Fairport Convention album by album

Early stages - just getting the basics down for now.....


Wikipedia:

Fairport Convention are a British folk rock band, formed in 1967 by Richard Thompson (guitar, vocals), Simon Nicol (guitar, vocals), Ashley Hutchings (bass guitar), and Shaun Frater (drums, percussion), with Frater replaced by Martin Lamble after their first gig. They started out heavily influenced by American folk rock and singer-songwriter material, with a setlist dominated by Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell songs and a sound that earned them the nickname 'the British Jefferson Airplane'. Vocalists Judy Dyble and Iain Matthews joined them before the recording of their self-titled debut in 1968; afterwards, Dyble was replaced by Sandy Denny, with Matthews leaving during the recording of their third album.
Denny began steering the group towards traditional British music for their next two albums, What We Did on Our Holidays and Unhalfbricking (both 1969); the latter featured Fiddler Dave "Swarb" Swarbrick, most notably on the song "A Sailor's Life", which laid the groundwork for British folk rock by being the first time a traditional British song was combined with a rock beat. However, shortly before the album's release, a crash on the M1 killed Lamble and Thompson's then-girlfriend, Jeannie Franklyn; this resulted in the group retiring most of their prior material and turning entirely towards British folk music for their seminal album Liege & Lief, released the same year, with this style being the band's focus ever since. For this album Swarbrick joined full-time alongside Dave Mattacks on drums. Both Denny and Hutchings left before the year's end; the latter replaced by Dave Pegg, who has remained the group's sole consistent member to this day; and Thompson would leave after the recording of 1970's Full House.
The 1970s saw numerous lineup changes around the core of Swarbrick and Pegg – Nicol being absent for the middle of the decade – and declining fortunes as folk music fell out of mainstream favour. Denny, whose partner Trevor Lucas had been a guitarist in the group since 1972, returned for the pop-orientated Rising for the Moon album in 1975 in a final bid to crack America; this effort failed, and after three more albums minus Denny or Lucas, the group disbanded in 1979. They played a farewell concert in the village of Cropredy, Oxfordshire, where they had held small concerts since 1976, and this marked the beginning of the Cropredy Festival (since 2005 known as Fairport's Cropredy Convention) which has become the largest folk festival in Britain, with annual attendances of 20,000. The band was reformed by Nicol, Pegg, and Mattacks in 1985, joined by Maartin Allcock (guitar, vocals) and Ric Sanders (fiddle, keyboards), and they have remained active since. Allcock was replaced by Chris Leslie in 1996, and Gerry Conway replaced Mattacks in 1998, with this lineup remaining unchanged since and marking the longest-lasting of the group's history. Their 28th studio album, 50:50@50, released to mark their 50th anniversary, was released in 2017, and they continue to headline Cropredy each year.
Despite little mainstream success – with their only top 40 single being "Si Tu Dois Partir", a French-language cover of the Dylan song "If You Gotta Go, Go Now" from Unhalfbricking – Fairport Convention remain highly influential in British folk rock and British folk in general. Liege & Lief was named the "Most Influential Folk Album of All Time" at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2006, and Pegg's playing style, which incorporates Jigs and reels into his basslines, has been imitated by many in the folk rock and folk punk genres. Additionally, many former members went on to form or join other notable groups in the genre, including Fotheringay, Steeleye Span, and the Albion Band; along with solo careers, most notably Thompson and Denny. Sandy Denny's career ended with her death in 1978, though she is now regarded as being amongst Britain's finest female singer-songwriters; her song "Who Knows Where the Time Goes?" – recorded by Fairport on Unhalfbricking – has become a signature song for herself and the band.

AllMusic:

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.

When Fairport formed around 1967, their goal was not to revive British folk numbers, but to play harmony- and guitar-based folk-rock in a style strongly influenced by Californian groups of the day (especially the Byrds). The lineup that recorded their self-titled debut album in 1968 featured Richard Thompson, Ian Matthews, and Simon Nicol on guitars; Ashley Hutchings on bass; Judy Dyble on vocals; and Martin Lamble on drums. Most of the members sang, though Matthews and Dyble were the strongest vocalists in this early incarnation; all of their early work, in fact, was characterized by blends of male and female vocals, influenced by such American acts as the Mamas & the Papas and Ian & Sylvia. While their first album was derivative, it had some fine material, and the band was already showing a knack for eclecticism, excavating overlooked songs by Joni Mitchell (then virtually unknown) and Emitt Rhodes.

Fairport Convention didn't reach their peak until Dyble was replaced after the first album in 1968 by Sandy Denny, who had previously recorded both as a solo act and with the Strawbs. Denny's penetrating, resonant style qualified her as the best British folk-rock singer of all time, and provided Fairport with the best vocalist they would ever have. What We Did on Our Holidays (1969) and Unhalfbricking (1969) are their best albums, mixing strong originals, excellent covers of contemporary folk-rock songs by the likes of Mitchell and Dylan, and imaginative revivals of traditional folk songs that mixed electric and acoustic instruments with a beguiling ease.

Matthews had left the band in early 1969, and Lamble (still in his teens) died in an accident involving the group's equipment van in mid-1969. That forced Fairport to regroup, replacing Lamble with Dave Mattacks, and adding Dave Swarbrick on fiddle. Their repertoire, too, became much more traditional in focus, and electrified traditional folk numbers would dominate their next album, Liege and Lief (1969). Here critical thought diverges; some insist that this is unequivocally their peak, marking a final escape from their '60s folk-rock influences into a much more original style. This school of thought severely underestimates their songwriting talents, and others feel that they were at their best when mixing original and outside material, and contemporary and traditional styles, in fact becoming more predictable and derivative when they opted to concentrate on British folk chestnuts.

The Liege and Lief lineup didn't last long; by the end of the '60s, Ashley Hutchings had left to join Steeleye Span, replaced by Dave Pegg. More crucially, Denny was also gone, helping to form Fotheringay. Thompson was still on board for Full House (1970), but by the beginning of 1971 he too had departed, leaving Nicol as the only original member.

Fairport have kept going, on and off (mostly on), for the last 25 years, touring and performing frequently. It may be too harsh to dismiss all of their post-Thompson records out of hand; Angel Delight (1971), the first recorded without the guitarist on board, was actually their highest-charting LP in the U.K., reaching the Top Ten. Nicol's exit in late 1971 erased all vestiges of connections to their salad days. Fairport was now not so much a continuous entity as a concept, carried on by musicians dedicated to the electrified British folk style that had been mapped out on Liege and Lief.

The albums

Fairport Convention (1968)

Debut album. Sounds like Jefferson Airplane - has a West Coast vibe.  Attractive. This was the only album they made for Polydor, and sales were poor. 

Released	June 1968; 1970 in the US
Recorded	November 1967
Studio	Sound Techniques, London
Genre	Folk rock
Length	37:46
Label	UK: Polydor; US: Cotillion
Producer	Joe Boyd, Tod Lloyd

• Judy Dyble – lead vocals, electric and acoustic autoharps, recorder, piano
• Ian MacDonald (Iain Matthews) – lead vocals, Jew's harp
• Richard Thompson – vocals, lead electric and acoustic guitars, mandolin
• Simon Nicol – vocals, electric 12 and 6 string and acoustic guitars
• Ashley Hutchings – bass guitar, jug, double bass
• Martin Lamble – percussion, violin

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Time Will Show the Wiser"	Emitt Rhodes	3:05
2.	"I Don't Know Where I Stand"	Joni Mitchell	3:45
3.	"If (Stomp)"	Ian MacDonald, Richard Thompson	2:45
4.	"Decameron"	Ghosh, Horvitch, Thompson	3:42
5.	"Jack O'Diamonds"	Bob Dylan, Ben Carruthers	3:30
6.	"Portfolio"	Judy Dyble, Tyger Hutchings	2:00

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
7.	"Chelsea Morning"	Joni Mitchell	3:05
8.	"Sun Shade"	Ghosh, Horvitch, Thompson	3:50
9.	"The Lobster"	George Painter, Hutchings, Thompson	5:25
10.	"It's Alright Ma, It's Only Witchcraft"	Hutchings, Thompson	3:12
11.	"One Sure Thing"	Harvey Brooks, Jim Glover	2:50
12.	"M.1 Breakdown"	Hutchings, Simon Nicol	1:22

• Judy Dyble – lead vocals, electric and acoustic autoharps, recorder, piano
• Ian MacDonald (Iain Matthews) – lead vocals, Jew's harp
• Richard Thompson – vocals, lead electric and acoustic guitars, mandolin
• Simon Nicol – vocals, electric 12 and 6 string and acoustic guitars
• Ashley Hutchings – bass guitar, jug, double bass
• Martin Lamble – percussion, violin

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 9

Score: 5 1/2

What We Did on Our Holidays (1969)

A new recording contract with Island, who would release all their significant albums until Gottle O'Geer in 1976. 

