Fairport Convention Albums Ranked
Fairport Convention is 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’.[3] Vocalists Judy Dyble and Iain Matthews joined them before the recording of their self-titled debut in 1968;[4] afterward, Dyble was replaced by Sandy Denny, with Matthews leaving during the recording of their third album. Here are all of the Fairport Convention albums ranked.
Don’t miss out on the harmony of Fairport Convention! Click and enjoy the 60’s smashing folk-rock hits!
8. Babbacombe Lee (1971)
“This lesser known but significant piece of music (the first “folk” rock opera) contains almost entirely original music based on a true story. The songs weave together to tell the story of “the man they couldn’t hang” in music. Entertaining and enjoyable music combined with clever lyrics make this a must-have for any collector of quality music.”
7. Angel Delight (1971)
“The opener “Lord Marlborough” is one the traditionals. This old folk song features great lead vocals by Dave Swarbrick; catchy melody in a very unusual/difficult rhythm, which makes the song even more fascinating. Beautiful voices and arrangements (Lord Marlborough), excellent rhythm everywhere, fiddle, mandolin and beautiful guitars; the folk / rock mix is superb, sound very clear and precise. This is a must for Fairport fans and and deserves being discovered by others.”
6. Rising For The Moon (1975)
“The title track is among Sandy Denny’s best compositions. It is a great opening song with Sandy in excellent voice accompanied by back up vocals and Dave Swarbrick on fiddle. “Restless” is a good vocal by Trevor Lucas given ample accompaniment by the band (notably Sandy Denny) and Dave Swarbrick on fiddle. A true stand out song is “White Dress” (written by Dave Swarbrick) and hauntingly sung by Sandy Denny. It was ‘White Dress’ that was released as a single but it failed to chart.”
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5. Fairport Convention (1968)
“The album kicks of with Richard Thompson playing some dirty licks on an AWESOME revved-up version of “Time Will Show The Wiser.” Although this highlight is a cover, there are some fine, albeit slightly immature, Thompson originals, written with singer Ian Matthews (or MacDonald as he was then known) and bassist Ashley (or Tyger!) Hutchings. Also present are rare compositions by Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, and Leonard Cohen. Overall, the musicianship is surprisingly tight and impressive: the rhythm section of Hutchings, drummer Martin Lamble, and stalwart rhythm guitarist Simon Nicol drives everything along like a steam engine.”
4. Full House (1970)
“Their HOUSE FULL album shows what they could do live. If someone asked me to clue them in on Fairport it is this album I would choose. It has more flash, more energy and the album is fun.Richard really came of age as a guitarist on this record. I have always regretted that this lineup didn’t last.”
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3. What We Did On Our Holidays (1969)
“Another classic album from Fairport Convention. This is beautiful folk/rock music with both Sandy Denny and Richard Thompson on top form. Fotheringay, I’ll keep it with mine, she moves through the fair, and, meet on the ledge, are the picks for me. Great.”
2. Unhalfbricking (1969)
“This album, as usual for the Fairports, marked a personnel change for the band with the departure of vocalist Ian Matthews who went on to form Southern Comfort and who had a hit in Britain with his version of Woodstock. In a number of ways the album was a turning point in the band’s career. Rapidly building on their reputation as a live act, the album is an expression of their maturity as performers and songwriters and their confidence as leaders in the folk-rock field.”
1. Liege & Lief (1969)
“Sandy Denny is possibly the best ever singer in folk music, accompanied by one of the best folk guitarists in Richard Thompson. The rest of the band are also extremely talented, creating a band overall with talent among the greatest groups. A rich tradition of English folk to draw from giving them classics like Matty Groves, and some originals such as Who knows where the time goes, makes this a sublime album.”
