Lasting Spirit, A (The Collection) [Digipak] - Fairport Convention

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... Read review

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Advantages: Fairport at their peak
Disadvantages: Only scratches the surface

...Yes, I like Oasis, the Charlatans, Verve, Orbital et al, and I'm damned if anyone will snicker at me for my love of British folk either. Personally, those that don't have any Fairport in their music collection are missing out on some superb songwriting, musicianship and sheer entertainment. This collection covers 7 incarnations of the famously hectic Fairport lineup and takes us from 1967 to 1972, released while working on the then as yet untitled 7th album (Nine) undoubtedly Fairports most influential and impressive period. It takes in 5 albums, and the original vinyl comes with a family tree to help make sense of it all. Yes there are plenty of nods and arrangements of traditional folk tunes, but on the whole this album features largely original compositions from such talented tunesmiths as Richard Thompson, Dave Swarbrick... Read review

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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... Read review

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