Unhalfbricking

Overall: 9/10 I adore the guitar work and vocals on this album so much. It also has an almost celtic feel to it, it feels very nostalgiac and reminds me of listening to Great Big Sea with my dad as a kid. I see that Richard Thompson was in this band, and I loved the album I got with his wife a while ago. The VIP of this album has to be Sandy Denny (I hope I got that name right) on vocals, her voice is so haunting, yet soothing. Weird combo, but it works. I love the album cover as well, at first glance it makes you think this may be a boring slog but these ol' biddies fit the music very well. I'm so glad this exists. Fav Song: Who Knows Where the Time Goes?

Awesome.

I had never even heard of this band before today and I wasn’t excited to see a folk rock album from the 60’s. This album blew me away more than once. The vocalist was incredible, and the band was great too. I was not expecting this album to groove in any way and I’m so happy to have been proven wrong.

Пока, кажется, лучший альбом из тех, что я не слышал до этого листа. Звучит местами как поздний Talk Talk. Лучшая песня - A Sailor's Life.

Gripping and intimate from the very off. It sounds of its time without sounding twee or too dated. Cracking listen, that.

Really enjoyed it. Was aware of Fairport Convention - but had not previously sought them out. Further evidence of me becoming an old fart but really enjoyed the mix of country/folk.

Sandy Denny is like honey in the ears. The best thing about this album is the definitive version of 'Who Knows Where the Time Goes?' with her smooth as velvet voice (controlled yet close to breaking at times), and Richard Williams's lovely guitar licks. Throw in a nostalgic sentiment that absolutely everyone understands, and you have one of my favourite songs of all time. The revelation is that the whole album is of similar or equal quality from start to finish. The marvelous 'Genesis Hall' is a lilting ballad par excellence with all the elements that make this album great - lamenting melody, timeless lyrics, Williams's sympathetic licks, Denny's imperious vocal and a bass and drum section that adds to the atmosphere. It's not all melancholy. 'Si Tu Dois Partir' is an enjoyable feu de camp singalong. And 'Percy's Song' a superlative sea shanty-type ballad. Even more astounding when I discovered, that these two songs are Dylan. And yet Fairport have breathed into them the life of classic English folk, so much so that they are far removed from the originals. 'Million Dollar Bash' is a third Dylan song and more faithful; it's very American sounding, as is the upbeat 'Cajun Woman', and yet the laid back arrangements just about keep them consistent with the album's style. The album cover is also superb. It's the Good Life. It's suburbia. It's times past. It's such a quaint English vibe, (that lawn through the fence is marvelous). Turns out it's Denny's parents. I love it. I love it all.

I love this whole Fairport Convention, Pentangle, Vashti Bunyan 60’s English folk scene, particularly when they lean into Medieval English musical roots and avoid American blues. There’s a lot of Americana on Unhalfbricking, and sometimes they hit you over the head with it, especially in that Cajun romp. Regardless, they romp well wearing their Americana suits, and the end result still leaves me smiling. I wish I knew about this album long ago.

I was just thinking about how my friend used to date this Amish guy. His name was John and they dated until he fell off a roof and the fear of god was back in him. Until she saw him on Facebook a month later dating a big tiddy goth girl. Anyway, immaculate Amish vibes.

This was a very unforeseen gem. I think I will be listening to this for a while.

2025-10-17: I enjoyed listening to this album, though I was in company so I could not listen to it wholly without interruption. The voice was very nice to listen to and I felt enough variety in the tracks to offset the potential monotony I feared I could have found in the style of music. I'm looking forward to seeing if the top score I am giving the album holds the next times I listen to it.

Sublime. If only Dylan had been born into a Cumbrian village community and come up with this bunch

4.5

*Unhalfbricking* This was one of my favorite discoveries when I did my 1969 dive. Landed about the same place where I had it which is just slightly off damn near it such a great album. The stretch of songs from "Sailors Life" to "Who Knows where the Time Goes" is absolute freaking Magic! Love this album (9.9) ★★★★½

Sandy Denny’s voice is so unique. The blend of traditional English folk songs and a gothic rock vibe make this record a banger.

glorious swinging folk rock

Amazing singing, emotional songwriting

The cover had me a little worried, but this album was sublime, even better than the other Fairport Convention album I had listened to earlier on the list. I played it through at least three times, including dipping out for the bonus tracks at one point. It's a warm and comfortable feeling listening to this music, lovely vocals, excellent guitar, everything is just so nicely put together and understated. I had several favourite tracks, but kept finding new things to love about the tracks that didn't stand out on the first play through. Five stars.

I'm currently kicking myself for procrastinating on listening to this one. The cover looks like wayyyy sleepier album than this turned out to be, their brand of Folk Rock that is more based on british folk rather than country is so wonderful and the right kind of thing for me, at times it even feels predictive of early post-rock and even the downtempo vibe which I was not expecting at all Wonderful discovery, the kind of surprises I l cherish out of this project where I find something I know I will become more and more of a fan of as time goes on

First time listener to this and what a joy it was.

really liked it. bit mad but really easy listening

Old albums are all over the place with the variety within! Can very happily say I’m a fan of folk rolk and I loved this album. Never listened, will re listen for sure. A Sailors Life - what a song 👏🏼 the vocals, the lead guitar at end 👏🏼

Love love love!

what an absolute delight of a find! this is right up my street. hadn’t heard of this band before. quite a history and tragic things to read in relation to it but yeah, fantastic album. i only really found one song to be somewhat “weak” and that’s the dylan song “percy’s song”. my absolute favourite is “autopsy” - WOOOOW!?!?!? obsessed. literally. the bass line is amazing. i love everything about it. the changes. jazz. folk. pink floyd vibes. it’s just amazing. very nice to have found this on the list!

It's broadly folk music, but there is a nice variety of styles, including Cajun rock, ballads and raga rock. There's a casual excellence throughout, with Sandy Denny on top form vocally, the musicianship tight (especially Richard Thompson on lead guitar - such an underated talent) and the production full of organic warmth. Critics bang on about the band, but for my money, this is a far more rewarding listen. Amazingly this prolific band issued albums in 1969.

Love these hippies!

Prime example of a classic album.

Loved it! Such a cool album.

This was sublime!

I love everything about this album, from it's cover showing Sandy Denny's parents standing in front of their garden while the band sit on the lawn in the background. It's like the perfect album to lose yourself in on an English summer evening, Rightly considered a classic, hard to believe that some members of the band had barely turned 20 when they made this. A Sailor's Life and Who Knows Where the Time Goes? are the obvious standouts but the whole album stands up to repeated listens.

