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In the wake of the release of the celebrated "Liege & Lief," a true cornerstone of the entire 1970s English "folk revival," the renowned ensemble "Fairport Convention" must record two major defections, those of Ashley Hutchings, bassist but primarily the true "ideologist" of the band, and especially that of Sandy Denny, perhaps the greatest English singer of the decade. The former would continue his tireless work of research and philological rediscovery of the roots of traditional English music, first founding Steeleye Span, then creating the "Albion Country Band" project. The latter, eager to give more space to her own songs, would embark on a solo career; she would return to the band five years later for a brief and controversial reunion, shortly before her premature and tragic death.
With such premises, one might expect an inevitable drifting of the ensemble, orphaned of two personalities of such caliber; however, the remaining members prove everyone wrong by releasing this "Full House," whose music maintains a vertiginous level of quality, with nothing to envy from its illustrious predecessor. If the excellent Dave Pegg is recruited on bass (who would also join Jethro Tull in the eighties and, having survived three decades of turmoil and constant lineup changes, remains today the true "beacon" of the band), it falls to guitarist Richard Thompson and violinist Dave Swarbrick to take on, in addition to songwriting, the vocal duties. They obviously can't compare with Denny's sumptuous voice, but they certainly do not pale in comparison, complementing each other and blending perfectly.
The proof is in the compelling opening track, "Walk Awhile," still today an effective live favorite, a lively and dynamic mid-tempo with Swarbrick's flamboyant violin in great form. The latter also shines in the subsequent and unusually "hard" "Doctor of Physick," which I would dare say is a sort of "hard-folk," characterized by particularly emphatic vocal tones. The pair of frenzied instrumentals "Dirty Linen" and "Flatback Carper" continue the tradition of "traditional arranged" and further the exploration of popular English traditional dances already initiated in "Liege & Lief"; the instrumental cohesion and chemistry reach prodigious levels here, with the five musicians pursuing, intertwining, alternating, competing in virtuosity, at times even seeming to challenge each other to a duel, all to the auditory delight of the listener. The long and expanded ballad (over nine minutes) "Sloth," with its hypnotic and almost listless traits, traces paths almost unexplored by Fairport so far, evoking atmospheres far from "British" but with a vague "West Coast" American flavor, bringing to mind something of the Eagles at their best; needless to say, it too would immediately become a live favorite. "Sir Patrick Spens," another "traditional arranged," is an evocative melody with a medieval flavor, one of those timeless melodies, sung, or rather "told," with an appropriately troubadour-like flair, with its strength in the elegant and effective embroidery of Thompson's electric guitar, the same electric guitar that so much (unjustly) horrified the so-called "purists" of the folk scene. "Now Be Thankful," an evocative choral ballad, closes a memorable album worth counting among the great classics of the genre. Worth mentioning is the recent reissue (from 2001) in a remastered version, containing three bonus tracks, among which an excellent "Bonny Bounce of Roses," a fine and evocative ballad, and a "Now Be Thankful" in "new stereo mix" version.
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
01 Walk Awhile (04:02)
Walk awhile, walk awhile, walk awhile with me
The more we walk together love, the better we’ll agree
We’ll agree
One hand in your mouth and a finger in your eye
Undertakers bow their heads as you go walking by
Walk awhile, walk awhile, walk awhile with me
The more we walk together love, the better we’ll agree
We’ll agree
Here comes another Sunday, ringing on the bell
And here comes your own dear child with another tale to tell
Walk awhile, walk awhile, walk awhile with me
The more we walk together love, the better we’ll agree
We’ll agree
Bring along the brewer’s head, bring the cuckoo tree
Bring your lady mother along to keep us company
Walk awhile, walk awhile, walk awhile with me
The more we walk together love, the better we’ll agree
We’ll agree
Two miles down the road, Henry Tomkins’ wife
Three miles down the road, he’s running for his life
Walk awhile, walk awhile, walk awhile with me
The more we walk together love, the better we’ll agree
We’ll agree
O walk awhile, walk awhile, walk awhile with me
The more we walk together love, the better we’ll agree
We’ll agree
03 Sloth (09:17)
Just a roll, just a roll
Just a roll on your drum
Just a roll, just a roll
And the war has begun
Now the right things, the wrong things
No more excuses to come
Just one step at a time
And the war has begun
Just a roll, just a roll
Just a roll on your drum
Just a roll, just a roll
And the war has begun
She's run away, she's run away
And she ran so bitterly
Now call to your colours, friend
Don't you call to me
Just a roll, just a roll
Just a roll on your drum
Just a roll, just a roll
And the war has begun
Don't you cry, don't you cry
Don't you cry upon the sea
Don't you cry, don't you cry
For your lady and me
Just a roll, just a roll
Just a roll on your drum
Just a roll, just a roll
And the war has begun
Just a roll, just a roll
Just a roll on your drum
Just a roll, just a roll
And the war has begun
04 Sir Patrick Spens (03:35)
The King sits in Dunfirmline town, drinking of the blood-red wine
"Where can I get a steely skipper to sail this might boat of mine?"
Then up there spoke a bonny boy, sitting at the King's right knee
"Sir Patrick Spens is the very best seaman that ever sailed upon the sea"
The King has written a broad letter and sealed it up with his own right hand
Sending word unto Sir Patrick to come to him at his command
"An enemy then this must be who told the lie concerning me
For I was never a very good seaman, nor ever do intend to be"
"Last night I saw the new moon clear with the old moon in her hair
And that is a sign since we were born that means there'll be a deadly storm"
They had not sailed upon the deep a day, a day but barely free
When loud and boisterous blew the winds and loud and noisy blew the sea
Then up there came a mermaiden, a comb and glass all in her hand
"Here's to you my merry young men for you'll not see dry land again"
"Long may my lady stand with a lantern in her hand
Before she sees my bonny ship come sailing homeward to dry land"
Forty miles off Aberdeen, the waters fifty fathoms deep
There lies good Sir Patrick Spens with the Scots lords at his feet
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