Unhalfbricking

Scrumptious. I have the sudden urge to join a hearty homegrown dinner with butter I churned myself.

I thoroughly enjoyed this. I knew of Fairport Convention but hadn't really listened so this was a very pleasant surprise

When I saw the cover I was a little worried I was looking at the band. Nothing could be further from reality. Richard and Sandy had just turned 20 when they recorded this!  I am shocked that anyone can be so good by that age. The guitar is quite good (Not sure if Richard or Simon deserves the accolades). Fiddling on Sailor's Life is mind blowing. If time were free I'd spend some finding and listening to whatever else Dave Swarbrick did. Bonus points for getting to hear a couple of Bobby Dylan's buried treasures that I would not have ever found.  Still trying to figure out whose grandparents are on the cover. 

Super godt album. Folk, bluegrass og need en Fleetwood Mac feeling. Helt sikkert mange genlyt værd

I don't know what I was expecting prior to listening to this, but wow! I loved every single song on this album. 5/5 stars. I am definitely going to be revisiting this album.

LOVED IT! really cosy and nice.

This album rips, one of the best sounding records of the decade

I was surprised by how much I loved this album right away. The music feels warm and comforting. There are great grooving jams that I never expected from a “folk-rock” group, and yearning, heartbreaking songs sung in gorgeous voices. A wonderful record that will play frequently around here.

Loved it, great album.

Fairport Convention is one of those bands I have heard OF but not heard anything BY. I should have by this point, but this is my first full album listen. I can see why Robert Plant wanted Sandy Denny's voice for "The Battle Of Evermore." It's a very good counter and has a very Irish tinge here in a lot of the songs, I really hear it in "Percy's Song." Steve Howe once said how record execs were willing to try almost anything back in the early 70s. I could see how this caught on back then and how folk rock like this co ntinued throughout, but it's not something I imagine would be big now. It does seem pretty late 60s and 70s. But I still dug it. Maybe it was all the Dylan songs, I don't know.

What a revelation! I don't think I'd ever heard FC before (maybe vaguely familiar?) and certainly wasn't too excited when I saw the album cover. Ah... now I see the band photo bombing in the background. But man! What a lush, hauntingly beautiful album. I've listened to it 4 times straight through while working today. A perfect example of why I wanted to take this 1001 albums challenge on. Of course I had to go down the rabbit hole of the history of the band, which is rather tragic to say the least. Anyway, a great change of pace from my usual diet of metal and punk. 4.5/5 rounded up to 5. Album 8/1001

Really loved this. Very well performed, charming folk rock that is simultaneously consistent and varied .It feels like I could keep listening to this for a long time.

Look, its English folk music. Its not meant to be a) popular b) reviewed or c)rated. Neither engaging, nor annoying... I didnt actual notice it was playing much of the time - like a gentle breeze, musically. Or polite English lovemaking. Lay back, and think of England / Are you in ? oh the English...

Bored me to tears.

So fun, and very gorgeous. My favorite folk sound, and "Si tu dois partir" is a gem.

To: 1001 Albums Generator Users Cc: grateful dead fans Subject: A Sailor’s Life This is how you do psychedelic folk. Best Regards,

I really enjoyed this. Good classic British folk. Some of it had like a medieval vibe that I really enjoyed.

Oh Folk Off FFS

Absolutely love this album, I've replayed it several times since it was recommended. Never imagined I could get into folk but this might be my gateway in!

There is something that feels spiritual about this kind of music (all kinds of music to me, actually), especially when it is some sort of traditional music. The stripped down music and vocal harmonies highlight the synergy of all the musicians, if you listen close you can hone in on a single beautiful instrument or voice that fits so perfectly with the surroundings that it can go unnoticed due to the beauty of the spirit of the song as a whole. This album mixes traditional English songs and instruments with some pop culture of the late-60s and captures that spirit as well.