❤️

Jammy

Very cool, sets a cosy mood

This was a really fun album. Folky and interesting, I loved the Dylan song.

Discovering Fairport Convention has been one of the best parts of this project. This album is no exception. Great songs, beautiful singing and some restrained but exceptional guitar playing and musicianship. This is definitely one of my new favorites.

So I have a quandary here. Listened to both Fairport Convention albums in the last week and I appear to have reviewed the wrong one first time round. This one I thought was amazing and gave a fiver to. However I’ve already done that to the other album, which I actually thought was more of a 4. However, two wrongs to make a right, so they’re both getting the fiver. Simpsons: No

I'd heard of the name Fairport Convention and assume I'd hate them. I don't know why. Then I found out they were British Folk and thought I'd hate them even more. But they were bloody great. I thought the jump from A Sailor's Life to Cajun Woman was a little harsh but on the LP it would have worked perfectly. It definitely sounds old but also timeless, Sandy Denny had such a beautiful voice. This album made me feel things.

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)

This album cover is great. Like they were going out and found hippies on their lawn. The looks on their faces says this isn't the first time. But anyway, this is the type of folk rock I need today. It is so well played, the vocals and harmonies are top notch. Outstanding record.

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.

I really enjoyed this - it would be a nice album to listen to on a cozy fall day, sipping tea after tending the garden.

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 ❤️

Amazing album, I think this is the ultimate surprise of this list. I have never heard of this band, or if any song made by them and still I am speechless after listening to it. "A Sailor's Life" is a great song, beautiful vocal (on the whole album), great melodies and guitar solos, but the best is the atmosphere of the record. Somehow it's very captivating from the start of the album and just keeps you in the clenched fist until the end. Looks like sometimes this list is worth all that wasted time.

Really good to listen to- Sandy's voice is so striking and the musicianship and production so accomplished. A real gem. There are some beautiful songs on this album- although some not so great at least it shows variation. I prefer the folkier numbers to be fair. Moreover, and I know it's me I feel a cloud of sadness over the album.

Wow! Never heard of this band before but I can hear future bands in their songs that I love that they certainly influenced. Standout on this album for me is Sailors Life.

This is a great album! Above everything else are the vocals; whether they are the sweet harmonies or Sandy's solo beauties. I knew who Fairport Convention were but had never listened to them. I'm rectifying that error from now on.

Really liked this!

Some really lovely folk rock, really enjoyed it Saved tracks: Si tu dois partir, Autopsy, Cajun Woman, Million Dollar Bash

I’m a fan. Really love Mais Si Tu Dois Partir, but there are a lot of great songs here. Sandy Denny has an incredible voice and the band (especially Richard Thompson!) are top shelf. I like folk so I’m starting from that position, but this is an excellent folk record.

where has this album been my entire life??

Before today, I had heard of Fairport Convention, but had never listened to any of their stuff before. The way I had heard of them was actually through this generator. I was assigned an album by Richard & Linda Thompson after Richard had left the band. I thoroughly enjoyed that album, so I have high hopes for this one as well! The first thing that struck me is the sheer beauty of Sandy Denny's voice! It is magnificent!! The music is a hybrid of folk and psychadelic rock. This album is known as a transitional album, where the band started to shift away from an American folk sound, to more of a traditional English folk. This was also their second album to be released in 1969. The inclusion of traditional folk instruments such as fiddle and dulcimer is great! There are three songs that were written but never released by Bob Dylan on this album: Si Tu Dois Partir, Percy's Song, and Million Dollar Bash. If you listen to the lyrics of those songs, you can definately tell that they're Dylan's. Overall, a phenomenal record, which, after listening to it a second time, caused me to delve deeper into their catalog of music for the remainder of the day! I will be adding this to my regular listening rotation!! Perfection! Favourite songs: Percy's Song, Million Dollar Bash, Genesis Hall, Cajun Woman, A Sailor's Life, Si Tu Dois Partir Least favourite songs: Autopsy 5/5

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

"The British Jefferson Airplane." I can totally see it. A little more folksy than Jefferson Airplane, but that's not a bad thing. Every song felt new and unique, which is quite a feat. Too often albums get bogged down with one theme and can feel repetitive, but this never got tiresome or tedious. Everything felt fresh and bright. A real nice surprise of an album.

damn dude - 10/10 huge fan of that whole album it’s hard to pick my favorite song, I think I’d either go with Autopsy (I’m a slut for 5/4), or A Sailor’s Life (what a long, crazy, and absolutely beautiful track!) yeah just an amazing album, love it

I was not expecting to like this album very much, but it turned out to be pretty good. 4.5/5

Incredible folk album.

J'adore Fairport convention, ils ont vraiment quelque chose de special. La musique qui en ressort représente bien l'époque et le folk de ces années. 5

Wonderful album, containing one of the greatest songs ever written. Incredible sound, amazing voice - just a classic!

flowery

I expected just a decent album, based on a vague memory of listening to this band before, but it turned out to be much better than I expected.

i am a sailor's wife, wrapped in a headscarf, waving my husband off to war

I was interested but skeptical about this album…as sometimes folk-rock doesn’t hit the spot for me. Turns out that I really enjoyed this one though. I thought the vocals were beautiful and all the instrumentation quite captivating.

This is wonderful. I loved it from start to finish.

I wasn’t sure where this was headed for me. The first three songs were just ok for me the first time around. I was wondering how long I could last before wishing I was listening to something else but once I got to “A Sailor’s Life” it was smooth sailing! I really enjoy “A Sailor’s Life” - all epic 11 minutes of it! “Cajun Woman” is fun… I’m always up for some Cajun accordion! “Who Knows Where The Time Goes?” is really lovely. The noodly guitar and Sandy Denny are wonderful. I have likely heard this version sometime before, and definitely had heard several cover versions. Such a beautiful song. The two bonus tracks from the 2003 CD reissue are great additions! Really enjoyed them both. On the second time around… loved the first three songs too. The couple on the cover is Sandy Denny’s parents? All is well with this album.

Great album! The quality is not very even throughout, but most of the songs are good. The melodies are simple but effective, and the singer's voice is beautiful.

Exactly the kind of album I was hoping to discover here. Will listen to it again.

Enjoyed it,"Who knows where the time goes?" is especially great.

Gave this a few runs. It really gripped me. I loved the music and lyrics. Sailor's Song is amazing.

Oh dang I already knew the 2nd song on this album apparently, it reminds me of complainte pour ste catherine. Overall really nice, the kind of 60s-70s stuff I don’t find enough of

This one came out of no where, did not expect it to grow on me like it has.

