Record Reviews

FAIRPORT CONVENTION ~ FAIRPORT CONVENTION (EXPANDED EDITION) POLYDOR 044006829128 (Barcode: 044006829128) ~ UK ~ Folk-Rock Recorded: 1967 - 1968 Released: 2003 This is the debut album by the legendary British Folk-Rock group Fairport ConventionFind albums by this artist, which was one of the pioneering and groundbreaking recordings of that genre in Britain. The group was a sextet at the time and comprised of lead vocalist Judy DybleFind albums by this artist, vocalist Ian MacDonaldFind albums by this artist, guitarist Richard ThompsonFind albums by this artist, vocalist / guitarist Simon NicolFind albums by this artist, bassist Ashley HutchingsFind albums by this artist and drummer Martin LambleFind albums by this artist. A band fronted by a female vocalist was a novelty on the British scene. The debut album presented twelve songs, seven of which were originals and five were American Folk-Rock songs. The musical setting of the debut album clearly shows the band influenced by American Folk-Rock, especially early American Electric Folk-Rock bands like Jefferson AirplaneFind albums by this artist, ByrdsFind albums by this artist, Left BankeFind albums by this artist etc., and singers / songwriters like Bob DylanFind albums by this artist, Joni MitchellFind albums by this artist, Leonard CohenFind albums by this artist, Tim HardinFind albums by this artist and others. Created at the very peak of Flower Power, the album was also influenced by Psychedelia, Avant-Garde Jazz and contemporary Classical music, as appropriate for the period. These influences are much more subtle that those of the American Electric Fork-Rock, but they are the reason why this album is not a stylistic carbon copy but an original attempt to find their own artistic expression and in many respects is much more complex than albums by their American counterparts. The album was almost completely ignored at the time of its release, which prompted the band to switch to Island Records, where they subsequently released the bulk of their legendary classic material, with Dyble being replaced by the superb Sandy DennyFind albums by this artist. In retrospect the album sounds a bit naïve today, but all things considered it still is a great piece of music and a wonderful document of the times, definitely worth revisiting. This remastered and expanded edition adds for bonus tracks, which include a rare studio track, the band´s first single and a couple of live French TV recordings as well as a nice booklet with rare photographs and informative comments by Hutchings. This is a first rate treat for the band´s many fans.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

G. F. FITZ-GERALD ~ MOUSEPROOF SUNBEAM 5016 (Barcode: 5051125501618) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1970 Released: 2006 Scottish guitarist / singer / songwriter G. F. Fitz-GeraldFind albums by this artist recorded his only album with a bunch of excellent musicians, including some legendary figures like singer Judy DybleFind albums by this artist (Fairport ConventionFind albums by this artist), tabla virtuoso Sam GopalFind albums by this artist, sax and flute player Geoff LeighFind albums by this artist and many others. The album was a complete commercial failure at the time of its release, disappearing entirely from the market, to be remembered only by a very few people who ever heard it as a gem of great interest. Finally after so many years the album was reissued, for all of us to enjoy. Fitz-Gerald moved on in the meantime into experimental improvised music (see his album with Lol CoxhillFind albums by this artist) and never recorded in the studio again. The album lost nothing of its original charm and magic and after all these years it’s still an absolute gem. Resembling the efforts of groups like ComusFind albums by this artist and perhaps Third Ear BandFind albums by this artist, this is a completely zany, funny, crazy, wonderful mixture of Psychedelics, Jazz, early Improvised Music and Folk. As usual with such mixtures, it is absolutely beyond any specific genre and placing it under Progressive Rock is the best I can do. I really recommend to everybody to try and get hold of a copy of this – it very well might eventually become your favorite album – you never know. Brilliant stuff!

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend