Search - Fairport Convention :: The Five Seasons

A Change of Times

PHILIP S WOLF | SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA. USA | 08/27/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Lot's of reviews have slammed "The Five Seasons" here in the U.S.A. and in England for containing crummy tunes and for not sounding like "Liege and Lief ", well, STUFF THAT NOISE !!!

The only reason that Fairport Convention is still with us after 37 years can be summed up in a word... CHANGE.

This CD came after the 1988 release " Red and Gold ". Red and Gold was in this reviewers humble opinion one of the most important releases in the band's history and for that alone it was to be a hard act to follow. Red and Gold had (GASP) keyboards on it and the folk-purists had a BIG problem with this. Fairport Convention is a Rock band with so much talent in it's ranks that it is capable of playing ALL types of music not just folk music.



So after that rant we arrive at the 1990 release of "The Five Seasons". The disk begins with "Claudy Banks" a lively tune that became a staple in live shows for many years. For anyone looking for 'Jigs & Reels' listen to "Cup of Tea/ Loaf of Bread/ Miss Monaghan's". Next up are two of the best songs on a Fairport Convention album, first up is "Gold " then " Rhythm of the Time ". These two gems have never been performed live so this is the only place you can find them and they are too good to pass up.

I don't feel that "All Your Beauty" and " Card Song" are great songs but that's just me and "Card Song " works quite well in concert and is fun for the crowd. "Ginnie" is one of the best ballads recorded by Fairport bar none. "Wounded Whale" is the big production number here and is far removed from traditional folk but became an epic number when performed live in concert. " Mock Morris 90 " is traditional music but presented in modern sytle. "Sock in It " is considered a throw-a-way but it served a purpose as a FUN stage number.



Along with "Red and Gold" this release completly revamped Fairport's stage show and it was presented the band as 'modern' . The old tunes of 1969-70 could now be rotated with the brand new material. And that is why the band still continues to be a (small) force in Popular music, the folk music is still here but you gotta listen for it.



As a bonus there is a live version of "Caught A Whisper" from Simon Nicol's 2nd solo album with more of those keyboards on it.



This is a fine record by A GREAT BAND! Go out and see them live when the come back to our shores. And stop comparing this record to the ones they made 35 years ago. No this is not "Full House", but musicians of this quality do not like to keep on repeating themselves and thank goodness they don't Because how interesting would that be for us or them. Rock on Fairport Convention, Raise your glass to 37 more years of great music!



"

Weak material trumps good musicianship

woburnmusicfan | Woburn, MA United States | 03/17/2002

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I've heard Fairport Convention referred to as the British equivalent of The Band. This comparison certainly applied to the 90s versions of both groups -- with their songwriters having left, the quality of both groups' albums depended on the material they were able to find. Without Richard Thompson, Sandy Denny, and Dave Swarbrick, Fairport mainly gets its songs from British folk singers, and they sound like typical British folk songs rather than having the timeless feel of Fairport's classics. Simon Nicol has a fine voice, but make him sing a Huw Williams or Ralph McTell ballad and he comes off sounding like Roger Whitaker. And that should never happen. As a result, Fairport Convention has been downgraded from a fine rock band to an adequate folk ensemble. That also should not have happened.On "The Five Seasons", the songs are weak songs. There are far too many maudlin ballads and few up-tempo songs. "Gold" and "Rhythm of the Tide", which would sound pleasant but unexceptional on a better-paced album, just contribute to the overall tedious feel here. The best piece is "The Card Song", a lively drinking song (what else--this is Fairport Convention).(1=poor 2=mediocre 3=pretty good 4=very good 5=phenomenal)"

Not exactly the jewel in their crown

Junglies | Morrisville, NC United States | 07/09/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Fairport Convention took a hiatus at a time when British music had changed and no longer seemed to need them. They did not go away however, and reformed at an anniversary concert in the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside in the Civil War village of Cropoedy.The magic was still there and the band's alumni enjoyed the experience of playing together so they did a few more reunions, made music together and gradually reassumed their place as Britain's premier folk rock vehicle. This time, they stayed closer to their folk roots and took it gently, a little bit at a time, and enjoyed themselves in the process.Fairports have done more than their fair share of revitalising folk music in the British isles and one of the ways that they have done this is to draw on the resources of their friends, some old and some new. The way they have done this is to take their songs and make them their own and this is particularly true on this album.Five Seasons has one of the longest lasting lineups including long time drummer Dave Mattacks, original member Simon Nichol, another long serving stalwart, Dave Pegg, Jethro Tull guitarist, Martin Allcock and the inimitable new boy (ahem) Ric Sanders. It is not their best album but it is a pretty solid collection of songs and playing nevertheless. To me, none of the songs jump out at you and make you want to play it over and over but it is a pleasant album which bears repeated playings. To me though that is one of the strengths of it. Fairport are playing slow and steady, bringing into the fold a newer audience but at the same time keeping the old one.The problem with a band like this is that there are people out there, bless them, who only know the famous Fairport. They clamour for those songs when there is a wealth of other material, and they look at those years much as some search for the Holy Grail. Whether by accident or design, Fairport Convention has always been like a bus, with people jumping on and off but with the bus continuing it's journey.Five Seasons is an album where the gear has changed into second before building up speed enough to change gear again."