This was Fairport’s 3rd album and was released just after the car crash that killed Martin Lamble (drummer) and Richard Thompson’s girlfriend ‘Jeannie Franklyn’. Although this album features 3 unreleased Bob Dylan tracks (the band had been invited to hear the then-unreleased tracks on the ‘Basement Tapes Sessions’), the received opinion is that this album was transitional for the band, as they moved away from American influences towards British folk music. Hence the more traditional ‘Liege and Lief’ that followed. Significantly, this was the first Fairport album that Dave Swarbrick played on (not as a full member of the band though, but he was invited to join for the next album). The album also so the bands first chart success, with the album reaching number 12 in the UK chart and ‘Si tu dois partir’ reaching number 21 in the UK singles chart (and involving the band’s first performance on TOTP).
The album starts with the Richard Thompson penned ‘Genesis Hall’ (written about his father’s experiences as a policeman) on which he plays Dulcimer, with Sandy Denny on vocals. It is a ¾ time waltz with great drums from Lamble and vocal harmonisation from Thompson. ‘Si tu dois partir’ (which was originally ‘If you’ve got to go, go now’) was translated into French during a break in a show at the Middle Earth Club, with the help of some French speaking punters! Probably the wackiest version of Dylan’s song, but quite wonderful. ‘Autopsy’ was written by Denny, which is a marvellous vehicle to showcase her voice, with subtle jazzy backing from the band, which builds into a Fleetwood Macish guitar solo from Thompson. ‘A sailor’s life’ is the only true traditional track on the album, but is one of the first tracks where folk and rock really came together – pure magic for folk rock aficionados with Sandy Denny giving a fantastic performance.
Side 2 starts with Thompson’s ‘Cajun woman’ and some innovative slide guitar, not something normally associated with Fairport and is one of their rare but treasured rocking numbers. The album then takes an incredible turn of direction with the classic ‘Who knows where the time goes’ which was written by Denny. It is a haunting song with wonderful lyrics. Her voice is absolute perfection, with Thompson performing wonders on his electric guitar in support. The album then switches attention to 2 very different interpretations of little known Dylan songs. ‘Percy’s song’ is done in a very traditional English folk style (which may have surprised Dylan) with some great harmonies, while ‘Million dollar bash’ is a great fun way to end an album.
The cover was taken in early spring before the crash that killed Martin Lamble. It shows Sandy Denny’s parents outside their house in Wimbledon, with the band in the background in the garden. It was one of the iconic covers that did not require a title or band name. The title itself was created while the band were playing a game of ‘Ghost’ where the object was to avoid completing a real word. ‘Unhalfbricking’, appropriately enough, was Sandy Denny’s creation.
This is a timeless album that gets better and better with each playing. Cannot be recommended highly enough, as it has no peer, it is unique.
