Angel Delight [Import]

Fairport Convention | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 30, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Polygram Int'l
• ASIN: B000006YLS
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #628,533 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Lord Marlborough

2. Sir William Gower

3. Bridge over the River Ash

4. Wizard of the Worldly Game

5. The Journeyman's Grace

6. Angel Delight

7. Banks of the Sweet Primroses

8. Instrumental Medley: The Cuckoo's Nest/Hardiman the Fiddler/Papa Stoor

9. The Bonny Black Hare

10. Sickness and Diseases

Editorial Reviews

Remastered reissue of the legendary British folk-rock act's sixth album, originally issued in 1971, includes one bonus track 'The Journeyman's Grace' feat. Richard Thompson. Initial quantities include a slipcase. 11 tracks. Universal. 2004. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fairport Delight!, September 16, 2004

By 

Morten Vindberg (Denmark) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Angel Delight (Audio CD)

Angel Delight was Fairport's follow-up to their master-piece "Full House".

Guitarist and songwiter Richard Thompson had left the band before the recordings for the album, but some songs had been written and rehearsed before he left. Thompson is co-writer on two songs and though his personal vocals are missed, his absence is actually surprisingly not very obvious.

Before the recordings of "Full House" the band had moved in together in an old inn called "The Angel Inn" ( hence the title of the album ), and they lived there together during the recordings of this album too. Actually Richard Thompson still lived there after he had left Fairport Convention to pursue a solo-career; so obviously he still played a part in the band's musical direction.

Guitarist Simon Nicol reveals in the sleeve-notes that he was not too familiar with the electric guitar at this point; but he obviously had been very much inspired by Thompson's style and his playing on the album is great.

As with "Full House" the songs is a mixture of traditional songs and new originals written by the band.

The opener "Lord Marlborough" is one the traditionals. This old folk song features great lead vocals by Dave Swarbrick; catchy melody in a very unusual/difficult rhythm, which makes the song even more fascinating.

Simon Nicol takes over the lead vocals on the next traditional "Sir William Gower". The distorted guitar makes you think of Steeleye Span at their most electric/rocking period. Another good track!

The first of the album's two instrumentals is the the violin-dominated "Bridge Over the River Ash" - almost like a classical piece.

Dave Swarbrick takes over again the lead vocals on his and Simon Nicol's "Wizzard of the Worldly Game". Classic Fairport Convention at their best; fine solo by Nicol!

"The Journeyman's Grace" written by Thompson and Swarbrick is a song much in the same vein as "Walk Awhile" from "Full House"

The title track is a catchy and optimistic tune with autobiograpical lyrics. Great drum-breaks by Mattacks.

The traditional ballad "Banks of the Sweet Primroses" was from the the first time I heard the album my favourite track; and it still is. A gorgeous melody.

The instrumental medley is as always a pleasure; showing what great instrumentalist they all were.

The last traditional song "The Bonny Black Hare" is probably my least favourite track, which by no means makes it a bad track.

Swarbrick and Thompson's "Sickness and Diseases" is the most hard-rocking track on the album. Great closer of the original album.

The single bonus-track is a BBC recording of "The Journeyman's Grace"; not that much different from the album version, but still interesting as it features great guitar-playing from Thompson.

Conclusion: Classic Fairport, and a must-buy for any fan of the band.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Noble Effort, September 2, 2001

By 

Wileytown "wileytown" (Morristown, TN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Angel Delight (Audio CD)

I like to play this disc for folks who possess a casual familiarity with Fairport. The strength of the album can be surprising! It might not be a FULL HOUSE, but its still a flush! It stands well with the classic Fairport works preceeding it. Recommended!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another Fine Fairport Album, January 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Angel Delight (Audio CD)

When people talk of Fairport Convention, they will usually start by mentioning Richard Thompson and Sandy Denny (rightly so). The departure of these two was certainly a tremendous loss to the band, but as this album shows (along with its follow-up, "Babbacombe Lee") Fairport is still a band of considerable talent. Mixing traditional tunes and originals with two compositions by fiddler Dave Swarbrick and departed guitarist Richard Thompson, this album serves both as a showcase for the remaining membes' talents and as a worthy successor to the albums of the Sandy Denny / Richard Thompson era.

As a band, Fairport was still as tight as ever. Swarbrick's singing is fine, and his fiddling sounds better than ever. Dave Pegg's bass playing is fluid, particularly on the medley "The Cukoo's Nest / Hardiman The Fiddler / Papa Stoor." And Dave Mattacks, perhaps rock music's most underrated drummer, is, as always, brilliant.

But the real marvel here is guitarist Simon Nicol. With awfully big shoes to fill, he sows himself more than up to the task. "The Journeyman's Grace," "Angel Grace," and "Sickness & Diseases" show his heretofore underused talents.

For any other band, an album like this would been their high point. And while not Fairport's best, this album is certainly no throw-away. Enjoyable!