A solid album by Fairport. Sandy contributing some of the lead vocals especially Who Knows Where The Time Goes. A nice mix of English and American folk.

Almost 5 stars! Really liked this. I’ve never heard of them before.

Favorite track(s): Genesis Hall, Autopsy, A Sailor's Life, Who Knows Where the Time Goes Heard before Previous rating: 7/10

8 songs When I saw a band that I didn't know from the 60s that played folk rock I went into this expecting it to be a boring slog. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that it wasn't the case at all, really enjoyed this one, very reminiscent of Led Zep.

0 chance this deserves on a top 1001 albums, clear English bias as usual but it is to my tastes

Fairport Convention has 2 good albums? I didn't know they existed before this exercise and now they're 2 for 2...who knew.

Tolles Folk-Album, Neuentdeckung!

Low cortisol music to study/relax to. (this is me realising that a lot of folk music is really only unappealing due to the vocals)

i'd blow my head off to one or two of these songs 7.5/10

Fijn album

Dit is legit een leuk folk album. Nooit van gehoord maar leuke suprise

Prachtige folkplaat. Super divers en het klinkt allemaal heel natuurlijk ofzo. Gaat zeker nog een keertje op binnenkort. Sterke 4 sterren.

70s British Folk Rock is absolutely my thing, and you can’t get more 70s British Folk Rock than this. Ok, it’s actually 1969, but spiritually you get what I’m saying. Top notch stuff.

Soooo.. when’s the next convention?

i was really excited to see richard thompson last year cuz of fairport c but he was kinda underwhelming. i guess people get old and they sorta become a bit less impressive.. I love folk music tho

Liked this one. Folksy and chill

not as good as Joni Mitchell’s Blue

Love a bit of folk and FC didn’t let me down.

Fairport has a special place in my heart as the headline of the first festival I went to. And they earn their place on this list for moving traditional English music forms forward in a world increasingly dominated by American influences. I could listen to Thompson's guitar work all day and Swarbrick's fiddle lends a real swagger. Sandy Denny's beautiful voice caps it all. Stand out track is Who Knows Where the Time Goes, which nearly pushes this to a 5 for me. But not quite. 4*

Yeah - this was awesome. I love a bit of Folk! I was saddened to read about the tragic accident that occurred a couple of weeks after the album's release and how this has affected their individual feelings toward it. Such a funny (shit) album cover!

I enjoyed this one! The cover is deceptively boring, but the music was lovely.

It is strange because their first two albums are way better for me. But hell nah let flow with what the critics say...

Enjoyed this way more than I initially thought I would. This was a bit more rock than folk and I like that. 4/5

Listens: 4 Standout Tracks: Genesis Hall, Autopsy, A Sailor's Life Very good on the psychedelic rock instrumentation. Not super thrilled about when it veered into Country music territory. I totally get the "British Jefferson Airplane" analogy. Considering how obscure this seems, I can't imagine it getting particularly high marks, but I enjoyed it, and that's all that matters.

This is the second Fairport album we’ve reviewed and same as Liege and Lief it shows a deep appreciation for British folk. This album mixes that Renn Faire sound with more modern music of the era to produce a really enjoyable album. La voz de la cantante sigue siendo the star y su cancion Who Knows Where The Time Goes? es excelente 4/5

I've always felt that Fairport Convention never got the attention in the states that they deserved. Album is worth a listen. 4/5

Æ hadde en intensjon om å høre på den her en gang til før æ gjorde mæ opp en mening, mest fordi æ likte den skikkelig godt og ville være sikker på at det sto sæ, men så kom æ ikke så langt. Så æ tror æ like den skikkelig godt og håpe at den står sæ om og når æ høre den igjen.

It's not their fault but because I first heard Sandy Denny on one of Led Zeppelin's Lord of the Rings songs, I have a pavlovian response to the sound of her voice and want more about Ringwraiths and Gollum. I am liking this record more than the other FC I've heard. Not too Celtic, not too faux psychedelic, and I really liked the vibe of the extended jam on Sailor's Life. Yes, there's a dulcimer, but it's an electric dulcimer. Also, the cover art is aces.

This was pleasant. The folk song style was great.

One of the best folk records of all time.

very different from what i usually like, but this was surprisingly pleasant to listen to. either there's something special about this (the voice maybe?) or maybe i should just listen to more folk

"Unhalfbricking" is harmonic, lush folk reminiscent of the Zombies, and cited by Fleet Foxes as an inspiration. While more traditional folk than those other two artists, such as in the Cajun-style Dylan cover "Si tu dois partir" it is just as melodic. Additionally, it's slightly wistful, haunting feel increases its character, as does some masterful guitar work, such as on "Autopsy" and the album's overall cohesiveness. This was the first time I'd heard Fairport Convention, but I can see how their sound - particularly their electric and imaginative re-arrangements - has continued to the folk-rock scene in artists of today.

Oh, I don’t know with this one. The musicianship is really good, the guitars and violin. Also I can see how influential it has been (All About Eve spring to mind). It also stays away from Holy Grail minstrel territory, which is a plus. Not sure I’ll ever come back to it though. I’m going 3.5

This was surprisingly good. The way folk blended with more classical rock was an absolute delight. A really enjoyable album.

This rocks way harder than the album cover would lead you to believe

A nice little romp of Brit folk rock. The album cover screams "Welcome to our little slice of life, you can join our wee lass Sandy in the garden for a bit of song." It opens up very pastoral, and gets a little bop to it on "Autopsy". "A Sailors Life" is a wonderful little dirge about the loss of the sea. In "Percy's Song" you can almost hear the glasses clinking and smell the stout as you get this almost Irish sing along. All in all, a nice album, but not one I'd return to. I wouldn't complain if it came on, though. My rating: 4/5

Exceedingly English folk rock, which the band would later perfect on their next album (Liege & Leif). Despite being a bit of a transitory album, still quite enjoyable. Sandy Denny has one of the best voices in folk rock. 8/10.

8/10

It’s beautiful as well as relaxing that’s for sure, with some a bit of a fleshed-out narrative in each song makes for an emotional ride. Such quality from a band i hadn’t even heard of until an hour ago is pretty outstanding. Standouts are Genesis Hall, Autopsy and Percy’s Song.

I love the fiddle on this album! My favourite songs were Autopsy, A Sailor's Life and Percy's Song.

Vakkert, koselig, og lett å like med en gang.