Sandy Denny replaces Judy Dyble as vocalist, bringing with her a new British folk-rock sensibility.  Denny has a beautiful voice, and her involvement in the band is considered a key part of the band's critical and commercial achievement of what many consider to be the band's classic period. This contains the band's most loved song: "Meet On The Ledge", which has traditionally closed Fairport's concerts since the 1970s.  It's a lovely album. 

 "The Lord Is in This Place...How Dreadful Is This Place" is based on "Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground" by Blind Willie Johnson. 

Released	January 1969
Recorded	June – October 1968 at Kingsway and Olympic Studio No. 1
Genre	Folk rock, folk
Length	38:07
Label	Island ILPS 9092 (UK) A&M SP 4185 (US) Hannibal (reissue)
Producer	Joe Boyd

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Fotheringay"	Sandy Denny	3:06
2.	"Mr Lacey"	Ashley Hutchings	2:55
3.	"Book Song"	Iain Matthews, Richard Thompson	3:13
4.	"The Lord Is in This Place...How Dreadful..."	Hutchings, Thompson, Denny	2:01
5.	"No Man's Land"	Thompson	2:32
6.	"I'll Keep It with Mine"	Bob Dylan	5:56

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Eastern Rain"	Joni Mitchell	3:36
2.	"Nottamun Town"	Traditional, arranged by the band	3:12
3.	"Tale in Hard Time"	Thompson	3:29
4.	"She Moves Through the Fair"	Traditional, arranged by the band	4:14
5.	"Meet on the Ledge"	Thompson	2:50
6.	"End of a Holiday"	Nicol	1:07

• Sandy Denny – vocals, acoustic & 12-string acoustic guitars, organ, piano, harpsichord
• Iain Matthews – vocals, congas
• Richard Thompson – electric, acoustic & 12-string acoustic guitars, piano accordion, sitar on "Book Song", vocals
• Simon Nicol – electric & acoustic guitars, electric autoharp, electric dulcimer, backing vocals
• Ashley Hutchings – bass, backing vocals
• Martin Lamble – drums, percussion, violin, tabla & footsteps

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 9

Score: 6

Unhalfbricking (1969)

Contains the band's only hit, "Si Tu Dois Partir", a French language version of an unreleased Dylan song, "If You Gotta Go, Go Now". There are two other unreleased Dylan songs on the album. Denny and Thompson provide the other songs, apart from one traditional English folk song, "A Sailors' Life".  The performance of this song is quite remarkable - it has a meaty West Coast punch combined with Denny's ethereal vocals and album guest Swarbrick's folk-jazz violin. Best listened to with copious amounts of dope and joss sticks. Swarbrick would become a member of the band after the album was recorded. The track, at 11.20, is the longest not only of the album, but - with the exception of the concept album "Babbacombe" Lee  - of the band's entire career.   Side two opens with the clattering rocky "Cajun Woman", before returning to the sublime with one of the band's most respected songs - Denny's "Who Knows Where The Time Goes?".  A very satisfying album indeed. 

Released	3 July 1969
Recorded	January–April 1969
Studio	Sound Techniques and Olympic Studios, London
Genre	British folk rock
Length	39:37
Label	Island
Producer	Joe Boyd  Simon Nicol  Fairport Convention

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Genesis Hall"	Richard Thompson	3:41
2.	"Si Tu Dois Partir"	Bob Dylan	2:22
3.	"Autopsy"	Sandy Denny	4:27
4.	"A Sailor's Life"	Traditional	11:20

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
5.	"Cajun Woman"	Thompson	2:43
6.	"Who Knows Where the Time Goes?"	Denny	5:13
7.	"Percy's Song"	Dylan	6:55
8.	"Million Dollar Bash"	Dylan	2:56

• Sandy Denny – vocals, harpsichord
• Richard Thompson – electric and acoustic guitars, electric dulcimer, piano accordion, organ, backing vocals
• Simon Nicol – electric and acoustic guitars, electric dulcimer, backing vocals
• Ashley Hutchings – bass, backing vocals
• Martin Lamble – drums, stacked chair backs on "Si Tu Dois Partir"

Additional personnel

• Iain Matthews – backing vocals on "Percy's Song"
• Dave Swarbrick – fiddle on "Si Tu Dois Partir", "A Sailor's Life", and "Cajun Woman" and Mandolin on "Million Dollar Bash"
• Trevor Lucas – triangle on "Si Tu Dois Partir"
• Marc Ellington – vocals on "Million Dollar Bash"
• Dave Mattacks – drums on "Ballad of Easy Rider"

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 10 

Score: 7 

Liege & Lief (1969)

Regarded as the band's best and most important album, and as a significant influence on the development of British folk rock.  It is an atmospheric album that draws me in like a Celtic spell. It took me a little while to get into it, but once I got the feel for it, I have become hooked. Great music, great atmosphere. Fairport at their best for sure. 


Guardian retrospective; 

Released	December 1969
Recorded	16, 19, 22, 29 October and 1 November 1969
Studio	Sound Techniques, London
Genre	British folk rock
Length	40:33
Label	Island (UK); A&M (US)
Producer	Joe Boyd

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Come All Ye"	Sandy Denny, Ashley Hutchings	4:55
2.	"Reynardine"	Traditional	4:33
3.	"Matty Groves"	Traditional	8:08
4.	"Farewell, Farewell"	Traditional, words by Richard Thompson	2:38

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
5.	"The Deserter"	Traditional	4:10
6.	"Medley" I. "The Lark in the Morning" II. "Rakish Paddy" III. "Foxhunter's Jig" IV. "Toss the Feathers"	Traditional	4:00
7.	"Tam Lin"	Traditional	7:20
8.	"Crazy Man Michael"	Thompson, Swarbrick	4:35
Total length:			40:33

• Sandy Denny – vocals
• Richard Thompson – electric & acoustic guitars, backing vocals
• Simon Nicol – electric, 6-string & 12-string acoustic guitars, backing vocals
• Dave Swarbrick – fiddle, viola
• Ashley Hutchings – bass guitar, backing vocals
• Dave Mattacks – drums, percussion

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 10 

Score: 8

Full House (1970)

Sandy Denny has left, along with bass player Hutchings who is replaced by Dave Pegg who will become the band's most consistent member, and there is a little more focus on playing the instruments. It feels somewhat more folky than folk-rock.  "Sloth" is an amazing piece, similar to "A Sailor's Life".  Richard Thomson takes a stronger lead role here, but this will be his last album as a full member before leaving the band to pursue his solo career. He will occasionally guest on albums or live performances.  It's a strong album, though doesn't have the atmosphere of Liege and Leaf. 

Released	July 1970
Recorded	February – April 1970
Studio	Sound Techniques Studio, London
Genre	British folk rock
Length	35:08
Label	Island (UK) A&M (US)
Producer	Joe Boyd

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Walk Awhile"	Richard Thompson, Dave Swarbrick	3:57
2.	"Dirty Linen"	traditional; arranged by Swarbrick
3.	"Sloth"	Thompson, Swarbrick	9:19

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
4.	"Sir Patrick Spens"	traditional	3:30
5.	"Flatback Caper"	traditional	6:24
6.	"Doctor of Physick"	Thompson, Swarbrick	3:37
7.	"Flowers of the Forest"	traditional	4:04

• Richard Thompson – vocals, electric guitar
• Simon Nicol – vocals, electric & acoustic guitars, bass guitar (on 6), electric dulcimer (on 8)
• Dave Swarbrick – vocals, fiddle, viola, mandolin (on 6,7)
• Dave Pegg – vocals, bass guitar, mandolin (on 6)
• Dave Mattacks – drums, percussion, harmonium (on 2), bodhran (on 3)

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 9 

Score: 6 

Angel Delight (June 1971)

A workmanlike album that never really rises. 

