Fairport Convention - Unhalfbricking

Unhalfbricking was, if only in retrospect, a transitional album for the young Fairport Convention, in which the group shed its closest ties to its American folk-rock influences and started to edge toward a more traditional british folk-slanted sound. That shift wouldn't be definitive until their next album, Liege & Lief. But the strongest link to the American folk-rock harmony approach left with the departure of Ian Matthews, who left shortly after the sessions for Unhalfbricking began. The mixture of obscure American folk-rock songs, original material, and traditional interpretations that had fallen into place with What We Did on Our Holidays earlier in the year was actually still intact, if not as balanced. Sandy Denny's two compositions, her famous "Who Knows Where the Time Goes?" and the far less celebrated but magnetically brooding "Autopsy," were among the record's highlights. So too were the goofball French cajun cover of Bob Dylan's "If You Gotta Go, Go Now" (here retitled "Si Tu Dois Partir," and a British hit) and the magnificent reading of Dylan's "Percy's Song," though the bash through Dylan's "Million Dollar Bash" was less effective. Richard Thompson's pair of songs, however, were less memorable. The clear signpost to the future was their 11-minute take on the traditional song "A Sailor's Life," with guest fiddle by Dave Swarbrick, soon to join Fairport himself and make his own strong contribution toward reshaping the band's sound. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

Name Credits Ashley Hutchings Bass, Group Member, Vocals Dave Swarbrick Vocals, Violin, Mandolin, Fiddle Eric Hayes Photography Fairport Producer Fairport Convention Arranger Filippo Salvadori Reissue Producer Gary Hobish Reissue Mastering Ian Matthews Vocals Joe Boyd Producer John Wood Engineer M.C. Taylor Liner Notes Marc Ellington Vocals Marc Wellington Vocals Martin Lamble Drums, Group Member, Violin Nathaniel Russell Reissue Design, Reissue Layout Richard Thompson Vocals, ?, Guitar Sandy Denny Vocals, Guitar, Group Member Simon Nicol Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Group Member Trevor Lucas Guitar, Vocals, Percussion, Triangle