Customer Reviews

Fairport Convention

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Long out of print, as I discovered after trading in the Polydor vinyl album some years ago, this re-mastered reissue includes bonus tracks including their first single, a cover of Maxine Sullivan's 1940 recording of If I Had A Ribbon Bow. The best track is probably the Dylan-influenced and rather psychedelic It's Alright Ma, It's Only Witchcraft.

Among the other original material, some of it dating from Richard Thompson's previous band, is a fair smattering of well-chosen songs from contemporary performers. Joni Mitchell was virtually unknown and unreleased on record in 1967 when this album was recorded and her own versions of the two songs here did not appear until her second album, Clouds, in 1969. The Fairports knew her as she had been in the UK at the invitation of their producer, Joe Boyd, and she had played some British dates supporting the Incredible String Band. Emitt Rhodes was still performing in the obscure group the Merry-Go-Round when they recorded Time Will Show The Wiser to open the album.

Dylan's Jack O'Diamonds was actually a poem which turned up on the liner-notes of Another Side Of Bob Dylan. He had given it to an actor friend called Ben Carruthers at the Savoy, who had used it in a TV play called A Man With No Papers, and subsequently recorded it with his group Ben Carruthers And The Deep, aided by Jimmy Page and Nicky Hopkins, on a flop single. One Sure Thing was a cover of a little-known duo called Jim and Jean (Jim Glover and Jean Ray).

There is no clue from this eclectic mix of songs featuring Ian Matthew and the very underrated Judy Dyble that they were to virtually reinvent folk-rock with Sandy Denny just a couple of years later. I saw the band a couple of times around the time of this album and, much as I enjoyed their later albums, rather miss these styles of playing in their music.

Their version of Suzanne used to feature alternate verses sung by Ian Matthew and Sandy Denny but the May 1968 version here sadly falls between Judy Dyble leaving and Sandy Denny joining, but you can hear the dual-vocal version from their August 1968 Top Gear session on Heyday

Before Sandy Denny came along, a very young Fairport Convention recorded this lovely album full of warmth and open-hearted innocence, with Judy Dyble and Ian MacDonald (later known as Iain Matthews) on vocals. It's full of the singer-songwriter material found on "What We Did on Our Holidays". The album starts with the rocking single, Emmitt Rhodes' "Time Will Show the Wiser." Dyble sings a pair of Joni Mitchell songs, including a fantastic arrangement of "I Don't Know Where I Stand," while MacDonald does Bob Dylan's "Jack o'Diamonds." Richard Thompson's prolific recorded career began on this album, with five co-written songs, including the sad but lovely "Decameron", wistful "Sun Shade", and blues-rockers "If" and "It's Alright Ma, It's Only Witchcraft". Dyble's voice isn't as strong as Denny's, but she provides a variety of musical touches, like the recorder solo on "Jack o'Diamonds", autoharp riff on "The Lobster", and piano that frames the instrumental "Portfolio". Throughout the album, the band is experimenting with dynamics, tempos, and sound textures.

(1=poor 2=mediocre 3=pretty good 4=very good 5=phenomenal)

CD buffs can rejoice now that the first Fairport album is re-issued as it should have been done in the first place. The original 12-track album is here in all its spledor, but the real treat is the first single, "If I Had a Ribbon Bow". It is a vibe-driven jazz number with Richard Thompson's Wes Montgomery-style guitar running throughout. Judy Dyble's deft vocal is triumphant. An amazing throw-back to summer '67 Frisco sound in a British context, the rest of the album simply shimmers on songs such as Decameron, It's Only Witchcraft, The Lobster and a rare Harvey Brooks (Electric Flag) tune, One Sure Thing. This album is a preview to what Judy would do a year or two later with Trader Horne. Let's hope that one comes out soon.

For over 3 decades Fairport's debut album on Polydor had been deleted and finally now has been given a rebirth on CD, and not before time. Although this album was the one where music critics suggested that Fairport were the Brit version of Jefferson Airplane or the Byrds, there really is only little similarity to either of those bands, particularly where vocal harmonies are concerned. This is the only album FC made which featured no traditional folk rock, which later was to become their hallmark. Instead there is a mixture of rock, contemporary folk, light jazz and even a c & w number. There is some highly melodic material included, as well as weirder experimental stuff (The Lobster'), but then this was recorded late 1967 at the height of psychedelia.

For me, the outstanding track on this album is the Joni Mitchell cover 'I Don't Know Where I Stand' sung beautifully by Judy Dyble, the original female vocalist. Richard Thompson's lead guitar on this number interplays superbly with Simon Nicol's rhythm guitar. Another example of Dyble's sensitive vocals are found on 'One Sure Thing' with an unusual and imaginative solo by RT. In fact his guitar work is already showing quite a remarkable standard as well as versatility in styles, and his solos on 'Sunshade', 'Lobster' and the c & w track `If (stomp)' demonstrate this well. FC's strange first single 'If I Had A Ribbon Bow' included as a bonus track is an old fashioned cocktail jazz number and again Dyble's vocals are perfectly suited to it. `Reno Nevada' is the only disappointment here, as the band used to play this number live which used to last several minutes, thanks to a long jazz solo by RT. It so impressed producer Joe Boyd on first hearing this played at a club, that he signed up FC immediately.