Released	June 1971
Recorded	February–March 1971
Studio	Sound Techniques Ltd., London
Genre	British folk rock
Length	36:46
Label	Island
Producer	Fairport Convention & John Wood

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Lord Marlborough"	traditional	3:27
2.	"Sir William Gower"	traditional	5:00
3.	"Bridge over the River Ash"	traditional	2:15
4.	"Wizard of the Worldly Game"	Simon Nicol, Dave Swarbrick	4:08
5.	"The Journeyman's Grace"	Swarbrick, Richard Thompson	4:35

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
6.	"Angel Delight"	Nicol, Swarbrick, Pegg, Mattacks	4:10
7.	"Banks of the Sweet Primroses"	traditional	4:15
8.	"Instrumental Medley: The Cuckoo's Nest / Hardiman the Fiddler / Papa Stoor"	traditional	3:28
9.	"The Bonny Black Hare"	traditional	3:08
10.	"Sickness & Diseases"	Swarbrick, Thompson	3:47
Total length:			36:46

Island Remasters CD reissue bonus track

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
11.	"The Journeyman's Grace"	Swarbrick, Thompson	3:53

• Simon Nicol – lead vocals (2,5), vocals, guitar, bass guitar (9), electric dulcimer (1,9), violin (3)
• Dave Swarbrick – lead vocals (1,4,5,10,11), mandolin (2,6,8,9,10), vocals, fiddle (1,5,7,8,11), viola (9), cuckoo (8)
• Dave Pegg – bass guitar (1-2,4-8,10,11), vocals, lead guitar (10), viola (9), violin (3)
• Dave Mattacks – drums & percussion, vocals, harmonium and piano (4),  bass guitar (3)

Thompson plays on a BBC 1970 recording of "The Journeyman's Grace" included on a reissue CD. 

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 6

Score: 4 

"Babbacombe" Lee (1971)

Swarbrick has been a major part of Fairport since playing as a session musicians on several tracks on Unhalfbricking  in 1969, and came into his own on this album, leading the band in their first and only concept album - a story about "Babbacombe Lee", the man who survived three attempts to hang him, and on release became a local legend. 

It's an interesting story, well told with some good songs. There's an affinity here with The Strawbs, though less emotional. 

BBC Documentary "The Man They Could Not Hang"

Released	November 1971
Recorded	August–September 1971
Studio	Sound Techniques, London
Genre	British folk rock
Length	41:20
Label	Island
Producer	John Wood & Simon Nicol

Side one

No.	Title	Length
1.	"John's reflection on his boyhood, his introduction to Miss Keyes and The Glen, his restlessness, and his struggles with his family, finally successful, to join the navy."	6:19
2.	"This was the happiest period in his life. All locked set fair for a career until he was stricken with sickness and invalided out of his chosen niche in life. Reluctantly and unhappily he turned to a number of menial occupations and finally returned to the services of Miss Keyes."	10:12
3.	"Tragedy now strikes hard. The world's imagination is caught by the brutal senseless[ness] of the apparent criminal who slays his kind old mistress."	3:57

Side two

No.	Title	Length
1.	"John was hardly more than a bewildered observer at his own trial, not being allowed to say more than a few words. The tides of fate wash him to the condemned cell where he waits three sad weeks for his last night on earth."	7:32
2.	"When it comes, he cannot sleep, but when he does, a strange, prophetic dream comes to him, and helps him to bear the strain of his next day's ordeal as scaffold and its crew try in vain three times to take his life."	13:20

2004 Compact Disc listing

1. "The Verdict" (read by Philip Sterling-Wall)  – 0:28
2. "Little Did I Think" (Dave Swarbrick) – 2:19
3. "I Was Sixteen (Part 1)" (Simon Nicol, Dave Pegg) – 1:29
4. "John My Son" (Nicol, Pegg) – 0:44
5. "I Was Sixteen (Part 2)" (Nicol, Pegg) – 1:17
6. "St Ninian's Isle" (Ronald Cooper) / Trumpet Hornpipe (Traditional; arranged by Swarbrick) – 1:14
7. "Sailor's Alphabet" (Traditional; arranged by A.L. Lloyd) – 5:50
8. "John Lee" (Swarbrick) – 3:04
9. "Newspaper Reading (read by A.L. Lloyd) – 0:46
10. "Breakfast in Mayfair" (Nicol) – 3:09
11. "Trial Song" (Swarbrick, Pegg) – 3:55
12. "Cell Song" (Swarbrick) – 3:35
13. "The Time Is Near" (Pegg) – 2:31
14. "Dream Song" (Swarbrick, Pegg) – 5:24
15. "Wake Up John (Hanging Song)" (Swarbrick, Pegg) – 5:25

Bonus track

16. "Farewell to a Poor Man's Son" (Swarbrick)  BBC documentary "The Men They Couldn't Hang"  – 4:55

• Simon Nicol – vocals, guitar, dulcimer (12)
• Dave Swarbrick – vocals, fiddle, mandolin
• Dave Pegg – vocals, bass, mandolin

• Dave Mattacks – drums, electric piano (12), harmonium (6,7)

- - -

• Sandy Denny – vocals on "Breakfast in Mayfair"

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 6

Score: 6

Rosie (1973)

Simon Nicol has left the band, replaced by Trevor Lucas and Jerry Donahue of  Sandy Denny's now disbanded group Fotheringay - Denny having gone solo after Fotheringay didn't attract the success she had hoped.  It's an ordinary album. 

Released	February 1973
Recorded	July–August 1972
Studio	Sound Techniques, London (except tracks 3 and 5: 1971)
Genre	Folk rock
Label	Island (UK) A&M (US)
Producer	Trevor Lucas

Side one

1. "Rosie" (Dave Swarbrick)
2. "Matthew, Mark, Luke & John" (Dave Pegg, Dave Swarbrick)
3. "Knights of the Road" (Trevor Lucas, Peter Roche)
4. "Peggy's Pub" (Dave Pegg)
5. "The Plainsman" (words: Peter Roche/music: Traditional, arranged by Trevor Lucas)

Side two

1. "Hungarian Rhapsody" (Dave Pegg)
2. "My Girl" (Dave Swarbrick)
3. "Me with You" (Dave Swarbrick)
4. "The Hens March Through the Midden & The Four Poster Bed" (Traditional, arranged by Fairport Convention)
5. "Furs and Feathers" (Dave Swarbrick)

• Dave Swarbrick: vocals, fiddle, viola, mandolin (4), acoustic guitar (7)
• Trevor Lucas: vocals, 6 and 12-string acoustic guitars
• Jerry Donahue: guitars, backing vocals
• Dave Pegg: vocals, bass, mandolin (4)
• Dave Mattacks: drums (4,9,10), percussion (8), piano (6)

Additional personnel

• Richard Thompson: electric and 12-string guitars ("Rosie")
• Sandy Denny: backing vocals ("Rosie")
• Linda Peters: backing vocals ("Rosie")
• Gerry Conway: drums ("Rosie", "Knights of the Road", "The Plainsman")
• Tim Donald: drums ("Matthew, Mark, Luke & John", "Hungarian Rhapsody", "My Girl") (born Timothy Donald, 29 September 1946, Bristol, Somerset)
• Ralph McTell: acoustic guitar ("Me With You")

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 5

Score: 4

Nine (1973)

Attractive, but fairly average. 

Released	October 1973
Recorded	July - August 1973
Studio	Sound Techniques, London
Genre	Folk rock
Label	Island (UK) A&M (US)
Producer	Trevor Lucas, John Wood and Fairport Convention

Side one

1. "The Hexhamshire Lass" (Traditional; arranged by Fairport Convention) – 2:31
2. "Polly on the Shore" (Music: Pegg, Words: Traditional; arranged by Swarbrick, Lucas) – 4:56
3. "The Brilliancy Medley/Cherokee Shuffle" (Traditional) – 3:56
4. "To Althea, from Prison" (Words: Richard Lovelace; Music: Dave Swarbrick) – 5:10
5. "Tokyo" (Donahue) – 2:52

Side two

6. "Bring 'Em Down" (Lucas) – 5:59
7. "Big William" (Lucas, Swarbrick) – 3:25
8. "Pleasure and Pain" (Lucas, Swarbrick) – 5:03
9. "Possibly Parsons Green" (Lucas, Roche) – 4:42

• Trevor Lucas: acoustic guitar, lead vocal (2, 6, 9)
• Dave Swarbrick: violin, lead vocal (1, 4, 7)
• Jerry Donahue: acoustic and electric guitars
• Dave Pegg: bass, backing vocals
• Dave Mattacks: drums, percussion

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 4

Score: 4

Live Convention (1974)

This might be a good album, but most of it is suppressed by Spotify, and I can't find it on YouTube. It marks Denny's return to the band, and contains her singing "Sloth", but it's not a great version.  

Released	July 1974
Recorded	December 1973 – January 1974
Genre	British folk rock
Label	Island
Producer	Trevor Lucas, John Wood

Side one

1. "Matty Groves" (Traditional)
2. "Rosie" (Swarbrick)
3. "Fiddlestix" (Traditional)
4. "John the Gun" (Denny)
5. "Something You Got" (Chris Kenner)

Side two

1. "Sloth" (Thompson, Swarbrick)
2. "Dirty Linen" (Traditional)
3. "Down in the Flood" (Bob Dylan)
4. "Sir B. MacKenzie" (Swarbrick, Thompson, Nicol, Mattacks)

• Sandy Denny – vocals, piano
• Trevor Lucas – acoustic guitars, vocals
• Jerry Donahue – electric guitar, vocals
• Dave Swarbrick – fiddle, vocals
• Dave Pegg – bass guitar
• Dave Mattacks – drums

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 6
Score: 4

Rising for the Moon (1975)

Denny and the band were looking for success with this album (something that continually eluded them all, despite Denny being twice voted as best female singer in the UK), and brought in the experienced Glynn Johns as producer. He creates the smooth and poppy feel they requested, but despite professional and attractive playing and singing, the songs simply don't grab or hold the attention, and the album was not a success. The Fotheringay musicians, Denny and her husband Lucas, along with Donahue, left the band when the album flopped. Mattacks left after recording four tracks to be replaced by Bruce Rowland for the rest of the album. 

