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Fairport Convention - 20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection Audio CD

A fair review of the Fairport Convention "20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection" 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: 20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection
Rating:
Release Date: 2002-08-06
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Meet On The Ledge 2: Fotheringay 3: Who Knows Where The Time Goes 4: Genesis Hall 5: Percy's Song 6: Come All Ye 7: Matty Groves 8: Crazy Man Michael 9: Sloth 10: Now Be Thankful

There Just Isn't a Way to Cover the pre-"Full House" Fairport on One CD


Where are the instrumentals? "Dirty Linen" or "Flatback Caper" or "Mason's Apron"?

Where is "Sir Partick Spens" the song that started me with Fairport?

On the other hand, there's not a really BAD track on this CD. As another reviewer has said, this CD's selection is less than comprehensive -- but that's because there are probably more "essential" tracks on the average Fairport album to select from than would be true of a number of other bands, especially given Fairport's mutability and changing sounds.

(I remember the first i ever saw the cover art used on this disc -- i took one look at Sandy sitting there and Richard looming behind her and i though "Hobbit and goblin!").


as good an introduction to fairport as is available domestically
it's short but cheap, and has quite a few of fairport's best songs. this is as good an intro to fairport as you are going to get without spending the extra money for imports. the only caveat i have is the exclusion of "tale in hard time", which is to me, the quintessential fairport track and the best representation of the contribution of ian matthews' splendid voice to the band, as well as one of richard thompson's finest compositions. .


Excellent Way for a Newcomer to Acquaint Themselves with FC
Thus I also disagree with and regret the earlier review of one Scot Ericson, because his 2-star rating does an enormous dis-service to the band's music (which even he admittedly didn't intend) because to find this album among all the 20th Century Masters collections in a special section of a major record store like Tower or Virgin or HMV or Sam Goody may be all a casual shopper may ever have access to. This is an excellent low-budget (but great-sounding) way for a newcomer to get a taste of Fairport Convention - at their very best - from the era of their strongest line-ups and most famous alumni, and to know what this folk-rock band was about, and to what aesthetic heights they were capable of reaching. Plus he misses the point that this was was intended only as a taste, to whet the appetite of those unfamiliar with the band to explore further listening if they found this to their liking (and if they are into 60's style folk-rock, they very well may be), just like Polydor/Universal's other short collections in this series of other artists in their stable of companies were intended for - and at a budget price just for that purpose. I picked it up for $9. 99 on sale. And the selection and sequence of the songs works very well, and I'm glad the focus is so much on the beautiful, haunting and soulful voice of Sandy Denny, and yet they don't fail to include the essential and exciting Richard Thompson chef-d'oeuvre "Sloth" which shows off his guitar genius to splendid effect. In fact, I find this perfect a quick hit of the band from the period for which they are most-loved and in which they made a name itself that future and lesser editions of the band have traded on ever since. Many of the high points of the early albums are here. This edition of the band, or this era of it, these personnel, if fate were just, deserve also to go into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as they were influential. Paul McCartney and Led Zeppelin were fans, too, and many others I think. Of course, any new fans this collection makes should look into Unhalfbricking or What We Did On Our Holidays for further listening, but there is nothing wrong with this CD as a starting point. .


Be Thankful
However, considering the format of this series has been the same for every artist/band, this is a fine single disk introdution to an underappreciated band. The only thing wrong with this collection is its brevity -- it certainly leaves you wanting more. And the sound quality is excellent. Of course, serious fans are better served to purchase the British import reissues of Unhalfbricking, Liege & Leaf, and What We Did On Our Holidays. But anyone remotely interested in this band will be pleasantly surprised with this collection, and just may end up wanting more.


The Cover is More Significant than the CD
I agree with Wilson ("gosh . . you shouldn't have") that it is a pretty feeble effort to put out such a sparse "collection" of Fairport's music plus have the nerve to call it "the Millennium Collection," and the 2 stars rating is for the minimum content of the package, certainly not the music (which is 5 stars). But this release has one redeeming quality for those who are collectors and completists, and that is the cover art. Except for the header, it is the original 1969 Album cover from the 1st US release (on A&M Records) of what is now generally known as "What We Did on Our Holidays" (it was just titled: "Fairport Convention" here). Probably not worth the full price (especially to those of us who still have the original vinyl version), but might be worth it used. It's a pretty nice picture of then youngsters Alexandra Elene MacLean Denny, "Ian" M. Matthews (who many forget was there), Richard Thompson, Simon Nicol, Martin Lamble and Ashley S. Hutchings.


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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