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Fairport Convention: Liege & Lief | Extended Play Lounge - Ep. 104 (Patreon)

Published:
2025-12-03 13:19:02
Imported:
2026-06
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For our last Extended Play Lounge of 2025, I made this one a Doug's Choice. I've had my eye on Fairport Convention for a long time, and I was not disappointed by this lovely album. I hope you enjoy as much as I did!

Files

Fairport Convention: Liege and Lief | Extended Play Lounge - Ep. 104

Comments

Jim Tackett

Good pick. I would have voted for it. Looking forward to listening.

Aarf

So lovely, thanks Doug! When I think of female english voices, the first two that comes to my mind are the Annie Haslam and Sandy Denny ones. So different but so beautiful. In this album and the others with Fairport Convention there are songs in which her voice is so warm, so ethereal it really summons past and myth and such a melancholy. I hope one day you'll listen to "What We Did on Our Holidays" and "Unhalfbricking". Probably they are not so coherent as this one, but have songs worth listening anyway and really show the steps towards "Liege and Lief". Thanks again Doug!

Ross Pollack

Great episode. I listened to this album in its entirety when it came up in a poll about 18 months ago and it really grabbed me. There’s something about those seemingly simple key areas and chord progressions that grab the listener and serve as an effective backdrop for the story being told through the lyrics. Also, the guitar in “Crazy Man Michael” sounds like it is going through a Leslie.

James Geckle

Planning to listen to this later today and looking forward to it. I’m a Fairport fan that’s always regretted not crossing The Pond for their Cropredy Festival. I used to receive A New Day, the Tull newsletter. It also covered Fairport news. I think that’s where I learned about the limited edition live double CD that included Robert Plant’s guest contribution at their 25? Anniversary show. But at the time, I couldn’t find it anywhere. Spin on a bit brother. Ok, well I was sitting in a bar in Annapolis, Maryland waiting for a Fairport Convention concert with the Mrs., when I noticed Dave Pegg and Simon Nicol sitting at the bar. I surreptitiously paid the bartender for their round and returned to my seat. When they discovered what I’d done they came over for a chat. I asked Dave if he could help me locate that CD but he told me there were only like 100 or a 1000 made and they’re all gone. Bummer but when we sat down at our front row table a pleasant fellow sat across from us and I told him my sad tale. He said he might know a guy… so I gave him my email thinking that was that and I’d never hear from him but I was wrong. Thanks to that chance meeting, I added that CD to my collection a long time ago. 🤘

James Geckle

There's so much great Fairport Convention out there but if you haven't heard (I neglected to check the lists) solo Richard Thompson, a good intro might be "Beeswing" or "1952 Vincent Black Lightning." I have an artistic rendition of the lyrics to Beeswing signed by Richard. Cheers!

Mark J Moerman

Since you enjoyed this one, I would heartily recommend "What We Did On Our Holiday" and "Full House" as worthy of your attention. "...Holiday" (1968) is from the era from everyone in England was doing obscure Bob Dylan songs, and their version of Dylan's "I'll Keep It With Mine" is incredible. It's an album that has often enthralled those who love folkie/singer-songwriter fare. "Full House" (1970) is after Sandy Denny left and is the last one to feature Richard Thompson, who by that time was in full flower as a songwriter and guitarist. The band is in high gear here and it is rightfully regarded as a classic.

Peter Tutak

For more than 50 years now, this album has been in my top 50. A perfect blend of storytelling, dance, and balladry, delivered by the gorgeous voice of Sandy Denny, all wrapped in superb musicianship and beautifully recorded. (Swarbrick's and Thompson's unison playing throughout the jig medley is some particularly hot work.) Indeed, a pinnacle of the English 'electric folk' movement. Nice to see you enjoying your first listen of this incredible album.

James Geckle

I just rewatched this with my wife. It’s her opinion that the key of D best suits Sandy’s voice. Thoughts?

Chris Gadsby

As well as their impact in effectively inventing English folk rock, we shouldn’t forget their impact from running the Cropredy festival every year since 1980,

Chris Gadsby

I haven’t listened to the original album for years,so it might be age and my deteriorating hearing, but Sandy’s vocals seem very low down in the mix to me?

Adie

Such a treat to listen again to this album. I always had the admiration that Doug expesses in relation to Crazy Man Michael; that this modern band (or, in fact Thompson and Swarbrick) could create a piece that is authentic in both ancient and modern. I would say that this isn't the only time Richard Thompson has managed that. Although this album is rightly seen as the authentication of English folk music in the modern Rock idiom, it is also the other way around. I understand some of English folk music as being as relevant to today as to yesterday, and this was, I believe, the mission of the musicians of that time (starting in this path, I think, with Martin Carthy). I feel the odd time signature of Tam Lin, and the recurring theme in the lyrics of oppression of humanity by a disconnected elite, as very English. There is an alchemy in this album that captures the both the past and it's present, renewing and handing across the music to the future. I am so glad Doug decided to listen and appreciate this precious legacy.

Gina Gustin

Oooh... I joined just in time for some Fairport. Finally spent the money to hear A Passion Play. I'm pleased to find Leige & Leif. Great Album--probably their best.

Gina Gustin

Sandy also has some wonderful solo albums you should check out. Richard Thompson... you could spend the rest of your life listening to his stuff. The man's a genius!!! Swarb is the greatest fiddler I've ever listened to. Only Ashley MacIsaac and Natalie McMaster comes close.

Gina Gustin

There's nothing like Richard & Swarb playing together...

Gina Gustin

Lead guitar is all Richard.

Gina Gustin

You should read Richard's book, "Beeswing." He talks about the crash. I think Crazy Man Michael was also inspired by that accident.

Gina Gustin

Also, check out Swarb's "Flittin'" album. It's all instrumental, if memory serves. Some really lovely things on it.

Gina Gustin

Doug--I bet you would really enjoy listening to Richard's 1000 Years of Popular Music.

Richard Moore

I recommended Tam Lin a couple (?) of years ago for a Halloween-themed Fan Favorites but it didn't get voted in. I'm happy to see it surface here at last, along with the other fine tunes on this album. Thank you Doug!

Barry P

I'm so glad you chose this, Doug. There is something about the band's sound and Sandy's voice together on this album that is so unique and beautiful. I never grow tired of it, quite the contrary...it ages like a fine wine. Reynardine and Tam Lin are two of my favorite pieces of music and I could wax poetic forever about why that is. Suffice it to say that I hope repeated listens to this record will enrich your life as much as it has mine.

Douglas Hogg

Bit late to this, but Fun Fact! Carterhaugh (where Tam Lin is set) was just 4 or 5 miles away from me when I lived in the Borders. Never saw an faeries there, though. That area is actually used for the local agricultural show each September, about as far away from Faerie Folk as you could get!