Customer Reviews

Live Convention

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

 

 

This the re-mixed & Eexpanded version of the 1974 release of: "Live Convention" is a vast improvement over the original LP/cassette and CD that came prior. The sound has been overhauled and re-mixed from the original tapes and five bonus tracks have increased the disc's running time to 74 minutes.

Fairport wisely recorded these shows: Sydney Opera House, Rainbow Theatre, London & Fairfield Hall, Croydon to capture the: Sandy Denny/Dave Swarbrick/Trevor Lucas/ Jerry Donahue, "Rising For The Moon" edition of Fairport Convention.

"Matty Groves" is the first track, and it's a good one from Sandy with Swarb leading the boys with nice solos on the fiddle (parts of this are mixed into the" Matty Mega-Mix" on the "UnConventional Box Set")." Rosie" & "Fiddlestix " are next and again showcase Swarb in fine form. Trevor get's the spotlight on: "Something You Got" and a very nice version of: "Sloth" is next with some very beautful guitar solos from Jerry and a wonderful bass solo from Mr. David Pegg, then Swarb goes "Cosmic" with his fiddle (one of the best of 3,128 recorded versions out there). This Sloth is one of the short ones at only 11 and a half minutes.

"Dirty Linen", "Down in the Flood" & "Sir B. MacKenzie" rap the original release, then we arrive at the bonus tracks. A brief introduction of the band members, then it's: "The Hexhamshire Lass" finely sung by Swarb with Dave Mattacks drums matching eveything Swarb does on his fiddle. Trevor performs: "Polly on the Shore" his best known tune and it's a stunner of a version. Next up is: "Bring Em' Down" and it's the gem of this expanded edition of: "Live Convention" at almost 14 minutes in length it's got Trevor's best vocal on disk and gives Swarb a chance to go ape$#!* on his fiddle with his effect pedals, it's brillant and just as cosmic as what Ric Sanders does live in the current line-up...fantastic track !!!

Things rap-up with: "Far From Me" a tune by John Prine that Trevor covers quite nicely with just his great voice and acoustic guitar. This one is another welcome addition to: "Live." Trevor, we miss you mate! The new closer for this disk is: "That'll Be The Day" to end things on a rock 'n' roll way with Sandy singing and Jerry screamin' on his Fender.

This new version is a big improvement over the old version. This is not a sonic marvel like the first two "Archive" releases but it's a solid 4-Star CD.

The booklet enclosed with five pages of notes by Jerry Donahue tells you ton's about the Austrailian / Asian tour that gives you these recordings and how much money Fairport was in debt by the end of said tour... Funny Stuff.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED !!!

Richard Thompson or no Richard Thompson, Fairport's albums, beginning with LIEGE & LIEF, became less and less interesting until 3/5 of Fotheringay joined Fairport for the tour from which this album was recorded. This release signaled a return to the pre-LIEGE sound: mixing traditional tunes with Sandy Denny's songs, the occasional Dylan tune and some straight rock and roll. The rhythm section of Pegg/Mattacks is as good as you'd expect them to be, Jerry Donahue's guitar work is amazing, Swarb fiddles less with the sound and Sandy & Trevor's vocals are strong.

The original release of this album left us with the impression that Trevor Lucas was mostly in a supporting role. The bonus tracks finally demonstrate just how crucial Trevor was to this Fairport lineup. Too bad it didn't last. This was a powerful band. 4 1/2 stars.

Just grabbed this and blasted it in the headphones... a tremendous improvement on the utterly crappy-sounding original issue of this one. Hearing this one tempts me to run back out and buy the remasters of "Nine" and "Rosie".

The bonus tracks are revelatory, especially since I never heard Trevor sing John Prine. Only fault I can find is that the between-song talking parts weren't trimmed to allow the inclusion of the stunning "Days of '49" from the same Sydney shows, which you can find on the Australian "Fiddlestix" compilation on the Raven label.

Indeed, this particular incarnation (where they began to be referred to affectionately as "Fotheringport Confusion") is on par with the best of this incredible band.

These days when Fairport gets mentioned it's usually the groundbreaking early folk-rockers or the current hosts of the annual Cropredy festival. Back in the mid-70s, though, a version was cobbled together from members of the 'Liege and Lief'-era band plus Sandy Denny's Fotheringay. While they may not have added as much to Fairport's catalog of original songs as other incarnations had, they were a terrific 'live' band and made Fairport lots of lifelong fans (including this one). I played the surface off my copy of this LP and was glad to find this available. Sound is good, bonus tracks are nice, no complaints. While the choice of material is odd in spots I'd give the performances five stars all around.