Released	June 1975
Recorded	September 1974 and February–March 1975
Studio	Olympic Sound Studios, London
Genre	Rock
Length	42:07
Label	UK: Island
Producer	Glyn Johns

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Rising For The Moon"	Denny	Denny	4:08
2.	"Restless"	Lucas, Pete Roche	Lucas	4:00
3.	"White Dress"	Swarbrick	Denny	3:44
4.	"Let It Go"	Denny, Pegg, Swarbrick	Swarbrick	2:00
5.	"Stranger To Himself"	Denny	Denny	2:52
6.	"What Is True"	Denny	Denny	3:33

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
7.	"Iron Lion"	Lucas	Lucas	3:28
8.	"Dawn"	Denny, Donahue	Denny	3:42
9.	"After Halloween"	Denny	Denny	3:38
10.	"Night-Time Girl"	Pegg, Swarbrick	Swarbrick	2:56
11.	"One More Chance"	Denny	Denny	7:52

• Sandy Denny - vocals, piano
• Trevor Lucas - vocals, rhythm guitar
• Dave Swarbrick - vocals, violin
• Jerry Donahue - lead guitar
• Dave Pegg - bass, backing vocals 
• Dave Mattacks - drums (1-3, 8, 11)
• Bruce Rowland - drums (4-7, 9-10)

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 6

Score: 4

Gottle O'Geer (1976)

With Rowland replacing Mattacks on drums, the two surviving Convention musicians, Swarbrick and Pegg, recorded this. It was going to be Swarbrick's solo album, but they made it into a Fairport album (dropping "Convention" from the name)  to fulfil their recording contract. It's an easy going, swinging album. Quite harmless. Probably their least interesting output to date, but inoffensive.  A number of folks helped out, including Gallagher and Lyle, Robert Palmer, and Martin Carthy. Founder Nicol helped with the engineering, and played guitar on the last track, paving the way for his return to the band. 

Released	May 1976
Recorded	Island Studios and Sawmill Studios
Genre	British folk rock
Length	30:35
Label	Island
Producer	Bruce Rowland

Side one

1. "When First into This Country" (Traditional) – 2:30
2. "Our Band" (Dave Swarbrick) – 2:04
3. "Lay Me Down Easy" (Rowland, Swarbrick) – 5:15
4. "Cropredy Capers" (Pegg, Rowland, Swarbrick) – 3:09
5. "The Frog Up the Pump" (Jig Medley) (Traditional) – 3:16

Side two

1. "Don't Be Late" (Rowland, Swarbrick) – 3:24
2. "Sandy's Song" (Sandy Denny) – 3:37
3. "Friendship Song" (Benny Gallagher, Graham Lyle) – 3:01
4. "Limey's Lament" (Rowland, Swarbrick) – 4:35

• Dave Swarbrick - vocals, fiddle, viola, mandolin, mandocello, acoustic guitar, autoharp, electric dulcimer;
• Dave Pegg - bass guitar, mandolin, backing vocals;
• Bruce Rowland - drums, percussion, piano, organ, backing vocals

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 4

Score: 3 1/2 

The Bonny Bunch of Roses (1977)

Nicols is back as a full member, and the band have a new recording contract with Vertigo Records.  The album goes back to a stronger focus on traditional folk played with modern electric instruments, with only four original songs. It's a little ponderous. 

Released	July 1977
Recorded	August 1976–March 1977
Studio	Island Studios, Hammersmith
Genre	British folk rock
Label	Vertigo
Producer	Fairport Convention

Side one

1. "Jams O'Donnells Jig" (Dave Pegg) - 2:33
2. "The Eynsham Poacher" - 2:22
3. "Adieu Adieu" - 2:26
4. "The Bonny Bunch of Roses" - 12:19

Side two

1. "The Poor Ditching Boy" (Richard Thompson) - 3:56
2. "General Taylor" - 3:39
3. "Run Johnny Run" (Ralph McTell) - 4:34
4. "The Last Waltz" (Dave Swarbrick) - 3:02
5. "Royal Seleccion No 13" (Haste to the Wedding/Morpeth Rant/Toytown March/Dashing White Sargeant) - 4:15

• Dave Swarbrick - fiddle, mandolin, mandocello, vocals
• Simon Nicol - electric and acoustic guitars, vocals, dulcimer, piano
• Dave Pegg - bass guitar, guitar, mandolin, vocals
• Bruce Rowland - drums, percussion, electric piano

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 4

Score: 4

Tipplers Tales (1978)

A lively bunch of drinking songs and jigs. There's nothing significant or special about the album, but it works on its own terms and is reasonably attractive.  I think this is Swarbrick's last studio album with Fairport. 

Released	May 1978
Recorded	February 1978
Studio	Chipping Norton Recording Studios, Oxfordshire.
Genre	British folk rock
Length	36:26
Label	Vertigo
Producer	Fairport Convention

Side one

1. "Ye Mariners All" (including "Bottom of the Punch Bowl" / "East Nuke of Fyfe") – 4:29
2. "Three Drunken Maidens" – 2:46
3. "Jack O'Rion" (Including "Turnabout" / "Tiree" / "Miss Stevenson's" / "Do It Again" / "March of the Last" / "Turnabout") – 11:04

Side two

1. "Reynard the Fox" – 3:02
2. "Lady of Pleasure" (Allan Taylor) – 2:34
3. "Bankruptured" (Dave Pegg) – 1:55
4. "The Widow of Westmorland" – 3:23
5. "The Hair of the Dogma" (Dave Pegg) – 1:48
6. "As Bitme" (Dave Pegg, Bruce Rowland) – 1:40
7. "John Barleycorn" – 4:39

• Dave Swarbrick – fiddle, mandolin, mandocello, vocals
• Simon Nicol – electric and acoustic guitars, vocals, dulcimer, piano
• Dave Pegg – bass guitar, guitar, mandolin, vocals
• Bruce Rowland – drums, percussion, electric piano

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 6

Score: 5

Farewell, Farewell (1979)

The band didn't have a recording contract, and Swarbrick had hearing problems which his doctor had warned would get worse if he continued playing amplified electric instruments, so the band had a farewell tour and recorded and released this initially limited edition album on their own label, Woodworm.  This is the last incarnation of a Seventies Convention, though contains the three musicians who, along with Mattacks who would re-join later, still perform as Fairport Convention. It's an attractive album. 

Released	September 1979
Recorded	live during Fairport's Farewell Tour in Spring 1979.
Genre	British folk rock
Label	Woodworm

Side one

1. "Matty Groves/High Road to Linton/Orange Blossom Special" (Traditional, arrangement by Fairport Convention Ervin T. Rouse) – 8:34
2. "John Lee" (Dave Swarbrick) – 3:18
3. "Bridge Over the River Ash" (Traditional, arrangement by Fairport Convention) – 2:40
4. "Sir Patrick Spens" (Traditional, arrangement by Fairport Convention) – 3:17

Side two

1. "Mr. Lacey" (Ashley Hutchings) – 3:36
2. "Walk Awhile" (Swarbrick, Richard Thompson) – 4:13
3. "The Bonny Black Hare" (Traditional, arrangement by Fairport Convention) – 2:40
4. "The Journeyman's Grace" (Swarbrick, Thompson) – 4:35
5. "Meet on the Ledge" (Thompson) – 6:18

• Simon Nicol – vocals, guitar, viola
• Dave Swarbrick – vocals, violin, mandolin
• Dave Pegg – vocals, bass guitar, violin, mandolin
• Bruce Rowland – drums, percussion, bass guitar

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 6
Score: 5 

Moat On The Ledge (1982)

The band had played an annual semi-private concert in Cropredy, Oxfordshire since 1976, which became known as The Cropredy Festival. In 1981 the concert was held at Broughton Castle - just the other side of Banbury from Cropredy. This was the only time the Fairport annual concert was not held in Cropredy. It's a lively, warm, and attractive live album.  I think this may be the last album with Swarbrick. 

