On The Ledge (35th Anniversary Concert/Live) [Digipak] - 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
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Review of Meet On The Ledge (The Classic Years) - Fairport Convention Meet On The Ledge

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
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Review of History Of Fairport Convention, The - Fairport Convention

Folk Rocks!

Advantages: The first and probably the best folk rock album
Disadvantages: The line-up never recorded together again

Fairport Convention?s groundbreaking 1970 album ?Liege and Lief? is not just a seminal album it can be argued to have launched the whole concept of folk-rock. It is above all still a hugely enjoyable and relevant work which as a listener I return to time and time again. The reason is simple, it is the work of highly skilled musicians at the height of their careers. The band had started as a West Coast and Dylan admiring band who put out a first eponymous record with singer Judy Dyble, mildly interesting without setting anything alight. The second album ?What We Did On Our Holidays? was rather more interesting. Having been joined by Sandy Denny, surely one of the best singers the pop/rock scene ever spawned, an inspired songwriter and boasting one of the most ?English? voices imaginable. Richard Thompson, still a highly ...

JoePoirot 11.08.2004 · Read full review
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Review of Liege And Lief - Fairport Convention