at a glance...

Hometown: London, England
Formed: 1967

Personnel:
Sandy Denny -vocals
Ashley Hutchings -bass
Martin Lamble -drums
Simon Nichol -guitar, vocals
Richard Thompson -guitar, vocals
Dave Swarbrick -fiddle, mandolin

Related artists:
Strawbs, Richard Thompson, Linda Thompson, Steeleye Span, Fotheringay, Sandy Denny

Notes:
It's hard to keep track of Fairport Convention. By 1980 they had seen 14 different line ups and 20 members. They were purveyors of a startling variety of music including what was often tagged 'folk rock,' trad British and Irish, rock and roll, blues, country, and bluegrass. First two albums, Fairport Convention (1968) and What We Did On Our Holidays (1969) displayed a fine touch by covering American folk tunes (Dylan and Mitchell), but also showcased Thompson's song-crafting abilities. They really hit their stride with Unhalfbricking and Liege and Lief (1969) showing a mix of traditional sweetness and late-60s teeth gnashing. The group changed substantially from this point and forever after. Lamble was killed in a group car wreck, Denny split to form Fotheringay, Hutchings split to form Steeleye Span, and Thompson held on for 1970's Full House, but soon left to work with Linda Thompson. A semblance of Fairport Convention still exists and tours today.

Sandy Denny has one of those voices that transports you to a smoky and cluttered living room basked in the autumn light of 1969. Her voice wraps itself around you and claims your ear. It's beautiful stuff, with enough looseness and fun to make you tap your foot and hope to learn all the words one day.

Dylan's "Si Tu Dois Partir" is a raucous party, with scattered fiddle, chiming triangle, slaps, crashes and shouted chorus. It all seems so loosely held together, it's hard to think it'll last. But it does, and gives way to Denny's gorgeous "Autopsy" -- lilting, deliberate and sad. Thompson flexes his soloing muscles with clean, jogging runs that eventually sink behind Denny's fierce question: "You must philosophize, but why must you bore me to tears?" The tune is subtly complex with a poppy 4/4 chorus, but a slightly-off 5/4 verse. The traditional "A Sailor's Life" is the pinnacle of the album. Bandmates are trading guitar, bass, rhythm and vocal statements in this 11-minute epic. Thompson's guitar seems to come and go out of nowhere, but with powerful impact. The rest of the band fall in behind him -- a strong foundation for a solo meant to last only a few bars, but one which escapes and runs amok for more than 3 minutes. Fuzzy, bending notes remind us that despite the traditional backdrop, this album emerged from London's frothy psychedelic cauldron.

It is nearly impossible to believe Denny was only 22 when you hear the soul and maturity in "Who Knows Where the Time Goes." Appropriately enough, she recorded this song often during her career, but it is here we find the definitive version. Softly she flies in, barely off the head, "Across the evening sky, all the birds are leaving / But how can they know it's time for them to go? / Before the winter fire, I will still be dreaming / I have no thought of time." And with this, Denny makes herself and all of Unhalfbricking absolutely timeless.

If you like Fairport Convention, check out:
Fairport Convention Liege and Lief
Nick Drake Bryter Layter
Bob Dylan Blonde on Blonde
Shirley Collins and Davy Graham Folk Roots, New Routes
Sandy Denny Gold Dust - Live At The Royalty
Richard Thompson Mock Tudor

-- AG

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