TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Hey y'all.

I'm new to the forum and (I hate to admit this) I've never heard any Fairport Convention.

Can someone suggest what the best album would be as a starter?

Best,

a

What We did on Our Holidays, Unhalfbricking, Angel Delight, Full House. *gulp*  :D

It'll do fer starters anyway. ::)

Hi Adam, glad you're finding your way around the board....

I expect the answers will come flooding in from all directions.

Ummm, you might like to have a look at the signature bit under my name....not that I'm suggesting anything, oh dearie me, would I do that? ::) :o ;D ;D


Jude :D

No, no, no (with respect, GF).  Start with Liege & Lief.  It's their benchmark album.  The album all their others have to be measured against.

Fairport albums come in all different flavours, but Liege & Lief is the one album most of us would agree is a true masterpiece.

Jules

Don't know where you live Adam L but I would strongly suggest going to the local record / cd library and seeing what they've got there. Then before you commit yourself you will have heard at least some. The style and content of the albums vary considerably.

You need the first five albums  :)  Fairport Convention (featuring Jude of this Parish of course), What We Did on Our Holidays, Unhalfbricking, Liege and Lief, and Full House.  An amazing journey over not much more than 3 years!

The History of FC is a great compilation of the early stuff... House Full is the best live album of the best lineup (It's ok, I can hear the intake of breath from up in the Lakes...I'm immune to it!)...

Another interesting place to start might be one of the CD sets from the anniversary years where they do a big run through of their material over the years...the 3-CD set The Cropredy Box from the 1997 30th anniversary show is probably the best (and best value) of this type...cheap as chips.  

I'll let others more qualified than myself make suggestions on the post-85 band....

Enjoy, you lucky thing...  ;D

Don't bother, Adam, they're all rubbish




 ;D

Yes and no... I listen to it less than the other 4 of the first 5 (if you see what I mean!)....

Almost agree. L & L is of course outstanding and groundbreaking but WWDOOH and Unhalfbricking are even better. The other 2 are pretty damn good too.

Welcome Adam but how come you're on the FC forum if you've never heard them??

Agreed. But if you're wanting to know what the band sounds like nowadays I'd recommend Over The Next Hill.

Er, Nick, it's the folk corporation forum - not just Fairport.

Thanks everyone - think I'm gonna go for Liege and Lief for now. NickReg, that's a fair enough question (why am I on the Fairport forum if I've never heard their music?). I'm besotted with Gillian Welch and David Rawlings.  I grew up on a diet of Garcia and Grisman.  I've got a twisted infatuation with Harry Smith's Smithsonian folk anthologies. And (weirdly) I've just written a comedy show about the life and works of Charles Dickens as told by Californian folk musicians.  So that's what drew me to this forum.  Once I came to the forum it didn't take long for me to notice that Fairport Convention are all over it.  So I looked at some clips on You Tube and then kicked myself several times saying, 'why hadn't I heard this music years ago?!?'

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it...

a

They have so many cds. I can tell you my four favorite studio cds from a few different eras.

1969 -Liege and Leif
1971- Angel delight
1978- Tipplers tales (the double cd is even better but it is out of print)
1986 - Expetitive deleted  (All instrumental post Swarb era, Maart era FC)

For a newbie, I'd recommend
Meet On The Ledge - The Classic Years, the 2CD set. Forget any other compilation album, this is the definite one as far as I am concerned, even though it only goes to 1975. But it covers excellently what FC is about. A huge variety of music. Yes you can get Liege And Lief, or Unhalfbricking or any of the classic albums but in this period the band changed so often that none truly "represent" what makes Fairport Fairport. Get L&L and you're in for a surprise when you get the next album, etc etc. But this is a fab overview. If you don't like it, don't bother further. If you do, well, better warn your wallet.
also, if you like the former-
The Cropredy Box. Cropredy 1997 on 3 CD's and as davidmjs said, can be found very cheaply but don't be fooled by the price. Wonderful live album, maybe made more special when you were there (this was my favourite Cropredy I think). Very emotional event, or that's what I remember of it anyway; the CD takes me right back. Yes you do have to wade through rather lengthy introductions by Joe Boyd and Ashley Hutchings, but I for one am glad they are on the album - again maybe because I was there, I don't know how it would translate into newbie ears.

To start with, these 2 I would recommend to any newcomer.

I can't agree there.  I think that Holidays is great, but its highpointss don't soar quite so high for me compared to other albums.  Unhalfbricking on the other hand does indeed soar high in places, but overall it's a patchy affair.  Liege & Lief is beyond compare to my ears.

The expanded Full House would be my second suggestion.

Jules

Hi there,

If you're interested in FC and live in the UK get along to one of their gigs - that will tell you wo they are and what they do better than anything,

David W

Perhaps.

I would not recommend that. The new line up is not the same as the past. They are more adult contemporary then folk rock now. They no longer have a lead guitarist. I'm not as fond of the post Maart era material and it would not be a starting point for anyone I would know. I consider it "meh" material.  But someone else might love it. But the new line up is quite different then the past. So it does not reflect on the past FC that well. I don't think it is a good starting point.

Half agree with you Mindwarper - the recent albums do have a lot less bite to them,and I would still reccommend the earlly albums as a starting point - but live they still play a good deal of material from the early days, and in some good tight arrangements, plus the better stuff from the past few years. They are still a very good live act. My ex only really caught the fairport bug after seeing them live.

But what I said was - seeing them live will tell you what they ARE about- not what they were about 30 or 40 years ago.

