TIPPLERS TALES

The last of the Fairport studio albums listed here on Progarchives is actually not a bad record at all. The lineup was down to core members Nicol, Pegg, Swarbrick and Rowland, who realized their limitations as well as their strengths. Songwriting was not their strength, and here they deliver a set of well-chosen traditional material that rocks as hard as anything they every recorded, particularly the opener, "Ye Mariners All". There is even an "epic" 12 minute version of "Jack O'Rion" that's worth every minute. A rollicking rendition of "Reynard the Fox" and a version of "John Barleycorn" that is different to both Steeleye Span's and Traffic's are other highlights. The band sounds like they are having fun and are comfortable with their legacy as the orginators of electric folk. This is a very enjoyable listen that anyone with an interest in Fairport Convention or electric folk should pick up.