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Product Description
Review
Fairport Convention, Richard & Linda Thompson, Sandy Denny, John Martyn, Nick Drake, et al, have been part of the fittings and fixtures for so long now we barely give a second glance when their music pops up in adverts, documentaries, film soundtracks and soap operas.
It's also a given that any act in just about any part of the folk music / singer-songwriter continuum operating today will cite some or all of the above as being hugely influential and providing a significant signpost in their own artistic journey.
So, unlike other retrospective box sets leafing through Island's back catalogue, the path through much of this three CD selection seems a tad well-trodden at first glance, despite the not so obvious inclusions such as Ronnie Lane, Bryn Haworth and The Sutherland Brothers.
However, familiarity shouldn't dull our appreciation of what many of these artists achieved.
United by a common desire to push the envelope as far as it might go, the folk-inclined artists opened up fertile territories with just as much gusto and accomplishment as their rock band stablemates.
The Island sampler albums of the day (You Can All Join In, Nice Enough To Eat, Bumpers etc) demonstrated how easily the underground rock scene stood next to an equally impressive team of folk acts.
Such an eclectic mix seems at odds with today's fragmented, long-tail, specialist retail landscape. But back then, whatever boundaries existed were there to be crossed and blurred - something the Island label arguably did better than any of its corporate rivals at the time.
Label boss Chris Blackwell wisely created a haven where the talent was nurtured and given the time to mature and develop. A key part of Island's critical and artistic success depended not only on a few shrewd cash-cow signings but just as importantly, in taking a broad church approach to its roster.
In such circumstances, that ebb and flow of influence and exploration cut both ways.
Jethro Tull and Traffic, like many of their contemporaries, were happy to be able to contrast and augment their blues-based/ progressive rock yearnings with something that could be just as persuasive and potent.
The Fairport family tree discovered the rich bed of the UK's traditional tunes could be infused with a rollicking, earthy dynamic that cut through the stuffy protocols of what was considered proper and authentic in a way that was as shocking as it was innovative.
Just as it is now, so it was then: folk-rock was an bold, eloquent hybrid designed to encourage maximum expression, and most of what's contained here represents the cream of the crop. --Sid Smith
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CD Description
This lavish three CD box set celebrates the golden age of folk music at the Island label and charts the journey from folk into folk-rock featuring the very best from Sandy Denny, Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, John Martyn, Traffic and many more. Compiled by, and with sleeve notes by, the redoubtable David Suff, Fledg’ling Records supremo.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
35 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Subtitled "An Island Records Folk-Rock Anthology", this UK-released May 2009 mini box set offers 44 tracks across 3 CDs and compliments its Reggae equivalent "War Ina Babylon" (see separate review). Both have been released to celebrate 50 years of Chris Blackwell's Island Records label (1959-2009) and having lived with "Ledge" a few days now, it's both brilliant and infuriating in equal measure (with the good far outweighing the bad it should be said).
First up is the complaint that there's too many familiar tracks and therefore doesn't warrant buying - you'd be wrong. The 2009 remastering by DENIS BLACKHAM (of Skye Mastering in Scotland) on the tracks you already own is truly fantastic - I felt every track sounded like an upgrade - and the obscure tunes you don't own are well chosen and worth your attention - many seeing CD light of day for the first time.
The sound quality needs some explaining. Take track 2 on Disc 2, "On The Road To Find Out" by Cat Stevens - it's a superlative lesser heard gem tucked away on Side 2 of his "Tea For The Tillerman" LP from 1970. Most fans will probably have the 2000 remaster of the album (the Deluxe Version from 2008 is unfortunately exactly the same) but this is a new remaster and the sound quality is STUNNING - absolutely gorgeous. The instruments just leap out of the speakers with wonderful clarity. The same applies to "Living In The Past" by Jethro Tull on Disc 1 - I adore this tune and have various remasters of it - but this is without doubt the best-sounding version I've ever heard.
There's also clever track choices - a badly needed new remaster of the live version of Richard Thompson's slow bluesy "Calvary Cross" from the 1976 double "Guitar, Vocal" rather than it's 1974 studio original, the stripped down BBC Sessions version of John Martyn's beautiful "May You Never" with just him and his guitar from 1977 [lyrics above] and the truly affecting 1987 "Real Time" version of "Meet On The Ledge" by Fairport Convention (again instead of the 1968 7" original) which finishes the box off and brings the musical journey full circle. Cool stuff.
On the rock side too, there's the inclusion of Bryn Haworth's lovely "Darlin' Corey" from his 1975 album "Sunny Side Of The Street" (he was the guitarist in the 60's psych act Fleurs-De-Lys) and even better is Bronco's "Time Slips Away" from their 1971 album "Ace Of Sunlight" - a fantastic choice - Jess Roden's soulful vocals backed up by Robbie Blunt's tremendous guitar work [he later played for Robert Plant's band].
