Conference marvin::uk_music

    OK the latest on Magna is that they released a new album last September
    on Tembo records called One To One. It's in the shops now. The line
    up was still lead by Chris Simpson with Linda Thompson (I think)
    Gwynne Jones (Keyboards),Paul Burgess (Drums), Lee ? (Bass) , Barry ?
    (various). The
    album was produced in Harrogate and has a lot of new Simpson
    compositions on it. For most of the last 18 months while working
    on getting the album together they were playing local pub gigs in
    North Yorkshire with occasional trip to Holland. The regular venue
    was the Stone House Inn near Harrogate where Friday nights were
    very popular and various other locals like me used to get the chance
    to have a jam with the band.
    
    Currently Chris and Linda are out in the Middle East together with
    the rest of the band members doing other things. Gwynne and Lee
    have a new band together in Bradford.           
    
    I believe an other album should be forthcoming sometime as the contract
    with Tembo specified two but I don't have any news at the moment.
    
    Richard Bell

    
    Over the last couple of years Chris Simpson has been a visitor to the
    Cover Bridge Inn in East Witton (nr. Jervaux) North Yorshire. I think I
    spotted him once too!
    
    After "Lord of the Ages" there was a bit of a silence, and I guess
    the first half of their career closed.  The title track of "Lord"
    is quite rocky in places and is rather a grand concept (ouch!) track;
    it's a great album.  I have the "Live" one too, recorded in Holland
    and featuring Davey Johnston on some tracks (all?).  "Seasons" is
    probably the one that brought them initial media attention, and
    "Airport Song" is reasonably well know - a minor hit I believe.
    
    They played The Cambridge Folk Fest. a few years back - enjoyable,
    and great to hear Chris Simpson's voice again.. I think the other
    guy you mentioned, Richard, was Glen Stuart.
    
    David.
    

    Thats it Glen Stuart.
    
    They had an album out about 8-10 years ago called Putting it All
    together. Was OK, Chris Simpson tracks were good, others not so.
    
    Also, got an album in Holland 4 years ago called Midnight Blue (I
    think) that I don't think was released in the UK.
    
    Richard

    
    Played the second side of "Lord Of The Ages" last night - "Two Old
    Friends Of Mine", "Wish It Was" and, of course, the title track
    - great stuff.
    
    I also have an International Masters series (Phillips) from 1977 - The
    Best Of.  It's a double, and has all the line-ups of the tracks, plus
    an excellent appraisal from N.M.E.'s Fred Dellar.  On covers up to
    "Lord" though. 

    David.
    

    Have just bought One to One on CD no less. Talk about an act of
    faith. Hope it justifies the 11-99. I'll review it here later.
    
    I now have 8 albums by them....
    
    Magna Carta - Their first. Good songs but lacked any production
    to speak of. Came over as just another folk/folk-rock group of which
    there were many in the early 70s. Released circa 1969. Chris Simpson,
    Glen Stuart and Lyall Tranter.
    
    Seasons - Side one, the Seasons Suite. Brilliant. Why this never,
    and still does not, sound cliche I don't know. Side two, more of
    the type of thing on their first album although Airport Song and
    Ring of Stones stand out. Released circa 1970. Same line up but
    with Davy Johnstone and Rick Wakeman no less accompanying. Production
    enhances songs significantly (Gus Dudgeon I think or was it Tony
    (Mary Hopkin) Visconti?).
    
    Songs from Wasties Orchard - Great LP. 12 songs, 9 brilliant in
    my view. Several up tempo songs not really suited to Magna Carta
    (Home Groan, Country Jam). Tranter left, place taken by Davy Johnstone.
    LP includes Johnstone playing brilliant mandolin on 'Sponge'. Star
    tracks, Knaresborough Town and Time for the Leaving. Production
    same as Seasons. Released about 1972.
    
    Live in Holland - Suprisingly clean sound. Davy Johnstone maybe
    a little TOO dominant on electric guitar but overall a good
    performance. Inter song dialogue a bit naff probably due to Stuart
    trying to speak slow for Dutch audience. Listen to Johnstone's banjo
    solo! Same Line up still. Released circa 1972/73
    
    Lord of the Ages - An attempt to repeat Seasons approach. Lord of
    the Ages not in itself as good as Seasons but other tracks on LP
    very good (Two Old Friends, Father John, Falkland Greene, Song of
    Evening etc). A much better balanced LP than Seasons. Possibly their
    best. Same line-up, Same production I think. Released circa 1973.
    
    Putting it back Together - Come back LP about 76/77. Only Simpson
    left of originals. Other leading force now Tom Hoy (ex some famous
    folkiegroup whose name escapes me). Not a good LP. Simpson songs
    sounding cliched both lyrically and melody wise. Hoy songs just
    not Magna Carta. LP lacks 'Magna Carta production' mainly because
    they've moved off Vertigo to GTO records.
    
    Midnight Blue - Only released in Holland? Early 80s? Once again
    new line up, only Chris Simpson remains. Not an impressive LP.
    
    
    I'm aware of the History of Magna Carta and also another (Holland
    Only?) LP I once saw. If I saw Seasons, Songs from Wasties Orchard
    and Lord of the Ages on CD I'd get them all again. Anyone seen them?
    I suspect not.
    
