Fairport Unconventional - Fairport Convention

Fairport Invention

Advantages: Fantastic History of the band who invented Folk Rock
Disadvantages: No Family Tree, but you can get it in "History"

The band's name is Fairport Convention, not Fairground Convention. There is a wonderful CD compilation , callled "History" which a fine selection of Fairport's music, but this compilation has two CDs and as such provides a more exhaustive selection of the band's work for the Island label. It opens with a track from their debut album (which was on the Polydor label) and featured Judy Dyble on vocals,) a version of Joni Mitchell's "Chelsea Morning" demonstrating their early leanings towards their West Coast influences of Bob Dylan , Jefferson Airplane and Phil Ochs. The band have always had a fluid line up and around 1968 virtually single handedly invented British Folk rock. Sandy Denny (ex of the early Strawbs) came in on vocals and Richard Thompson on guitar, The groups history is detailed concisely and beutifully in the liner ...

mikeydred 12.02.2001 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Meet On The Ledge (The Classic Years) - Fairport Convention Meet On The Ledge

Powerful Example Of Folk Influenced Rock

Advantages: Sandy Denny's vocals, Richard Thompson's guitar, some very strong tunes.
Disadvantages: The odd weak track, a couple of Bob Dylan covers too many.

Fairport Convention were a British band formed in late 1966 from North London. The band have often been cited as the pioneers of folk-rock, although another British electric folk band, Pentangle around at the same time, could equally have laid claim to this, except their music was more jazz influenced than the Fairports. The main focus of interest in Fairport Convention around this period centred on Richard Thompson's excellent and original guitar playing and Sandy Denny's incredible voice. A brief history of the band lineup follows. By the time Unhalfbricking came out in the summer of 1969, Fairport had been through slight personnel changes since they started out. Sandy Denny had replaced original female vocalist. Judy Dyble a year earlier, and was much the more impressive singer of the two. Ian Matthews, the original ...

RippedoffPete 11.12.2008 (14.12.2008) · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Unhalfbricking (Remastered & Expanded) - Fairport Convention

Who knows where the time goes

Advantages: varied, an intersting portrayal of a great band.
Disadvantages: not all versions include Crazy man Michael.

Fairport convention began life back in 1967, and sine then have had as complicated a history as Whitsanke/Deep Purple, Rainbow and all the other in that set. Their line up has over the years included some of the great names of folk: Ashley Hutchins, Sandy Denny, Richard Thompson, Dave Swarbrick, Dave Pegg, and John Kirkpatrick, (but never all at the same time sadley.)having started life during the great sixies folk revival, they like other bands have mixed traditional music with electric modernity, and have done so to great effect. The istory of Fairport Convention is an album that seeks to capture their different sounds and line ups over the years, and as such is an admirable effort to do the almost impossible. This a good introductory album for anyone who has not previously encounered the group, and as a first foray into folk it ...

Bryn_Pearson 12.07.2001 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of History Of Fairport Convention, The - Fairport Convention