Moat On The Ledge: Live At Broughton Castle - Fairport Convention

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 would... Read review

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Advantages: A Brilliant Compilation
Disadvantages: One CD is enough

...Theis is an excellent introduction to the pioneers of folk rock in Britain. Fairport are still going strong today , (with a much changed line up) and are still releasing albums and hosting the Annual Cropredy festival which is documented in another three CD set available. This compilations covers the years 1969 and features a nicely produced family tree inlay. Some of the names are Richard Thompson, Sandy Denny , Ashley Hutchings, and Dave Swarbrick which may be familiar . Stand out tracks include the ten minute Sailors Life featuring a guitar / fidle duel/duet between Swarbrick and Thompson, Matty Groves, Sloth and the beautiful Who Knows Where the Time Goes featuring Sandy Denny. This is now available on mid price and should make you want to at least check out all their other albums. This hAs been since superceded by Meet... Read review

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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 family... Read review

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