Babbacombe Lee [Import]

Fairport Convention | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 23, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Universal Import
• ASIN: B000006YLT
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #571,779 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. John's Reflections On His Boyhood...

2. This Was The Happiest Period In His Life...

3. Tragedy Now Strikes hard...

4. John Was Hardly More Than A Bewildered Observer...

5. When It Comes He Cannot Sleep...

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars take it on it's own merits, January 28, 2001

By 

jon van horn (mount kisco, new york United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Babbacombe Lee (Audio CD)

Interesting how Fairport fans (and I'm sure anyone who'll take the time to review a disc is a serious fan) are so deeply divided about this disc. Well, count me with the fans who think it's pretty brilliant! Yes, it probably would've been even better had Thompson been in the group then--but he wasn't, was he? Based on it's own merits, it's great. An interesting story, well told, fine musicianship (Simon does a great job stepping into the breach), and memorable (yes, memorable) songs and melodies. This is the first Fairport album I heard, which made me a life long fan, and caused me to discover Thompson and Denny even though they weren't on this disc! To me it's brilliant even without them.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Re-visiting Fairport, November 22, 1999

By 

Philip (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Babbacombe Lee (Audio CD)

After extensive listening 20 years ago, I re-discovered this Fairport album today. I used to think that the vocals were a little high and thin and that the music wasn't full enough. Time has healed all wounds. This is an honest, competent, almost - perfect concept album. The story is powerful; and although the over-all tone is grim, the creativity and beauty of all the songs makes us want to sing along... which I did.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a unique album and a real sleeper, June 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Babbacombe Lee (Audio CD)

This album has not been released on CD in the US; this British import will do nicely to introduce you or reintroduce to (IMHO) the best concept album ever done, the story of a man hanged three times for a murder he said he didn't commit; Fairport (no Sandy Denny on this one) create great songs (and also manage to rock out) while telling this story in a very coherent manner (compared to how most concept albums 'hang together' as concept albums); they throw in a great old sailor's tune (The Alphabet Song) to boot (John 'Babbacombe' Lee had been a sailor). Very enjoyable!