Fairport Convention is often credited with being one of the first English f… Read Full Bio ↴Fairport Convention is often credited with being one of the first English folk rock bands. Formed in 1967, Fairport rapidly developed from playing cover versions of American 'west coast' music to an individual style which melded rock music with traditional English folk tunes and songs.
Like their peers The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and Jefferson Airplane they were blessed with several considerable individual talents and produced music that -at least initially- was eclectic, as well as exploratory. This side of the band may best be heard on Heyday, a collection of tracks broadcast by the BBC. The move to a more British form of folk rock came primarily as a result of the enthusiasm of bassist Ashley Hutchings and producer Joe Boyd. Original singer Judy Dyble was replaced on their second LP What We Did On Our Holidays by Sandy Denny, an experienced folk singer and excellent composer in her own right. Fiddle virtuoso Dave Swarbrick joined, initially as sessioneer, on their third, Unhalfbricking. That LP has arguably their first two bona fide masterpieces. One is their version of the Sandy Denny song, Who Knows Where the Time Goes, popularized by Judy Collins, but characterised on their version by a perfect balance between Denny's vocals and the exquisite support of the group as a whole, and lead guitarist Richard Thompson in particular. The other is A Sailor's Life, the first to demonstrate the potential power of folk rock, the song exploding in an improvised and sophisticated instrumental coda that reaches beyond the words through the impassioned interplay of the whole band, led by the virtuosity of Thompson and Swarbrick in particular. Thompson also soon showed that he could create his own distinctive songs, notably the anthemic Meet on the Ledge, on Holidays.
The following LP Liege and Lief is perhaps Fairport's finest hour. Liege and Lief is generally remembered for its virtuoso versions of traditional folk songs but it also contains beautiful originals by Thompson and Denny. However the next, Full House -deliberately rockier in tone- has its particular gems, most notably Sloth, for its extended guitar/ fiddle duel and Poor Will and the Jolly Hangman, a perfect expression of Thompson's mordant humour; along with the sleeve notes, surely amongst the strangest and funniest ever.
The band continued with a series of personnel changes and albums, all with at least some high points, until it was temporarily disbanded in 1979, but played annual reunion concerts until it reformed in 1985. Since then, it has enjoyed stability and continues to tour and record regularly.
In part, the continuing success of Fairport Convention is due to the annual music festival it organizes. Cropredy Festival has been held every year since 1974 near Cropredy, a village five miles north of Banbury, Oxfordshire and can attract upwards of 20,000 fans.
In 2002 the band was given a Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. In 2006 Radio 2 listeners voted their 1969 album Liege & Lief as the Most Influential Folk Album of All Time. A mass reunion of living Fairport members performed at the ceremony.
Like their peers The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and Jefferson Airplane they were blessed with several considerable individual talents and produced music that -at least initially- was eclectic, as well as exploratory. This side of the band may best be heard on Heyday, a collection of tracks broadcast by the BBC. The move to a more British form of folk rock came primarily as a result of the enthusiasm of bassist Ashley Hutchings and producer Joe Boyd. Original singer Judy Dyble was replaced on their second LP What We Did On Our Holidays by Sandy Denny, an experienced folk singer and excellent composer in her own right. Fiddle virtuoso Dave Swarbrick joined, initially as sessioneer, on their third, Unhalfbricking. That LP has arguably their first two bona fide masterpieces. One is their version of the Sandy Denny song, Who Knows Where the Time Goes, popularized by Judy Collins, but characterised on their version by a perfect balance between Denny's vocals and the exquisite support of the group as a whole, and lead guitarist Richard Thompson in particular. The other is A Sailor's Life, the first to demonstrate the potential power of folk rock, the song exploding in an improvised and sophisticated instrumental coda that reaches beyond the words through the impassioned interplay of the whole band, led by the virtuosity of Thompson and Swarbrick in particular. Thompson also soon showed that he could create his own distinctive songs, notably the anthemic Meet on the Ledge, on Holidays.
The following LP Liege and Lief is perhaps Fairport's finest hour. Liege and Lief is generally remembered for its virtuoso versions of traditional folk songs but it also contains beautiful originals by Thompson and Denny. However the next, Full House -deliberately rockier in tone- has its particular gems, most notably Sloth, for its extended guitar/ fiddle duel and Poor Will and the Jolly Hangman, a perfect expression of Thompson's mordant humour; along with the sleeve notes, surely amongst the strangest and funniest ever.
