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MEET ON THE LEDGE - THE CLASSIC YEARS 1967-1975

Fairport Convention

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Fairport Convention Meet on the Ledge - The Classic Years 1967-1975 album cover
4.98 | 6 ratings | 2 reviews | 83% 5 stars

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Boxset/Compilation, released in 1999

Songs / Tracks Listing

Disc One:

1. Chelsea Morning (3.02)
2. Fotheringay (3.01)
3. Mr Lacey (2.50)
4. Book Song (3.12)
5. I'll Keep It With Mine (5.52)
6. Tale in Hard Time (3.25)
7. Meet on the Ledge (2.49)
8. Genesis Hall (3.35)
9. A Sailor's Life (11.12)
10. Who Knows Where the Time Goes (5.07)
11. Percy's Song (6.47)
12. Come All Ye (4.58)
13. Matty Groves (8.06)
14. Tam Lin (7.09)
15. Crazy Man Michael (4.36)
16. Farewell Farewell (2.36)

Total: 77.17


Disc Two:

1. Now Be Thankful (2.21)
2. Bonny Bunch of Roses (10.45)
3. Walk Awhile (3.57)
4. Sloth (9.10)
5. Poor Will and the Jolly Hangman (5.28)
6. Journeyman's Grace (4.31)
7. John Lee (3.01)
8. Rosie (3.35)
9. The Plainsman (3.16)
10. The Hexhamshire Lass (3.27)
11. Polly on the Shore (4.53)
12. Bring 'Em Down (5.55)
13. Rising for the Moon (4.06)
14. White Dress (3.42)
15. Stranger to Himself (2.49)
16. One More Chance (7.50)

Total: 75.06

Line-up / Musicians

Judy Dyble - lead vocals, electric & acoustic autoharps, recorder, piano (1 - Disc One)
Sandy Denny - lead vocals, guitar, piano (all of Disc One; 8, 13-16 - Disc Two)
Ashley Hutchings - bass, vocals (1-11 - Disc One)
Martin Lamble - drums, percussion (1-11 - Disc One)
Ian Matthews - vocals, percussion, jews harp (1-7 - Disc One)
Simon Nicol - guitar, vocals, banjo, dulcimer, violin (all of Disc One; 1-7 - Disc Two)
Richard Thompson - guitar (all of Disc One; 1-5, 8 - Disc Two)
Dave Mattacks - drums, percussion, vocals (12-16 - Disc One; all of Disc Two)
Dave Pegg - bass guitar, mandolin, vocals (all of Disc Two)
Dave Swarbrick - violin, viola, mandolin, fiddle, vocals (12-16; all of Disc Two)
Jerry Donahue - vocals, electric and acoustic guitars (8-16 - Disc Two)
Trevor Lucas - vocals, electric and acoustic guitars (8-16 - Disc Two)
Bruce Rowland - drums, percussion (13-16 - Disc Two)

Guests:

Claire Lowther - cello (1 - Disc One)
Linda Peters - vocals (8 - Disc Two)
Gerry Conway - drums (8, 9 - Disc Two)




Releases information

Island Records

Thanks to Ghost Rider for the addition
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FAIRPORT CONVENTION Meet on the Ledge - The Classic Years 1967-1975 ratings distribution


4.98
(6 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of rock music(83%)
83%
Excellent addition to any rock music collection(17%)
17%
Good, but non-essential (0%)
0%
Collectors/fans only (0%)
0%
Poor. Only for completionists (0%)
0%

FAIRPORT CONVENTION Meet on the Ledge - The Classic Years 1967-1975 reviews


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Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by Easy Livin
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin
5 stars One more chance to hear perfection

This double CD collection is effectively an updating of the superb "History of Fairport Convention" released on LP by Island records. The compilation covers Fairport's creative years from 1967 to 1975, thus capturing songs from all the albums from the eponymous debut through to "Rising for the moon". This of course means that the classics such as "Liege and Lief" and "Angel Delight" contribute some of their finery.

The tracks are grouped together chronologically, with most albums being well represented. For example, no less than 6 tracks from "What we did on our holidays" are present. What is more pleasing though is that space is found for the long prog based tracks such as the 11 minute "A sailor's life" ("Unhalfbricking"), "Matty Groves" ("Leige and lief"), Bonny bunch of roses" (an unreleased version) and "Sloth" ("Full house").

Some albums are given short shift, "Babacombe Lee" and the debut album have just one song each here, but there remains a real sense that this is truly a "Best of" set. It is good too to see the wonderful "Crazy man Michael" restored to the top table after being inexcusably dumped from the CD version of the "History of" in order to fit that album on a single disc.

The compilation naturally covers many band line ups, but there is something of a full circle achieved by the return of Sandy Denny for "Rising for the moon", and in particular for the epic prog number "One more chance" which closes this set. If you only ever hear one track by Fairport Convention, "One more chance" is unquestionably the one to go for. It is quite simply the most beautiful and captivating piece of music, possibly ever.

The presentation is faultless throughout. The digital remastering is crystal clear and the accompanying booklet contains a wealth of information.

In short, I cannot recommend this collection highly enough. It offers the perfect introduction to Fairport Convention for the beginner, and the perfect summary for the devoted.

Review by jammun
PROG REVIEWER
5 stars So we have a Fairport Convention complilation.

The first CD presents the Sandy Denny years. The first album is represented by Joni Mitchell's Chelsea Morning, and it's nothing to write home about, other than being a decent cover. Amongst the other early albums, there are good choices in terms of song selection, but the band was still finding its way during this time. So the beauty of Fotheringay is offset by the relatively bland, derivative Mr. Lacey. What does stand out in these early tracks are the never disappointing vocals of Sandy Denny and the guitar of Richard Thompson. Things pick up a bit with a nice cover of Dylan's I'll Keep It With Mine, and Thompson's Meet on the Ledge. The band is starting to forge an identity here, and the listener can feel it. By the time we get to Unhalfbricking's Genesis Hall, the psychedelic jamming on A Sailor's Life, and Denny's Who Know Where the Time Goes, Fairport is in full form, often melding folk melodies with a droning rock base.

Liege and Lief is represented by the incomparable Matty Groves, as well as, among others, Tam Lin and Crazy Man Michael. These are songs upon which the Fairport reputation is based, and they are stunning. This is pure musical magic.

The second CD covers the later years, after Denny left. Again, all of the band's albums are covered, from Full House forward. Of course Sloth is here, which should be required listening for everyone. There's a marked drop off of quality however -- Denny's gone, and eventually so is Thompson as well. Give the band credit for soldiering on, and occasionally coming up with a Bring 'Em Down or One More Chance, which once again has Denny's vocals.

I'm generally not a fan of compilation/greatist hits albums. They invariably hit the high points, but often miss the mid-points which are so nuanced and give a band an identity. However, unless the listener feels compelled to buy all the excellent Fairport albums, I can't imagine a better compilation for Fairport Convention -- hence 5 stars.

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