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Live at the BBC

Fairport Convention - Live at the BBC Audio CD

A fair review of the Fairport Convention "Live at the BBC" 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.

Band: Fairport Convention
Title: Live at the BBC
Rating:

Release Date: 2007-04-16
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Close the Door Lightly When You Go 2: I Don't Know Where I Stand 3: Some Sweet Day 4: You Never Wanted Me 5: Nottamun Town 6: Marcie 7: Night in the City 8: Jack O' Diamonds 9: Gone, Gone, Gone 10: Suzanne 11: If It Feels Good, You Know It Can't Be Wrong 12: Eastern Rain 13: Fotheringay 14: I Still Miss Someone 15: Bird on a Wire 16: Tried So Hard 17: Reno Nevada 18: Book Song 19: Who Knows Where the Time Goes? 20: You're Gonna Need My Help 21: Fotheringay 22: Shattering Live Experience 23: Cajun Woman 24: Autopsy 25: Si Tu Dois Partir 26: Percy's Song 27: Reynardine 28: Tam Lin 29: Sir Patrick Spens 30: Medley: The Lark in the Morning/Rakish Paddy/Foxhunter's Jig/Toss the F 31: Lady Is a Tramp 32: Walk Awhile 33: Poor Will and the Jolly Hangman 34: Doctor of Physick 35: Sir Patrick Spens 36: Bonny Bunch of Roses 37: Dirty Linen (Jigs and Reels) 38: Now Be Thankful 39: Journeyman's Grace 40: Now Be Thankful 41: Tokyo 42: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John 43: Possibly Parsons Green 44: Rosie 45: John the Gun 46: Fiddlestix 47: Rising for the Moon 48: Down in the Flood 49: Let's Get Together 50: One Sure Thing 51: Lay Down Your Weary Tune 52: Chelsea Morning 53: Violets of Dawn 54: If (Stomp) 55: Time Will Show the Wiser 56: If I Had a Ribbon Bow 57: Meet on the Ledge 58: Light My Fire 59: Flatback Caper 60: Open the Door Richard 61: Deserter 62: Hangman's Reel 63: Tam Lin 64: Sir William Gower 65: Banks of the Sweet Primroses 66: Sickness and Diseases 67: Bridge Over the River Ash 68: Lord Marlborough 69: Angel Delight

Fairport at the Beeb
It covers a variety of the different lineups, but most importantly includes plenty of contributions by the immortal Sandy Denny, Ian Matthews and Richard Thompson. For the many Fairport Convention die-hard fans out there like me, this 4 CD set is a treasure trove of gems recorded for BBC programs between 1968 and 1974. Judy Dyble is also there. It should be noted that the material released on the Heyday album is duplicated here.

If you don't have any Fairport music this is probably not the place to start, but if you are a seasoned campaigner then this could well be for you.

It's all here
After years of speculation Island finally amassed all of the surviving Fairport Convention BBC sessions in the handsome 4cd box set. Finally. This is basically an expanded version of the "Heyday" CD from years ago which was expanded from the original "Heyday" on Joe Boyd's Hannibal records. That entire expanded "Heyday" is here and a lot more. There is even a disc of off air recordings with Judy Dyble in vocal chair from 1967 and recordings from the "Liege and Leaf " and the post Sandy Denny and Richard Thompson period also. Also included is a history of the group and the sessions. I have to admit it is on the pricey side but to get the clearances and the amount of research and assistance from fans it's expected but worth it and it makes a nice gift to.

Radio Fairport
Culled from BBC Radio Sessions from 1968-69, this was the Sandy Denny/Ian Matthews Version of Fairport Convention when they were known as "England's Jefferson Airplane". In 1987 the Original "Heyday" was Released on Joe Boyd's Hannibal Records. That Title was not a Put-Down against Fairport or The Airplane but a way to Explain this Presentation of American Music by these Fantastic English Musicians. The Songs on "Heyday" were not Featured on their early Records but the were staples of the Concerts of 1967-69. Showing another side of this Band "Heyday" featured such writers as Bob Dylan, Eric Anderson, Joni Mitchell, Richard Farina and Leonard Cohan that the British Folks ( With the exception of Dylan ) hadn't heard on their Shores Before.

In 2002 "Heyday" was Re-released and expanded to 20 tracks and Remastered to include some "Liege and Lief" material. Bootlegs were released (all two of them) of even more BBC recordings that featured Tunes from 1970-1974. It was reported that more BBC shows were out there. . . but, it still a shock to see a Four CD Box set available in 2007 with all this Music (69 TRACKS)!!!

Firstly all of the Expanded "Heyday" is included here, but there is so much more: a December 67 Session with Judy Dyble, the "Full House" band Live featuring the Fire of Thompson & Swarb, through to the 73-74 Sessions of the "NIne" and "Rising" Lineups. There are a lot's of Rare tracks: "Marcie", "Night in the City", "You're Gonna Need My Help", "Violets of Dawn". "The Lady is a Tramp" & "Light My Fire" that were Highlights of the Bootleg Releases.

The Sound Quality gets Rough in spots, but it still holds up because of the Wealth of Great Music presented here. This is not the Place to start if you are new to the Music of Fairport Convention, But for me I do feel Lucky to own this Amazing Little BBC boxset of Fab, Fairport Live Music. . . FOUR STARS~!!!.

Very Convenient Set If Not Absolutely Essential
4 CD's which have all the group BBC Sessions in one place. This is a very convenient set. If there's a problem, it's that there isn't that much that's new for veteran fans. And of course Sandy Denny isn't on several tracks, which may discourage some. The '02 official release of 'Extended Heyday' filled many of the 'Sandy' needs for BBC Fairport stuff. Still though, the inclusion of a few new ones like the fine arrangement of Joni Mitchell's "Marcie," or oddity like Richard Thompson's fun lead on (of all things!) "The Lady is a Tramp," or the many early ones one Disc 4 are nice to see. The sound IS excellent, and notes are interesting in talking about how the recordings were made: great stuff despite (or perhaps even because of) little rehearsal time and cramped quarters. Very good IMO, if perhaps not totally essential, especially if you have all their '68-'75 material and some of the fairly available boots. .

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.