Fairport Convention Chronicles 1967-69 - Big O

 FAIRPORT CONVENTION

A CHRONICLE of sorts 1967-1969

Well in the weeks we see Richard Thompson release his first volume (sic) of his memoirs, here's an odd one in support of that early period Fairport from Big O no less!

Fairport Convention - Chronicles 1967-69- Big O

Not entirely sure about this although it does contain some gems not least 'Si Tu Dois de Partir' which I bought as a single when it came out and caused a stir amongst my small group of pals back then who couldn't stop listening to it when we realised it was Fairport's version of Bob Dylan's ''If You Gotta Go, Go Now'' . Its version of the later Doors' song 'Light My Fire' written by Robby Kreiger  is a sardonic and seemingly cynical almost naive take, mocking the Doors west coast peon to love and the hippy dream and the lyrics are changed accordingly but the whole collection is more than a curio and whilst Richard is yet to open up his pipes (well mostly!) as lead singer it has Ian Matthews on lead vocals backed by Judy Dyble and then Sandy Denny Denny on tracks 18-20 and ending as it does in '69 still features drummer Martin Lamble as it precedes the dreadful car crash which saw his death along with that of Richard's then girlfriend the previously mentioned Jeannie Franklyn. Being of mixed sources the quality is mixed but generally listenable and is of interest to more than mere Fairport fans maybe. It also ends with a track (23) of Joni Mitchell's Clouds album 'Both Sides Now' which came much later and isn't even listed but hey, its still worth checking