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Classic Albums - Liege and Lief

© Stephen William Gray

The first in a series of reviews of albums that every folkie should consider for their collection looks at Fairport Convention's "Liege and Lief". The band have been credited by some with the invention of folk-rock. True or not, this album was certainly crucial to the development of the genre. From their early days Fairport had combined a very English version of R and B with more folky traditional and contemporary material. This album set a marker for the direction the band were moving in and led directly to a thriving folk-rock scene with the emergence of Steeleye Span, Mr.Fox, the Albion Band et al.

The opener, Come All Ye, is an invitation from the band and a hint of the riches to come. The rhythm section of Dave Mattacks and Tiger Hutchings rocks solidly, while the fiddle of Dave Swarbrick is waiting to fly.

Track 2, the brooding Reynardine is slow, sly and menacing like its subject matter.

From the first notes of Matty Groves you know you are listening to a classic. The tale of a working man seduced by his master's wife, with the pair of them meeting a grisly end for their infidelity. The track builds tension throughout until the deadly climax, which is then relieved by a wonderful instrumental workout.

Farewell Farewell is a simple song of parting, based on the traditional song tune Willy of Winsbury, which highlights the beauty of Sandy Denny's vocals.

The Deserter is the tale of a soldier captured on Ratcliffe's Highway, a notorious haunt of criminals and deserters in the wake of the Napoleonic Wars. He is saved from execution by royal intervention - but there is a twist!

The instrumental medley that follows is surely one of folk-rock's finest: the Lark in the Morning / Rakish Paddy / Foxhunters Jig / Toss the Feathers. These tunes inspired me (and probably countless others) to play my instrument, and I still play them regularly.

Tam Lin is a fine ballad of sorcery which hangs on a rocking riff. The band members all excel on this track. "they will turn me in your arms into a newt or a snake, but hold me tight and fear not I am your baby's father" sings Sandy as, on Halloween, the heroine rescues her bewitched knight.

The album ends with the gloriously sad Crazy Man Michael,a Swarbrick /Thompson composition on life's injustice. And with it we leave the album - whistling the simplest of tunes.

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