The band continued with a series of personnel changes and albums, all with at least some high points, until it was temporarily disbanded in 1979, but played annual reunion concerts until it reformed in 1985. Since then, it has enjoyed stability and continues to tour and record regularly.
In part, the continuing success of Fairport Convention is due to the annual music festival it organizes. Cropredy Festival has been held every year since 1974 near Cropredy, a village five miles north of Banbury, Oxfordshire and can attract upwards of 20,000 fans.
In 2002 the band was given a Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. In 2006 Radio 2 listeners voted their 1969 album Liege & Lief as the Most Influential Folk Album of All Time. A mass reunion of living Fairport members performed at the ceremony.
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Live At The BBC
Fairport Convention Lyrics
Angel Delight John the Wood went out one day To view the scene…
Autopsy You must philosophise But why must you bore me to…
Banks Of The Sweet Primroses As I walked out on a midsummer's morning For to view…
Bird on the Wire Like a bird on a wire Like a drunk in a…
Book Song If she knew what I see while I'm watching Would she…
Cajun Woman The baby that the preacher gave you in the Spring Spent…
Chelsea Morning Woke up big this Chelsea morning and the first thing…
Close The Door Lightly When You Go One, two, three Turn around, don't whisper out my name L…
Doctor Of Physick "Take care daughter dear Don't dream on many gallant men ton…
Eastern Rain Rain comes from the east one night We watch it come To…
Fotheringay How often she has gazed from castle windows o'er, And watche…
I Don't Know Where I Stand Funny day, looking for laughter and finding it there Sunny d…
I Still Miss Someone At my door the leaves are falling A cold wild wind…
If I Had A Ribbon Bow If I had ribbon bow to tie my hair And a…
Jack O' Diamonds Jack O'Diamonds, on the move Jack O'Diamonds, one-eyed knav…
John the Gun "My shadow follows me Wherever I should chance to go", John …
Let's Get Together Love is but a song we sing, Hear a way we…
Lord Marlborough You generals all and champions bold that takes delight in…
Marcie Marcie in a coat of flowers Steps inside a candy store Reds…
Meet On The Ledge We used to say "there'd come the day, we'd all…
Night In The City Light up light up Light up your lazy blue eyes Moons up…
Nottamun Town In Nottamun Town not a soul would look up, Not a…
Now Be Thankful When the stone is grown too cold to kneel In crystal…
One Sure Thing He used to be the only man I would see He…
Percy's Song Bad news, bad news, Come to me where I sleep, Turn, turn,…
Poor Will And The Jolly Hangman Rise for the hangman His pleasure is that you should rise …
Possibly Parsons Green Don't say you caught me, if you don't need me Then…
Reno Nevada It′s a long, long way down to Reno, Nevada and…
Reynardine One evening as I rambled Among the leaves so green, …
Rising For The Moon (Sandy Denny) I travel over the sea and ride the rolling…
Rosie Swarbrick I know Rosie, You're living in a world you did…
Shattering Live Experience Nicol Evening's dawning, missed the morning, Slept the a…
Si Tu Dois Partir C'est pas que je te demande De faire ce que tu…
Sickness and Diseases I do hate to see a rover crippled in the…
Sir Patrick Spens The King sits in Dunfirmline town, Drinking of the blood-re…
Sir William Gower I am a sailor, both stout and strong To a goodly…
Some Sweet Day Some sweet day, some sweet day I'm gonna hold you like…
Suzanne Suzanne takes you down to a place near the river You…
Tam Lin "I forbid you maidens all that wear gold in your…
The Bonny Bunch Of Roses Near by the swelling ocean, One morning in the month of…
The Deserter As I was a-walking along Ratcliffe Highway A recruiting par…
The Journeyman's Grace Someone told me there's a grace that leads you straight…
Time Will Show The Wiser Time Will Show The Wiser - Fairport Convention My mind keeps…
Tried So Hard Stopped awhile this morning on my way back home I had…
Walk Awhile Walk awhile, walk awhile, walk awhile with me The more we…
Who Knows Where The Time Goes? Across the evening sky, all the birds are leaving But how…
You Never Wanted Me Wondering and waiting, my back agaist the wall Not a word…
You're Gonna Need My Help You're gonna need, You're gonna need my help, I say. You…
Ronno
on Book Song
Beautiful song, even if I can't understand what's going on: she's reading a book, he's writing one (and playing) .. I wanted it to be abouth former FC singer Judy Dyble , who would knit on stage if she wasn't singing. The girlfriend theory makes some sense, but if Ian said it was about his daughter...