Saved Prior: Who Knows Where The Time Goes? Not Saved: 8. Million Dollar Bash Off Rip: 7. Percy's Song 6. Cajun Woman 5. Autopsy 4. Si tu dois partir 3. Genesis Hall 2. A Sailor's Life 1. Who Knows Where The Time Goes? Overall Notes: Didn't realize I was listening to a 5 until I looked back and saw I had saved all but one of the non-bonus tracks. It seems that with these folk rock albums I either really vibe with them or they bore me to death. This was on the vibe side. Low 5

boring. Just a boring album with nothing that shines

I'm not gonna lie. I was in a bad mood when listening to this album, so my perspective is probably skewed. I did not like it. The panning felt unnecessary and annoying, I didn't really dig the music. Shout out to the 11 minute song that was way too long and kind of bad.

Hippie drum circle bullshit. I think I could like it under different circumstances, but not today.

That was hipster music through a rotten asshole.

Magnificent

I loved Liege and Lief, and I Love this album too. Lot's of variety, beautiful vocals, and masterful musicianship.

I already loved their other album I got a while ago. liege and thief. this is exactly why I love 1001 albums. wouldn't have known them if it wasn't for this funny little app.

How have I never heard of this band?? Definitely feels like the ultimate encapsulation of everything I love about 60’s rock, Joni Mitchell esque lead vocals, cool blends of acoustic folk instrumentals, velvet underground style production/sonics, I’m hitting a lots of 5’s lately.

Excellent

Sandy Denny is one of my all time favourite vocalists and this album is one of the main reasons why. Fairport Convention released two of the greatest british folk rock albums in less than a year; this and Liege and Lief!

15/1001 I would consider myself a pretty big fan of the American folk and folk rock sound, and I’m therefore hugely disappointed that I’ve never heard of British folk-rock. Unhalfbricking was apparently the album, where Fairport Convention started to incorporate more British folk into their sound, and I really love it. The mix of it all is just pleasant and delightful to listen to. Though the A-side has some great tracks like the opener and A Sailor’s Life, the B-side is really where the album goes from good to great. Featuring a variety of more traditional folk tracks and electric ones, it’s most interesting moment is their almost Grateful Dead-esque jam on the traditional A Sailor’s Life. While Cajun Woman kicks off the B-side in electric fashion owing a great deal of its sound to Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited, while incorporating more traditional folk instrumentation into the mix, making for one hell of a song. Overall this is a phenomenal album, that I’m glad I got to know. 4,5/5

Wondrous – loose and loving, a touch rough and riffy, subtle and most soulful. The playing is intelligent throughout, and scintillating here and there, though never showy. The Dylan stuff is generally fine, but far from the highlights. "A Sailor's Life" and "Who Knows Where the Time Goes" and "Percy's Song" are sheer class. "Genesis House" and "Ballad of Easy Rider" are good, too. Hard to say which is better, this or Liege and Leaf, because both are great, TBH. Sandy Denny has a voice and style for the ages. "Who Knows" just haunts. And perhaps they applied the hard lessons Dylan learned and found a way to more organically embed electric instruments respectfully within folk contexts – indeed, what would have the Newport Folk Festival made of FC had they showed up just a few years earlier, one wonders.

This grew on me. I knew Who Knows Where the Time Goes, although I'm not sure from where other than the Eddi Reader recording of it. I kinda prefer Reader's voice on that, but it's a glorious and beautifully sad song and took me down a Spotify rabbit hole for a bit, taking me to the Susanna Hoffs covers albums which are a bit odd... But other than that, I didn't know what to expect at all. On first listen, side 2 stood out more. Cajun Woman seems Creedence Clearwater Revival influenced, which is always a good thing I've discovered through this project, Percy's Sing sounds awfully Trad Arr Tune, which I enjoyed, and Million Dollar Bash is a decent ending. Side 1 grew on me, although I'm still not that enamoured with A Sailor's Life actually. But I enjoyed the album as a whole and it's opened up the thought of exploring more Fairport Convention through the years. They're even playing quite close to me early next year so I might go along... This started out as close a 3/4 but ended the day as a 5. That's the beauty of shorter albums, I get to listen to them more than once if they're any good at all.

What a positive surprise! I never heard of them before. I tried looking up how present they were in the rest of Europe and I assume not much. This is something I totally would have expected in my Dad's record collection (that I have claimed for myself years ago), but he hadn't heard of them either. I will definitely listen to this again and have a look what else they have put out there.

