Liege & Lief

The trajectory that Fairport Convention took in the space of four albums and two years is one of the most remarkable in British popular music. These records contain some of the most storied names not just in British, but world music. From a group of school friends aspiring to be 'the British Jefferson Airplane', over the course of their first quartet of releases, the group evolved into the leading exponents of British folk rock. Similar to how American folk and blues drew from gospel songs and spirituals, Fairport delved into traditional English folk songs, blending them with rock rhythms to create something groundbreaking and quickly imitated. This marked the debut of Richard Thompson, Sandy Denny, Ashley Hutchings, Ian Matthews, Dave Swarbrick, and Dave Mattacks on record. In May 1969, the band experienced a tragic car accident that claimed the lives of their drummer Martin Lamble and Thompson's girlfriend, Jeannie Franklyn. Despite the evident shock, Fairport decided to continue, making Swarbrick a permanent member and adding drummer Dave Mattacks. Hutchings immersed himself in traditional British music, resulting in the fourth album, "Liege And Lief," which featured five traditional tracks and three original folk-style compositions. This album set the standard that Fairport would follow and remains one of the most influential albums in British rock. The eight-minute masterpiece "Matty Groves" built on "A Sailor's Life" and provided Fairport with another enduring anthem. Upon