Released	1982
Recorded	15 August 1981
Genre	Folk rock
Label	Woodworm
Producer	Simon Nicol, Dave Pegg

Side 1

1. "Walk Awhile" (Dave Swarbrick, Richard Thompson) – 4:08
2. "Country Pie" (Bob Dylan) – 3:23
3. "Rosie" (Swarbrick) – 4:15
4. "Matty Groves" (Traditional, arrangement by Fairport Convention) – 9:30

Side 2

1. "Both Sides Now" (Joni Mitchell) – 3:25
2. "Poor Will and the Hangman" (Thompson, Swarbrick) – 5:37
3. "The Brilliancy Medley" / "Cherokee Shuffle" (Trad., arr. Fairport) – 3:27
4. "Woman or a Man" (Thompson) – 3:20
5. "High School Confidential" (Jerry Lee Lewis, Ron Hargrave) – 4:20

• Dave Swarbrick - vocals, fiddle, mandolin
• Richard Thompson - vocals, electric guitar
• Simon Nicol - vocals, electric and acoustic guitars
• Dave Pegg - bass
• Dave Mattacks - drums
• Bruce Rowland - drums

Guest musicians

• Judy Dyble - vocals on "Both Sides Now"
• Ralph McTell - electric guitar on "High School Confidential"

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 7
Score: 5 1/2 

Gladys' Leap (1985)

Spotify only has a playlist of live recordings of the tracks (most, but not all). YouTube doesn't have the full album either, but it does have "How Many Times". Ah, I found this, but the recording is poor: Gladys' Leap. 

Though the band had said farewell in 1979, they had gathered annually at Cropredy, and had played occasional gigs, and tours. But Gladys' Leap was the first studio album they had made since 1978. It was released on their own Wormwood label.  From now on I think all Fairport albums will have the core trio of  Nichol, Pegg, and Mattacks, with occasional appearances by Richard Thompson on a track or two. Ric Sanders plays a couple of tracks on this album as a session musician, joining as a full time member for the next album.  It's a pleasant, inoffensive, and unexciting album. 

Released	August 1985
Recorded	April-May 1985 at Woodworm Studio, Barford St. Michael, Oxfordshire
Genre	British folk rock
Length	38:01
Label	Woodworm
Producer	Simon Nicol, Dave Mattacks and Dave Pegg

Side one (The Folkside)

1. "How Many Times" (Richard Thompson) - 3:29
2. "Bird from the Mountain" (Ralph McTell) - 4:51
3. "Honour and Praise" (John Richards) - 5:21
4. "The Hiring Fair" (Ralph McTell, Dave Mattacks) - 5:53

Side two (The Backside)

1. Instrumental Medley '85 - 5:08
   1. "The Riverhead" (Dave Pegg)
   2. "Gladys' Leap" (Dave Pegg)
   3. "The Wise Maid" (Traditional, arrangement by Simon Nicol and Dave Pegg)
2. "My Feet are Set for Dancing" (Cathy Lesurf, arranged by Bill Martin) - 4:01
3. "Wat Tyler" (Ralph McTell, Simon Nicol) - 5:36
4. "Head in a Sack" (Dave Whetstone) - 4:23

• Simon Nicol - vocals, electric & acoustic guitars
• Dave Pegg - bass guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, double bass, vocals
• Dave Mattacks - drums, drum machine, keyboards, percussion

Additional personnel

• Richard Thompson - electric guitar ("Head in a Sack")
• Ric Sanders - violin ("Bird from the Mountain", "The Hiring Fair", Instrumental Medley)

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 6
Score: 4 

Expletive Delighted! (1986)

Allcock joins the band with Sanders, and this version will be  together for some years. Instrumental. Limited  appeal. Mostly simple jigs. "Portmerion" is more pastoral, but no more engaging. The cover of "Sigh Beg Sigh Mor" is delicate, but lacks the depth of harmony to make it a lasting appeal. "Hanks for the Memory" is the most commercial, but sounds very dated and wimpy, like a third rate Shadow's tribute act.  A pretty weak album all in all. 

Released	August 1986
Recorded	February, April & May 1986 at Woodworm Studios, Barford St. Michael, Oxfordshire
Genre	British folk rock
Length	35:53
Label	Woodworm
Producer	Fairport Convention

Side one

1. "The Rutland Reel/Sack the Juggler" (Ric Sanders) - 3:20
2. "The Cat on the Mixer/Three Left Feet" (Maartin Allcock) - 3:37
3. "Bankruptured" (Dave Pegg) - 3:04
4. "Portmeirion" (Ric Sanders) - 5:21
5. "Jams O'Donnell's Jigs" (Dave Pegg) - 2:48

Side two

1. "Expletive Delighted" (Ric Sanders) - 1:55
2. "Sigh Beg Sigh Mor" (O' Carolan) - 7:18
3. "Innstuck" (Maartin Allcock) - 2:08
4. "The Gas Almost Works" (John Kirkpatrick) 1:58
5. "Hanks for the Memory" (various, arrangement by Jerry Donahue) - 4:38
   1. "Shazam!" (Duane Eddy, Lee Hazlewood)
   2. "Pipeline" (Bob Spickard, Brian Carmen)
   3. "Apache" (Jerry Lordan)
   4. "Peter Gunn" (Henry Mancini)

• Maartin Allcock - guitars, bouzouki, mandolin
• Simon Nicol - guitars
• Ric Sanders - violin
• Dave Pegg - acoustic & bass guitars, mandola
• Dave Mattacks - drums, percussion, keyboards

Additional musicians on "Hanks for the Memory"

• Jerry Donahue - guitar
• Richard Thompson - guitar

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 6
Score: 3  

In Real Time: Live '87 (1987)

Recorded live in the studio with audience noise dubbed on. An anniversary album,  mostly covering previously recorded Fairport tracks, and released on the band's old label, Island.  Pretty pointless. 

Released	December 1987
Recorded	Summer 1987
Genre	British folk rock
Length	40:10
Label	Island
Producer	Dave Mattacks

Side one

1. "Reynard the Fox" (Traditional) - 2.52
2. "The Widow of Westmoreland's Daughter"/"Random Jig" (Traditional/James Hill) - 4.44
3. "The Hiring Fair" (Dave Mattacks, Ralph McTell) - 6.35
4. "Crazy Man Michael" (Richard Thompson, Dave Swarbrick) - 4.49

Side two

1. "Close to the Wind" (Stuart Marson) - 6.20
2. "Big Three Medley": ("The Swirling Pit"/"Matty Groves"/"The Rutland Reel"/"Sack the Juggler") (Dave Pegg/Traditional/Ric Sanders/Ric Sanders) - 10:41
3. "Meet on the Ledge" (Richard Thompson) - 4:09

• Simon Nicol - vocals, electric & acoustic guitars
• Ric Sanders - violin, keyboards
• Maartin Allcock - vocals, electric & acoustic guitars, bouzouki, bass
• Dave Pegg - bass, mandolin, drums, vocals
• Dave Mattacks - drums, keyboards

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 4
Score: 3 

Red & Gold (1989)

This is the first proper album of new recordings and new songs made in a studio and released by a major label (in this case Rough Trade)  since Tipplers Tales in 1978.  Solid folks songs played with some rocky vigour. Production is poor, giving a thin feel with poor balance of the drums. Mostly, though, this is an OK album. Not essential, but playable. Not available on Spotify, and not reviewed on AllMusic, which is a shame. A solid album. 

Released	December 1988
Recorded	September to November 1988 at Woodworm Studios, Barford St. Michael, Oxfordshire
Genre	British folk rock
Length	40:32
Label	Rough Trade
Producer	Simon Nicol

1. "Set Me Up" (Dave Whetstone) – 4:23
2. "The Noise Club" (Maartin Allcock) – 3:12
3. "Red and Gold" (Ralph McTell) – 6:44
4. "The Beggar's Song" (Trad. arr. Allcock) – 3:33
5. "The Battle" (Ric Sanders) – 1:09
6. "Dark Eyed Molly" (Archie Fisher) – 4:34
7. "The Rose Hip" (Sanders) – 4:24
8. "London River" (Rod Shearman) – 2:59
9. "Summer Before the War" (Huw Williams) – 4:33
10. "Open the Door Richard" (Bob Dylan) – 4:57

• Maartin Allcock – guitars, bouzouki, mandolin, accordion, keyboards, vocals
• Simon Nicol – guitars, vocals, dobro
• Ric Sanders – violin
• Dave Pegg – acoustic & bass guitars, vocals
• Dave Mattacks – drums, percussion, keyboards, harpsichord

Wikipedia
AllMusic: - 
Score: 4 1/2

The Five Seasons (1990)

The album is not on Spotify, and only a few tracks on YouTube. Shame, as it's another solid album. Not commercial, but stuff well done and listenable.  It was recorded at their own studio, and I suspect that New Routes is their own label. 

