Liege & Lief

After recording three albums fairly indicative of the ‘60s, the members of Fairport Convention did away with covering songs by Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Emitt Rhodes and all the rest to embark upon a sound that kissed new life into the roots of traditional British folk and medieval music. With their fourth studio album Liege and Lief, they turned to the archives of the English Folk Dance and Song Society maintained by Cecil Sharp, the founding father of England’s folklore revival. But rather than pursue the path already paved by recreationists, the Fairports infused rock ‘n’ roll’s electric guitars and libidinous rhythms to birth British folk-rock. This all begins with the opening “Come All Ye” (one of only two original compositions here), where the lovely Sandy Denny’s gossamer inflections invite other musicians “To rouse the spirit of the air/ And move the rolling skies.”  Their interpretation of “The Lark In The Morning/Rakish Paddy/Fox Hunter’s Jig/Toss the Feathers” starts with stellar fiddle playing by Dave Swarbrick before “Tam Lin” comes in boasting Richard Thompson’s best guitar leads on the album.