Surely if someone is interested in FC as a band and their music seeing them live is key?

David W

lets face it FC's glory years were 30+ years ago so thats the real quality stuff done before 77
 FC today, while an admirable institution, would struggle without the back catalogue
start at the beginning, work forward

I'm not so sure Jim, the current line up of fairport are ceratinly different (and to be quite honest I'm glad that no one tried to take Swarbs place, no one could have) but the addition of Chris & Rick brought new character and new musical direction to the band. Like all the best bands (and Darwinism) they have evolved to survive, long may it continue.

Right back on topic, did you get liege & lief Adam what did you make of it? If you like it the possible next step is the best of as it has all the singalong anthems on it (perfect for rehersing for croperdy, you'll be there before you know it, take it from one what knows  ;))

Vikki xx

Liege and Lief hasn't arrived yet, but I'll give you a shout when it does.  I'm already trying to figure out a way to be at Cropredy in August.

a

So if you liked Michael Jackson in the Jackson 5, you must go see what Michael Jackson is doing now to appreciate him? Or maybe you think McCartney's new material superior to his Beatles work? Would you suggest a Beatle cd or a new solo cd for a new listener? I would suggest Abbey Road before anything else. Even if he does have recent cd. Things change. You might like certain eras or sounds. If I heard the new FC cd 1st, I doubt I would be a huge fan. Luckily, I heard L&L first. I like the trad. folk rock sound. I do like them in concert, but it is certainly not the same. Nor do I think the new material is a good starting point. I agree with Jim. Start from the beginning and move forward.

At the risk of being lambasted by Fairport diehards I'd suggest Jewel in the Crown - it brought Fairport firmly into my hubbie's musical sphere and I think covers a real variety of styles and material.
(My first experience of Fairport was via "Unhalfbricking" and my first live concert was the 70's Farewell Farewell Fairport event at Cropredy - yes I really am that old - I even still have the t-shirt which strangely doesn't fit me anymore ;)
I digress - just immerse yourself in whatever Fairport material you can get hold of and enjoy!

I think Unhalfbricking and Liege and Lief are definitely good starters, but like some of the others have said, you would need to go for a range to get a feel for the way FC have progressed through forty years. Lots of people still associate Fairport with Sandy Denny / Richard Thompson / Dave Swarbrick  etc..etc.. despite the passage of time, but since Maart left Fairport they have been a totally different animal altogether (despite Simon and Peggy's long-term presence) - I have to say, I find the different incarnations equally enjoyable and Over the Next Hill is one of my favourite albums. Oh, and I like the increasing, gentle influence of Chris Leslie's compositions.
Enjoy, Adam, it's dead good stuff!

Well said.  I can't argue with any of that.

Jules

Don't start with "Gottle 'O Geer" may well be the only universally accepted truth in this topic.

much maligned masterpiece
what do you think gabriel?

I could but can't be bothered.

Adam, Fairport always say they're a current band - not one simply living on past glories. If you want to know about past glories buy the "CLASSIC" albums - this though will only give you part of the story.

I repeat my suggestion to go and see them on the Winter Tour if you can.

David W

I'm gonna try to see them in St. Albans on 1st of Feb.  That's practically in my backyard.

I'm sure you'll have a great time - and probably meet up with a few board members there as well.

David W

For me they are very much a current band.  I love the history but I also love what they are doing now.  Maybe I have just matured (not sure if that's the right word) along a parallel path. :-\  Despite the apparent lack of enthusiasm for Sense of Occasion in these parts it seems, I really enjoy listening to it.  Give it a go Adam.  I'd also endorse going to see them on the Winter Tour - FC live are at their best!

Nevertheless, this seems absolutely right to me to cover all the bases in a digestible form, more or less up to the current line up (sorry Gerry!)

I'm just curious about why you can't be bothered? I love a good spirited discussion. I saw them last year and everytime they have been locally since 1986. I enjoy the summertime  medley and the beatle copy song. I was very happy when they played Now Be Thankful. I beleive that was the only old song besides meet o the ledge. They are warm friendly story tellers and very talented musicians.  They are much sweeter and softer now. But it does not resemble the FC that I fell in love with. I listen to music from all ages. I have no problems with past/present. If it makes my hair tingle, I am happy. The new FC cds do not make my hair tingle. I do not think they are folk rock anymore and it would be better to call them Friends of Fairport or Fairport (minus the Convention). I have no problem with the band thinking themselves as current. It is just not my cup of tea. I would just recommend what I think is their strongest material, not what they are doing now. If you want folk rock with lead guitar, look in the past. If you want a softer sweeter, almost adult contemporary sound, see the current line up or buy the current cds.

Hi adam. It's all been said BUT for OLD stuff History of FC as an intro and then Liege and Lief and for later stuff Jewel in the Crown as a taster BUT people will dsagree with me

Harry Smith's Smithsonian folk anthologies... NOW you're talking... Have you got the new Levon Helm ("Dirt Farmer")? Very Harry... 8)

Yeah the Harry Smith anthology is amazing.  Thanks for the recommendation, I'm off to get Levon Helm right now!

a

Hey y'all, I got Liege and Lief for Christmas.  It's like Jefferson Airplane with Celtic roots, innit?!? Thanks for the tip, everyone. It's beautiful (especially Reynardine).  I don't know how I managed to go this long without hearing any Fairport, but...there you go...

I also got Emmylou Harris, Pieces of the Sky; and Stop Making Sense by Talking Heads.

What did you guys get?