Simon Nicol
Simon Nicol | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Simon John Breckenridge Nicol |
Born | Muswell Hill, London, England | 13 October 1950
Genres | Rock, British folk rock |
Occupation(s) | Singer, musician, record producer |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, Dulcimer, Synthesiser, Drums[1] |
Years active | 1960s–present |
Labels | Track, Island, Vertigo, Woodworm, Matty Grooves |
Website | fairportconvention |
Simon John Breckenridge Nicol (born 13 October 1950)
History
Early career
Born in Muswell Hill, North London, England,[2] Nicol was the son of a general practitioner, who died in 1964. He began to play guitar at the age of 11 and left school at 15. In 1966 he was asked to join local band the Ethnic Shuffle Orchestra by bass guitarist Ashley Hutchings, and soon left his job at a local cinema to play full-time. They rehearsed above his father's old surgery in Fairport House, which gave its name to the band he and Hutchings formed with Richard Thompson and Shaun Frater as Fairport Convention in 1967.[3]
Fairport Convention 1967–71
As Thompson emerged as the lead guitarist, Nicol moved towards rhythm duties and occasional backing vocals. After some line-up changes the band enjoyed a degree of commercial success in their early years, with three albums and appearing on Britain's most popular music programme
Almost immediately after the release of the album, Hutchings and vocalist
Albion Band, playing and production 1972–76
Just about the time that Nicol left Fairport Convention, Hutchings had also quit
Along with Dave Mattacks, Ashley Hutchings, singer
In 1973 he played on what is often considered one of the seminal folk/jazz albums of all time,
In 1976 Nicol also was the main guitarist on Ashley Hutchings' second Morris dance revival project, Son of Morris On.[23] This album also featured Morris tunes Nicol had already played with the Albion Country Band in 1972.
Return to Fairport 1976–79
Nicol came back to work with Fairport as a sound engineer on what was originally a solo project for Swarbrick,
Albion Band, Richard and Linda Thompson, Nicol and Swarbrick 1979–85
As the members of the group went their separate ways, Nicol returned to the Albion Band to record two albums in 1983. He toured and recorded with Richard and Linda Thompson from 1979 to 1982 and then with Richard Thompson in 1983 and 1984.
Reformations and reunions 1986–present
The period 1986–97 was perhaps the busiest in Nicol's career. With Swarbrick absent he finally became the front man for the new Fairport. Most commentators have tended to feel that his developing baritone voice was more than adequate for the task and his vocals on songs like "The Hiring Fair" have been particularly praised.[32] Although Fairport embarked on regular recording and touring, Nicol produced two solo albums in this period: Before Your Time (1987) and Consonant Please Carol (1992). Between 1991 and 1996 he played on three albums by Richard Thompson. From 1993 he rejoined the Albion Band in a new acoustic line-up and with them recorded three highly regarded albums, the first of which, Acousticity (1993), he produced, touring extensively in Europe and America. He also continued to undertake work with a wide variety of artists, including a tour with Art Garfunkel in 1988 and playing on albums by Beverley Craven and Beth Nielsen Chapman. In 1990 he released a video of Singing Games for Children with his wife Sylvia.[33]
In 1997, Nicol left the Albion Band and began to focus more directly on Fairport Convention, but able to share vocal duties with
In 2009, Nicol reunited with original Fairport Convention vocalist
Guitar technique
Like Richard Thompson, Nicol uses a hybrid picking technique that uses a pick between thumb and forefinger and remaining fingers to pluck the higher strings, the pick can then be used to strum. Nicol described his technique as 'percussive'.[21] Although Nicol openly admits he lacks Thompson's exceptional lead technique, he is considered one of the most reliable and versatile rhythm players available, as testified by his large number of credits with a wide variety of artists from different genres. In the view of Dave Mattacks, his fellow Fairport member for many years, "he is the best acoustic supportive player I know".[11]
Recognition
As part of Fairport Convention, Nicol received the 'Lifetime achievement award' at the 2002 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. At the 2006 Folk Awards he shared in the award for 'Most influential folk album of all time' voted by Radio 2 listeners for Liege and Lief.[36] At the 2007 awards he received an award with Fairport, along with the late Sandy Denny, for ‘Favourite folk track of all time’ for "Who Knows Where the Time Goes?".[37]
Discography
For Fairport Convention see Fairport Convention discography
For the Albion Band see
- As solo artist
- Before Your Time (Woodworm, 1987)
- Consonant Please Carol (Woodworm, 1992)
- Before Your Time/Consonant Please Carol (Woodworm, 1998)
- With Steve Ashley
- Stroll On (Gull, 1974)
- Demo Tapes (CND, 1980)
- Steve Ashley's Family Album (Woodworm, 1983)
- Mysterious Ways (Lighthouse/LINE, 1990)
- The Test of Time (Market Square, 1999)
- Everyday Lives (Topic, 2001)
- Live In Concert (Dusk Fire, 2006)
- Time and Tide (Topic, 2007)
- Steve Ashley's Family Album Revisited (Talking Elephant 2021)
- With Vashti Bunyan
- Just Another Diamond Day (Philips, 1970)
- With Beth Nielsen Chapman
- You Hold the Key (Reprise, 1993)
- With Shirley Collins
- Adieu to Old England (Topic, 1974)
- Anthems in Eden (BGO Records, 1999)
- With Julie Covington
- Julie Covington (Fame, 1978)
- With Beverley Craven
- Beverley Craven (Epic, 1990)