The annotation is good too - the 32-page booklet featuring a biog on each artist (photos too) with the whole set has been curated and researched by DAVID SUFF with skill (owns and runs the award winning British folk label Fledgeling).
If I was to point out a real downside it would be the omissions - with playing times of 67:56, 72:06 and 65:32 - it's hugely disappointing that more tracks weren't used - how about "Say No More" by Smith Perkins Smith (1972), "Whims And Ways" by Bryn Haworth (1974) and "The Sea" by Fotheringay (1970) to name but a few. And as rocking as Richard Thompson is, do I really need the full 11 minutes of "A Sailor's Life" - no. And the liner notes mention "The Chieftains 5" album on Island from 1975, but then don't include them - on a Folk box?
Still, these are niggles - what is on here is stupendously good - and sounding absolutely spiffing.
I've enjoyed hearing this box so much - and I suspect it will send many folk and rock music fans scurrying back into second-hand record shops trying to hunt down original palm-tree label LPs - those things we adored so much - all those years ago.
Despite some reservations - this is a top job done - and recommended big time - especially given the upgraded sound...
First up is the complaint that there's too many familiar tracks and therefore doesn't warrant buying - you'd be wrong. The 2009 remastering by DENIS BLACKHAM (of Skye Mastering in Scotland) on the tracks you already own is truly fantastic - I felt every track sounded like an upgrade - and the obscure tunes you don't own are well chosen and worth your attention - many seeing CD light of day for the first time.
The sound quality needs some explaining. Take track 2 on Disc 2, "On The Road To Find Out" by Cat Stevens - it's a superlative lesser heard gem tucked away on Side 2 of his "Tea For The Tillerman" LP from 1970. Most fans will probably have the 2000 remaster of the album (the Deluxe Version from 2008 is unfortunately exactly the same) but this is a new remaster and the sound quality is STUNNING - absolutely gorgeous. The instruments just leap out of the speakers with wonderful clarity. The same applies to "Living In The Past" by Jethro Tull on Disc 1 - I adore this tune and have various remasters of it - but this is without doubt the best-sounding version I've ever heard.
There's also clever track choices - a badly needed new remaster of the live version of Richard Thompson's slow bluesy "Calvary Cross" from the 1976 double "Guitar, Vocal" rather than it's 1974 studio original, the stripped down BBC Sessions version of John Martyn's beautiful "May You Never" with just him and his guitar from 1977 [lyrics above] and the truly affecting 1987 "Real Time" version of "Meet On The Ledge" by Fairport Convention (again instead of the 1968 7" original) which finishes the box off and brings the musical journey full circle. Cool stuff.
On the rock side too, there's the inclusion of Bryn Haworth's lovely "Darlin' Corey" from his 1975 album "Sunny Side Of The Street" (he was the guitarist in the 60's psych act Fleurs-De-Lys) and even better is Bronco's "Time Slips Away" from their 1971 album "Ace Of Sunlight" - a fantastic choice - Jess Roden's soulful vocals backed up by Robbie Blunt's tremendous guitar work [he later played for Robert Plant's band].
The annotation is good too - the 32-page booklet featuring a biog on each artist (photos too) with the whole set has been curated and researched by DAVID SUFF with skill (owns and runs the award winning British folk label Fledgeling).
If I was to point out a real downside it would be the omissions - with playing times of 67:56, 72:06 and 65:32 - it's hugely disappointing that more tracks weren't used - how about "Say No More" by Smith Perkins Smith (1972), "Whims And Ways" by Bryn Haworth (1974) and "The Sea" by Fotheringay (1970) to name but a few. And as rocking as Richard Thompson is, do I really need the full 11 minutes of "A Sailor's Life" - no. And the liner notes mention "The Chieftains 5" album on Island from 1975, but then don't include them - on a Folk box?
Still, these are niggles - what is on here is stupendously good - and sounding absolutely spiffing.
I've enjoyed hearing this box so much - and I suspect it will send many folk and rock music fans scurrying back into second-hand record shops trying to hunt down original palm-tree label LPs - those things we adored so much - all those years ago.
Despite some reservations - this is a top job done - and recommended big time - especially given the upgraded sound...