For those who like their music more hard-edged, there is the opening track 'Time Will Show The Wiser' and Thompson's jokey Dylan title, 'It's Alright Ma, It's Only Witchcraft, with a Hendrix type solo in the middle.

So Fairport Convention in thir early phase had no particular style of music that one could clearly identify with. However all the music on here is wonderfully played by all band members, with the voices of Judy Dyble and Ian Matthews blending well. Dyble, for me was the better singer of the two. Ian Matthews had a weaker, almost twee voice, when singing on his own, which could be irritating, particularly noticeable on `Decameron'. RT co-wrote a few tracks, but his songwriting talent was yet to develop more prominently as it did over the next few years.

Overall this album should definitely please Fairport fans, who were not around in the late `60s and want to hear how the band originally used to sound in their early days. It should also interest the curious, delving into RT's musical history. But do not expect an album like `Liege & Lief'. FC were a very different sounding band when they started out.

This eponymous 1968 debut album has little to do with British folk music. Rather, it presents Fairport Convention as a rocking unit who can play psych rock and delicate west-coast style folk-rock with equal aplomb; a remarkable feat considering that each member was still in his or her teens! The album kicks of with Richard Thompson playing some dirty licks on an AWESOME revved-up version of "Time Will Show The Wiser." Although this highlight is a cover, there are some fine, albeit slightly immature, Thompson originals, written with singer Ian Matthews (or MacDonald as he was then known) and bassist Ashley (or Tyger!) Hutchings. Also present are rare compositions by Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, and Leonard Cohen. Overall, the musicianship is surprisingly tight and impressive: the rhythm section of Hutchings, drummer Martin Lamble, and stalwart rhythm guitarist Simon Nicol drives everything along like a steam engine. Judy Dyble, Sandy Denny's predecessor, has a lovely, breathy voice that works well with that of Ian Matthews. Judy's finest moment is probably "One Sure Thing," a chilling cover that she delivers beautifully. The bonus tracks perfectly compliment the album, especially "If I Had A Ribbon Bow," Fairport's very first single! Although there is no "Matty Groves" or "Sloth" on this album, there are plenty of great moments by a very young and energetic band; Ashley's liner notes are quite entertaining too! So pick this album up soon... you're sure to enjoy it.

C'est une honte que l'on retrouve à peu près tout le reste de l'oeuvre de Fairport Convention sur les présentoirs des disquaires alors qu'on néglige souvent d'y mettre ce classique. Un album à savourer en toutes occasions, particulièrement apprécié pour débuter la journée du bon pied. Tout y est magnifique! Aucune hésitation à avoir. C'est un classique du folk rock, Un incontournable! Aussi recommandé pour les amateurs de musique psychédélique (rappelle Jefferson Airplane par moments).

Fairport Convention (Self-titled debut): This first album from a great group has rockin' folk and folkin' rock and versa visa. This is a very enjoyable album though not all of the songs work well and as such it is a very nice four-star release.

Don't be frightened off because this album does not have Sandy Denny. In 1968, Fairport Convention had a great singer named Judy Doyble.

All the ideas that made Fariport a top band on the late 1960s and early 70s are on this debut. There is a Joni Mitchel cover, "I Don't Know Where I Stand," some amazing celtic rock, and a beautiful jazz guitar on "Sun Shade," where Fairport declared its ambitions far beyond ethnic folk.

Denny joined after this for the amazing Unhalfbricking, where this group's ideas came into perfect, pristine foucus.

But this first album would be a classic if not in the shadow of Unhalfbricking, and that is a gold standard virtually impossible to overcome.

Incidently, Doyble also sang with a very early version of King Crimson, and did a wonderful version of "I Talk To The Wind," before the band recorded it for In the Court of the Crimson King

I've had this album on vinyl since forever, and recently decided to update to CD mainly for the 4 bonus tracks.

This is the original Fairport Convention album, and the only one featuring Iain MacDonald (who later changed his name to Ian Matthews, and then again to Iain Matthews) and Judy Dyble. I've always preferred Judy to her replacement, Sandy Denny. I guess it's because of her more pronounced English accent.

This was Fairport at their best, while they were still progressive and innovative. I lost interest in them after they went more traditional; and who could forgive them for kicking out Ian!
But this is a little gem.

My favourite tracks still remain Sunshade, I don't Know Where I Stand, and One Sure Thing.

Most of the bonus tracks were definately worth it, especially Judy's cute If I Had A Ribbon Bow, complete with wistful sigh at the end.
The longish Reno Nevada, shows the band to their best ability, and Suzanne definitely has its moments.
Ian didn't appear to be in best voice on Morning Glory, but he's made up for that on his later solo recording, The Dark Ride.

Go on, buy it!

If one likes to dive into the roots of the human experience as refracted through the eyes of anglia, this is the place to go. I almost always leave refreshed when I visit, and I'm glad to see others enjoying this musical tome.