My first 5 star. Had never heard of this group before today but this album was enjoyable from start to finish. The build up in Sailor’s Life is to die for.

- they were like 20 yrs. old when this album was made. -

I've listened to this album many times and I think that it's excellent. Nice full folk vibe to the music with kind of haunting vocals. It wasn't until recently that I heard this and instantly added it to my favorites. There is a nice variety of music and lyrics too.

Album #30 and FINALLY something that features a woman in a strong leading roll. Sandy Denny kicks ass and the songs are effortlessly strong. ("Autopsy" in 5 and changing meter? So good!) This is a great album. Love love love. Had me from the opening notes and I can't stop thinking about it.

Muito, muito bom. Não achei Percy's Song grandes cosias, só (mas também não é ruim).

This one made me think of my mom the whole time. Never heard it before but it’s exactly what she likes. I enjoyed it. Beautiful voice and nice harmonies.

A great mix of energy, some calming pastoral and upbeat fun.

For me, the gem here is the French-language version of Dylan’s If You Gotta Go, Go Now. We all knew the song from Manfred Mann’s version, which had climbed as high as #17 on the 2UE Top 40 in 1965. But Dylan’s version had only been released as an unsuccessful Dutch single in 1967 & would not be available legally until the first Bootleg Series CDs were released by Columbia in 1991. I was not familiar with Unhalfbricking, but I was lucky enough to pick up the Australian-release single of Si Tu Dois Partir, which was a Top 20 UK hit, but didn’t chart here. If Hendrix’s cover of All Along The Watchtower is the greatest cover version of all time, this rates pretty highly as well. It’s as much the bizarre backing track, featuring drummer Martin Lambie, who was tragically killed 2 months before the album’s release, on “stacked chair backs”; Dave Swarbrick guesting on fiddle (the first folkie ever to electrify the violin); & Australian-born Trevor Lucas (who would go on to marry Sandy Denny) guesting on triangle. I know nothing else that sounds like it. They do 2 other Dylan covers - the first known legal version of Million Dollar Bash, which was released by Dylan on The Basement Tapes(1975) & a beautiful cover (& the first known legal version) of Percy’s Song, which was first heard sung by Joan Baez in the Pennebaker film Don’t Look Back (1967). But neither of those two are as memorable as the Denny-penned Who Knows Where The Time Goes? which very quickly became regarded as a classic. It had already been recorded (& released as the b-side to her hit single release of Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides Now) by Judy Collins in 1968, & has since been covered by everybody from Nina Simone to Susanna Hoffs. Other highlights for me are Richard Thompson’s Cajun Woman & the 11-minute traditional A Sailor’s Life. Terrific record.

Robert recommence avec ses jonimitchelleries et ça comme sérieusement à bien faire.

Un album pas désagréable de la part de la pétasse de Fairport Convention.

Erstaunlich viel besser, als ich nach erstem (wenn auch erwarteten) Erschrecken beim Einsetzen des Gesangs befürchtet hatte. Nein, klassischer Folk ist wirklich nicht mein Blumenkranz, und mit ihren klaren Stimmen und reinen Gemütern machen diese wie aufrechte Idealisten klingenden jungen Nervensägen mich regelmäßig durstig nach Dosenbier und Kirmes. Hier aber änderte sich der Eindruck an dem spätestens dritten Song plötzlich, klingen die Fiddles irgendwann mehr nach Velvets als nach Panflötensurrogat, auch in die Stimmen mischt sich gehörig Rauch und die Grooves schaffeln ja fast schon schmutzig verschleppt dahin. Da kommen sie fast schon an die 4-Sterne Grenze, und vielleicht werden sie sie beim (nicht unwahrscheinlichen) dritten Durchgang sogar durchbrechen?

