Customer Reviews

Who Knows?

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

 

 

"Who Knows" is a welcome addition to all the other live Convention recordings out there at this point. Dave Pegg has found a tape in the Archives that is believed to be from 31 October 1975 at Uxbridge Brunel University, but he is not quite sure of the date or the location hence the title of the CD "Who Knows".
This is the " Rising For The Moon" line-up featuring Sandy Denny & Dave Swarbrick both on board. At this point this version of Fairport had been touring for 18 months. Unlike "Live Convention" or "Before The Moon" which are both from 1974 This sounds much more like a BAND and not Swarb's Fairport with Sandy sitting-in.
This concert is more about the songs and not the Jamming Cosmic Folk Fiddle of Swarb. That said it is Sandy"s Band and an Extra Special one that will never be seen on stage again. The Songs: "Stranger To Himself", "Rising For The Moon" and "Sloth" rate as the best live versions yet as this is a TIGHT band. This release is much, much better than "Live Convention" recorded 18 months earlier where the band couldn't quite jell together at that point. This recording is a good Book-end with "Before The Moon" which includes some wonderful Cosmic Expeditions from Swarb's Fiddle, but that recording can't match this one for it's AMAZING SOUND QUALITY! This is the best sounding release from the Mid-Seventies yet.
The best news to relay here is that this Vol. One of a series of Live Fairport releases and next up is Fairport Acoustic Convention down-under with Dave Swarbrick Guesting from 1996.
Thank you, Dave & Chris Pegg and Talking Elephant Records for bringing this one out. FOUR STARS!

I love Fairport Convention, and I haven't listened to this CD. I'm writing this review because I rely on other people's reviews, and in this case I'm totally puzzled: how can one reviewer talk about the awful sound quality and the other talk about the wonderful sound quality?

There is no doubt that this album was recorded during the height of Fairport Convention's populartity. The selections on this album are the signature songs. So what's the problem? In one word, it is the sound. This recording is like listening to someone holding up a cell phone at a concert. I get the impression that something wonderful is going on, but the quality of the recording is literally unlistenable. I tried playing it loud; I tried playing it soft. It was so garbled and tinny that listening was an excercise in frustration.

If you want to delve into the Fairport Convention, this is not the recording for you. They call it the Woodworm Archives. Unfortunately, it sounds as bad as the label.