Fairport Convention (album)

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Fairport Convention
Studio album by Fairport Convention
Released June 1968; 1970 in the US
Recorded November 1967 at Sound Techniques, London
Genre Folk rock, folk[1]
Length 37:46 (original release)
57:51 (2003 reissue)
Label UK: Polydor 582035 (mono), 583035 (stereo); US: Cotillion SD 9024
Producer Joe Boyd, Tod Lloyd for Witchseason Productions
Fairport Convention chronology
Fairport Convention
What We Did on Our Holidays
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 4.5/5 stars[1]
Robert Christgau A−[2]

Fairport Convention is Fairport Convention's debut album. The band formed in 1967, with original line-up Judy Dyble and Ian MacDonald (later known as Iain Matthews) (vocals), Richard Thompson and Simon Nicol (guitars), Ashley “Tyger” Hutchings (bass) and Sean Frater, replaced after their first gig by Martin Lamble (percussion). In this form they made their major London stage debut in one of Brian Epstein’s Sunday concerts at the Saville Theatre.

With a rock approach strongly influenced by Jefferson Airplane's first two albums (as opposed to the traditional English folk fusion they later became famous for), the debut album features covers of songs by Emitt Rhodes, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Jim & Jean, and an adaptation of a poem by George Painter, as well as original material.

This is the only Fairport Convention studio album to feature Judy Dyble. She was replaced in 1968 by Sandy Denny, but during her short time with the band she managed to make a noticeable impression, particularly through her on-stage habit of knitting dishcloths and scarves when not actually singing.[3]

The album should not be confused with the A&M Records' "Fairport Convention", the USA release/re-titling of their second UK album, What We Did On Our Holidays. The first album, listed a product of Polydor-England, was finally released in the U.S. on Cotillion Records in 1970.

Track listing[edit]

Side one[edit]

  1. "Time Will Show the Wiser" (Emitt Rhodes) - 3:05
  2. "I Don't Know Where I Stand" (Joni Mitchell) - 3:45
  3. "If (Stomp)" (Ian MacDonald, Richard Thompson) - 2:45
  4. "Decameron" (Paul Ghosh, Andrew Horvitch, Thompson) - 3:42
  5. "Jack O'Diamonds" (Bob Dylan, Ben Carruthers) - 3:30
  6. "Portfolio" (Judy Dyble, Tyger Hutchings) - 2:00

Side two[edit]

  1. "Chelsea Morning" (Joni Mitchell) - 3:05
  2. "Sun Shade" (Ghosh, Horvitch, Thompson) - 3:50
  3. "The Lobster" (George Painter, Hutchings, Thompson) - 5:25
  4. "It's Alright Ma, It's Only Witchcraft" (Hutchings, Thompson) - 3:12
  5. "One Sure Thing" (Harvey Brooks, Jim Glover) - 2:50
  6. "M1 Breakdown" (Hutchings, Simon Nicol) - 1:22

2003 reissue bonus tracks[edit]

  1. "Suzanne" (Leonard Cohen) - 5:48
  2. "If I Had a Ribbon Bow" (Hughie Prince, Lou Singer) - 2:44
  3. "Morning Glory" (Larry Beckett, Tim Buckley) - 3:13
  4. "Reno, Nevada" (Richard Fariña) - 7:43


Additional personnel


  1. ^ a b Unterberger, R. (2011). "Fairport Convention - Fairport Convention | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 28 July 2011. 
  2. ^ Christgau, R. (2011). "Robert Christgau: CG: Artist 448". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 28 July 2011. 
  3. ^ "FREE RICHARD THOMPSON NOW!". Retrieved 2008-05-04. 

External links[edit]