Fairport Convention

"'It took a couple more years before folk rock began to happen in Britain, and it was mainly through the efforts of one man, Ashley Hutchings. Ashley was a member of North London band Fairport Convention, which at the time saw itself as a kind of English answer to Jefferson Airplane and the Band. In Fairport, alongside Ashley, were Simon Nicol and the exceptional guitar player and songwriter Richard Thompson. They recorded a couple of early albums which included some folk material, such as Joni Mitchell's 'Chelsea Morning,' but the big step came when Sandy Denny joined the band. Sandy had been a member of another London band, the Strawbs, and had some knowledge of folk music.' (As I Roved Out: A Century Of Folk Music, Programme 4.)"

"'But I went afterwards to hear Fairport Convention playing in another part of the town, and they played better, I think, than I've ever heard any English group play anywhere at any time: a really amazing evening.' 16 February 1969)"

"'And I often think, when I'm putting programmes together at home, that it would be nice to play more of the records that I played when these programmes first started, quite a long time ago. I was just discussing it with the production team, and they weren't entirely certain for example about Fairport Convention, who did ten or eleven sessions for this programme back in the late 60s and 70s and so on. A lot of people listening tonight will not have heard them. One of the very best live gigs that I went to in all of my life was a Fairport Convention gig in Swindon, an unforgettably great night.' (28 May 2002)"

Festive Fifty Entries

 * None

Sessions

 * Eleven sessions. Sessions 1 & 2 featured vocals from Judy Dyble: replaced by Sandy Denny from 3 onwards. Ian Matthews joined in session 2 and left after 6.

1. Recorded: 1967-11-24. First broadcast: 10 December 1967. Repeated:
 * Let's Get Together / One Sure Thing / Lay Down Your Weary Tune / Chelsea Morning

2. Recorded: 1968-02-06. First broadcast: 03 March 1968. Repeated: Bernie Andrews submitted this second session as trial broadcast. 'Unanimous, enthusiastic pass' from audition panel, 'compared to Harper's Bizarre.' (Ken Garner, The Peel Sessions, p. 281.)
 * If (Stomp) / If I Had A Ribbon Bow / Time Will Show The Wiser / Violets Of Dawn

3. Recorded: 1968-05-28. First broadcast: 02 June 1968. Repeated: 30 June 1968
 * Close The Door Lightly When You Go / Where I Stand / Nottamun Town / You Never Wanted Me (& Some Sweet Day, TX 30 June 1968)

4. Recorded: 1968-08-26. First broadcast: 01 September 1968. Repeated: 29 September 1968.
 * If You Feel Good You Know It Can't Be Wrong / Fotheringay / Gone Gone Gone / Eastern Rain (& Suzanne, first TX 29 September 1968)

5. Recorded: 1968-12-09. First broadcast: 22 December 1968.
 * Meet On The Ledge / She Moves Through The Fair / Light My Fire / I'll Keep It With Mine / Billy The Orphan Boy's Lonely Christmas

6. Recorded: 1968-11-25. First broadcast: 22 January 1969 (although it had already gone out on a non-Peel Night Ride on 1968-12-15).
 * Things You Gave me / Meet On The Ledge / Autopsy / Morning Glory / Bird On A Wire / Mr. Lacey

7. Recorded: 1969-03-18. First broadcast: 06 April 1969. Repeated: 04 May 1969
 * Cajun Woman / Percy's Song / Si Tu Dois Partir Va T'En / Autopsy.

Other Shows Played

 * 29 June 1969: 'Genesis Hall (LP-Unhalfbricking)' (Island)
 * 11 July 1970: 'Doctor Of Physick (LP-Full House)' (Island)