RICHARD THOMPSON BAND - Mean Fiddler, Harlesden London England 1987.07.30



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!
This the second of two consecutive nights at the Mean Fiddler when I think I sat in the balcony. Again, a band including John Kirkpatrick on squeezeboxes, Clive Gregson & Christine 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.

Of course 3/5 of the original Morris On line up are in this band, and they play a medley of morris tunes from that album.

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

Set List
01 Tear stained letter
02 She twist the knife again
03 Jenny my love
04 Bone through her nose
05 Al Bowley's in heaven
06 All because of you
07 Drowned dog black night
08 Wall of death
09 White friar's hornpipe/Shreds & patches
10 Long dead love
11 Angels
12 Two left feet
13 Shoot out the lights
14 Fire in the engine room
15 Willow tree/Bean setting/Shooting (from Morris On)
Flying saucer rock n roll
16 Ghosts in the wind



Running time 102 minutes


Richard Thompson Guitar/vocals
Ruary McFarlane Bass
John Kirkpatrick Squeezeboxes
Dave Mattacks Drums
Clive Gregson Guitar/Keyboards/vocals
Christine Collister Vocals/laughing/ side tapping!