RICHARD THOMPSON BAND - Mean Fiddler, Harlesden London England 1987.07.29



Sony ECM909 mic/Sony Pro Walkman/TDK SA-90/Adobe Audition >FLAC

The Old Mean Fiddler as I remember was a fairly cramped all standing venue downstairs, but the balcony had seats around 3 sides with a narrow ledge in front, which was good for perching a microphone - but the smoke was awful, now thankfully a thing of the past! Harlesden, a hideous part of west London was a place where you thanked Clapton that your car was still where you left it when you came out of the Mean Fiddler at the end of the gig!
I think this must have been the first of two warm ups for a USA tour, a band including John Kirkpatrick on squeezeboxes, Clive Gregson & Cristine Collister being their amazing selves and the legend - Dave Mattacks on drums, were dynamite both nights. Dave Mattacks and Clive Gregson would reunite a few months later in the Ashley Hutchings Allstars. Listening to this through headphones I'm amazed at the number of folks who bought tickets just to have a chat!

Maybe someone knows the title of track 13 - I haven't a clue.

This recording has never been circulated, although I doubt if I had the only recorder at those gigs.

Set List
01 Tuning
02 Man in Need
03 Valorie
04 When the spell is broken
05 Two left feet
06 Jenny my love
07 Bone through her nose
08 Drowned dog black night - tape flip during applause
09 Al Bowly's in heaven
10 White friars hornpipe/?
11 You don't say
12 Wall of death
13 ??
14 Band introductions
15 All because of you
16 Shoot out the lights
17 The angels have taken my racehorse away
18 Nearly in love


Running time 78 minutes


Ruary McFarlane Bass
John Kirkpatrick Squeezeboxes
Dave Mattacks Drums
Clive Gregson Guitar/Keyboards/vocals
Christine Collister Vocals