Favorite songs: Genesis Hall, Autopsy, Cajun Woman, Who Knows Where the Time Goes?, Percy’s Song, Million Dollar Bash, The Ballad of Easy Rider

I didn't expect the like this one, but I was pleasantly surprised. There's a certain atmosphere to this album that I can't really describe, but I love it nonetheless. I wasn't a fan of A Sailor's Life. The instrumentals were good, but I found the song to be a bit boring and drawn. I can look past that however, because I really enjoy the rest of the album. These songs make me feel so relaxed and happy. I can definitely see myself coming back to this album countless times in the future.

Medieval kind of and cottagecore

Not something I would normally pick out, but this was a good listen.

I was not expecting this, what a great album. It’s so close to being a 5/5 except for the song a sailors life which starts really slow and the lyric portion of the song (the first half) doesn’t do it for me. However the rest of the album was fantastic, the unique but entrancing vocals of Sandy Denny and the folk instrumentals with hints of blues was great to listen to.

Unexpected to kind it

This was just a simple, gorgeous folk album. Beautiful singing that reminded me of Joni Mitchell, and the instrumentation was great too. I loved the violin in particular. A nice discovery!

It was really pretty, never heard of them. Classic folk sound, beautiful vibrato. Dig it.

Not as good as their more folk leaning efforts but still good 4*

I don't love this entire album, but I think the first side is really good, and I do understand why this would have been so impactful at the time, as it not only blends folk and rock, but both sides are good in their own right. The second half didn't impress me as much, but I also think that's partly because so much folk has come after in the 50 years since.

Basically the same feeling I had with Liege and Leaf, really loved the vibes, super enjoyable listen. Something holds me back from putting it on masterpiece level but I couldn’t pinpoint what it is. But it is a must-listen, #319.

It's not very cool of me, but I think I like British folk music. Not just the odd bit of Nick Drake, but a lot of it. This album was, with the exception of the mock American crap of the final track, very pleasant. It's not going to set the world alight, but I enjoyed my time with it and will definitely listen to more Fairport Convention.

Ритуальные песнопения кельтских друидов в свингующем Лондоне, настолько психоделично, что присутствует песня Боба Дилана на французском

Душевно, приятный женский вокал, не знаю, почему этот альбом здесь, но такой музыке здесь я рад.

They’re no Steeleye Span but WKWtTG is a stone classic

'Unhalfbricking' is a rather quaint collection of British folk tunes, with the heartfelt vocals of Sandy Denny soaring over a dynamic band effectively pairing acoustic and electric guitars, dulcimers, the odd piano accordion and relatively simple bass and drum parts. Fairpoint Convention had a very prolific year in 1969, releasing three albums in the space of a 12-month period. 'Unhalfbricking' was the second of those three, and sees the band moving away from American influences to establish a more British sound, however three songs ('Si Tu Dois Partir', 'Percy's Song', 'Million Dollar Bash') are Bob Dylan covers. The rest of the songs are quite inventive. The 11-minute 'A Sailor's Life' is an ethereal blend of folk and rock that evokes Velvet Underground comparisons, the Denny-penned 'Autopsy' and 'Who Knows Where the Time Goes?' are both solid tunes, and the opening track, 'Genesis Hall' makes for a solid introduction to the record. 'Unhalfbricking' is a solid 40 minutes of music driven by Denny's excellent voice and sound musical interplay with an impressive understanding of flow and direction. Best songs: Genesis Hall, Autopsy, A Sailor's Life, Who Knows Where the Time Goes?

Best Song: Who Knows Where the Time Goes? This is a solid folk album. It may not get as much playback as Bob Dylan but it is better than some of the others from this era. Sadly, due to tragedy right after this album this was the last album with this lineup as the drummer and his girlfriend were killed tragically in a car crash not long after its release. 4/5.

Gegen Ende mehr gefallen 7/10

English folk. Sounded good. Easy to listen to

Cozy album for a Sunday afternoon

Became very worried when I saw Bob Dylan mentioned in the details, but this was actually a very nice folk album. 4/5, no complaints.

TIL there are two Fairport albums on the 1001 list and not one by Steeleye Span, which I'm still sore about. But taking this on its merits it's still a very good slice of folk-rock, with nice little flourishes of jazz, even if a couple of the tunes are a bit corny or wishy-washy. A Sailor's Life is absolutely fantastic, one of the best new-to-me tunes on the list so far.

Decent

The instrumental work is great and the album sounds great. I don't know a ton about them but this is really pleasant to listen to. Also pretty bold to just slide an 11 minute track in there. Oh damn she is the other voice on The Battle for Evermore. Why did I never look that person up before?

Great instrumentation. Production sounds great on headphones. I like the vibe of the french song. Autopsy is good. Percy's song is right in my wheelhouse. I wasn't familiar with this but I like the album name and cover and wouldn't be opposed to giving this some more listens in the future.

I really enjoyed this one. I thought her voice was lovely. Just some really nice folk music and there felt like a decent variation across the album. Fav song: Genesis Hall Least fav: A Sailor’s Life

Ok but not hugely enjoyable. Feels old but still ahead of its time. Like the cover. Specific rating - 3.8 Fav song - si tu dois partir Least fav - a sailor’s life

I think the ten minute song is unnecessary but otherwise really lovely folk music. I'd only heard (and loved) Who Knows Where The Time Goes before but really enjoyed the rest of the songs. Fairly tragic wikipedia reading though :( Favourite song: Si tu dois partir (and i still really love Who Knows Where The Time Goes?) Least: A Sailor's Life

