Fairport Convention’s Dave Pegg is frustrated that the tendon on his left hand – which he cut during an accident last year — hasn’t completely healed. That hasn’t hampered the bassist’s enthusiastic work on the band’s soon-to-be-released album.
Chris Leslie, the group’s main songwriter, co-lead singer and multi-instrumentalist wrote about half of the album’s 13 songs. Fiddler Ric Sanders, folk greats Ralph McTell and annA rydeR are among those who wrote the others.
“We are incredibly pleased with it,” Pegg told Folking. “They’re great songs; it’s an incredibly good selection of material. “
He credits several factors, including the band’s return to Woodworm Studios in Oxfordshire, for boosting the artistry of the band’s first new album in four years.
“It was like coming home to us. That studio is such a big part of our personal history,” said Pegg, adding that Chris Leslie also brought special instrumentation, including harmonica, to some songs. “And Chris Leslie is a wonderful multi-instrumentalist, just brilliant. It is all just fabulous. We are quite chuffed.”
The album title, taken from one of Chris Leslie’s songs, added an extra dose of merriment to the project. Each member of the group confidentially chose his personal heroes (mythical or otherwise) and then selected one to mirror in the cover photo.
“You have to guess who we are,” said Dave Pegg of the portraits of each band member on the cover. “We didn’t tell each other who our heroes were. I have three of them. We have been very secretive about it.”
Fans who guess each band member’s alter ego may win two free tickets to Fairport’s 2015 Cropredy Convention plus an autographed copy of the album.
Long-time Fairport artist Mick Toole designed the cover, in part, based on the design of the 1970 album Full House. The band is so keen about the cover that they are considering releasing a vinyl picture disc of the album.
Fairport will introduce the songs – which include ‘Theodore’s Songs’ from Origins, Chris Leslie’s most recent solo album – during its winter tour. Guitar-fiddle duo Kevin Dempsey and Rosie Carson will support the band during those performances.
Although Pegg’s injury is vexing, preventing him from playing guitar or mandolin, he plans to play alongside band mates that include Simon Nicol and Gerry Conway.
“I bought a 1918 Gibson F5 mandolin. It’s hanging on my wall,” he said. “That is the carrot in front of the donkey to keep me doing my [therapy].”
Artists’ website: http://www.fairportconvention.com
— Nancy Dunham
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