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I feel a bit short changed by this compilation. Granted, the music is by and large fantastic but there are too many songs by the same artists. Out of 46 tracks, 6 are by Fairport Convention, 6 by John Martyn (7 if you include the one with his then wife Beverley), 3 by Sandy Denny (5 if you include the Fotheringay recordings) and 3 by Richard & Linda Thompson (5 if you include the two solo tracks). There is also some repetition with the previous Island compilation, Strangely Strange but Oddly Normal with the following songs appearing on both: Banks of the Nile by Fotheringay, A Sailor's Life and Meet on the Ledge by Fairport Convention and Strangely Strange but Oddly Normal by Doctor Strangely Strange.
It would have been nice to have a couple of rarities thrown in or even some unreleased tracks to tempt the completist, the people most likely to buy this type of compilation. The fans of Island music in their late 60's, early 70's hayday will no doubt own most of these tracks already. With four years between this and the Strangely Strange but Oddly Normal compilation, I would have expected more. Island were once known as an innovative label and the music does clarify that, but this is a lazily put together compilation.
It would have been nice to have a couple of rarities thrown in or even some unreleased tracks to tempt the completist, the people most likely to buy this type of compilation. The fans of Island music in their late 60's, early 70's hayday will no doubt own most of these tracks already. With four years between this and the Strangely Strange but Oddly Normal compilation, I would have expected more. Island were once known as an innovative label and the music does clarify that, but this is a lazily put together compilation.
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Meet On The Ledge contains over three hours of music from the archives of Island Records golden age of folk-rock. If you could choose your own tracks would you select the same ones? Probably not. Do you already own a lot of them? Most likely!
However, as a celebration of what Island Records was all about in the late sixties and early seventies this set stands up well and is very well produced. The box contains the three CDs in card sleeves and a thirty two page illustrated and informative booklet. Some of the tracks featured have been difficult to get elsewhere in recent years whereas others will be in almost every CD collection.
Personally, I found Fairport Convention to be featured too highly - I love them, but I've already bought these tracks many times over! There are no previously unreleased tracks or alternative versions just tracks you know and probably love. However, if you are lucky enough to be discovering this music for the first time this set will offer some amazing moments!
The music, the price and the package make this a five star product, but some will see it as an opportunity missed. As a part of the celebration of Island's fifty years in the business it does the job, but highlights the most creative ten year period for this genre.
There is a companion Reggae Box Set which is also well worth considering, and a complete label overview called Island Life will be released at the beginning of June. Island is still quite innovative in their choice of artists, but they will never again match the breadth of talent contained in the period covered by this folk-rock anthology.
Don't be put off by the amount of tracks you already own - the ones you don't have will compensate!
However, as a celebration of what Island Records was all about in the late sixties and early seventies this set stands up well and is very well produced. The box contains the three CDs in card sleeves and a thirty two page illustrated and informative booklet. Some of the tracks featured have been difficult to get elsewhere in recent years whereas others will be in almost every CD collection.
Personally, I found Fairport Convention to be featured too highly - I love them, but I've already bought these tracks many times over! There are no previously unreleased tracks or alternative versions just tracks you know and probably love. However, if you are lucky enough to be discovering this music for the first time this set will offer some amazing moments!
The music, the price and the package make this a five star product, but some will see it as an opportunity missed. As a part of the celebration of Island's fifty years in the business it does the job, but highlights the most creative ten year period for this genre.
There is a companion Reggae Box Set which is also well worth considering, and a complete label overview called Island Life will be released at the beginning of June. Island is still quite innovative in their choice of artists, but they will never again match the breadth of talent contained in the period covered by this folk-rock anthology.
Don't be put off by the amount of tracks you already own - the ones you don't have will compensate!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
It is a marvellous historical musical journey to an Island
I suppose any of you who were around that great folk revival on ISLAND L.P.S wil have this already but it is a Great compilation on a couple of C.Ds
Published 15 months ago by ray smith
good stuff!
This is another excellent box set from Island - a great companion to the "strangely Strange" set of a few years back. Read more
Published on 2 Sep 2009 by Dave Hobson
Island Folk Greats
Wonderful compilation, full of the folk rock classics. Would like to hear a rock/blues classic from Island, including Free, Jethro Tull. Read more
Published on 27 July 2009 by E. Carruthers
Music for old folk/rockers
I bought this cd for my husband and it was certainly a hit. If you like to spend your weekend on a field in Cropredy this is for you.
Published on 10 July 2009 by Mrs. S. Leighton
those were the days
What a wonderful age of music we lived through! The tracks still sound fresh and relevant. I still play and sing on the folk circuit and feel for the young players trying to... Read more
Published on 20 Jun 2009 by Mr. David B. Gwilliam
Comprehensive, beautifully packaged and an absolute snip at the price...
For those in two minds about buying this, I say go ahead, it's a wonderful heart warming selection of tracks loosely affiliated to Folk music, from out and out traditional songs to... Read more
Published on 13 Jun 2009 by S. Dinsdale
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