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Product Description
CD Description
Although Nic Jones has not performed in public nor recorded for almost 25 years, his standing and influence in the folk music world have never been higher. Nic first ventured as a solo performer in the early 1970s, building a reputation as a demon guitar player as well as highly individual singer. A tragic car accident in 1982 abruptly ended his playing career. Nic’s injuries were so serious, he spent seven months in hospital and has not performed since. His 1980 album for Topic, 'Penguin Eggs' (TSCD411), which won awards for Folk Album Of The Year in both Melody Maker and Folk Roots, has since been named as one of the 100 Greatest British Albums. GAME SET MATCH is a brand new collection of live recordings from the late 1970s. Put together as a labour of love, these 15 tracks represent Nic at the height of his powers and have been selected for the vivacity and vitality of the performances. His reputation as an unparalleled guitarist is fully served here, yet the true revelation is what a great singer he is. The album is not programmed as a live concert recording - having had the audience noises edited out - it has the passion and intimacy that can only come with an artist such as Nic performing in front of an audience, yet without the distractions that a “live in concert” recording normally brings. The re-mastering has been painstakingly and sensitively carried out on these recordings which come from a variety of sources, and the artistic success of the resulting album surpasses more “studio bound” creations. The whole project had considerable input from, and the blessing of, Nic and his wife Julia. Tracks: The Bonny Light Horseman / Seven Yellow Gypsies / Flanders Shore / Rufford Park Poachers / The Jolly Bold Robber / Clyde Water / Billy Don’t You Weep For Me / The Demon Lover / Master Kilby / Banks Of Fordie / Hamburger Polka / The Isle Of France / Dives And Lazarus / Ploughman Lads / The Lakes Of Shillin.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Unlike most of the other reviewers, I first saw Nic about 40 years ago, and managed to catch him live quite a few times in the following 12 years, getting all his recorded output along the way. So why would I want to buy this when I have most tracks already? Simple - every time you saw Nic, he would have changed his accompaniment to some songs, or sung them differently, as well as a few new ones he was testing out, and each performance was full of freshness - a kind of "one man folk process" in his own right. This recording captures that freshness - the only thing that's missing is Nic's humorous introductions and anecdotes, and his grin when he realised that he'd caught out some of the audience with a slight change in a song's chorus.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 Download
Game Set Match is the third, and perhaps strongest, set of songs to be released since Nic's last studio album Penguin Eggs. For those unfamiliar with Nic's style the cd starts strongly with `Bonny Light Horseman' serving as an ample introduction to his melodic guitar and singing style. Next up is a version of `Seven Yellow Gypsies' which is similar to the one featured on the In Search of...release, minus the applause. At this point anyone familiar with Penguin Eggs will notice the similarity between the propulsive opening guitar passage and the one featured on the aforementioned albums opening song `Canadee I-O'.
In fact it is two songs from Penguin Eggs that prove to be early highlights of Game Set Match. While the lament of the `Flander's Shore' protagonist who will never see England no more is broadly similar to Penguin Eggs `The Flandyke Shore' the same cannot be said of the reinterpretation of `The Drowned Lovers' as `Clyde Water'. On Game Set Match Nic strips the tune of all the jauntiness of the Penguin Eggs version and, while the melodeon playing of Tony Hall is missed, this guitar and vocal version of `Clyde Water' has an urgency that really brings the tune into its own.
Other highlights for me include `Ploughman Lads', `Billy Don't You Weep For Me' and the other tune about drowned lovers the `Lakes of Shillin' both versions of songs that can be found on Nics, sadly unavailable, 1978 album From the Devil To A Stranger album. However the albums absolute highlight, and if you still need a reason to purchase the album this is it, is the rendition of `Master Kilby'. It is testament to Nic's singing that he can impart such melancholy to lines like `Oh where are you bound' and `in every part', and why does a song that on the surface seem like it should be about the celebratory reuniting of two lovers sound so sad?
Although there has been some comments about the sound quality, the performances stem from live recordings, credit must go the producers David Suff and Tony Engle for the excellent production and uniformly excellent sound.
