Late 1970’s Nottingham group.

A traditional folk flavoured group who updated their music with a more powerful rhythm section that was described as Electric Folk in a similar way to Steeleye Span. They played a residency at the Test Match in West Bridgford circa 1977/78.

Line up:
Alan Tiplady: Guitar, Vocals
Bill Leivers: Accordion, Concertina, Tin Whistle, Bass, Vocals
Vere Foster: Electric Fiddle, Electric Mandolin, Vocals
Graham Aitchinson: Bass, Guitar, Vocals
Warwick Mann: Drums

Bill Leivers came from Nottingham, Graham Aitchinson from Liverpool and Alan Tiplady, Warwick Mann and Vere Foster all came from Yorkshire.

Meeting through the local folk circles of Nottingham and all having studied at the Clifton Teacher Training College they were all working fulltime, three of them as teachers.

Vere Foster worked at the Fernwood junior school in Wollaton. Vere already had a vinyl release on a small independent Cumbria label “Fellside Recordings”. He had been in a band called Farmstead along with another Nottingham based Yorkshireman Bob Dugdale who was a technician in the Nottingham City Hospital’s medical physics department. The album “The Sheep and the Hay” was released in 1977.

Morris Convertible played the usual folk songs about sex, booze, rape and murder but were complimented by a few “rock” ideas such as a version of “Rock and Rolling Music” which mutated into “Funky Folk Music”, and “Do You Like Good Music” which goes through a few modern day folk stars. With tinges of Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin seeping into their sound they where more than just a folk group.

They were often supported at the Test Match by Dave and Janine Langdon who played acoustic guitars and had a set of their own numbers and covers like John Denver and Ralph McTell.

In 1977, plans were made to record an album in Northants on the Cottage Record Label. However, it doesn’t seem to have been released, at least at that time.

There are two sets of recordings by Morris Convertible. The album Old Wives’ Tales which you can hear on youtube here. Whether these are those Cottage Records recordings from 1977 I’m not sure.

There is also a a CDR listed on Discogs called Hanky Panky but judging by the band picture it is probably from a later time but again I’m not sure.

After the demise of Morris Convertible, Vere Foster went on to play with The Plumtree Country Dance Band and Belzebub.

Alan Tiplady has a soundcloud page here.