Fairport Convention
The unchallenged inventors of British folk-rock have struggled through tragedy and changes, retaining the name that now represents not so much who is in the band, but what it stands for. The original group of 1967 comprised Iain Matthews (b. Ian Matthews MacDonald, 16 June 1946, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England; vocals), Judy Dyble (b. 13 February 1949, London, England; vocals), Ashley ‘Tyger’ Hutchings (b. 26 January 1945, Muswell Hill, London, England; bass), Richard Thompson (b. 3 April 1949, London, England; guitar/vocals), Simon Nicol (b. 13 October 1950, Muswell Hill, London, England; guitar/vocals) and Martin Lamble (b. 28 August 1949, St. Johns Wood, London, England, d. 12 May 1969; drums). The band originally came to the attention of the London ‘underground’ club scene by sounding like a cross between the Jefferson Airplane and The Byrds. As an accessible alternative they immediately took to people's hearts. American producer Joe Boyd signed them and they released the charming If I Had A Ribbon Bow. On their self-titled debut they introduced the then little-known Canadian songwriter Joni Mitchell to a wider audience. The album was a cult favourite, but like the single, it sold poorly. Judy Dyble departed and was replaced by former Strawbs vocalist, Sandy Denny (b. Alexandra Denny, 6 January 1948, Wimbledon, London, England, d. 21 April 1978). Denny brought a traditional folk-feel to their work which began to appear on the superlative WHAT WE DID ON OUR HOLIDAY. This varied collection contained some of their finest songs: Denny's version of She Moved Through The Fair, her own Fotheringay, Matthews’ lilting Book Song, the superb I'll Keep It With Mine and Thompson's masterpiece Meet On The Ledge. This joyous album was bound together by exemplary musicianship, of particular note was the guitar of the shy and wiry Thompson. Matthews left soon after its release, unhappy with the traditional direction the band were pursuing. Following the album's critical acclaim and a modest showing in the charts, they experienced tragedy a few months later when their Transit van crashed, killing Martin Lamble and their friend and noted dressmaker Jeannie Franklyn. UNHALFBRICKING was released and, although not as strong as the former, it contained two excellent readings of Bob Dylan songs, Percy's Song and Si Tu Dois Partir (If You Gotta Go, Go Now). Sandy contributed two songs, Autopsy and the definitive, and beautiful, Who Knows Where The Time Goes. More significantly, UNHALFBRICKING featured guest musician, Dave Swarbrick, on fiddle and mandolin. The album charted, as did the second Dylan number; by now the band had opened the door for future bands like Steeleye Span, by creating a climate that allowed traditional music to be played in a rock context. The songs that went on their next album were premièred on John Peel's BBC radio show "Top Gear." An excited Peel stated that their performance would ‘sail them into uncharted waters’; his judgement proved correct. The live-set was astonishing—they played jigs and reels, and completed all 27 verses of the traditional Tam Lin, featuring Swarbrick, now a full-time member, plus the debut of new drummer, Dave Mattacks (b. March 1948, Edgeware, Middlesex, England). The subsequent album LIEGE AND LIEF was a milestone; they had created British folk-rock in spectacular style. This, however, created problems within the band and Hutchings left to form Steeleye Span and Sandy departed to form Fotheringay with ex-Eclection and future husband Trevor Lucas. Undeterred, the band recruited Dave Pegg on bass and Swarbrick became more prominent both as lead vocalist and as an outstanding fiddle player. From their communal home in Hertfordshire they wrote much of the next two album's material although Thompson left before the release of ANGEL DELIGHT. They made the Guinness Book Of Records in 1970 with the longest-ever title Sir B. McKenzies's Daughter's Lament For The 77th Mounted Lancer's Retreat From The Straits Of Loch Knombe, In The Year Of Our Lord 1727, On The Occasion Of The Announcement Of Her Marriage To The Laird Of Kinleakie. FULL HOUSE was the first all-male Fairport album and was instrumentally strong with extended tracks like Sloth becoming standards. The concept album BABBACOMBE LEE, although critically welcomed, failed to sell and Simon Nicol left to form the Albion Band with Ashley Hutchings. Swarbrick struggled on, battling against hearing problems. With such comings and goings of personnel it was difficult to document the exact changes. The lack of any animosity from ex-members contributed to the family atmosphere, although by this time record sales were dwindling. Sandy Denny rejoined, as did Dave Mattacks (twice), but by the end of the '70s the name was put to rest. The family tree specialist Pete Frame has documented their incredible array of line-ups. Their swan-song was at Cropredy in Oxfordshire in 1979. Since then an annual reunion has taken place and is now a major event on the folk calendar. The band have no idea which ex-members will turn up! They have continued to release albums, making the swan-song a sham. With Swarbrick's departure, his position was taken by Ric Sanders in 1985 who rapidly quietened his dissenters by stamping his own personality on the fiddler's role. Some of the recent collections have been quite superb, including GLADYS' LEAP, with Simon Nicol back on lead vocals, and the instrumental EXPLETIVE DELIGHTED. With the release in 1990 of THE FIVE SEASONS, the group had established the longest lasting line-up in their history. The Fairports are now as much a part of the folk music tradition as the music itself.