    So, what is One to One like?
    
    Richard 

    Blimey!  I'd forgotten all about Magna Carta - I bought 'Seasons'
    many moons ago... I'll check it out again... another blast from 
    the past.
    
    Thanks for the memory! - Can anyone tell me where I left it?
    Simon

    >> Can anyone tell me where I left it?
       
    You know *why* you can't remember - what were you doin' at the time
    - right!!!!!
    
    David.
    

    re .5 
    
    So Richard what do you think of 'One To One'. I'd be interested
    in your views as I've been listening to them playing those tracks
    live for most of last year before they got the album contract together.
    Some I like better live, some better on the album. I guess 'Evergreen'
    is my favourite.
    
    Richard Bell

    Well here we go....
    
    I must have had the CD for 3-4 weeks now and have resisted commenting
    too early to give the tracks time to grow on me.
    
    Alas, many of the tracks that appeared bland then still are.
    Summarising, with the addition of a female singer the CD seems to
    be an attempt at combining aspects of current popular music. Immediate
    influences that sprang to mind were Graceland, Fleetwood Mac, Barbara
    Dixon and the general acoustic type music gaining popularity today
    such as Fairground Attraction, Clannad etc.
    
    I find 4-5 tracks good LP tracks (Love on a Spinning Wheel, Rings
    Around the Moon, With a Woman Like You and a couple more whose titles 
    escape me). Many of the others are immemorable.
    
    'Evergreen' is a good example of whats wrong with the LP in my view.
    It promises well with its haunting backing but suffers from
    something that many of the songs suffer from. Namely, the lyrics
    and vocal style of Chris Simpson are by and large the same as they
    always were. Talk, of the sand, the shore, the north wind, wild
    geese etc etc is really the stuff that Magna Carta made their name
    with but these days I find that it all sounds a bit too cliche.
    Chris Simpson's vocals are also only suited to a specific type of
    song and in others he doesn't come across well.
    
    Would I recommend it? Only to a die hard MC fan (as I am!). Its
    well produced, well played but the material by and large is weak.
    
    Thats about it really.
    Richard
    Basingstoke.

    
    PS, I've been listening to my MC stuff lately and I did 'Midnight
    Blue' a disservice in an earlier reply. Its a good LP. Probably
    their best since Lord of the Ages.

    I guess I have to agree with a lot of what you said Richard. I got
    the album as much as for a souvenier of the nights in the Stone
    House Inn but I keep a tape in the car. For your info the co-producer
    and occasional guitar/keyboards (can't even remember his name) on the 
    album was never a part of the live group, he owns Blue Strike Studios
    where the album was recorded, and I don't think he adds a great deal, 
    his slide guitar attempts are particularly weak. 
    
    I bumped into Chris Simpson on Sunday morning, the current line
    up is Chris, Linda, Bob Dewsbury (an old friend of Chris's) helping
    out on Bass and a new guitarist Simon ?. The rest of the people
    on the album have all parted company with Chris and gone their separate
    ways.
    
    They have started playing Friday nights at another of our local pubs
    and Chris invited me up to play sometime so I hope to get up there
    this week and see how things are.
    
    Richard Bell

    If ever i'm up in Leeds you'll have to introduce me! Aren't you
    the BT SWAS person? I may just have to see you about OSCITE etc!
    
    Something I've always wondered. Is Chris Simpson a nice guy? I've often
    wondered why the group has gone through so many line-ups. Even Lyall
    Tranter dropped out after SEASONS when really that was the last thing
    he should have done considering they were peaking at the time. 

    	Richard

    Found out. Yes I do have that dubious priviledge. For OSCITE now
    see Rusty Graham in ASSETS.
    
    Re: Chris Simpson. Yes and no. Like any one else in his position
    he is somewhat ego-centric. OK he writes the songs and dictates
    the material and style of the group. This does lead to conflict
    between the members and Chris can be a real B*****D if he's a mind
    to. He does tend to use people and only does what HE wants to do.
    That is the reason why Lee Abbott and Gwynne Jones left after One
    to One. Linda is still there cos she and Chris now live together.
    However he has a lot of loyal followers, hangers on etc who keep
    appearing at gigs. I guess you are all right if you are not competeing
    with him. Even when I'm jamming with the group Chris won't allow
    me to do anything much in the way of lead guitar, I can sing and
    play rythem guitar but he does the flashy bits. Know what I mean?
    
    Richard 
    
    BTW I'm on a course down in Adrundel June 19th to 23rd, don't know
    if that's accessible enough to Basingstoke to meet? Drop me a mail
    if you feel like it.

    Richard,
    
    Hi, Arundel's a bit far. If you're in Reading with a free evening
    give me a ring.
    
    Do you know if there is any of their music published and available?
    I've been after their music for years to no avail. 

    Richard

    I don't know, I'll ask Chris next time I see him.
    
    Richard

    
    Well here we are 1� years later and guess what? I've seen Seasons on CD
    in HMVs here in Reading. I shall definitely be getting that shortly
    (maybe this lunchtime!). Wonder if the others are available?
    
    Richard