy Box is an album by Fairport Convention recorded at their annual live concert in Cropredy, Oxfordshire, England to celebrate the band's thirtieth anniversary in 1997. Featuring many songs for which the band had become noted, the set also features performances from many former members including violinist Dave Swarbrick, original vocalist Judy Dyble, and Ralph McTell. Commentary is provided by their first manager, Joe Boyd, and Ashley Hutchings.
The album was packaged as three-CD boxed set including a booklet which featured a description of the compilation by Simon Nicol, track listings, and photographs from the concert itself. Extras were a track recorded for a Ken Russell documentary film about traditional music, and a prank phone call to Dave Swarbrick which had circulated on tape amongst the band's fans for many years
. (Wikipedia)
Fairport Convention - The Cropredy Box [1998] was recorded live in August of 1997 at Fairport Convention's annual Cropredy Festival. In 1997 Fairport celebrated their 30th year of existence, and this concert was an attempt to chronicle the various periods of the band's storied career by reassembling their most significant lineups. Original vocalist Judy Dyble, who only sang on one recording, showed up to help represent Fairport's debut record, and Vikki Clayton was enlisted to sing the part of the late Sandy Danny, which she did with amazing accuracy. Founding member Ashley Hutchings served as narrator as well as bassist/vocalist to represent his abbreviated tenure with the group in the late '60s. The expected participants were present in full regalia. Dave Swarbrick and Richard Thompson -- who, along with Dave Pegg and Dave Mattacks, helped make up the most powerful and talented of the various Fairport configurations -- injected some modernized fiddle and guitar licks into the old standards. Even lesser-known '70s members like guitarist Jerry Donahue and drummer Bruce Rowland represented their respective stints with the band. Although he never recorded with Fairport, guitarist Dan Ar Braz toured with them in the mid-'70s, and on this recording he played and sang lead on the Beatles' "Rain." Ralph McTell, whose songs are routinely covered by Fairport, performed as a member of the offshoot band the GPs, along with Thompson, Pegg, and Mattacks. And, of course, guitarist and singer Simon Nicol (who, along with Pegg and Mattacks, is the longest-standing regular member) contributed his distinct vocals and acoustic rhythm guitar. Eighties' members Martin Allcock and Ric Sanders, along with Allcock's eventual replacement, Chris Leslie, hopped onstage at their appropriate cues to bring this fascinating musical documentary up to date. Nicol refers to such recordings -- and there have been numerous Cropredy Festival recordings released in the '80s and '90s -- as mementos for Fairport Convention's devout fans. The Cropredy Box is sure to be a prized possession for those devotees. (AllMusic review by Dave Sleger)
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