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LP
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SVLP 164LP
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2000 reissue of Fairport Convention's 1969 album, on 180 gram vinyl and housed in a poly sleeve. "By Unhalfbricking Fairport had already redrawn the arbitrary lines that divided folk and rock in the same way that their heroes, The Band, had done in the States. Thompson, by now, was a fully-fledged master of his craft (at the age of 20!): 'Genesis Hall' being the first of his really melancholy masterpieces. Yet, such was the wealth of talent in the band that only one other of his contributions was featured. Denny provided her signature tune 'Who Knows Where The Time Goes', and 'A Sailor's Life' (featuring future long-serving member Dave Swarbrick on violin) proved conclusively that a traditional song leant itself perfectly to the kind of extended jamming normally reserved for more testosterone-fueled blues workouts by the likes of Cream."
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2LP
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STAM 1002LP
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"Features four tracks with Sandy Denny: 'Who Knows Where The Time Goes,' 'That'll Be The Day,' 'Ballad Of Ned Kelly,' and 'Something You Got.' First time on vinyl. Limited to hand numbered run of 500. Pressed on 180 gram double vinyl." Deluxe gatefold sleeve.
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CD
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IMCD 307
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2004 Island Remasters series reissue, originally released in 1971 on Island Records. "Richard Thompson exits the Fairport lineup, leaving the band reduced to a quartet of Simon Nicol, Dave Swarbrick, Dave Pegg, and Dave Mattacks. The loss of big guns Thompson and Denny was felt, but amazingly, although it isn't nearly as well known as Liege and Lief or Full House, this record reached the highest chart position of any Fairport LP, making number eight in England. Swarbrick led the group in even more of a traditional British folk vein. By now everybody involved was singing (with Nicol and Swarbrick usually alternating on lead), and they managed to pull it off, mostly by virtue of the honesty of their voices and instrumental work almost as vital and animated as any in their history. From the beautifully sung and exciting opener 'Lord Marlborough,' the album should strike a responsive chord with any folk or folk-rock enthusiast -- especially enjoyable are the singing on the buoyantly humorous title track and the viola/violin duet between Swarbrick and Nicol on 'Bridge Over The River Ash'."
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CD
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IMCD 308
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2004 Island Remaster series reissue of this album, originally released in 1971 on Island Records. With 2 bonus tracks (one w/ Sandy Denny). "The group's only concept album (similar in some ways to the Pretty Things' S.F. Sorrow), built around the life story of John 'Babbacombe' Lee, a Victorian-era condemned murderer. Lee's story, from his boyhood poverty to his time in the Royal Navy, his being invalided out and forced to work in the service of Miss Keyes, to her murder and his sentence of death, and the failure of the gallows three times, is told in song, and all but one of those songs are originals. The all-male Fairport seldom sang better, nor did the post-Thompson band ever play with more panache, and some of the songs are beautiful -- but a few are lugubrious, and as with most other concept albums, the fit between the songs and the larger subject ultimately isn't entirely comfortable for the listener."
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CD
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POLY 68291CD
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2003 release, remastered reissue of the 1968 debut album including four bonus tracks, "Suzanne", "If I Had A Ribbon Bow", "Morning Glory", "Reno, Nevada". (Reissued at the in synch with the Island Remasters series, but this first Fairport's album was originally issued on Polydor, not Island). Includes sleevenotes by co-founder Ashley Hutchings. 16 tracks. Recorded in Nov. 1967, produced by Joe Boyd. Featuring a pre-Sandy Denny line up of: Ian MacDonald (lead vocals, jews harp), Judy Dyble (lead vocals, electric & acoustic autoharps, recorder, piano), Richard Thompson (vocals, lead, electric & acoustic guitars, mandolin), Simon Nicol (vocals, 12 & 6 string electric & acoustic guitars), Tyger Hutchings (bass guitar, jug; Martin Lamble (percussion, violin). "When you think of Fairport it's usually as a rural bunch getting it together in a country cottage. But it's as a fully-fledged house band of the Summer of Love that they first hit the national consciousness. As key members of Joe Boyd's UFO/Middle Earth club axis they were often seen as an anglicised Jefferson Airplane. While the twin vocal talents of Ian Matthews and Judy Dyble (who went on to be associated with Robert Fripp's earliest incarnation of King Crimson) mirrored Slick and Kantner, the closest they came to the West Coast vibe on their eponymous debut was the slinky jazz shuffle 'It's Alright Ma, It's Only Witchcraft' (with its line about the sound they'd found 'down Frisco way'). What's actually occurring on this first disc is a young band of extraordinary diversity combining the cream of contemporary singer songwriters (Dylan, Mitchell et al. Fairport were always a great covers band) with trad jazz, folk and psychedelia. What is amazing is how Richard Thompson's guitar is already a potent weapon in such young hands." -- Chris Jones/BBC.
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