Released	December 1990
Recorded	April to August 1990 at Woodworm Studios, Barford St. Michael, Oxfordshire
Genre	British folk rock
Label	New Routes
Producer	Dave Mattacks, Simon Nicol

Side one

1. "Claudy Banks" (Traditional) - 5:53
2. "Cup of Tea!"/"A Loaf of Bread"/"Miss Monahan's" (Allcock, Traditional) - 3:16
3. "All Your Beauty" (Barry Lowe, Martin White) - 2:55
4. "Sock In It" (Dave Whetstone) - 5:29
5. "Gold" (Peter Blegvad) - 5:06

Side two

1. "Ginnie" (Huw Williams) - 4:10
2. "Mock Morris '90" (The Green Man/The Cropredy Badger/Molly On The Jetty) (Ric Sanders) - 4:53
3. "The Card Song"/"Shuffle the Pack" (Allcock, Mattacks, Nicol) - 4:26
4. "The Wounded Whale" (Archie Fisher, Traditional) - 6:43

• Maartin Allcock - guitars, bouzouki, mandolin, accordion, keyboards, vocals
• Ric Sanders - violin
• Dave Pegg - acoustic & bass guitars, vocals
• Dave Mattacks - drums, percussion, keyboards, harpsichord
• Simon Nicol - guitars, vocals, dobro

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 6

Score: 4 

Jewel in the Crown (1995)

The usual stuff. Another OK album, listenable but unremarkable.  The band are still lacking great songs and/or performances and character that'll attract interest and attention. They remain a respectable and decent folk-rock band plodding along into old age. 

Released	January 9, 1995
Recorded	October 4 – November 1, 1994, at Woodworm Studios, Oxfordshire
Genre	British folk rock
Length	40:33
Label	Woodworm Records
Producer	Fairport Convention, Mark Tucker, Gus Dudgeon

1. "Jewel in the Crown" (Julie Matthews) – 3:32
2. "Slip Jigs and Reels" (Steve Tilston) – 4:52
3. "A Surfeit of Lampreys" (Maartin Allcock) – 3:19
4. "Kind Fortune" (Traditional; arranged by Fairport Convention) – 2:37
5. "Diamonds and Gold" (Ben Bennion, Maartin Allcock) – 4:14
6. "The Naked Highwayman" (Steve Tilston) – 4:32
7. "The Islands" (Ralph McTell, Maartin Allcock) – 4:33
8. "The Youngest Daughter" (Traditional; arranged by Maartin Allcock) – 2:06
9. "London Danny" (Jez Lowe) – 3:50
10. "Summer in December" (Ric Sanders) – 4:57
11. "Travelling by Steam" (Huw Williams) / "Travel by Steam" (trad., arr. Sanders) – 3:47
12. "She's Like the Swallow" (Traditional; arranged by Maartin Allcock) – 3:14
13. "Red Tide" (Rob Beattie) – 4:36
14. "Home Is Where the Heart Is" (Clive Gregson) – 4:41
15. "Closing Time" (Leonard Cohen) – 5:40

• Simon Nicol – lead vocal, acoustic guitar and 12-string guitar
• Maartin Allcock – electric and acoustic guitar, keys, bouzar, bodhran, accordion, triangle, backing vocals
• Ric Sanders – violins
• Dave Pegg – bass guitar, acoustic bass, electric guitar, mandolin, backing vocals
• Dave Mattacks – drums, percussion

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 6
Score: 4 


  

Old New Borrowed Blue (1996)

I can't find a copy on Spotify or YouTube.  Shame, as AllMusic rate the album slightly higher than all Fairport albums since 1970. 

Released	May 1996
Recorded	September and October 1995 at Woodworm Studios, Barford St. Michael and The Mill Theatre, Banbury, Oxfordshire, 30 December 1995.
Genre	British folk rock
Length	70:40
Label	Woodworm
Producer	Fairport Convention

Studio tracks

1. "Woodworm Swing" (Ric Sanders) - 3:08
2. "Men" (Loudon Wainwright III) - 3:45
3. "Aunt Sally Shuffle" (Dave Pegg) - 1:22
4. "There Once Was Love" (Paul Metsers) / Innstück (Maartin Allcock) - 4:45
5. "Frozen Man" (James Taylor) - 4:20
6. "Mr Sands Is in the Building" (Maartin Allcock) - 2:06
7. "Lalla Rookh" (Words: Chris Leslie; Music: Maartin Allcock) - 4:27

Live tracks

1. "Foolish You" (Wade Hemsworth) - 3:34
2. "Crazy Man Michael" (Richard Thompson, Dave Swarbrick) - 5:09
3. "The Widow of Westmorland's Daughter" (Traditional; arrangement by Fairport Convention) - 4:05
4. "Genesis Hall" (Richard Thompson) - 4:13
5. "The Deserter" (John Richards) - 5:43
6. "The Swimming Song" (Loudon Wainwright III) - 3:24
7. "Struck It Right" (Huw Williams) - 4:26
8. "The Hiring Fair" (Ralph McTell, Dave Mattacks) - 6:07
9. "Matty Groves"/"Dirty Linen" (Traditional; arranged by Fairport Convention) - 10:06

• Simon Nicol - vocals, acoustic guitar
• Ric Sanders - violin
• Dave Pegg - acoustic bass guitar, mandolin, backing vocals
• Maartin Allcock - acoustic guitars, bouzar, accordion, mandocello, bodhran, backing vocals

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 8
Score: - 

  

Who Knows Where the Time Goes? (1997)

Self-recorded and self-released. Chris Leslie replaces Allcock. Richard Thomson again helps out (on guitar) but is not considered a Fairport member despite being a founder member, and having worked with the band on and off since they were formed.  

It's another solid album. Mature and professional. But, as usual, the songs let it down. They are covers of  little known folk songs, or odd selections like "Grapevine" and "Long Song", plus a few decent but unremarkable self-penned offerings.  Nice album to listen to, but insignificant. Lacks character and bite. I think anyone listening to this would enjoy it, but in the same way they'd enjoy an electric folk band in a pub. They'd enjoy the moment, but wouldn't seek out the band's albums or rave about them to other people. They just sound like what they are: a decent electric folk band - great for pubs and weddings. Indeed, they are a band you'd like to see live rather than have on an album.  Having said that - I think this is a livelier, richer, better produced, and better performed recording than much of Fairport's output.

Released	June 1997
Recorded	1995–1997
Genre	British folk rock
Label	Woodworm
Producer	Fairport Convention, Mark Tucker

1. "John Gaudie" (Chris Leslie) – 5:05^[4]
2. "Sailing Boat" (Anna Ryder) – 5:25
3. "Here's to Tom Paine" (Steve Tilston) – 5:14
4. "The Bowman's Retreat" (Ric Sanders) – 3:02
5. "Spanish Main" (Martin Allcock, Chris Leslie) – 4:28
6. "The Golden Glove" (Traditional lyric; tune Sally Barker) – 6:04^[5]
7. "Slipology" (Ric Sanders) – 3:00
8. "Wishfulness Waltz" (Alan Franks)/"Moonlight On The Water" (Benny Thomasson) – 5:42
9. "Life's a Long Song" (Ian Anderson) – 2:35
10. "Dangerous" (Kristina Olsen) – 4:38
11. "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" (Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong) – 3:50^[6]
12. "Who Knows Where the Time Goes?" (Sandy Denny) – 6:31^[7]

• Simon Nicol – guitar, vocals
• Ric Sanders – violin
• Chris Leslie – mandolin, violin, vocals, bouzouki, guitar
• Dave Pegg – bass guitar, vocals
• Dave Mattacks – drums, glockenspiel, keyboards

• Richard Thompson – guitars
• Roy Wood – instrumentation

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 8

Score: 5 1/2

The Wood and the Wire (1999)

A modest album of fairly simple almost amateurish songs, mostly written by Chris Leslie. A little tedious to be fair.  Conway (who played drums on a few tracks on Rosie in 1973) replaces Mattacks on drums. 

