Over the Next Hill

Fairport Convention | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 14, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Compass Records
• ASIN: B0002T2Q1K
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #406,752 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

The Veteran English Folk Band's 2004 Album Release is Described as their Best Album in Decades. The Featured Songs Are Written by Chris Leslie, Ben Bennion, Julie Matthews and Steve Tilston and Maintain their Characteristic Optimism and Self-effacing Humour that have Helped Sustain this Most Revered Folk Institution for Over 37 Years. So Simon Says on their Website: "Initially it was to Be Called "senior Moments", which I Particularly Enjoyed as a Putative Title, but Many of the Corporate Associates Had a Problem with That. I Saw it as Positive, a Celebration of Maturity and Acquired Excellence, but the Rest Could Only See the Negative Connotations. Ho Hum. Maybe Next Time." Includes a Re-recording of their Early Hit "si Tu Dois Partir", a Cover of Bob Dylan's "if You Wanna Go (Go Now)". --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FAIRPORT IS JUST ALRIGHT WITH ME, November 9, 2004

By 

PHILIP S WOLF (SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA. USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Over the Next Hill (Audio CD)

Well, between the reviewer that thinks this is the greatest Fairport Convention release in decades and the other one guy that hates almost every recorded sound on this disk and like a knucklehead keeps comparing it to "Angel Delight" I will go put in my 2 cents worth and say it's worth buying because it contains real good songs and it is performed by the Best Folk Rock group that ever stormed a stage.

"Over the Hill" is the 3rd release of the Chris Leslie / Gerry Conway Fairport's. The first of this trilogy was "Wood & The Wire" released in 1999, listen to it as it is a Five Star Disk.

Between The Great songs and singing of Chris and the fantastic drumming of Gerry "Wood & The WIre" was the best thing released by the band in the 90's and a rebirth (the 14th) for the band.

Next came "XXXV" and it's not as great as "Wood" but it's still a solid 4 Star release containing some great remakes of some "classic" Fairport tunes because Chris went back and revisted them and the chap's got to breathe some new life into them on record and on the stage.

Now it is 2004 and we can own "Over The Next Hill". Two words folks BUY IT! It's lively it's fun it's Fairport Convention.

The title song is bright and fast and gives a nod or two to the Rolling Stones (using Bouzouki & fiddle) let's see YOU try that at home! Next is a Chris Leslie number "I'm Already There" a pretty tune about a voyage to the top of the world. "Wait for the Tide to Come In" rocks with a great riff and Chris & Simon sound just fine singing this one, They nailed it! Great song, Great performance, listen to the drumming to feel what Mr. Conway brings to this band. Ric Sander's is up next with "Canny Capers" but, is it a jig or is it a reel? Oh, well you are gonna have to ask Ric When you see Fairport live in concert he can tell you all the details.

Another Chris Leslie tune "Over The Falls" is all about walking a tightrope across Niagara Falls it's full of drama (Read the lyrics) and the percussion fills are from another world altogether and there's Ric dancing all over his fiddle during this one. This is an "average" Fairport song as it is only GREAT! "The Wassail Song" gives David Pegg a chance to sing and this would be a good to see performed live because they energy level stays at 10 all they way. "The Fossil Hunter" has the line "She sells shells upon the seashore" and is a keeper, Chris sings the @#8>* outta this one.... fantastic! Thanks again to Ric Sander's for playing where no fiddle has gone before. The band steal another gem from Steve Tilston with "Willow Creek" with a fine vocal from Simon and more unusual percussion from Gerry. "Westward" is a Julie Matthews dity that continues the "Road" theme with Ric having a good time all over the strings.

The last two numbers are "Some Special Place" & "Si Tu Dois Partir", the former a slow beautiful instrumental by Ric and the later a remake of the big 1969 hit song now sung by Simon and featuring the "coke-bottle" drumbreak by the late Martin Lamble nicked from the 1969 tapes and it's a brillant way to close this disk.

O.K. on second thought I'll give "Over The Next Hill " 5 STARS, because it's easily as good as "Wood & The Wire". After 37 years I think the guy's are finally getting a handle on this "Folk-Rock" thing.

THIS IS THE BEST FAIRPORT CONVENTION RELEASE OF THIS DECADE...SO FAR.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Their best in years, September 15, 2004

By 

Kenneth French (Montclair, NJ) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Over the Next Hill (Audio CD)

Maybe not in the last 25 years, as MOJO magazine said, but by far their best with the current lineup. I was not very crazy about the current Fairport's albums up 'til now. "XXXV," especially, I found was trying too hard to recapture past glories. On this one, though, they seem to be trying less hard to sound like a definitive Fairport and more like they're just trying to make a good record. That they succeed is a credit to them, especially in this year of adversity for the band. And the credit is their's alone, since there are no outside musicians this time 'round.

Highlights include "Wait for the Tide to Come In," "Willow Creek," and "Westward," in my opinion. And while I have not liked the idea of the new lineup redoing songs by the old lineups (eg, "Now Be Thankful" and "The Deserter" on the last album), the new version of "Si Tu Dois Partir" is done with so much joy it's hard to dislike.

Here's hoping they continue to make good music.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The band's not 'over the hill' yet, February 10, 2005

By 

R. Kyle (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Over the Next Hill (Audio CD)

I'll agree with the others that this CD is the best Fairport since "Wood and the Wire". It's not quite equivalent to my favorite, "Jewel in the Crown" but still an amazing effort.

One of my favorite things about the album was hearing a Fairport Christmas Song! "Wassail" is definitely coming out the next season.

Unusual topics: "Fossil Hunter" talks about a girl who sells sea shells. "Over the Falls" is one you have to read the liner notes to understand. We're talking about a livewire act over Niagara Falls.

One thing I was grateful for was that I wasn't getting stuck with a bunch of re-arranged Fairport songs. The only revamp was the last "Si Tu Dois Partir" which actually felt right at the close of the album.

Overall, very listenable. I think this is one of the better of Fairport's releases and I would certify it as an essential as well.