Fairport Chronicles is a 1976 compilation album of the British folk-rock band Fairport Convention, including songs from 1968 to the departure of the last original member in 1972. The double album is unique in that it was only released in the US, features original material and American covers over the traditional material usually associated with Fairport, and includes songs from side projects. All of the material was originally issued in the USA on A&M Records, which explains the exclusion of songs taken from their first, pre-Sandy Denny album, which was only later released in the United States.
History
A mere two traditional songs are present: "Bridge Over The River Ash" from 1971's Angel Delight, and "Tam Lin" from 1969's seminal British folk-rock recording, Liege and Lief. Originals include Richard Thompson's "Tale in Hard Time", "Meet on the Ledge", "Genesis Hall", and "Farewell, Farewell" (all sung by Sandy Denny); Denny's "Who Knows Where The Time Goes" (a hit for Judy Collins and later covered by Eva Cassidy), "Come All Ye" (co-written with bassist Ashley "Tyger" Hutchings), "Listen, Listen" (from Denny's album, Sandy), and "Fotheringay"; "Walk Awhile", "Now Be Thankful", and the anti-war statement "Sloth" by Richard Thompson and fiddle/mandolin player Dave Swarbrick; and the gentle instrumental, "End of a Holiday", by perhaps the must unsung individual in the band, second guitarist Simon Nicol.
Richard Thompson: lead guitar (Side One, all tracks; Side Two, tracks 2, 3, 4, & 6; Side Three, all tracks; Side Four, tracks 1–4), vocals (Side One, track 3 & 4; Side Two, tracks 3 & 4; Side Three, tracks 1–3; Side Four, track 3), mandolin (Side One, track 5; Side two, track 4, Side Three, track 2)
Simon Nicol: guitar (Side One, tracks 1–4; Side two, tracks 2 & 4; Side Three, all tracks; Side Four, all tracks), dulcimer (Side Three, track 2), viola (Side two, track 1), vocals (Side One, tracks 3 & 4; Side Two, track 4; Side Three, tracks 1–3; Side Four, track 3)
Sandy Denny: vocals (Side One, tracks 1, 2, 4, 5; Side Two, tracks 2–5; Side Three, tracks 1, 2, 4; Side Four, tracks 1, 2, 4), guitar (Side One, tracks 2 & 5; Side Three, track 1; Side Four, track 1), piano (Side Two, track 2)
Iain Matthews: vocals (Side One, track 1; Side Two, track 2; Side Three, tracks 1 & 2)