Fairport Convention

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.

In the decades since its original release, more than one writer has declared Fairport Convention's Liege & Lief the definitive British folk-rock album, a distinction it holds at least in part because it grants equal importance to all three parts of that formula. While Fairport had begun dipping their toes into British traditional folk with their stellar version of "A Sailor's Life" on Unhalfbricking, Liege & Lief found them diving headfirst into the possibilities of England's musical past, with Ashley Hutchings digging through the archives at the Cecil Sharp House in search of musical treasure and the musicians (in particular vocalist Sandy Denny) eagerly embracing the dark mysteries of this music.

The presence of Sandy Denny raises expectations for the group's first released live album. Recorded on the band's 1973 world tour, it features songs such as "Matty Groves" and "Sloth," as well as the Swarbrick instrumental "Fiddlestix," their then current single "Rosie," and a nod to the group's origins as interpreters of American rock & roll and folk-rock, in the form of Dylan's "Down in the Flood" and Chris Kenner's "Something You Got." Denny's solo abilities are showcased on "John the Gun." The problem is the uneven quality of the recording, from three different venues, each seemingly lacking intimacy and warmth. This may explain why it was never released in America, and why Island released the superior Live At the L.A. Troubadour/House Full just two years later. As the only live document of Denny with the band, however, this record is vital to Fairport completists. ~ Bruce Eder & William Ruhlmann

2022 sees Fairport Convention celebrate their 55th anniversary. Famous for the many who have joined and left only to re-join, remarkably everyone who was ever involved remains part of the band’s extended family, returning to the fold for an annual reunion festival at Cropredy in Oxfordshire.

Compiled from Universal Music’s extensive selection of studio albums, packaged together in a new slim-line slipcase. Fairport Convention - 5 Classic Albums includes: Fairport Convention, What We Did On Our Holidays, Unhalfbricking, Liege and Lief and Full House.

Shuffle and Go is the new album from Fairport Convention. This is Fairport Convention's thirtieth studio album and the thirteen tracks (none of which have been previously recorded by Fairport) span a wide range of moods and texture. There are five new songs by Fairport's Chris Leslie and two by fellow band-member Ric Sanders as well as contributions from James Wood, PJ Wright, Rob Beattie and James Taylor (yes, that James Taylor). Recorded and mixed by John Gale, Shuffle and Go features Simon Nicol on guitars and vocals, Dave Pegg on bass guitar, mandolin and vocals, Chris Leslie on fiddle, mandolin and vocals, Ric Sanders on violin and Gerry Conway on drums and percussion.

Groupe emblématique du folk britannique, Fairport Convention se forme à Londres en 1967 à l'initiative du chanteur et guitariste Simon Nicol et du bassiste Ashley Hutchings. La formation complétée par Richard Thompson (chant, guitare), Judy Dyble (chant), Ian Matthews (chant) et Martin Lamble (batterie) vit en communauté et importe au Royaume-Uni le folk rock américain. Son répertoire inclut d'autres influences comme le rock'n'roll, le blues, les ballades traditionnelles et le rock psychédélique sur le premier album homonyme. La nouvelle chanteuse, Sandy Denny (1947-1978), fait ses débuts sur le disque suivant What We Did on Our Holidays (1969).