Gladys' Leap
Encyclopedia
Gladys' Leap is a folk rock
album by Fairport Convention
originally released in August 1985. It was recorded in April and May 1985 at Woodworm Studios, Barford St. Michael, Oxfordshire
, UK. It was produced and engineered by Simon Nicol
, Dave Mattacks
and Dave Pegg
and the assistant engineers were Tim Matyear and Mark Powell.
The title comes from Gladys Hillier, who was a postwoman
for Cranham
, a village near Stroud
in Gloucestershire
, England. As a short-cut, to save a two mile walk, she used to jump the three feet (~ 1 metre) across a stream on her round. In 1977 the Ordnance Survey
agreed to name the spot in her honour, and in 2005 a footbridge was built across the stream. Fairport heard the story, and named the album in Gladys' honour.
with
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
album by Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention are an English folk rock and later electric folk band, formed in 1967 who are still recording and touring today. They are widely regarded as the most important single group in the English folk rock movement...
originally released in August 1985. It was recorded in April and May 1985 at Woodworm Studios, Barford St. Michael, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, UK. It was produced and engineered by Simon Nicol
Simon Nicol
Simon John Breckenridge Nicol is a guitarist, singer, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. He was a founder member of British folk rock, or electric folk group Fairport Convention and is the only founding member still in the band...
, Dave Mattacks
Dave Mattacks
Dave Mattacks is a rock and folk drummer. Best known for his work with Fairport Convention, Mattacks has also worked both as a session musician, and as a performance artist...
and Dave Pegg
Dave Pegg
Dave Pegg is an English multi-instrumentalist and record producer, arguably most visible as a bass guitarist. He is the longest-serving member of the pre-eminent electric folk band Fairport Convention and has been bassist with a number of important folk and rock groups including The Ian Campbell...
and the assistant engineers were Tim Matyear and Mark Powell.
The title comes from Gladys Hillier, who was a postwoman
Mail carrier
A mail carrier, mailman, postal carrier, postman, postwoman , postman/postwoman , letter carrier or postie is an employee of the post office or postal service, who delivers mail and parcel post to residences and businesses...
for Cranham
Cranham, Gloucestershire
Cranham is a village in the English county of Gloucestershire. Forming part of the district of Stroud it is to be found a mile or so east of the A46 road between Stroud and Cheltenham...
, a village near Stroud
Stroud
Stroud a town and civil parish in the county of Gloucestershire, England.Stroud may also refer to:*Stroud, New South Wales, Australia*Stroud, Ontario, Canada*Stroud , Gloucestershire, UK*Stroud...
in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
, England. As a short-cut, to save a two mile walk, she used to jump the three feet (~ 1 metre) across a stream on her round. In 1977 the Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey , an executive agency and non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom, is the national mapping agency for Great Britain, producing maps of Great Britain , and one of the world's largest producers of maps.The name reflects its creation together with...
agreed to name the spot in her honour, and in 2005 a footbridge was built across the stream. Fairport heard the story, and named the album in Gladys' honour.
Side one (The Folkside)
- "How Many Times" (Richard Thompson) - 3:29
- "Bird from the Mountain" (Ralph McTellRalph McTellRalph McTell is an English singer-songwriter and acoustic guitar player who has been an influential figure on the UK folk music scene since the 1960s....
) - 4:51 - "Honour and Praise" (John RichardsJohn Richards (songwriter)John Richards is a UK singer, songwriter, guitarist, mandolinist and bouzouki player. He was born 1951 in Wolverhampton and subsequently raised in the Coseley area in the UK Black Country. He is principally known for his songs covered by other artists, but has gigged regularly both solo and with...
) - 5:21 - "The Hiring FairMop FairMop Fairs are a feature of many English towns and are traditionally held on or around "Old Michaelmas Day". They originated as a Hiring fair and their history dates back some 600 to 700 years.-History:...
" (Ralph McTell, Dave MattacksDave MattacksDave Mattacks is a rock and folk drummer. Best known for his work with Fairport Convention, Mattacks has also worked both as a session musician, and as a performance artist...
) - 5:53
Side two (The Backside)
- Instrumental Medley '85 - 5:08
- "The Riverhead" (Dave PeggDave PeggDave Pegg is an English multi-instrumentalist and record producer, arguably most visible as a bass guitarist. He is the longest-serving member of the pre-eminent electric folk band Fairport Convention and has been bassist with a number of important folk and rock groups including The Ian Campbell...
) - "Gladys' Leap" (Dave Pegg)
- "The Wise Maid" (traditional, arrangement by Simon NicolSimon NicolSimon John Breckenridge Nicol is a guitarist, singer, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. He was a founder member of British folk rock, or electric folk group Fairport Convention and is the only founding member still in the band...
/Dave Pegg)
- "The Riverhead" (Dave Pegg
- "My Feet are Set for Dancing" (Cathy LesurfCathy LesurfCathy Lesurf, born 1957, is a British folk music singer-songwriter who was brought up in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. She has been a member of bands in the 1970s such as Oyster Ceilidh Band, Fiddler's Dram, Fairport Convention and The Albion Country Band. She released a solo album, Surface, in 1985....
, Arranged by Bill Martin) - 4:01 - "Wat TylerWat TylerWalter "Wat" Tyler was a leader of the English Peasants' Revolt of 1381.-Early life:Knowledge of Tyler's early life is very limited, and derives mostly through the records of his enemies. Historians believe he was born in Essex, but are not sure why he crossed the Thames Estuary to Kent...
" (Ralph McTell/Simon Nicol) - 5:36 - "Head in a Sack" (Dave Whetstone) - 4:23
Personnel
- Simon NicolSimon NicolSimon John Breckenridge Nicol is a guitarist, singer, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. He was a founder member of British folk rock, or electric folk group Fairport Convention and is the only founding member still in the band...
- vocals, electric & acoustic guitars - Dave PeggDave PeggDave Pegg is an English multi-instrumentalist and record producer, arguably most visible as a bass guitarist. He is the longest-serving member of the pre-eminent electric folk band Fairport Convention and has been bassist with a number of important folk and rock groups including The Ian Campbell...
- bass guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, double bass, vocals - Dave MattacksDave MattacksDave Mattacks is a rock and folk drummer. Best known for his work with Fairport Convention, Mattacks has also worked both as a session musician, and as a performance artist...
- drums, drum machine, keyboards, percussion
with
- Ric SandersRic SandersRichard 'Ric' Sanders is a British violinist who has played in jazz-rock, folk rock, electric folk and folk groups, including Soft Machine and Fairport Convention.-Biography:...
- violin ("Bird from the Mountain", "The Hiring Fair", Instrumental Medley) - Richard Thompson - electric guitar ("Head in a Sack")
- Cathy LesurfCathy LesurfCathy Lesurf, born 1957, is a British folk music singer-songwriter who was brought up in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. She has been a member of bands in the 1970s such as Oyster Ceilidh Band, Fiddler's Dram, Fairport Convention and The Albion Country Band. She released a solo album, Surface, in 1985....
- vocal ("My Feet Are Set for Dancing") - Harold Wells - spoken intro to "Bird from the Mountain"