Released	November 1999
Recorded	1999
Genre	British folk rock
Label	Woodworm

All tracks credited to Chris Leslie and Nigel Stonier unless otherwise noted

1. "The Wood and the Wire" - 4:08
2. "The Dancer" (Chris Leslie) - 4:23
3. "Wandering Man" - 4:51
4. "The Heart of the Song" (Peter Scrowther) - 3:41
5. "A Year and a Day" (Ric Sanders) - 4:14
6. "The Game Pieces" - 4:13
7. "Close to You" (Chris Leslie) - 4:21
8. "Still a Mystery" - 2:40
9. "Banbury Fair" (Chris Leslie) - 4:37
10. "The Lady Vanishes" - 4:52
11. "The Good Fortunes"^[6] (Traditional; arrangement by Sanders and Leslie) - 3:59
12. "Western Wind" (Traditional; arrangement by Simon Nicol, Dave Pegg, Ric Sanders, Chris Leslie and Gerry Conway) - 5:07
13. "Don't Leave Too Soon" - 4:26
14. "Rocky Road" (Steve Tilston)/"The Quaker" (Traditional; arrangement by Nicol, Pegg, Sanders, Leslie and Conway) - 5:01

Bonus live tracks on 2005 release

1. "The Good Fortunes"^[6](Traditional; arrangement by Ric Sanders and Chris Leslie) - 4:29
2. "Now Be Thankful" (Richard Thompson, Dave Swarbrick) - 3:44 
   

• Simon Nicol - guitar, vocal
• Chris Leslie - bouzouki, mandolin, vocals, didgeridoo
• Ric Sanders - violin
• Dave Pegg - bass, bass guitar, vocals
• Gerry Conway - drums, percussion

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 8

Score 3 1/2

   

XXXV (2002)

 

The usual stuff. Listenable and pleasant, but very ordinary. There's little here to suggest that this band was once considered cutting edge and important.  An enjoyable listen, and then move on. 

Released	12 February 2002[1]
Recorded	2002
Genre	British folk rock
Label	Woodworm

1. "Madeleine" (Laurence Bristow-Smith, Kenny Craddock) - 4:23
2. "My Love Is in America" (Chris Leslie) - 4:43
3. "The Happy Man" (Traditional; arrangement by Chris Leslie) - 2:48
4. "Portmeirion" (Ric Sanders) - 5:56
5. "The Crowd" (Anna Ryder) - 6:09
6. "The Banks of Sweet Primroses"^[3] (Traditional; arrangement Simon Nicol, Dave Pegg, Ric Sanders, Chris Leslie, Gerry Conway) - 4:27
7. "The Deserter" (John Richards) - 6:55
8. "The Light of Day" (Chris Leslie) - 6:11
9. "I Wandered by a Brookside" (music: Barbara Berry/words: Traditional, from the Alfred Williams Collection, Swindon Library) - 4:52
10. "Neil Gow's Apprentice" (Michael Marra) - 4:43
11. "Everything but the Skirl" (Ric Sanders) - 4:05
12. "Talking About My Love" (Chris Leslie, Nigel Stonier) - 2:40
13. "Now Be Thankful" (Richard Thompson, Dave Swarbrick) - 3:45
14. "The Crowd Revisited" (Anna Ryder) - 2:35

• Simon Nicol – guitar, vocals
• Chris Leslie – mandolin, violin, vocals, tenor banjo, electronic mandolin
• Ric Sanders – violin, electric piano, baritone violin
• Dave Pegg – bass guitar, vocals
• Gerry Conway – percussion, drums

• Ian Anderson – flute

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 6

Score: 4

Over The Next Hill (2004)

The usual stuff. Attractive songs that are good to listen to, but don't really make an impression. A pleasant evening in the pub listening to electric folk music. What remains is a warm feeling of the experience, but no specifics. It says something that the most standout track here is a reprisal of a cover of a Bob Dylan song that they did back in 1969, and that it's not a match for the 1969 version, even with the dubbing in of the original drums. 

Released	2004
Recorded	March - April 2004
Genre	British folk rock
Label	Matty Grooves Records
Producer	Dave Pegg

1. "Over the Next Hill" (Steve Tilston) – 4:21
2. "I'm Already There" (Chris Leslie) – 6:41
3. "Wait for the Tide to Come In" (Ben Bennion) – 4:37
4. "Canny Capers" (Ric Sanders) – 5:11
5. "Over the Falls" (Chris Leslie) – 4:31
6. "The Wassail Song" (Traditional; arranged by Fairport Convention) – 3:16
7. "The Fossil Hunter" (Chris Leslie) – 6:15
8. "Willow Creek" (Steve Tilston, Chris Parkinson) – 3:51
9. "Westward" (Julie Matthews) – 4:09
10. "Some Special Place" (Ric Sanders) – 3:39
11. "Si Tu Dois Partir" – (Bob Dylan) 3:27
12. "Auld Lang Syne" (hidden track) - (Traditional)

• Simon Nicol – guitar, vocals
• Ric Sanders – mandolin, violin
• Chris Leslie – mandolin, bouzouki, violin, ukulele, vocals, Native American flute, electric mandolin
• Dave Pegg – 5-string bass, acoustic bass guitar, mandolin, vocals, double bass
• Gerry Conway – percussion, drums

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 7

Score: 4 

  

Sense of Occasion (2007)

Same again. Pleasant, but unremarkable. There's no sense of occasion here, other than a sense of over familiarity and lack of development after 40 years of doing the same old thing over and over again. 

Released	12 February 2007
Recorded	November 2006
Studio	Woodworm Studios, Oxfordshire
Genre	British folk rock
Length	1:07:39
Label	Matty Grooves
Producer	Mark Tucker with Fairport Convention

1. "Keep on Turning the Wheel" (Chris Leslie) – 4:18
2. "Love on a Farmboy's Wages" (Andy Partridge) – 4:14
3. "The Bowman's Return" (Ric Sanders) – 4:14
4. "South Dakota to Manchester" (Leslie) – 4:12
5. "Spring Song" (Leslie) – 4:37
6. "Polly on the Shore" (Music: Dave Pegg; Lyrics: Dave Swarbrick, Trevor Lucas) – 5:03
7. "Just Dandy" (Sanders) – 2:56
8. "Tam Lin" (Traditional; arranged by Swarbrick) – 7:30
9. "In Our Town" (Leslie) – 3:35
10. "Edge of the World" (Leslie) – 4:08
11. "Hawkwood's Army" (Pete Scrowther) – 4:24
12. "The Vision" (Bob Miller, John Flanagan) – 4:21
13. "Your Heart and Mine" (Sanders) – 3:40
14. "Untouchable" (Glenn Tilbrook, Christopher Braid) – 4:28
15. "Galileo's Apology" (PJ Wright) – 3:04
16. "Best Wishes" (Steve Ashley) – 3:41

• Simon Nicol – vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, twelve-string guitar
• Chris Leslie – vocals, mandolin, bouzouki, violin
• Ric Sanders – violin
• Dave Pegg – bass guitar, vocals
• Gerry Conway – drums, percussion, vocals, harmonium

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 7

Score: 4

Festival Bell (2011)

Harmless. 

Released	January 2011
Recorded	2010
Studio	The Bowman's Retreat, Oxfordshire
Genre	Folk rock
Length	59:04
Label	Matty Grooves Records
Producer	John Gale with Fairport Convention

1. "Mercy Bay" (Chris Leslie)
2. "Rui's Guitar" (Chris Leslie)
3. "Danny Jack's Chase" (Ric Sanders)
4. "Reunion Hill" (Richard Shindell)
5. "Wouldn't Say No" (Chris Leslie)
6. "Around the Wild Cape Horn" (Ralph McTell)
7. "Celtic Moon" (Mark Evans, Carolyn Evans)
8. "Ukulele Central" (Chris Leslie, Ric Sanders)
9. "Albert and Ted" (Ric Sanders, Dave Pegg)
10. "Darkside Wood" (Chris While)
11. "London Apprentice" / "Johnny Ginears" (Ralph McTell / Ric Sanders)
12. "Rising for the Moon" (Sandy Denny)
13. "Danny Jack's Reward" (Ric Sanders)
14. "The Festival Bell" (Chris Leslie)

• Simon Nicol - vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass ukulele
• Chris Leslie - vocals, mandolin, bouzuki, violin, Portuguese guitar, ukulele, whistle
• Ric Sanders - violin, ukulele, keyboards, bass ukulele, backing vocals,
• Dave Pegg - bass guitar, vocals, ukulele, mandolin, acoustic guitar
• Gerry Conway - drums, percussion

Guest musicians

• Frank Skinner - banjo ukulele on "Ukulele Central"
• Joe Brown - ukulele, backing vocals on "Ukulele Central"

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 7

Score: 4

By Popular Request (2012)

The album consists of studio re-recordings of previous material as selected by popular request via the band's website. Fair enough, but this simply underlines how the band simply lives in the past. Only three of the chosen tracks are more recent than the 1970s. 

