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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
This 1972 attempt at an overview of Fairport Convention's radical, spirited and beautiful contribution to music in the period 1969 to 1972 was originally a double album. To allow conversion to a single CD, it unfortunately lost two tracks, "Crazy Man Michael" and "Jigs And Reels", because it was assumed that anyone interested in the band would also want to own the superb Liege And Lief from which they are drawn. The flaw in this is that the songs on What We Did On Our Holidays, Unhalfbricking and Full House are just as classic and unmissable. The tracks drawn from these, that form much of the collection, span the broad range of styles that Fairport so expertly made their own. Every number is a stand-out of a different kind, but the Sandy Denny tunes "Fotheringay" and "Who Knows Where The Time Goes" and the Richard Thompson/ Dave Swarbrick collaborations "Sloth" and "Walk Awhile" are immortal by any standards. For those who own the four core albums, this CD still has its value. It contains the superb "Now Be Thankful", a stand-alone single, and a selection of most of the best tracks from the somewhat lesser album Angel Delight and the decidedly poorer Babbacombe Lee. Meet On The Ledge, the 1999 compilation of 1967 to 1975 material is a better overall collection--mostly because it is twice as long--but its track selection post-Full House is somewhat bizarre, only containing one track from each of the above two albums, a serious omission. --James Swift
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought this album thinking that it would be one of those that I would listen to occasionally but intensely. Now I find that it's just nice to have on as background music. FC fans may wish to shoot me for saying that, but it isn't meant to be derogatory. There is the beautiful voice of Sandy Denny of course, and the unforgettable 'Who knows where the time goes', but there is more to Fairport Convention than that. There's such variety here, from traditional and contemporary folk songs, to music verging on blues or soft rock. The title of the album accurately reflects what you get. Included is a 'family tree' of the band, tracing its chganging line-up and the various musical influences that were brought to bear over the years from 1967 to 1972. Good grief, was it really that long ago?!
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is the best single CD introduction to Fairport Convention that you are likely to come across, and covers their golden years from 'What We Did on Our Holidays' through 'Babbacombe Lee' as well as is possible, in my opinion.
Of course, once you have this, you'll probably want to start collecting all the original albums .. even their 'not best of' tracks are generally worth listening to.
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I have to admit that the thing I most like about Fairport is that you can sing along to the songs without having to pretend you're American. Having said that, the songs are lovely, and each tell a story, so anyone who's sick of random strings of words that sound nice together, but don't actually mean anything: this is a CD you'd enjoy. Particularly The Bonny Black Hare, that's a classic. The album takes you through most of the band's career, with such beautiful and haunting melodies as Meet on the Ledge, all the way to the lively and amusing Angel Delight. It's a veritable feast of loveliness.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A must for all fairport fans
If you are new to fairport and want an introduction to what they do then this is the album for you. I am a big fan and have been for years, i had this album on vinyl years ago and... Read more
Published 14 months ago by shelly
Folk Rock in the rough..............
Whereas Steeleye Span were the Beatles of folkrock, Fairport were the Rolling Stones of folk rock. Just a bit less respectable, Earthier, probably having drunk a few more pints of... Read more
Published on 12 May 2010 by Les Ireland
What value!
Had an old cassette copy that was getting too stretched for transfer so finding this for download at such a brilliant price was simply unmissable. Read more
Published on 16 Jan 2010 by The Leo
Fairport Convention
A good copy of the required CD, which arrived on time, well packaged.
Contents as expected and helps to complete an area of my folk collection.
Thank you.
Contents as expected and helps to complete an area of my folk collection.
Thank you.
Published on 26 April 2009 by Mr. Richard A. Spanner
Absolute Classic
Unfortunately only covers the first (but the classic) years of the band
Electro-folk is sometimes appaling but here you have genuine freshness and clarity and some amazing tracks... Read more
Published on 5 Aug 2004 by Robert Wallace
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