Over The Next Hill - 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

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.

male vocalist left the band while they recorded this album. Finally, Dave Swarbrick, a veteran fiddle player on the folk circuit had already joined the band on live gigs by this stage, but was still an unofficial member. That left the lineup of Simon Nicol - Rhythm guitar, Richard Thompson - Lead guitar, Ashley Hutchings - Bass guitar, Martiin Lamble - Drums, Sandy Denny - Vocals. The first 4 members founded Fairport Convention, whose name Fairport was that of Simon Nicol's house where he lived with his parents in Muswell Hill at the time the band was formed.. Within a few weeks of completing the recording of this album, the band were involved in a serious road accident while exiting the M1 in north London, having returned from a gig in Birmingham. Two people died including drummer, Martin Lamble (who was just 19 years ...

RippedoffPete 11.12.2008 (14.12.2008) · Read full review
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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
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Review of History Of Fairport Convention, The - Fairport Convention