| Hannibal Records has just released its first (or at least first that
I've seen) of a set of Fairport Convention CDs. This first is HNCD
1329, the "HeyDay" collection of 1968-69 BBC Radio Session recordings
of songs mostly by American writers. Many of the songs are not
"folk" in the usual sense, and there's a noticable hiss (hey - they
were recorded by BBC, not a recording studio!). Surely it's AAD,
though it doesn't say. Before you ask, a friend saw it in Rockit
Records in Nashua, NH today and bought it for me. From the notes:
"I guess I have to take part of the blame. I mean, as an American,
my view was that Americans did these sorts of songs in their sleep
better than any English band could hope to. I fealt that Fairport
should use their considerable talents in developing their own
material and becomingas, well, English as possible. Thus I
discouraged committing most of the above songs to vinyl back in 1967
and 1968. I have never been a great one for giving audiences what
they want - give them what they ought to have is my motto. The fact
that everyone seemed to enjoy these songs immensely at gigs cut no
ice with me. Which is not to say that the Fairport themselves were
clamoring to record Gone, Gone, Gone on Unhalfbricking. There was
just a general agreement that these songs weren't as important as the
material that was recorded. Twenty years on, however, there is no
escaping the sheer enjoyment of these tracks and the spirit of the
early Fairport days they invoke. And of course, I am now forced to
admit it is hard to find an American band who can do these songs
equal justice."
Joe Boyd, August 1987
What's on it? Well...
Close the Door Lightly When You Go (Eric Anderson)
I Don't Know Where I Stand (Joni Mitchell)
Some Sweet Day (Felice & Boudleaux Bryant)
Reno, Nevada (Richard Farina)
Suzanne (Leonard Cohen)
If It Feels Good, You Know It Can't Be Wrong (Richard Thompson &
Ashley Hutchings)
I Still Miss Someone (Johnny Cash & Roy Cash, Jr.)
Bird On A Wire (Leonard Cohen)
Gone, Gone, Gone (Phil & Don Everly)
Tried So Hard (Gene Clark)
Shattering Live Experience (Simon Nicol)
Percy's Song (Bob Dylan)
It sounds awfully good for radio sessions. It's only 40 minutes
long, but it contains the best version of Suzanne I've ever heard (by
Sandy and Richard). The rest ain't 'tall bad either!
B
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| I was looking for the right place for this, and I think I just found it.
"Liege and Lief" by the Fairport Convention is finally available in the US!
It's on A&M, CD-4257. They did a beautiful job transferring it to disc,
and as usual with A&M, they did a superb job with the booklet. Each
page has a different photo and description (like "pace-eggers").
The other major labels should take some quality lessons from the folks
at A&M. I've never seen a poor quality product from them, except on their
25th Anniversary series, where they used some sleazy rechanneled Procol Harum
cuts when clean mono versions were available.
If you're unfamiliar with Fairport Convention, as they were in their
prime with Sandy Denny and Richard Thompson, this is the album to get.
This was when they really perfected their electric English folk sound.
Most of the songs are traditional folk songs.
Fortunately Fairport Convention is back again. Their latest, a live
album recorded in 1987, is excellent. They've changed their arrangements
slightly, since Sandy Denny is no longer around to sing for them.
Scott
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| ICE reports that Island and A&M don't have any plans to release
more Fairport CD's for the time being.
On the other hand, Hannibal/Carthage should be releasing, Real
Soon Now, CD's of two more of Richard Thompson's solo albums,
GUITAR/VOCAL and STRICT TEMPO, and Sandy Denny's solo RENDEZVOUS.
And FOTHERINGAY should be out later in the year.
--- jerry
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