The one minor criticism I can level at Game Set Match is the decision to include the acapella songs `Jolly Bold Robber' and `Demon Lover'. Although an established part of the folk scene, and testament to the singers ability to carry a tune unaided, on cd they can be a little grating and tend to disrupt the unity of the cd as a whole.
Ultimately this is a personal preference, and overall the album is an exceptional example of British folk music at its best. If you like Nic Jones you will love this and if you do not, you soon will.
In fact it is two songs from Penguin Eggs that prove to be early highlights of Game Set Match. While the lament of the `Flander's Shore' protagonist who will never see England no more is broadly similar to Penguin Eggs `The Flandyke Shore' the same cannot be said of the reinterpretation of `The Drowned Lovers' as `Clyde Water'. On Game Set Match Nic strips the tune of all the jauntiness of the Penguin Eggs version and, while the melodeon playing of Tony Hall is missed, this guitar and vocal version of `Clyde Water' has an urgency that really brings the tune into its own.
Other highlights for me include `Ploughman Lads', `Billy Don't You Weep For Me' and the other tune about drowned lovers the `Lakes of Shillin' both versions of songs that can be found on Nics, sadly unavailable, 1978 album From the Devil To A Stranger album. However the albums absolute highlight, and if you still need a reason to purchase the album this is it, is the rendition of `Master Kilby'. It is testament to Nic's singing that he can impart such melancholy to lines like `Oh where are you bound' and `in every part', and why does a song that on the surface seem like it should be about the celebratory reuniting of two lovers sound so sad?
Although there has been some comments about the sound quality, the performances stem from live recordings, credit must go the producers David Suff and Tony Engle for the excellent production and uniformly excellent sound.
The one minor criticism I can level at Game Set Match is the decision to include the acapella songs `Jolly Bold Robber' and `Demon Lover'. Although an established part of the folk scene, and testament to the singers ability to carry a tune unaided, on cd they can be a little grating and tend to disrupt the unity of the cd as a whole.
Ultimately this is a personal preference, and overall the album is an exceptional example of British folk music at its best. If you like Nic Jones you will love this and if you do not, you soon will.
14 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Im a new convert to Nics music after being told by a musician friend that I should check this fella out. The Album is Mastered down from live perfomances from end of Nics playing career & The more you play this album the more you get drawn in. Im not a die hard folkie but there is something beautifully understated about the guitar playing & vocals on this album.
A close listen confirms that this guy was at the top of his game and breaking new ground in the folk music field. While contempory, his sound is quite unique and the ambiance of the live shows captured here shine through.
The songs gathered on the album are quite eclectic ranging from quite traditional finger in the ear stuff to Nics own brilliant arrangements and exceptional guitar playing. For a new listener It is an album that is a very good introduction to Nic Jones. This album is a grower! and they are always the best.
In Short Quality from a master Craftsman.
A close listen confirms that this guy was at the top of his game and breaking new ground in the folk music field. While contempory, his sound is quite unique and the ambiance of the live shows captured here shine through.
The songs gathered on the album are quite eclectic ranging from quite traditional finger in the ear stuff to Nics own brilliant arrangements and exceptional guitar playing. For a new listener It is an album that is a very good introduction to Nic Jones. This album is a grower! and they are always the best.
In Short Quality from a master Craftsman.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
very silly girl.
I was so disppointed to miss the show, but it went straight out of my mind.
Wish it could be repeated somewhere else. Nic Jones was such a wonderful singer. Read more
Wish it could be repeated somewhere else. Nic Jones was such a wonderful singer. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Audrey
This is Fantastic you'd better buy it!!
Five and a half stars, there are certain albums you would be 'MADD !' not to listen to.
The most polished stuff I have listened to in a while, acousticly fantastic rumbling... Read more
The most polished stuff I have listened to in a while, acousticly fantastic rumbling... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Mr Fantastic
A True Gem And Influence
As a late newcomer to the work of Nic Jones, I am heartily impressed by him. Tracks such as Clyde Water and Isle Of France are for me, what folk music is all about. Read more
Published on 4 Feb 2007 by M. Olyett
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