Fairport Convention, Expletive Delighted!, LP USA Varrick Records 1986 - VR029 

An intense and moving album that testifies to the vitality of the group. The violinist Ric Sanders enters the band on a permanent basis together with the guitarist Martin Allcock; Sanders' inspiration is especially noticeable in the splendid "Portmeirion", while Allcock's refined arrangements with string instruments (bouzouki and mandolin in Innstück) are to be appreciated. Very engaging is "Jams O'Donnell's Jigs" written by Dave Pegg. As for the graphics, the cover by Alexander Kühn for the German edition is very beautiful, the original one was conceived by Mike Toole. Beautiful photos by John Woodward on the occasion of the last reunion at Copredy.

Un album intenso e commovente che testimonia la vitalità del gruppo. Il violinista Ric Sanders entra in pianta stabile nella band insieme al chitarrista Martin Allcock; l'ispirazione del primo si nota soprattutto nella splendida "Portmeirion", di Allcock invece sono da sottolineare i raffinati arrangiamenti con gli strumenti a corde (bouzouki e mandolino in Innstück). Molto coinvolgente è "Jams O'Donnell's Jigs" scritta da Dave Pegg. Riguardo alla grafica, è molto bella la copertina di Alexander Kühn per l'edizione tedesca, quella originale è stata concepita da Mike Toole. Belle le foto di John Woodward in occasione dell'ultima reunion a Copredy.

Tracks Side A: The Rutland Reel / Sack The Juggler (Ric Sanders) 3.13 - The Cat On The Mixer / 3 Left Feet (Martin Allcock) 3.30 - Bankruptured (Dave Pegg) 2.57 - Portmeirion (Ric Sanders) 5.18 - Jams O'Donnell's Jigs (Dave Pegg) 2.41

Tracks Side B: Expletive Delighted! (Ric Sanders) 1.45 - Sigh Beg Sigh Mor (Trad. Arr. Simon Nicol / Dave Mattacks / Ric Sanders) 7.45 - Innstück (Martin Allcock) 2.03 - The Gas Almost Works (John Kirkpatrick) 1.51 - Hanks For The Memory - Shazam (Duane Eddy / Lee Hazelwood) / Pipeline (Bob Spickard / Brian Carmen) / Apache (Jerry Lordan) / Peter Gunn (Henry Mancini) - Arranged Jerry Donahue 4.31

Musicians: Ric Sanders: Violin, Keyboards - Martin Allcock: Electric Guitar, Electric Bouzouki, Mandolin, Mandola, Double Bass, Slide Guitar, Acoustic Guitar - Simon Nicol: Electric & Acoustic Guitars - Dave Pegg: Bass Guitar, Mandola, Acoustic Guitar - Dave Mattacks: Drums, Percussion, Keyboards, Clavinet with Jerry Donahue: Electric Guitar (Track 10) - Richard Thompson: Electric Guitar (Track 10)

Recorded: February and April-May 1986 at Woodworm Studios, Barford St. Michael, Oxfordshire except Track 10 recorded August 1985 but with Ric Sanders violin overdub done 1986 - Produced by: Fairport Convention - Engineered by: Tim Matyear - Assistant Engineer: Mark Powell - Digitally Cut & Mastered At: Townhouse Studios, London - Sleeve Design: Mick Toole - Photography: John Woodward, Cover Star "Legs" - Cover Painting on German Issue Sleeve by: Alexander Kühn