What We Did On Our Holidays (An Introduction To Fairport Convention) - 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.

follow. A Sailor's Life is the first of 3 outstanding tracks. It's atmospheric and quite long (over 7 mins), with Sandy Denny's powerful vocals singing a slow 3 verse introduction, before the percussion joins in and the song picks up in tempo, gradually becoming musically heavier with each verse. Finally it leads out into a 3 minute plus rock instrumental with Thompson showing a little of his potential on guitar, but as with the Fairport's previous album, his playing is kept more restrained than you would expect. You would have had to have seen this guy live to realise what he was capable of. Cajun Woman' is a Thompson song with a heavy type feel to it. However it's one of Thompson's rare poorer efforts, and the weakest track on here. Thompson plays accordion as well as slide guitar. We now come to the exceptional track ...

RippedoffPete 11.12.2008 (14.12.2008) · Read full review
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Review of Unhalfbricking (Remastered & Expanded) - 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