**Unhalfbricking** (1969) stands as one of the most significant yet bittersweet records in British music history. Released in July 1969, it captures Fairport Convention at a creative crossroads—transitioning from American-influenced folk-rock toward the British folk revival that would culminate in their next album, *Liege & Lief*. The album is forever shadowed by tragedy: two months before its release, drummer Martin Lamble (aged 19) and Richard Thompson's girlfriend Jeannie Franklyn were killed in a motorway accident returning from a gig. What should have been a celebration became a memorial. --- ## The Music & Production **Production & Sound** Recorded at Sound Techniques and Olympic Studios in London during March-April 1969, *Unhalfbricking* was produced by Joe Boyd alongside Simon Nicol and the band, with engineering by the legendary **John Wood** . Wood's approach was organic and warm—he famously captured Sandy Denny's vocals using a Sony C-38 microphone, contributing to the album's intimate, "sitting in the studio with the band" quality . The production favors clarity over polish, allowing the interplay between electric guitars, fiddle, and Denny's voice to breathe. **The Band's Sound** The album represents a crucial pivot. While their earlier work bore heavy West Coast American influences (Byrds, Dylan), *Unhalfbricking* begins the Anglicization of their sound. Richard Thompson's guitar work—simultaneously precise and exploratory—provides the rock foundation, while the introduction of **Dave Swarbrick's fiddle** on three tracks (including the epic "A Sailor's Life") points directly toward the traditional folk direction they would fully embrace next . Martin Lamble's drumming deserves special mention. His jazz-influenced, fluid style—particularly on "Genesis Hall" and "Autopsy"—gives the music a propulsive, living quality. This was his final recorded work with the band . --- ## Lyrics & Themes **Sandy Denny's Songwriting** Denny contributes two originals that represent her emergence as one of Britain's finest songwriters: - **"Who Knows Where the Time Goes?"** — Written in 1967 when Denny was just 20, this meditation on time, transience, and enduring love has become her signature composition. The lyrics move from observing birds migrating ("Across the evening sky, all the birds are leaving") to a personal declaration of steadfastness ("I am not alone while my love is near me") . In 2007, BBC Radio 2 listeners voted this the "Favourite Folk Track of All Time" . The song's power lies in its ambiguity—is it about romantic love, spiritual faith, or artistic dedication? Denny leaves it hovering between all three. - **"Autopsy"** — A more cryptic, brooding piece in 5/4 time that shifts to 4/4, featuring jazz-influenced chord changes. The title suggests emotional dissection, with lyrics that feel like fragments of a difficult conversation or breakup. **Richard Thompson's Contributions** Thompson's **"Genesis Hall"** opens the album with a dulcimer-scratched, minor-key lament. The lyrics ("The sign on the wall said 'Ten Commandments, not nine'") suggest themes of moral judgment and institutional failure, possibly referencing a squat or protest site. His **"Cajun Woman"** provides a raucous, slide-guitar-driven counterpoint, though some critics find it lightweight compared to the album's heavier material . **The Dylan Covers** The band was in the midst of a "Dylan phase," covering three songs (plus a fourth, "Dear Landlord," as a bonus track): - **"Si Tu Dois Partir"** — A French Cajun reimagining of "If You Gotta Go, Go Now," translated with help from audience members at a Middle Earth club gig. It became their only UK chart hit (#21) and earned them a *Top of the Pops* appearance . The studio version features Swarbrick's fiddle, Thompson's accordion, and Trevor Lucas on triangle. - **"Percy's Song"** — A six-minute epic featuring former member Ian Matthews on harmonies, with the hypnotic "Turn, turn, turn again" refrain. - **"Million Dollar Bash"** — A lighthearted romp from Dylan's *Basement Tapes* (then unreleased), featuring Swarbrick on mandolin. **The Traditional Epic** **"A Sailor's Life"** (11:08) is the album's centerpiece and a landmark in British music. Based on an 18th-century folk song Denny knew from her solo circuit days, it builds from a melancholy ballad into an extended improvisation between Thompson's guitar and Swarbrick's fiddle. This was one of the first times traditional English folk material was treated with the extended, psychedelic jam approach of rock music—effectively inventing the "prog-folk" genre . The track pointed directly toward *Liege & Lief*'s "Matty Groves" and "Tam Lin." --- ## Influence & Legacy *Unhalfbricking* is the crucial bridge between American folk-rock and the British folk revival. It demonstrated that traditional English material could be electrified without losing its essence, paving the way for not only Fairport's own *Liege & Lief* but for the entire British folk-rock movement including Steeleye Span, Pentangle, and later artists like Kate Rusby . The album's influence extends beyond folk circles. Its production aesthetic—warm, analog, performance-focused—influenced countless British recordings of the 1970s. The tragic circumstances of its release also cemented the "doomed romantic" mythology that would follow both the band and Sandy Denny throughout her short life (she died in 1978, aged 31). --- ## Pros & Cons ### **Pros** - **"Who Knows Where the Time Goes?"** remains one of the greatest compositions in British folk music—timeless, profound, and perfectly performed . - **"A Sailor's Life"** broke new ground in fusing traditional folk with psychedelic rock improvisation, establishing a template for the genre . - Sandy Denny's vocals are at their peak—haunting, clear, and emotionally devastating. - The production by Joe Boyd and John Wood captures a band playing together in real space, with organic warmth rarely achieved in modern recordings . - It captures a band in thrilling transition, documenting the exact moment they discovered their true identity. - Historical significance as Martin Lamble's final recorded work—a testament to his sensitive, jazz-inflected drumming. ### **Cons** - **Inconsistent tone**: The album veers between profound melancholy ("Genesis Hall," "Autopsy," "A Sailor's Life") and near-novelty throwaways ("Si Tu Dois Partir," "Million Dollar Bash"). Some listeners find this schizophrenia jarring . - **The Dylan covers**, while historically interesting, sometimes feel like they belong to a different album. "Million Dollar Bash" in particular can seem lightweight compared to the surrounding material . - **"Cajun Woman"** divides opinion—some find it a fun stylistic diversion; others hear it as filler that disrupts the album's flow . - **Not fully realized**: By the band's own admission, this was a transitional record. The definitive statement of their folk-rock fusion would come six months later with *Liege & Lief* . - The album's historical importance sometimes overshadows the fact that, track-for-track, it's less consistent than its predecessor (*What We Did on Our Holidays*) or successor. --- ## Conclusion *Unhalfbricking* is an album of ghosts and premonitions. It contains some of the most beautiful music Fairport Convention ever recorded, yet it's impossible to separate from the tragedy that followed. It stands as a testament to a band discovering its purpose while standing on the precipice of disaster. For all its inconsistencies, it remains essential listening—not just for folk-rock enthusiasts, but for anyone interested in the moment when British music reclaimed its traditional roots through the lens of psychedelic rock. The album cover—showing Sandy Denny's parents in their Wimbledon garden with the band lounging in the background—now looks like a document from a lost, innocent England, preserved just before everything changed .

Nice album.

I’m proud of myself for recognizing the French translation of a Bob Dylan song before the chorus hit. Aside from that, I tried hard not to like this. But the “Joan Baez (ish) fronting CSN (ish)” vibe wore me down. Rounding up from 3.5*

I thought it was going to be generic hippy music. But instead it’s loving folk and hippy music

Really strong start and finish

I found this pretty darn chill and easy to listen to, and it was nice after a busy week. Somehow 4/5 stars.

What an incredible voice from Sandy Denny.

Nice folk band

Que gran sonido tiene este disco. Un sonido muy único y con mucha potencia. No conocía a Fairport Convention, me gusto mucho su sonido tradicional folk pero con fusión de muchos estilos. Gran voz principal y ejecución instrumental. Un folk muy completo con arreglos melódicos muy agradables. Buen disco. Me gusto.