Fairport Convention released two albums in 1969 and both of them are outstanding, stellar works. 'Unhalfbricking' was the earlier album, which was a transitional work from their earlier, more American folk sound (they were called the "English Jefferson Airplane") and they reached their peak with their more English folk-rock album, 'Liege & Lief" (an album I already gave 5 stars for). Unhalfbricking was shadowed by the band's van accident shortly before the album was released, in which their drummer tragically lost his life. It's a fantastic album with hugely talented musicians, an the best English folk rock female voice ever - Sandy Denny, and produced by the great Joe Boyd. It deserves no less than 5 stars.

Not as good as the other Fairport Convention record that’s on the generator but still very strong!

Lovely. Calmed me down and put me in a better mood after work.

I love folk music in general, and can’t believe I never heard of Fairport Convention. Loved this album, and now I have to catch up on the rest of their discography.

Just love this record and the journey that FP took from folk-rock inspired by the American movement, to leaders of the traditional English folk movement with Liege and Lief (which should be on this list)

That was way better than their other one

Sounds like I wandered into a Wes Anderson film. 9/10.

So good

Lovely to know I found what my brain sounds like

A Sailors Life 💞 wish I knew that song back in my Navy days. So sad tho. This is one of the few albums that I’ve listened to over and over and it gets better each time. I love the Folk style of this. Percy’s Somg is really great as well.

Oké, ez nagyon nagyon bejön, húdejó.

Really nice

Very nice!

This sounds so nice, so folksy and fun. Like so apple picking and apple pie and dog looking doggo thats friends with a cutie little cat and leaves and fun little boots and autumny jacket. I didn't listen to it earlier bc it's called unhalfbricking and I think thats a silly name. its also like very late rn and Im a bit delirious so maybe that is influencing my opinions.

I think it was pretty good. Idk. Wasn’t listening that closely

Favorite Track: Percy's Song

9/10. A Sailor’s Life is one of the best songs I’ve heard in this process, and I enjoyed majority of the songs around it.

4.9 - I love Sandy Denny and Richard Thompson, and this really was just a great album.

This was neat, surprised I've never listened to them before. Fully in the old wheel house. Fave Tracks: Genesis Hall, Autopsy, Who Knows Where the Time Goes, Million Dollar Bash 4.5/5

This is a really good folky/psychedelic rock album, a really chill vibe that feels very timeless.

Only very good folk I've ever listened

An album I own and love.Superb from start to finish and exceptional in the case “Who Knows Where The Time Goes” which is probably the best song Sandy Denny ever recorded. I don’t like everything that Fairport Convention have produced but this album ranks as one of their best. 5/5 3/8/24

Even more than *Liege And Lief*, admittedly a strong contender to best represent that late 60's British folk scene in which Fairport Convention shone so much, this is the album where the English band reached an emotional level that was still unmatched in that genre at the time. Traditional "Sailor's Life" concludes with an epic jam, in case the song proper wasn't epic itself ; Sandy Denny's "Who Knows Where The Time Goes" is very moving, Thompson's "Cajun Woman" rocks, and the Bob Dylan covers slap, especially the incredibly heartfelt and instantly memorable "Percy's Song". Not a single dud on this one, even if a couple of cuts are less striking then the rest during first listens. The couple of old folks on that tongue-in-cheek cover can be proud of their offspring. 4.5/5 for the purposes of this list, which translates to a 9.5/10 grade for more general purposes (5+4.5). Number of albums left to review: 131 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 376 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 222 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 279

5 stars

So this a genre I just learned existed but I'm immediately in love with it. You can definitely hear some of their earlier American rock influence in some of these songs and I think they do that just fine, but they really shine when they get back to their roots of British folk. This album has the rare quality of being able to keep the song varied while having a consistent sound. The instrumentation is very unique and the whole album feels so fresh. This was a very nice change of pace.

Favorite Tracks: Percy’s Song A Sailor’s Life

I like this album! It is one of my favorite albums. The music and the vocal are perfect! Last time I have listened it many years ago. Thanks for listening it again now.