Released	January 2012
Genre	British folk rock
Length	54:42
Label	Matty Grooves Records
Producer	John Gale with Fairport Convention

1. "Walk Awhile" (Richard Thompson, Dave Swarbrick) (Originally from Full House)
2. "Crazy Man Michael" (Richard Thompson, Dave Swarbrick) (Originally from Liege and Lief)
3. "The Hiring Fair" (Ralph McTell) (Originally from Gladys' Leap)
4. "The Hexhamshire Lass" (Traditional; arranged by Fairport Convention) (Originally from Nine)
5. "Red and Gold" (Ralph McTell) (Originally from Red & Gold)
6. "Sir Patrick Spens" (Traditional; arranged by Fairport Convention) (Originally from Full House)
7. "Genesis Hall" (Richard Thompson) (Originally from Unhalfbricking)
8. "Farewell Farewell" (Richard Thompson) (Originally from Liege and Lief)
9. "Rosie" (Dave Swarbrick) (Originally from Rosie)
10. "Matty Groves" (Traditional; arranged by Fairport Convention) (Originally from Liege and Lief)
11. "Fotheringay" (Sandy Denny) (Originally from What We Did on Our Holidays)
12. "Jewel in the Crown" (Julie Matthews) (Originally from Jewel in the Crown)
13. "Meet on the Ledge" (Richard Thompson) (Originally from What We Did on Our Holidays)

Wikipedia

AllMusic: - 

Score: 4

Myths and Heroes (2015)

Same old. Now getting a bit tiresome. It's the lack of good song writing and lack of ambition that holds this band back. They are decent musicians, and they have a solid core of admirers. 

Released	January 2015
Recorded	Woodworm Studios, Oxfordshire
Genre	British folk rock
Length	51:19
Label	Matty Grooves
Producer	John Gale with Fairport Convention

1. "Myths and Heroes" (Chris Leslie)
2. "Clear Water" (Ralph McTell)
3. "The Fylde Mountain Time / Roger Bucknall's Polka" (Chris Leslie / Dave Pegg)
4. "Theodore's Song" (Chris Leslie)
5. "Love at First Sight" (Chris Leslie)
6. "John Condon" (Richard Laird / Sam Starrett / Tracey McRory)
7. "The Gallivant" (Ric Sanders)
8. "The Man in the Water" (Rob Beattie)
9. "Bring Me Back My Feathers" (Anna Ryder)
10. "Grace and Favour" (Chris Leslie)
11. "Weightless / The Gravity Reel" (James Wood / Chris Leslie)
12. "Home" (PJ Wright)
13. "Jonah's Oak" (Ric Sanders)

• Simon Nicol – vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
• Chris Leslie – vocals, mandolin, bouzouki, violin, banjo, celtic harp, tenor guitar, chromatic harmonica, whistle
• Ric Sanders – violin, keyboards, ukulele, bass ukulele
• Dave Pegg – vocals, bass guitar, bass ukulele, double bass, bouzouki, mandolin, tenor banjo
• Gerry Conway – drums, percussion

Guest musicians

• Matt Pegg – bass guitar on tracks 1, 4, 10 & 12

Wikipedia

AllMusic: - 

Score: 3 1/2

50:50@50 (2017)

Half studio and half live, released for the band's 50th anniversary. Usual stuff. Nothing has changed. It's now become a little twee and tiresome, albeit still mildly pleasant and listenable. This is a long way from the cutting edge band of the late 60s/early 70s. 

Released	January 2017
Recorded	November 2016
Studio	Woodworm Studios
Genre	British folk rock
Length	64:17
Label	Matty Grooves
Producer	John Gale with Fairport Convention

1. "Eleanor's Dream" (Chris Leslie)
2. "Ye Mariners All" (Live) (Traditional; arranged by Fairport Convention)
3. "Step by Step" (Chris Leslie)
4. "The Naked Highwayman" (Live) (Steve Tilston)
5. "Danny Jack's Reward" (Ric Sanders)
6. "Jesus on the Mainline" (Live) (featuring Robert Plant) (Traditional; arranged by Fairport Convention)
7. "Devil's Work" (Chris Leslie)
8. "Mercy Bay" (Live) (Chris Leslie)
9. "Our Bus Rolls On" (Chris Leslie)
10. "Portmeirion" (Live) (Ric Sanders)
11. "The Lady of Carlisle" (featuring Jacqui McShee) (Traditional; arranged by Fairport Convention)
12. "Lord Marlborough" (Live) (Traditional; arranged by Fairport Convention)
13. "Summer by the Cherwell" (PJ Wright)
14. "John Condon" (Live) (Richard Laird / Sam Starrett / Tracey McRory)

• Simon Nicol – vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
• Dave Pegg – vocals, bass guitar, double bass
• Chris Leslie – vocals, mandolin, bouzouki, violin, banjo, ukulele, chromatic harmonica, whistle
• Ric Sanders – violin, keyboards
• Gerry Conway – drums, percussion

Guest musicians

• Robert Plant – vocals and harmonica on "Jesus on the Mainline"
• Jacqui McShee – vocals on "The Lady of Carlisle"

Wikipedia

AllMusic: - 

Score: 3 1/2

   

Shuffle and Go (2020)

Conway left the band after this album, with Mattacks returning for live appearances. It's a pleasant album. 

Released	January 2020
Recorded	October 2019
Studio	Woodworm Studios, Barford St. Michael, Oxfordshire
Genre	British folk rock
Length	52:38
Label	Matty Grooves
Producer	John Gale  Fairport Convention

1. "Don't Reveal My Name" (Chris Leslie) – 3:59
2. "Cider Rain" (James Wood, Luc Boisseau, Philippe Richalley) – 3:43
3. "Good Time for a Fiddle and Bow / The Christmas Eve Reel" (Leslie, Tommy Coen) – 4:20
4. "A Thousand Bars" (Rob Beattie) – 5:29
5. "Shuffle and Go" (Leslie) – 3:14
6. "Moses Waits" (Beattie) – 4:20
7. "Steampunkery" (Ric Sanders) – 3:42
8. "Linseed Memories" (James Wood) – 3:30
9. "The Year of Fifty Nine" (Leslie) – 3:24
10. "The Byfield Steeplechase" (PJ Wright) – 3:51
11. "Moondust and Solitude" (Leslie) – 5:30
12. "Jolly Springtime" (James Taylor) – 2:00
13. "Precious Time" (Sanders) – 5:29

• Simon Nicol – vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
• Dave Pegg – vocals, bass guitar, ukulele, bass ukulele, mandolin
• Chris Leslie – vocals, mandolin, violin, acoustic guitar, harmonica, bouzouki, whistle, kalimba, Celtic harp, ukulele
• Ric Sanders – violin, keyboards, ukulele, bass ukulele
• Gerry Conway – drums, percussion

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 

Score: 4 

Summary 

Voice/Musicianship (15%)

Solid playing and singing. [10]

Image/Star quality (5%)

Sadly not. [2]

Lyrics/Music (20%)

Solid, especially during the peak period, but few really good songs. It's the lack of good songs that kept them back. [9]

Impact/Influence (10%)

Hmm. They are claimed to have had a significant influence on the development of British folk rock, though to be fair, they were part of a group of artists working in that area, which is reflected in the way the band's music developed as they incorporated new artists such as Denny and Swarbrick. [5] 

Popularity (5%)

They have an enduring cult following, but have otherwise remained largely unknown for all of their career, with only very brief nudges into the pop charts. [3]

Emotional appeal (5%)

The focus of the band is folk based story lyrics which tend to be mildly interesting rather than emotional. Sometimes they can get into a musical groove which then develops an atmosphere, but that is the exception rather than the rule. [2] 

Authenticity (15%)

Yes. They have remained true to their roots throughout the band's career. [10]

Art (5%)

They lean in that direction, and their audience is largely arty. [3] 

Classic albums/songs (5%)

Liege & Leaf  is regarded as a classic. [3] 

Originality/Innovation (5%)

They were at the cutting edge of the development of British folk rock, albeit the music and lyrics was largely traditional, and so backwood looking rather than original and innovative. [2] 

Legacy (10%)

There is a a place for them. [6] 

Total: 55/100

Discography

1. Fairport Convention (1968)
2. What We Did on Our Holidays (1969)
3. Unhalfbricking (1969)
4. Liege & Lief (1969)
5. Full House (1970)
6. Angel Delight (1971)
7. "Babbacombe" Lee (1971)
8. Rosie (1973)
9. Nine (1973)
10. Rising for the Moon (1975)
11. Gottle O'Geer (1976)
12. The Bonny Bunch of Roses (1977)
13. Tipplers Tales (1978)
14. Gladys' Leap (1985)
15. Expletive Delighted! (1986)
16. Red & Gold (1989)
17. The Five Seasons (1990)
18. Jewel in the Crown (1995)
19. Old New Borrowed Blue (1996)
20. Who Knows Where the Time Goes?(1997)
21. The Wood and the Wire (1999)
22. XXXV (2002)
23. Over the Next Hill (2004)
24. Sense of Occasion (2007)
25. Festival Bell (2011)
26. By Popular Request (2012)
27. Myths and Heroes (2015)
28. 50:50@50 (2017)
29. Shuffle and Go (2020)

Links

* Setlists 

* Denning album reviews 

***

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