Bin ja Fan aber das ist halb fertig und wenn man die englische Folkmusik wiederbeleben will sollte man vllt nicht Dylan Songs und Franzosenliedern anfangen.

Chad Convention

This was amazing. Great touch on British folk mixed with some avant garde rock music. Nice touch hear a folk song in 5. Didn’t love the vocals at first but they grew on me, I hope there is more Fairport Convention

Not their best album, but still great

My brother and I both described this album as pleasant. I enjoyed listening to it while I made us breakfast burritos and made myself muffins for the week. 👍

While listening to this album, I started doing full morning stretches again for the first time since high school. It's fun to see what patterns are already emerging this early into this; this is my 20th album, and it's already the third prominent instance of the French language. Aside from that observation though, I went into this album a little skeptical; a 60s English folk band was not an immediately exciting followup to the somewhat low-key albums I've listened to recently, and my initial surface-level research into the album gave me the impression that I was in for another album of mostly covers, the principle of which would annoy me on a list such as this. However, once I actually listened to the album, I found myself very pleasantly surprised. More of the work was original material than I had mistakenly assumed, and Fairport Convention takes the few unreleased Bon Dylan songs present here and really makes them their own; they even performed one of them in French! Sandy Denny's vocals seamlessly fit over both the quiet and loud moments throughout this album, and there is a lot of good variety in the energy and sound throughout this album. Considering this is one of only two artists at this point in the list who I had never heard of prior, Unhalfbricking easily takes the cake as my most pleasantly surprising album thus far. Highlights: Genesis Hall, Si tu dois partir, Autopsy, A Sailor's Life, Cajun Woman, Percy's Song, Million Dollar Bash

Very good

Lovely album, I discovered it through their other album on the list “Liege and Lief” Liege and Lief is the better one though 4/5

better than expected

Fairport Conventions Unhalfbricking (UK-LP Juli 1969) ist ein britisches Folk-Rock-Album, aufgenommen zwischen Januar und April 1969 in den Sound Techniques und Olympic Studios in London. Es markiert eine Phase, in der sich die Band von stark amerikanisch geprägten Einflüssen hin zu einem eigenständigen, englisch-fundierten Folk-Rock bewegt und dabei sowohl Dylan-Covers als auch eigene Kompositionen vereint. Das Album enthält sowohl mehrere bis dahin unveröffentlichte Bob-Dylan-Songs wie Si Tu Dois Partir, Percy’s Song und Million Dollar Bash als auch eigene Stücke und traditionelle Arrangements. Sandy Denny prägt mit Who Knows Where the Time Goes?, das später als Folk-Klassiker gilt, einen der markantesten Momente des Albums. A Sailor’s Life gelingt mit einem über elf Minuten umfassenden Arrangement eine frühe und einflussreiche Folk-Rock-Fusion traditioneller Vorlage und elektrischer Instrumentierung. Die Mitwirkung von Richard Thompson, Ashley Hutchings, Simon Nicol, Martin Lamble und Gastmusiker Dave Swarbrick, sowie die Produktion durch Joe Boyd und Simon Nicol zeichnen ein vielfältiges Klangbild zwischen Rock-, Folk- und improvisierten Elementen. Unhalfbricking brachte der Band erste Chartplatzierungen und steht als Übergang zu ihrem später folgenden folk-traditionelleren Werk Liege & Lief. Insgesamt zeigt das Album eine Band im Übergang zu einem eigenständigen Stil, dessen Songauswahl und Arrangements präzise, aber nicht überzogen wirken und deren musikalische Gestaltungsbreite hörbar ist.

Genesis Hall // Si tu dois partir // Autopsy // Percy’s Song // 3.5/5

Didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did. Had some actual soul in it and it's Cajun, so extra two stars from me. Album bangs. Edit: BRUH THEY ARE BRITISH SINCE WHEN HAVE BRITISH FOLKS HAD SO MUCH SOUL

Never heard of Fairport Convention before. Genesis Hall is pleasant sounding. Not really a folk music person, but this album is surprisingly enjoyable. Sounds nice and upbeat, and is pretty relatable.

Dacht ik net de '60's uitgespeeld te hebben, krijg ik er weer één. Wel aan het einde van de '60's en dit klinkt ook wel wat meer volwassen. Toch nog een album met een eigen geluid. Ik moet wel even wennen aan de zang van die dame, ondanks dat die prima is. Gisteren toevallig naar Lovebox van Groove Armada geluisterd, dat ook absoluut een plekje verdient in het boek. Kom ik met Autopsy een dikke original tegen. En op de één of andere manier helpt zo'n associatie mij te wennen aan de zang en ga ik door de link het album meer waarderen. Wellicht dus niet een heel neutraal oordeel. Tja, zo werkt het soms ook in de muziek.

Het eerste wat me opvalt is de gekke hoes. Wat is dit voor doodnormale foto? Je gaat in eerste instantie kijken naar dat stel wat bij de poort staat te poseren en je denkt, wie zijn die mensen? En waarom gebruik je dit als een albumhoes. Maar als je dan verder kijkt, zie je een groepje van 5 in het gras van de tuin zitten. Dat zal dan misschien wel de band zijn? En die mensen waar ze in de tuin zitten zullen wel familie (ouders?) van een van de bandleden zijn. Ik vind het een intrigerende foto, dus ze hebben wel gelijk mijn aandacht te pakken met de eenvoudige hoes. Qua muziek is het een soort verzameling Dylanesque rock n folk nummers, met wat extra psychedelische gitaren en een Jefferson Airplane-achtige zang. Ik vind het gitaarspel wel tof moet ik zeggen, met meerdere gitaren die door elkaar heen pingelen. En ook de drums zijn interessant om te luisteren, het varieert en is niet gewoon maar simpelweg een strak ritme tikken. Het voelt sfeervol en stukken als de gitaarsolo bij Autopsy, dat is gewoon bijna het latere Pink Floyd. Ik heb blijkbaar geen last van blauwe maandagen, want ik vind heel veel van de (meer en minder obscure) albums die we de laatste krijgen, stiekem tof om te luisteren. En ook hier heb ik met veel plezier naar geluisterd. Ik heb het andere album, Liege & Lief, er meteen achter aan gedraaid, dat vond ik toch iets minder, maar beloonde ik alsnog met een voor mij verrassende 3. Dus weet je wat, ik geef dit een fijne 4 sterren.