I was a bit apprehensive about this album going in, but it goes so much harder than I was expecting. I've listened to it twice now, and it's only growing on me more. When it first started, I was expecting pretty run-of-the-mill folk along the lines of Cat Stevens, CSNY, or Joni Mitchell with its jazz-influenced sound. But it very quickly headed into a Jefferson Airplane / Hendrix psychedelic direction. Then the next track was a folky jig sung in French (and written by Bob Dylan)! What?! But still a banger. Then we’re back to bluesy rock. Then more folk on "Sailor's Life", but it turns into a 10-minute The Who jam-band thing towards the end (very reminiscent of Baba O'Riley). Then the next track is a hoe down (but in a good way). Then more Joni Mitchell folk. Vocalist Sandy Denny's voice is absolutely gorgeous. And the two songs she wrote, "Autopsy" and "Who Knows Where The Time Goes?" are among my favorites on the album. The percussion goes hard. The guitar solos are great. Three of the songs on this album are written by Bob Dylan (not including the bonus tracks added to later releases). My parents were big Peter, Paul, and Mary fans, so I grew up listening to a lot of 60s folk covers of Dylans' songs and tend to prefer when other artists sing his songs (Hendrix, anyone?). These songs are no exception, and I really enjoyed them. This album is a wild ride, and what a fun one it is. If you're into traditional English/Irish folk, 60s/70s folk singer songwriters like Joni Mitchell and Carol King, psychedelic stuff like Jefferson Airplane and Jimi Hendrix, or ethereal goth like All About Eve, you'll find something to enjoy on this album. 5/5 — definitely adding this to my regular rotation and will probably try to pick it up on vinyl.

English folk. Maravillosa voz. Maravillosa portada. ¡Lo quiero!

I regret putting off listening to this album for a long time. I wish I heard it sooner.

I dig this one! Very emotional vocals and the instrumental is like that earthy folksy vibe I love!

SOOOO MY JAM LOVED IT

This album was just beautiful I really enjoyed listening to this album. It was also very relaxing listening to this

I'm not a folk fan but this could be my favorite folk album.

This album is such an emotional journey. Loss, joy, fun, melancholy, longing. Every song is excellent and nothing feels out of place. An essential album for anyone who enjoys folk music

Sublime English folk-rock, from the 2nd of 3 albums they release in '69. Features the beautiful "Who Knows Where the Time Goes?".

Love Sandy Denny's voice!

Absolutely incredible album. Definitely coming back to listen to it again.

my kinda shit

I probably like Liege And Lief a little more, this one is still pretty fire though.

Vibrant and incentive British folk rock and a young Richard Thompson.

Loved it

can't believe I've never heard this before, stunning

Great album.

Great songs and energy, the french song was quite a surprisingly great addition

Sensacional, criativo sem se achar grandioso.

English folk. Maravillosa voz. Maravillosa portada. ¡Lo quiero!

I need this album in my veins

Fairport convention were the best of the English electric folkies. This album saw the death of Martin lambie just before it was released so the surviving members don’t have a fully positive memory of it but among sandy denny fans and fairport fans it ranks highly. To be honest liege and lief is the superior album but this is great. Does it belong on a list of 1000 albums you must hear? I will wrestle with this for a while. But it’s an easier album to beat than the last couple. 4.5 rounded up.

I might have hated this if it was generated in the middle of summer, but on a cold November day this is the perfect thing to sit down with. It's like the musical equivalent of a warm soup. It's just a really nice British folk rock album, and I kind of wish I was doing nothing at all today, because this seems like one to give my full attention to. Where does this sit compared to Liege and Lief? Not sure, I'd need to listen to that one again. But regardless, the instrumentation is amazing and Sandy Denny's voice is beautiful. It's a shame she left this world while still so young. Unhalfbricking is just a wonderful listen on a cold and self-reflective day like this, and I think I'll come back to it soon. It's a long winter ahead, and any comfort will be very welcome. Favourite: A Sailor's Life

I really like this album. Ironic that it’s rainy day music and it’s a rainy day here. Perfect for when fireplace is going

A Sailor's Life is absolutely my type... really enjoyed this one!

I remembered this was great but had forgotten just how great it was. A quintessential folk album that’s incredibly diverse - the groove in Autopsy comes out of nowhere and is such a delight - with some truly beautiful moments

This is absolutely amazing, cozy and sweet. I am in love ❤️