Fairport Convention

[JimmyButtons]

Their CDs are in the HMV sale and I would like to give them a listen, but where should I start? What are, say, the three best titles to get? Thanks.

[scuzzball]

I'd go for the "History of Fairport Convention" its a great selection from some of their earlier albums

[thecooler]

Depends on what style you like really. The earliest albums were very west coast influenced earning them the tag of the English Jefferson Airplane. Although they used English folk songs earlier, the first real attempt at an English folk-rock fusion was 'Unhalfbricking', but the album that is the definitive English folk-rock album would have to be 'Liege and Lief'. 'Full House' is also a near masterpiece, although missing Sandy Denny's vocals, but in my opinion they lost most of their creative edge when Richard Thompson left, and their subsequent albums, for the most part, lack the originality to really lift them. There's still a lot of good stuff on them though, but to me they are just not as 'special' as the earlier ones. I'm pretty sure their will be some differing opinions here though!

[beale]

I'd go for 'Liege and Lief' too. It's a blinder.

[Pinotage]

They've been releasing records for over 30 years so there's a lot to choose from. For me, I think one of their early ones, Leige & Leif, would be esssential for your top 3.

[Mr Steal]

'What we did on our holidays' has some of their best moments, too (notably Who Knows Where The Time Goes and Meet On The Ledge)

[Gef]

Great to see other Fairport fans here. I'd go for "What we did on our holidays", "Liege and Lief" and "Full house". Despite the departure of Richard Thompson I still like "Angel Delight" and "Babbacombe Lee". As scuzzball says the History is a great taster.

[Mr Steal]

Then you might like to try Basket of Light by Pentangle, either of Sheila McDonald's albums, and Fly On Strangewings by Jade... to name just a few (I'm not an expert, BTW, just a recent dabbler in the genre). Oh, and the new acid-folk comp Gather In The Mushrooms

[Ericbwa]

Leige and lief, unhalfbricking and full house, but look out for Trees two albums.similar stuff and hugely underrated.