I came into this one assuming it was going to be some hippie 60's druggie music but I enjoyed it. A real under heard folk gem. 8/10

Very enjoyable, British folk meets electric, some really interesting song structures, excellent guitar work by Richard Thompson, vocals are brilliant as well

I first heard of these guys through this list when I pulled their next album, Liege and Leaf. I loved that one, so was happy to hear more of their work. Overall the album is very good, though maybe not quite as good as Liefe and Lief. I'll go back to this though. 4/5

Very Folky..

4/5

Smoooove

Never heard this before, will listen again

Unexpectedly awesome.

When it started, I thought I was going to hate it, but it actually is pretty good, once you get into the frame.

A very pleasant surprise. Favorite tracks: Si tu dois partir, ... A Sailor's Life, Percy's Song.

Vibes, vibes plenty of vibes. And good ones at that. Love the voice and drums in particular, though less fond of the honky tonky track, but I do like the vocal harmonies on it.

Sandy & co arguably at the height of their powers mixing US and British folk to create a timeless classic.

Loving the vibe!

A sprawling record that exists entirely in the crepuscular hours, when the fog clings to the dew-wetted grass and the light strikes everything as if it were made of glass. Starting with “Genesis Hall”, a galloping 3/4 full of surprising turns, the record often puts me in mind of the sort of Midwest emo that refuses to formally recognise itself as folk (or I, for that matter – a reputation to protect I suppose). The guitars, often in beautiful counterpoint with a violin, manage to find new niches to explore in every nook and cranny of the music, breathing life and returning energy to generations-old turns. The drumming, while always understated and in service of the song, is interesting and interested – in conversation with the instrumentation around it, rather than simply offering it a bed. Sandy Denny is remarkable throughout – “Autopsy” and “Who Knows Where the Time Goes?”, her compositions, are the clear compositional highs of the album (no small achievement when you consider that Bob Dylan is also credited). “Unhalfbricking” might be a nonsense, but Unhalfbricking is the real thing.

7/10… brit folk / bluesy / *1969

Ever since discovering Fairport Convention, they have always been a band I really appreciate. I love their overall folk rock sound, but what I really love is the traditional British folk element. Not to mention, Sandy Denny’s voice has always resonated with me, and thanks to Fairport Convention, I discovered her solo work as well.

Weird title but solid

So, uh wow...where did this album comes from? Psychedelic folk rock that feels like taking a too strong edible while vacationing in a quaint seaside town.

Two in a row. Really interesting and unusual sounds that I’d never heard before. Love the stripped down folk sounds, eerie vocals and overall vibes. Looking forward to more of these.

Britisk folk rock med fiddles og det hele. Inspireret af amerikansk folk men det her er så starten på at man finder ud af at England har deres egen identitet og kan løsrive sig musisk. Kan godt lide de her “ballader” nærmest hvor historiefortællingen er meget klar i vokalen og man nærmest føler man får fortalt en historie. Det minder mig lidt om the pogues men ikke ligeså karakteristisk selvfølgelig. Men man kan høre noget irsk inspireret osv som jeg bare synes er charmerende. Det minder mig om at sidde som nogle sørøver over et bord som har været ude og opleve en masse og nu er man samlet gamle og nye kendinge og lytter til røverhistorier mens der bliver serveret øl over desken. Nogle af de momenter som er virkelig stærke og glade for at værdsætte fordi de er “fortjent” efter man har været modig og fri og gennemgået en udvikling. Det er en lille pause ved bordet med en øl inden man tager videre

That's some pretty decent folk music. Quite melodic. Not something I want to sit around an listen to all day, but I'd like to learn a song or two.

Some beautiful music here, particularly the middle part of the album - Autopsy and A Sailor’s Life, ideal for lounging around on a Sunday morning (rather than listening to on a run as I did). Doesn’t get the fifth star cos I’m not up for the the random French Cajun version of Dylan, it just doesn’t fit, and Million Dollar Bash is a bit meh too.

Didn't know what to expect, left positively surprised, such a great album! 8.5/10 Favourite track: Genesis Hall

Super enjoyable. Made me want to listen to it on vinyl and host an old timey dinner party.

Folky psych. I dig it man.

this was so slow and relaxing and lovely. like sitting out on the porch of a cottage at sunset in June. just... peace, but still energetic.

Was prepared to be skeptical, especially after "Si Tu Dois Partir," but some great guitar work later in the album made this very enjoyable.

Pleasant!

Not my favorite Fairport Convention album, but it does include one of my all-time favorite songs - A Sailor's Life.

Very good stuff. Really need to spend more time with this group.

This was exactly what I was looking for on a Sunday morning.

Never heard of this group, but I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed this British folk, and in some tracks near the end could hear the American influence. A good 3.5

This album is about half genius folk rock and half too weird to truly enjoy. There's more better moments than bad though, and "A Sailor's Life" has such a cool solo section that I couldn't give this any lower than a 4. But it misses that coveted 5 mark

That was a fun album. Kinda like the Mamas & the Papas

Good folk rock. Takes me back to my hippy days of stems & seeds and cheap wine. Enjoyed the rambling jam of A Sailor’s Life, but the winner for me is The Ballad of Easy Rider. One of my favorite soundtrack albums, and Roger McGuinn’s version of this song damn near brings me to tears, every damn time, damnit! This album just gets better as it goes along. 4 Stars for growth!

Album pas mal pour l’automne, j’ai bien aimé

Fairport Convention are a band that I’ve heard of, yet admittedly couldn’t name a song that they had sung let alone an album that they created. I really wasn’t sure what to expect, but it delivered on some folky charm which I rather enjoyed. Some beautiful vocals on this which reminded me of Joan Baez. I remain unsure of how they passed me by during my exploratory folk music period

First time listening to the group. Lovely, Sandy Denny had a gorgeous voice

Better than the album cover!

Was worried about this one, actually pretty good and not overly long

I really quite liked this. Interesting sound for the time and really liked the vocals.

I knew A Sailor's Life was gonna hit. 3.5.

Fairpoint Convention is another band that I was completely unfamiliar with. A very welcome discovery, some songs sound angelic and others sound like a living room jam session. It's definitely an album that features a group searching for it's sound. That doesn't mean however that the album is not very enjoyable. On top of that, A sailor's life might even become one of my favorites, it has such an incredible composition.

4.5

The mellower songs sre killer, the rest is nice. 4 stars

I was half bricking it because I was not fancying a bunch of gnarly, knobbly ye olde English folk covers of Dylan or the prospect of Richard Thompson singing but despite a few rough patches like Cajun Woman and Million Dollar Bash this one has some choice moody epic prog folk like Autopsy and A Sailor’s Life and as soon as Sandy Denny’s oh so lovely Who Knows Where The Time Goes eased in I was back to a state of unhalfbricking it… I guess that’s a word after all which means Sandy lost that game of Ghost and has to buy the next round of drinks for everyone. I see she’s making hers a double.

