Voted by the people as the most influential folk rock album ever, and is considered to be the start of the British folk rock scene (which of course can be argued). Can it be anything else than great? No, it can't. Liege & Lief is a really good album. Recorded just after the tragedy when drummer Martin Lamble and the guitarist Richard Thompson's girlfriend died in a traffic accident. New drummer in the band was Dave Mattacks, and violinist Dave Swarbrick had also been added. It was the third album the band recorded in 1969.
Liege & Lief is a mix of the band's original songs and traditional material, English and Celtic folk songs. and their own pieces go in the same spirit. Electrified English / Celtic folk may be a term that is suitable.The songs are often evocative and quite dark. The story of the fairy queen and Tam Lin is a good example, a seven minutes long fairytale drama with a happy ending, where the Devil himself is involved.
One thing that appeals to me most with the album is the singer Sandy Denny. She has an amazing voice. However, she left the band before the album was released to embark on further adventures. Unfortunately, she died already in 1978.
Sandy Denny was the one who was behind Fairport Convention's clearer focus on folk music on this album. Although she left the band, Fairport continued on this path and actually still remains on it. The record is highly recommended, one of my own favorites. I have a reissue, of course, to find an original release was a project I had for a long time but had finally to see me defeated.
Tracklist
Side A
1. Come All Ye 5:01
2. Reynardine 4:34
3. Coiled Groves 8:10
4. Farewell, Farewell 4:24
Side B
1. The Deserter 4:24
2. Medley: The Lark in the Morning / rakish Paddy / Foxhunters' Jig / Toss The Feathers 4:08
3. Tam Lin 7:13
8. Crazy Man Michael 4:38
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