UK Woodworm Records WRCD 024 (May 1996) - USA Green Linnet GLCD 3114 (June 1996)

Va bene, sono gli anni della moda degli "unplugged", ma questo disco acustico dei Fairport non sembra davvero un prodotto convenzionale. Le sonorità sono infatti vibranti, intense, in particolare  nei pezzi (nove) registrati dal vivo al Bsnbury Mill Theatre nel Dicembre del 1995, come ad esempio nella bellissima "The hiring fair" di Ralph McTell. I cinque alfieri rimangono quindi in quattro, trattandosi di un lavoro acustico Mattacks viene lasciato "a riposo". La confezione del cd, in plastica blu, mostra una foto del gruppo di Clas-Olav Slotte in cui le facce dei musicisti appaiono allungate, schiacciate dentro l'inquadratura.

Tracks:

Woodworm Swing (Ric Sanders) 3'08" - Men (Loudon Wainwright) 3'45" - Aunt Sally Shuffle (Dave Pegg) 1'22" - There Once Was Love (Paul Metsers) / Innstück (Maartin Allcock) 4'45" - Frozen Man (James Taylor) 4'20" - Mr Sands Is In The Building (Maartin Allcock) 2'06" - Lalla Rookh (Words: Chris Leslie / Music: Maartin Allcock) 4'27" - Foolish You (Wade Hemsworth) 3'34" - Crazy Man Michael (Richard Thompson / Dave Swarbrick) 5'09 - The Widow Of Westmorland's Daughter (Trad. Arr. Fairport Convention) 4'05" - Genesis Hall (Richard Thompson) 4'13" - The Deserter (John Richards) 5'43" - The Swimming Song (Loudon Wainwright) 3'24 - Struck It Right (Huw Williams) 4'26" - The Hiring Fair (Ralph McTell / Dave Mattacks) 6'07" - Matty Groves / Dirty Linen (Trad. Arr. Fairport Convention) 10'06"

Musicians:

Simon Nicol: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar - Ric Sanders: Violin - Dave Pegg: Acoustic Bass Guitar, Mandoline, Backing Vocals - Maartin Allcock: Acoustic Guitars, Bouzar, Accordion, Mandocello, Bodhran, Backing Vocals

Recorded: Tracks 1-7: Recorded September/October 1995 at Woodworm Studios, Barford St. Michael, Oxon - Engineer: Matt Davies on 16 -Track Alesis ADAT. Mixed by Mark Tucker & Matt Davies - Tracks 8-16: Recorded live at The Mill Theatre, Banbury, Oxon on 30th December 1995 by Mark Tucker. Mixed by Mark Tucker. Front of House Sound by Rob Braviner - Assistant Engineer: Matt Pegg - Mastered by: John Dent at Loud Mastering, Taunton, Somerset - Artwork: Media Desk - Photography by: Clas-Olav Slotte, Finland