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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Meet On The Ledge: The Classic Years (1967-1975)
Fairport Convention Lyrics
A Sailor's Life A sailor's life, it is a merry life He robs young…
Bonny Bunch Of Roses Near by the swelling ocean, One morning in the month of…
Book Song If she knew what I see while I'm watching Would she…
Bring 'Em Down Time stood dark and silent and the stars they gave…
Chelsea Morning Woke up big this Chelsea morning and the first thing…
Come All Ye Come all ye rolling minstrels, And together we will try To…
Crazy Man Michael Within the fire and out upon the sea Crazy man Michael…
Fotheringay How often she has gazed from castle windows o'er, And watche…
Genesis Hall My father he rides with your sheriffs And I know…
I'll Keep It With Mine You may search, at any cost But how long can you Search…
John Lee John Lee, your headache's growing, the cold wind's blowing B…
Matty Groves Matty Groves (trad. arr Fairport Convention) A holiday, a …
Meet On The Ledge We used to say "there'd come the day, we'd all…
Mr. Lacey Please Mr Lacey, let me work your loving machine Please Mr…
One More Chance Calling all olive branches and laid off doves There is work…
Percy's Song Bad news, bad news, Come to me where I sleep, Turn, turn,…
Polly On The Shore Come all you wild young men and a warning take…
Poor Will And The Jolly Hangman Rise for the hangman His pleasure is that you should rise …
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…
Sloth (Chorus) Just a roll, just a roll Just a roll on your…
Stranger To Himself He was a stranger to himself A spy in his own…
Tale In Hard Time Take the sun from my heart Let me learn to despise I'll…
Tam Lin "I forbid you maidens all that wear gold in your…
The Hexhamshire Lass Away with the buff and the blue and away with…
The Journeyman's Grace Someone told me there's a grace that leads you straight…
The Plainsman Lucas-Roche I come from the moor and the mointain, from t…
Walk Awhile Walk awhile, walk awhile, walk awhile with me The more we…
White Dress Feel how the wind blows, December despair Bring me a ribbon…
Who Knows Where The Time Goes? Across the evening sky, all the birds are leaving But how…
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...