Fairport Convention

Liege & Lief is the fourth album by the English folk rock band Fairport Convention. It is the third and final album the group released in the UK in 1969, all of which prominently feature Sandy Denny as lead female vocalist. (Denny did not appear on the group's 1968 debut album). It is also the very first Fairport album on which all songs have either been adapted (freely) from traditional British and Celtic folk material (for example "Matty Groves", "Tam Lin"), or else are original compositions (such as "Come All Ye", "Crazy Man Michael") written and performed in a similar style. By introducing songs of this genre into the group's repertoire Denny, who had previously sung and recorded traditional folk songs as a solo artist, was instrumental in this transformation. Although Denny quit the band even before the album's release, Fairport Convention has continued to the present day to make music almost exclusively within the traditional British folk music idiom, and are still most strongly associated with it.

Digitally remastered edition of the 2nd Fairport Convention LP and the first to include the presence of Sandy Denny was recorded in 1968. It showcases a young group taking pleasure in singing and playing whatever took its' collective fancy, and doing this with surprising sensitivity, authority and musicality. Also evident is the trademark unpredictability and wacky sense of fun which marked their live concerts . Make 'em laugh, make 'em cry, make 'em puzzled; that was early Fairport. Includes 3 Bonus Tracks. "Throwaway Street Puzzle" was released as the b-side of the "Meet On The Ledge" single. "You're Gonna Need My Help" is a rare BBC Radio recording from 1969 and features a virtuoso slide-guitar performance by Richard Thompson. "Some Sweet Day" was originally recorded to be released as a single but was shelved in favour of "Meet On The Ledge".

The best British folk-rock band of the late '60s, Fairport Convention did more than any other act to develop a truly British variation on the folk-rock prototype by drawing upon traditional material and styles indigenous to the British Isles. While the revved-up renditions of traditional British folk tunes drew the most critical attention, the group members were also (at least at the outset) talented songwriters as well as interpreters. They were comfortable with conventional harmony-based folk-rock as well as tunes that drew upon more explicitly traditional sources, and boasted some of the best singers and instrumentalists of the day. A revolving door of personnel changes, however, saw the exit of their most distinguished talents, and basically changed the band into a living museum piece after the early '70s, albeit an enjoyable one with integrity.

The best British folk-rock band of the late '60s, Fairport Convention did more than any other act to develop a truly British variation on the folk-rock prototype by drawing upon traditional material and styles indigenous to the British Isles. While the revved-up renditions of traditional British folk tunes drew the most critical attention, the group members were also (at least at the outset) talented songwriters as well as interpreters. They were comfortable with conventional harmony-based folk-rock as well as tunes that drew upon more explicitly traditional sources, and boasted some of the best singers and instrumentalists of the day. A revolving door of personnel changes, however, saw the exit of their most distinguished talents, and basically changed the band into a living museum piece after the early '70s, albeit an enjoyable one with integrity.

MID-70s BROADCAST FROM SANDY DENNY S SECOND TENURE WITH FAIRPORT Sandy Denny first left Fairport Convention - to form Fotheringay with then boyfriend Trevor Lucas - in late 1969, having by then contributed to three of the band s albums. Fotheringay broke up in 1971, after which Sandy developed a critically acclaimed solocareer, releasing three albums between 1971 and 1974 - by which time she had married Lucas and re-joined Fairport, by then fronted by her husband.

Liege & Lief introduced a large new audience to the beauty of British folk, but Fairport Convention's interpretations spoke of the present as much as the past, and the result was timeless music in the best sense of the term.

By far the most rock-oriented of Fairport Convention's early albums, this debut was recorded before Sandy Denny joined the band (Judy Dyble handles the female vocals). Unjustly overlooked by listeners who consider the band's pre-Denny output insignificant, this is a fine folk-rock effort that takes far more inspiration from West Coast '60s sounds than traditional British folk.

Fairport Convention, the UK's most influential folk-rock band, celebrates its 50th anniversary with "50:50@50". Half the fourteen tracks were recorded at recent concerts and half in the studio. With nine compositions by members of Fairport, the album presents a mix of brand new songs and favourites from Fairport's repertoire. Two tracks feature guest lead vocals: one from Robert Plant and one from Pentangle's Jacqui McShee.