Album review: FAIRPORT CONVENTION – Gladys’ Leap

August 28th, 2025 by GRTR! HQ

Talking Elephant [Release date 04.08.25]

In 1979 Fairport Convention decided to call it a day, not least because their mainman violinist Dave Swarbrick had serious hearing difficulties. It would be another six years before they reformed, apparently buoyed up by an increased interest in their music and with the continuity of their annual festival at Cropredy.

With folk rock generally not in vogue in the early 1980s, the band had found it difficult to interest labels and so bassist Dave Pegg and his wife formed their own Woodworm Records with a dedicated recording studio.

The album that resulted, in 1985, features songs culled from a number of artists, not all with band associations. Richard Thompson contributes the song ‘How Many Times’ and guitar on ‘Head In A Sack’ (written by Albion Band member Dave Whetstone) but Ralph McTell contributes three songs including ‘The Hiring Fair’ a joint composition with Mattacks.

Another Albion Band alumni Cathy Lesurf contributes vocals to her own composition ‘My Feet Are Set For Dancing’. This song is far removed from the traditional folk fare, with the funk bass and keys reflecting the eighties zeitgeist.

Fairport fans might also bemoan that Swarbrick wasn’t involved with this album and distanced himself when playing at the 1985 Cropredy Festival. The core of this revival was Simon Nichol, Pegg and Dave Mattacks. Ric Sanders was brought in to fill the gap and subsequently joined the band full time.

Amongst the highlights on this 40th anniversary reissue, there is an instrumental medley and ‘The Hiring Fair’ would become a live staple. ‘Bird From The Mountain’ has a definite ‘St Stephen’s Day Murders’ vibe.

Sadly this is a straight reissue, there are no bonus extras although the story behind the album title is quite charming. A postwoman near Stroud in Gloucestershire became a local legend when she negotiated a fast flowing brook to avoid a two mile trek to the nearest bridge. In 2005 a footbridge was built on the spot of ‘Gladys’ Leap’ with a commemorative plaque. ***1/2

Review by David Randall

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