Meet On The Ledge: The Classic Years (1967-1975) [Original recording remastered]

Meet On The Ledge: The Classic Years (1967-1975) [Original recording remastered]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
Fairport Convention in its early years was to British folk-rock what the Byrds were to the genre's American bookend. Boasting in their heyday a frontline of Sandy Denny, Richard Thompson, and Iain Matthews, the group's impact has, if anything, grown in the years since the classic lineup split up. Fairport's stature is largely attributable to the ongoing popularity of Brit-folk touchstones Liege and Lief and Unhalfbricking, as well as Thompson's continued high-caliber solo work. Meet on the Ledge offers 32 tracks on two CDs, ranging from the band's somewhat awkward pre-Denny 1967 recordings and on into the mid-'70s, nearly a half-decade after Thompson had moved on. Instructive liner notes and a smattering of rare and previously unreleased tracks make this anthology an exceptional starting point for those who haven't immersed themselves in Fairport Convention and the movement they cultivated. --Steven Stolder

Meet On The Ledge: The Classic Years (1967-1975),Fairport Convention,A&M,British Folk,British Folk-Rock,Folk,Folk & Traditional,Folk-Rock,Pop,Popular Music,Progressive Folk

Average customer rating:

Fans can never be objective...

Classic Fairport Convention!

An awesome anthology!!!

Simply one of the best compilations ever!

Disc One Will Become a Favorite CD!

Meet On The Ledge: The Classic Years (1967-1975)
Fairport Convention
Manufacturer: A&M
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

British Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
General | Folk | Styles | Music
Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music
General | Rock | Styles | Music
Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
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Fotheringay

ASIN: B00000JNMO
Release Date: 1999-07-27

Tracks:

Chelsea Morning
Fotheringay
Mr. Lacey
Book Song
I'll Keep It With Mine
Tale In Hard Time
Meet On the Ledge
Genesis Hall
A Sailor's Life
Who Knows Where TheTime Goes
Percy's Song
Come All Ye
Matty Groves
Tam Lin
Crazy Man Michael
Farewell, Farewell

Tracks:

Now Be Thankfull
Bonny Bunch Of Roses
Walk Awhile
Sloth
Poor Will And The Jolly Hangman
Journeyman's Grace
John Lee
Rosie
The Plainsman
The Hexhamshire Lasxs
Polly On The Shore
Bring 'Em Down
Rising For The Moon
White Dress
Stranger To Himself
One More Chance

Amazon.com essential recording

Fairport Convention in its early years was to British folk-rock what the Byrds were to the genre's American bookend. Boasting in their heyday a frontline of Sandy Denny, Richard Thompson, and Iain Matthews, the group's impact has, if anything, grown in the years since the classic lineup split up. Fairport's stature is largely attributable to the ongoing popularity of Brit-folk touchstones Liege and Lief and Unhalfbricking, as well as Thompson's continued high-caliber solo work. Meet on the Ledge offers 32 tracks on two CDs, ranging from the band's somewhat awkward pre-Denny 1967 recordings and on into the mid-'70s, nearly a half-decade after Thompson had moved on. Instructive liner notes and a smattering of rare and previously unreleased tracks make this anthology an exceptional starting point for those who haven't immersed themselves in Fairport Convention and the movement they cultivated. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

Fans can never be objective..........2006-04-26

From the OBJECTIVE reviewer...before Richard Thompson's over rated solo years there was his underrated Fairport Convention Years. This is a great over view and the best FC collection.

Classic Fairport Convention!.......2004-08-15

"Meet on the Ledge" covers Fairport Convention's recording career from their first Polydor album from 1967 till "Rising from the Moon" from 1975; the last one to feature Sandy Denny.

On their first 3-4 albums the Fairports were a more pop/rock oriented band than many people may realise. It wasn't until Dave Swarbrick's entry in 1969 that they grew into the traditional-folk/rock group that has become their trademark since.

Their first album, with Judy Dyble, is only represented by Joni Mitchell's "Chelsea Morning". It's a fine song from an album that had its fine moments, but lacked clear direction.

Their next two albums, on the other hand is very well reprented here.

5 songs from "What we did in our Holidays" and close to 27 minutes from "Unhalfbricking".

These two albums show great song-writing from both Richard Thompson and Sandy Denny. Sandy Denny's "Fotheringay" and "Who Knows Where the Time Goes" are both among her finest. Thompson contributes fine songs like "Meet on the Ledge" and "Genesis Hall"

Both albums feature covers of obscure Bob Dylan songs like "I'll Keep it With Mine" and "Percy's Song". I particularly like the latter, which was one of the songs that really turned me on to the band.

Their inspiration from traditional British music shows on both albums; especially on their 11 minute version of "A Sailor's Life", which features guest appearance of Dave Swarbrick ( on violin ) , who was soon to be a permanent member.

Their next album, the folk-rock classic "Liege and Lief", was Fairport Convention in a new line-up. Ian Matthews and Martin Lamble had been replaced by Dave Mattacks and Dave Swarbrick, both key members in Fairport history.

The album features traditional songs and great new originals like "Farewell Farewell" ( Thompson ), "Crazy Man Michael" ( Thompson/Swarbrick ) and "Come All Ye" (Denny/Hutchings ) . Their songwriting was very much in a traditional folk-style; so the album is very consistent and an all-time classic of folk-rock. It is very well represented with five tracks out of eight. One of my favourites from the album "The Deserter" is oddly enough not featured, though.

After "Liege and Lief" Sandy Denny and Ashley Hutchings were next to leave. Sandy was not replaced and Dave Pegg ( another key person in their history ) took over the bass, and added brilliant mandolin-picking to their style.

