LIEGE & LIEF

I much prefer the all male line-up of Fairport Convention over this earlier Sandy Denny fronted band. Full House and Babbacombe Lee are the best Fairport albums in my opinion.

The sound quality of Liege & Lief is quite bad compared to Full House and the other 70's albums. Also, the only instruments involved here are guitars, drums, bass, vocals and fiddle. That means no mandolins, no dulcimers, no autoharps, no keyboards, etc. In that sense Liege & Lief is less folky and has a much less interesting overall sound. It is certainly not progressive and the arrangements are quite simple.

The best tracks here are the instrumental medley and Matty Groves.

I guess that this is essential if you want to know Fairport Convention and British Folk Rock in general. But for listening pleasure, Full House or the concept album Babbacombe Lee are much better places to start.

Only essential from the historical perspective.