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Fairport Convention - Full House Audio CD

A fair review of the Fairport Convention "Full House" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Fairport Convention reviews here, or go back to the Fairport Convention tabs.

Fairport Convention Band: Fairport Convention
Title: Full House
Rating:
Release Date: 1991-07-01
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Walk Awhile 2: Dirty Linen 3: Sloth 4: Sir Patrick Spens 5: Flatback Caper 6: Doctor of Physick 7: Flowers of the Forest

No jokers in this pack
Dave Pegg, still there, was brought in to replace Hutchings and then Full House was released. With Leige and Leif considered by many to be the pinnacle of the Fairport Convention career, many observers thought that the group was done when Sandy Denny and Ashley Hutchings left citing musical differences.

More traditional in many respects, this album was noticeable because of the fact that Denny was not singing the songs. Dave Swarbrick, a long serving member of the British folk tradition had clearly established himself as the leader of the band, indicated here by his song-writing dominance on the album and the fact that half of the album was made up of traditional arrangements. The splitting up of the vocalist's job between four members of the band allowed for greater variation of the songs that could be played but by far and away the biggest change was now the interplay between Thompson and Swarbrick, two lead players if ever there were any.

There was certainly a tension between the two as Thompson blossomed in this relationship with Swarbrick who gained a vehicle within which he could display his vituosity to the world.

The album itself begins with a traditional sounding song written by Swarbrick and Thompson which sounds as if it came straight out of the Cotswolds. Currently being played by the band on their current tour of Spring 2002, the song allowed for some improvisation on stage and some pyrotechnics between the two players. Also included on the Island sampler 'Nice Enough to Eat' this also brought wider awareness of the band. Two other tracks stand out from this album, 'Sir Patrick Spens' who has lived through several reincarnations and the incredible 'Sloth' which assumed a life of it's own in performance allowing each member of the band to showcase their not inconsiderable talents as individuals as well as the unleashing of the incredible energies as they played with and against each other.

Those comments aside the album is full of good songs and good playing. It is a veritable feast of Fairport Convention at another high point of it's long career. This version of the band was awesome to behold and the live record of their performance 'House Full' goes nowhere to really do them justice.

'Full House' stands alongside 'Leige and Leaf' as the Best of British Folk rock, equalled by very few. A must for your collection, you'll see.


My First. Far From My Last.
This was the start of a continuing obsession with Fairport and British/Celtic folk-rock bands in general. In 1972, i heard "Sir Patrick Spens" on WREK (Georgia Tech station), called to find out who it was, went straight to a record store and bouthg this album.

This was a turning point for Fairport; the departure of Sandy Denny had left them with no vocalist, and Ashley (Tyger) Hutchings's absence left them with no bass player, either. The arrival of Swarb's old mate, Dave Pegg (now the longest-serving member and leader of the band) handily filled in the bass player slot, but that still left no singer.

So Richard and Swarb and Simon became singers.

Aside from "Spens", some of the highlights of this album include "Sloth" (which, played live, has been timed at fourteen-plus minutes), "Walk Awhile" and "Flatback Caper", a series of variations on a folk instrumental.

Richard and Simon's guitars, Peggie's bass, Swarb's fiddle and DM's drums complement each other perfectly.

This one is in the running for Best Fairport Album (which also puts it Very Near the top for Best Folk-Rock Album).

And the liner-notes (by RT, i believe) are a hoot.

And as to the title, which bugged me for a while -- three guys named Dave and two guitar-players; all caricatured as Tarot cards on the cover.


Another Great One
After the departure of the great Sandy Denny, Fairport continued their concentration on British roots music. I get a charge out of this album. Even the original numbers here sound like traditional tunes. The band displays a somewhat more muscular approach; the instrumental rave-ups are particularly compelling. Although the band was left without a strong vocalist at this point, the harmonies are very well done, and Dave Swarbrick, handling most of the lead vocals, does a fine job.


You can see a complete list of all Fairport Convention discography, or go back to the Fairport Convention tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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