Fairport Convention Lasting Spirit: The Collection CD

This Fairport Convention triple-CD set represents a startlingly good idea that comes off well -- a compilation of live performances from across the group's history, intermingling class concert recordings from back as far as the late '60s with much more recent work from the Cropredy Festival. What one comes away appreciating anew is just how good a rock band Fairport has been for most of its history -- at their best, in fact, as represented here (including recent performances by Richard Thompson), they come off as at least as good a rock band as, say, Jethro Tull is a folk outfit, if not better. The sound is good, even on the older material (which goes back to Julie Dyble's tenure with the group), and the selection covers a huge range of repertory, some of which will surprise and delight casual fans who may not know all of the strings to this band's bow. ~ Bruce Eder

Fairport Convention: Richard Thompson (vocals, guitar); Sandy Denny, Judy Dyble (vocals); Ian Matthews, Simon Nicol (guitar); Ashley Hutchings (bass instrument); Martin Lamble (drums); Chris Leslie, Dave Mattacks, Dave Pegg, Dave Swarbrick, Gerry Conway, Jerry Donahue, Martin Allcock, Martin Carthy, Norma Waterson, Ralph McTell, Ric Saunders, Gill Allcock, Cathy Lesurf, Vicki Clayton, Bruce Rowland.

Liner Note Author: Kingsley Abbott.

Dirty Linen (p.47) - "The closing track, 'Meet On The Ledge,' has taken on a life of its own as one of folk's most beloved anthems with its references to bittersweet sadness and soul-searching..."