The new line-up recorded a great single "Now Be Thankful" by Thompson and Swarbrick, which is obviously included here.

Their 1970 album "Full House" is another milestone in folk-rock. The vocals of Swarbrick, Thompson and to a lesser extent Simon Nicol are so great that the voice of Sandy Denny is not missed here. The album is represented by Thompson's and Swarbrick's "Walk Awhile" and the live-favourite "Sloth". Two more songs from that period is included here. Their early 10 minute version of "Bonny Bunch of Roses" and the "Full House" outtake "Poor Will and the Jolly Hangman"; another Swarbrick/Thompson compostion which was pulled from the album in the last moment, which was really a big shame - a great song which is now included in its right place on the CD reissue of that album.

Strangely enough their next album "Angel Delight" is only represented by Swarbrick and Thompson's "Journeyman's Grace". Thompson had left the band by then and is not credited on the album except as a co-writer on "Journeyman's Grace" and "Sickness and Diseases".

The album may not be quite as consistent as "Full House", but still a very good album, and I think songs like "Banks of the Sweetprimroses" and "Angel Delight" had deserved a place on this compilation.

Their next album "John Babbacombe Lee" (1971) was a concept album, telling the story of the hanging of John Lee which never succeeded. Though it's a great album, and probably very much a Dave Swarbrick project, it is only represented by one track. This probably makes good sense, as the songs obviously work best as a whole.

Their next album "Rosie" was slightly more pop/mainstream oriented. Simon Nicol had left ( the last original member ) and had been replaced by Jerry Donahue and Trevor Lucas.

From the album we have Dave Swarbrick's beatiful "Rosie", which must be one his greatest songs. Very moving to hear Sandy Denny's and Linda Thompson's voices on the chorus. Richard Thompson is also playing on the track. The deep voice of Trevor Luces can ve heard on the other "Rosie" track "The Plainsman", which is also a fine song.

This line-up recorded one more album "Nine". Of the three track included from that album Dave Pegg's "Polly on the Shore" is by far my favourite; great vocals from Trevor Lucas. Dave Swarbrick's "To Althea From Prison" been a great addition from that album. The exquisite guitarplaying of Jerry Donahue is shining on many of the "Nine"-tracks.

The next album, and the last one to be represented here, is "Rising for the Moon" for which Sandy Denny had rejoined the band. After this album the band made a total change of direction ( into acoustic traditional folk ) with the commercially ( and artistically? ) flop of "Gottle o Geer", which was also to be their final original album for Island Records.

"Rising for the Moon" marks a fine end to a great era. With great songs from Sandy Denny ( the title track, "Stranger to Himself", "What is True", "After Halloween" and "One More Time" and Dave Swarbrick's "White Dress" and "Nighttime Girl". Sandy Denny is clearly the dominating personality here. The four songs selected for this compilation represent the album perfectly.

This compilation is highly recommendable; and if you want more of the same Island Records have reissued most of the Fairport Convention albums with great bonus-tracks.

An awesome anthology!!!.......2004-04-07

Of all the bands I have heard from Britain, especially around the 60s and 70s era this is one of my favorite bands. I was first drawn to them by Sandy Denny's beautiful voice which I first heard from Led Zeppelins song "Battle of Evermore" on "Stairway to Heaven." The songs I like are Fotheringay, Mr. Lacey, Book Song, Meet on the Ledge, Genesis Hall, Come All Ye, Matty Groves, and Tam Lin. On Disc 2 there are some some songs on there that I do like, but I don't play it as much as Disc 1. All in all this is still a great anthology.

Simply one of the best compilations ever!.......2002-02-05

From the most under-rated bands of all time....a great compilation of their music. Contrary to some of the other reviews in this section, Disc #2 is phenominal! They became a different group with each new release and I loved all of them. Especially: 'Full House', 'Angel Delight' and 'Nine'. Great stuff with Trevor Lucas and Jerry Donahue in the mid-seventies. Long live Swarb, Peggy, DM, and Simon for those latter years and beyond!

Heck, I'm listening to 'Gottle o' Geer' right now!!!

Disc One Will Become a Favorite CD!.......2001-11-16

Disc One is a great collection.
1)Chelsea Morning(Mitchell). This song isn't my favorite and I often skip it but since it was a radio hit....from the self titled first album.
2-7)Fotheringay, Mr. Lacey, Book Song,I'll Keep it With Mine(Dylan), Tale in Hard Time, Meet on the Ledge. I love all these songs from their second and much better What We Did on Our Holiday, thoughtful and thoughtfully played sixties folk rockers.
8-11)Genesis Hall, A Sailors Life, Who Knows Where The Time Goes, Percys Song(Dylan). I'm not a big Sandy Denny ballad fan so that third one "Who knows..." not a favorite but this is a very energetic group of folk rock with emphasis on the latter,those first two are rollicking epic tales, from their classic Unhalfbricking album.
12-16)Come All Ye,Matty groves, Tam Lin, Crazy Man Michael, Farewell Farewell. These are all Celtic rockers from the album that created that genre, Liege& Lief. Those first three will blow your British Isle socks off.
I highly recommend this first disc or several of the original albums on disc. However I can't recommend disc two, because it documents the band as members started leaving and whereas that first disc is one breakthrough recording after another, the second disc just repeats with ever diminishing success what was done on those early records.
Disc One is five stars. Disc Two is two stars for though it contains an occasional highlight the disc is for the most part filled out with material that is not really up to the Fairport standard set on disc one.

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