An excitable Fairport Convention from 1968 with a slightly quicker version of the first song from their debut album. The song was written by American singer/songwriter Emitt Rhodes. At this point they were looking towards American folk and mainly American/Canadian singer/songwriters for inspiration. This was to change in the coming years as they concentrated on a particularly English style, introducing traditional elements to their electric folk music.

They weren’t exactly courting celebrity as this live TV performance shows (I Think it’s French TV). This was the line up that included Judy Dyble – legend has it that she made herself famous not only for her voice but also her onstage knitting in the instrumental breaks. (she went onto form Trader Horne and was also briefly a member of Giles, Giles And Fripp). The band also featured the inimitable Richard Thompson on lead guitar, Ian Matthews, originally known as Iain McDonald on vocals – he probably changed his name so as not to be confused with the Ian Mcdonald that played flute, sax and probably keyboards in the early King Crimson, McDonald and Giles and wait for it – Foreigner (McDonald -Matthews went on to form Matthews Southern Comfort). Ashley ‘Tyger’ Hutchings played the bass (he went on to form Steeleye Span and The Albion Band). On drums was Martin Lamble, tragically killed in a car accident on the way back from a gig in 1969, he was just 19 years old. (Richard Thompson’s girlfriend Jeannie Franklyn was also killed in the crash with other band members badly injured).

Only one original member remains from this line up, rhythm guitar player Simon Nicol – although he left the band in 1971 he returned in 1976 and still performs with them to this day. When I played in All About Eve we did a British tour with them and went on stage every night and sang the Richard Thompson classic Meet On The Ledge as part of the chorus singalong.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairport_Convention

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairport_Convention_(album)

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http://www.eyeneer.com/video/countryfolk/fairport-convention/time-will-show-the-wiser