The GPs might be the least known supergroup of all, just because three Fairporters – Richard Thompson, Dave Pegg and Dave Mattacks – and Ralph McTell didn’t record anything. They graced the stage, though, the whopping four times they did, including the veterans’ appearance at Broughton Castle on August 14th, 1981 that was recorded, warts and all, and given a limited release ten years down the line. Fast forward to 2023, and those old tracks not only got cleaned up but also augmented with cuts from another concert, in Horsham, where the foursome performed on September 27th – however, while there are more numbers on the CD titled “In 1981 There Was THE GPs: Live In Concert” which will be out on February 7th, some of the pieces were left off.
What remains is an invigorating blend of rock ‘n’ roll, country and blues classics, with just a few folk songs thrown in for good measure – and a bonus track from the band’s one-off reunion. A must-have thing.
In 1981 There Was:
Live In Concert
1. Red Apple Juice
2. Together Again
3. Pretty Boy Floyd
4. Honky Tonk Blues
5. Zimmerman Blues
6. Going Going Gone
7. Viola Lee Blues
8. You’re Gonna Need Somebody
9. Take A Message To Mary
10. (Come Round Here) I’m The One You Need
11. I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry
12. Saturday Rolling Round
13. Barnes Morris
14. I Fall To Pieces
15. Steel Guitar Rag
16. Don’t Do It
17. Hang Up My Rock’n’roll Shoes
18. Save The Last Dance For Me
19. Lawdy Miss Clawdy
20. Cut Across Shorty
