Unhalfbricking

by Fairport Convention

Overview

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

Product Details

Release Date:	06/02/2023
Label:	Elemental
UPC:	0600753968437
Rank:	37254

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Fairport Convention   Primary Artist
Bob Dylan   Primary Artist
Sandy Denny   Primary Artist,Vocals
Richard Thompson   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Trevor Lucas   Triangle
Simon Nicol   Guitar,Vocals
Dave Swarbrick   Fiddle,Mandolin
Dave Mattacks   Drums
Marc Ellington   Vocals
Ian Matthews   Vocals (Background)
Ashley Hutchings   Vocals,Guitar (Bass)
Martin Lamble   Percussion

Technical Credits

Traditional   Composer
Bob Dylan   Composer
Fairport Convention   Arranger
Sandy Denny   Composer
Richard Thompson   Composer
Roger McGuinn   Composer