- With Sandy Denny
- Gold Dust (Island, 1998)
- With Judy Dyble
- "Talking with Strangers" (Fixit, 2009)
- With Art Garfunkel
- Concert (1988)
- With Murray Head
- With Mike Heron
- Smiling Men with Bad Reputations (Elektra, 1971)
- With John Kirkpatrick and Ashley Hutchings
- The Compleat Dancing Master (Island 1974)
- With John Martyn
- Solid Air (Island, 1973)
- With Matthews' Southern Comfort
- Matthews' Southern Comfort (Decca, 1970)
- With Phil Pickett
- The Bones of All Men(Hannibal, 1998)
- With Alan Simon
- Excalibur I – La Légende des Celtes (Sony Music, 1998)
- Excalibur – Le concert mythique (Sony Music, 2000)
- Excalibur II – L'Anneau des Celtes (EMI, 2007)
- Anne de Bretagne (Rue Stendhal, 2009)
- Excalibur III – The Origins (Celluloid, 2012)
- With Cat Stevens
- Numbers (A&M, 1975)
- With Al Stewart
- Love Chronicles (CBS, 1969) – listed as "Simon Breckenridge"
- Modern Times (CBS, 1975)
- With Dave Swarbrick
- In the Club (1981) (Tape)
- Live at the White Bear (White Bear Records, 1982)
- Close to the Wind (Woodworm, 1984)
- Close to the White Bear (Woodworm, 1998)
- Swarbrick 2 (Transatlantic, 1977)
- With Linda Thompson
- Dreams Fly Away: a History of Linda Thompson (Hannibal, 1996)
- With Richard Thompson
- (guitar, vocal) (Island, 1976)
- Hand of Kindness (Hannibal, 1983)
- Across a Crowded Room (Polygram, 1985)
- Doom and Gloom From The Tomb (tape) (Flypaper, 1985)
- Doom and Gloom II (Over My Dead Body) (tape) (Flypaper, 1991)
- Rumor and Sigh (Capitol, 1991)
- Watching The Dark: The History of Richard Thompson (Hannibal, 1993)
- You? me? us?(Capitol, 1996)
- With Richard and Linda Thompson
- I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight (Island, 1974)
- Hokey Pokey (Island, 1975)
- First Light (Chrysalis, 1978)
- Sunnyvista (Chrysalis, 1979)
- Shoot Out the Lights (Hannibal, 1982)
- End of the Rainbow – An Introduction To Richard & Linda Thompson (Island, 2002)
- No Relation (Transatlantic, 1977)
Notes
- ^ "The Lady Is a Tramp [Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers]". Mainlynorfolk.info. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- ^ ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
- ^ Humphries 1997, p. 4
- ^ Humphries 1997, p. 37
- ^ Humphries 1997, p. 25
- ^ "She Moves Through the Fair / Our Wedding Day (Roud 861; Henry H141)". Mainlynorfolk.info. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- ^ "Fotheringay [Sandy Denny]". Mainlynorfolk.info. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- ^ B. Sweers, Electric Folk: The Changing Face of English Traditional Music (Oxford University Press, 2005), p. 86.
- ^ Humphries 1997, pp. 61–66
- ^ Humphries 1997, pp. 75–76
- ^ a b Redwood & Woodward 1995, p. 62
- ^ Humphries 1997, p. 86
- ^ Humphries 1997, pp. 95–96
- ^ Humphries 1997, pp. 125–126
- ^ "Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - 19/06/1972 Albion Country Band". BBC. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- ^ "Young Beichan / Lord Bateman (Roud 40; Child 53L; G/D 5:1023; Henry H470)". Mainlynorfolk.info. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- ^ ISBN 0-02-864752-1
- ^ "Music - Review of John Martyn - Solid Air". BBC. 1 January 1970. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- ^ Humphries 1997, p. 126
- ^ "John Kirkpatrick & Ashley Hutchings: The Compleat Dancing Master". Mainlynorfolk.info. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- ^ a b "Acoustic Magazine - The UK's only Magazine Dedicated to the Acoustic World - Simon Nicol - Oxfordshire English". Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- ^ 'Interview with Simon Nicol and Dave Pegg', "Fairport Convention discussion pages", "Interview with Simon Nicol and Dave Pegg | Fairport Convention Discussion List Website". Archived from the original on 28 September 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2009., retrieved 1/02/09; 'History: Simon Nicol writes about Fairport', Fairport Convention official website, "History: Simon Nicol writes about Fairport - Fairport Convention's official website". Archived from the original on 11 February 2009. Retrieved 20 November 2009., retrieved 30/01/09.
- ^ "Son of Morris On". Mainlynorfolk.info. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- ^ Humphries 1997, pp. 123–126
- ^ "JULIE COVINGTON | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- ^ "Innerviews: Fairport Convention - Come All Ye - Simon Nicol". Archived from the original on 26 November 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2009.
- ^ Humphries 1997, p. 129
- ^ Redwood & Woodward 1995, p. 18
- ^ Redwood & Woodward 1995, pp. 74–76
- ^ Abbot, Scott (31 March 2008). "Fairport Convention Set Lists". Home.myfairpoint.net. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ Redwood & Woodward 1995, pp. 19–22
- ^ Humphries 1997, pp. 158, 160
- ^ "Simon Nichol | Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- ^ "Fairport Convention | musicOMH". Archived from the original on 26 January 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2009.
- ^ "The Albion Christmas Band Santa's Grotto". Thealbionchristmasband.googlepages.com. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- ^ "Radio 2 - Folk and Acoustic - Folk Awards". BBC. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- ^ "Radio 2 - Events - Folk Awards 2007". BBC. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
References
- Humphries, P. (1997). Meet on the Ledge: Fairport Convention, the Classic Years (2nd ed.). Virgin.
- Redwood, Fred; Woodward, Martin (1995). The Woodworm Era: The story of today's Fairport Convention. Thatcham: Jeneva Publishing. ISBN 0-9525860-0-2.
External links
- Simon Nicol discography at Discogs