1969 was a busy year for Fairport. They released three albums, arguably their finest three, all excellent, in 1969, this being the first of those - their second (but first with Sandy Denny) and marked the start of their transition from Americana covers band to folk-rock pioneers.
I’d first heard of the band in the mid 1970s when watching a documentary about John Lee, the ‘man they couldn’t hang’, and had also listened to a John Peel ‘family tree special’ on the folk-rock aristocracy about the same time.
As punk arrived, they obviously became very uncool (and had passed their peak), but that didn’t stop me (and many 'cool' friends) seeing them when they played Durham University.
The album opens with Denny’s lovely Fotheringay, her tale of Mary Queen of Scots, then the novelty blues number Mr Lacey. Ian Matthews’ (soon to leave the band) Book Song is a smooth, gentle ballad (has Richard Thompson picked up a sitar there?) , leading into the understated The Lord Is In This Place. It’s up a few notches on No Man’s Land (not destined to become a Fairport classic), before the first half ends with the obligatory Dylan cover.
The second half opens with a lovely version of Joni Mitchell’s Eastern Rain (I’m off to find the original when this is finished) , then the first traditional folk tune, a wonderful rendering of Nottamun Town. Tale In Hard Time is pleasant enough but won’t be remembered as one of Thompson’s finest compositions. Denny gives a stunning vocal on the traditional She Moves Through The Fair, with the album climaxing on the Fairport anthem Meet On The Ledge, before being gently led out with a Simon Nicol guitar piece, End Of A Holiday.
So, Fairport kicked off 1969 in style, and there's a lot more to come in this year, not all of it good.
4* - a lovely album, highlighting Sandy Denny’s stunning voice.
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