I really liked it.

Turn, turn to the rain and the wind

I like the way the music builds using both instruments and voice. The lyrics were thought provoking- I would definitely listen to this album again.

I always have felt like British folk rock was like a weird parallel universe; add to that I loved Richard and Linda Thompson's post-Fairport work (Shoot Out the Lights, I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight). This made it cool to give the Fairport album a fresh listen. I love the weird thrumming guitar and fiddle outro of Sailor's Song, Who Knows Where the Times Goes is lovely, and two Dylan solid covers (Million Dollar Bash as weird as it should be). This is very pretty in parts, a bit indulgent in others, and interesting.

Surprisingly good mix of folk and rock. Love that 11-minute jam out on "A Sailor's Life"

Parts of the album were beautiful, while other parts did little for me, sometimes within the same song; “A Sailor’s Life” was gorgeous for the first 3-4 minutes, but the additional 7-8 minutes of instrumental lost what I loved and felt excessive.

između trojke i četvorke, al past će jedna lijepa četvorkica

Great album, had a lot of sort of woodstock folk elements to it that I loved. Definitely keeping this album in my back pocket for a chill rainy day or trip through the mountains. Favorite track on the album was Who Knows Where The Time Goes.

Wow this was an absolute revelation. Just kept getting better and better as the album went on. Close your eyes tilt your head and you can almost imagine the best traveling musician s you ever heard have stopped for the night in your small hamlet and change your life.

A nice, relaxing folk rock album. The guitar is very good, and the singing is great. They combine to produce a uniquely relaxing sound that I quite enjoyed.

Not surprisingly, the three worst songs on the album were all written by Bob Dylan. These tracks are boring and overwrought simultaneously. The other 5 tracks are actually really good and a few are an excellent example of the re-worked British folk sound eventually perfected by Jethro Tull. Sandy Denny’s performance is particularly excellent. Her voice is unparalleled for the era and her melody choices are superb. It’s a shame about the Dylan tracks, but there’s a great EP inside this album. 3.5/5.0: Very Good

Don't judge an album by its cover! This was better than I expected. Very Jefferson Airplane. Lush and lovely.

Enjoyed the more rock/guitar leaning songs, but overall really like this album

This one was new to me and ended up being a nice surprise. Great vocal and instrumental performances through out. I wasn’t in a folk rock mood so it took a minute to settle in but once I did I found plenty to enjoy here. At times I could hear The Byrds influence, other times I heard some Joni Mitchell parallels but you know, more British. Good stuff!

Interesting album. I'd never heard of these folks. Again, folk isn't something I listen to often, but this has a slightly different vibe. I LOVED Autopsy. Added to my ole Chill playlist. The singer sounds like Joni Mitchell at times. This was actually a fantastic album. Glad I heard it, and will be listening to others from them. 4

Fun little folk album

Not their best album but thoroughly enjoyed, hadnt heard any Fairport for years, it was a good listen

I have never heard a Fairport song in my life. I've heard of them but know nothing of them. Was pleasantly surprised. If I knew ahead it was female-led folk music, it would have sent shivers down my spine, but I actually got quite into it once I realised it was quite psych rocky. Still conjures up imagery of hippies in a circle, but yeah, enjoyed it.

Cute, fun, cosy, nice folk. Great album.

This wasn't half bad! Easy listen and pretty pleasant.

Enjoyed this way more than expected. I loved the combo of traditional and electric on A Sailor's Life enough that the long noodly bit at the end didn't even bother me. Who Knows Where the Time Goes was another standout. Sandy Denny's voice is so familiar and I don't know why because I don't know any Fairport Convention songs! Great Sunday morning album (I really need to start a collection of all the ones I've discovered through this project). 3.5, would listen again.

a really nice album for me

I was thouroughly impressed by this album. I had never heard of this group, but there were some solid sounds and concepts that made this an enjoyable listen. Vocals like Joni Mitchell and steel guitar vibes like Neil Young and Grateful Dead. Some deep sound and mixing made this an album you can put on and just enjoy.

Although the opener was easily the strongest song, the whole album was compelling and an enjoyable listen.

Well, I didn't see that coming. An album from 1969 with this boring-ass cover from some band I've never heard of? Then it starts up and sounds like a good folk album that would fit right in during the 2010's. Then "A Sailor's Life" comes on with the jam band sound that I don't even usually like...but I'll be damned if it wasn't great. Through the first half of the album, this was a 5 for me. The latter half kinda fell off, though. I think the back half just sounds more dated, so the album as a whole doesn't hold up as well as I thought it would. Still a surprisingly fun listen, though. 4.4

I've never heard Fairport Convention, or of their terrible name. Given their description, I was prepared to completely hate it, but once I started listening, I suprisingly enjoyed it.

Fav songs: Genesis Hall; Autopsy; A Sailor's Life I was fully prepared to hate this because folk rock. I was especially going to hate 'A Sailor's Life' due to length. I did not. What I was not terribly interested in was all the Dylan covers. The band should have written more of their own material or used traditionals.

Super stark 4/5

Never heard of Fairport Convention. I like the vocal. Sad how life turned out for the lead singer. Bands and albums like this, that I've not heard before, this make me appreciate the generator/list again. 4/5.

Lovely and soothing.

Sandy Denny's voice and Richard Thompson's guitar work mean that this is going to be worth listening to. Highlighs: Genesis Hall, Si tu does partir and of course the classic, Who knows where the time goes. One of the best Fock Rock bands

Great folk stuff with a hint of salt and menance.

Weirdly good, not sure why i wasn't expecting to like this quite as much as I did. Full of warmth, hard not to like really.

-oh my god wait this is beautiful??? how have i never heard of this band before? -i love when this site turns me on to incredible stuff i didn’t know existed, because this may now be a contender for my favorite folk rock album i’ve ever heard. pretty much every track stood out as gorgeous and haunting -definite 4.5 -Favorites are Genesis Hall, Autopsy, A Sailor’s Life, and Cajun Woman

British folk rock at its finest.

Really enjoyed this

album is quite listenable and has some good cover songs. Nice guitar work too.

Reminds me of The Wicker Man.

This is really good, big RT coming in hot with a couple interesting compositions, A sailors life foreshadowing the epic english folk to come, Sandy denny blasting away, Martin Lamble RIP.

Beautiful