Fairport Convention – Full House

Fairport Convention – Full House

Full House is the fifth studio album from British folk-rock pioneers Fairport Convention, originally released in 1970. Widely regarded as one of the band's essential records, it captures Fairport at a crucial point in their development as they moved decisively towards the distinctive blend of traditional British folk music and electric rock that would define the genre.

Following the landmark Liege & Lief, Full House features a classic Fairport line-up including Dave Swarbrick, Richard Thompson, Simon Nicol, Dave Pegg and Dave Mattacks. With Swarbrick's fiddle and Thompson's inventive guitar work at the heart of the arrangements, the album combines traditional ballads and instrumental tunes with original compositions, creating a sound that is both deeply rooted and unmistakably modern.

The album opens with Walk Awhile, an energetic Richard Thompson composition driven by electric guitar, fiddle and a powerful rhythm section. Dirty Linen follows with a lively instrumental feel, before the extraordinary Sloth stretches across more than nine minutes. One of the album's highlights, the track builds from a slow, brooding opening into an extended performance showcasing Thompson's guitar and Swarbrick's fiddle.

Side B turns more explicitly towards traditional material. Sir Patrick Spens is a dramatic interpretation of the centuries-old Scottish ballad, while Flatback Caper provides another instrumental showcase for the band's virtuosic interplay.

Doctor Of Physick continues the album's mixture of traditional and contemporary folk influences, before the closing Flowers Of The Forest brings the record to a suitably reflective conclusion. The traditional Scottish lament provides a beautiful contrast to the energetic performances elsewhere on the album.

One of the great strengths of Full House is the way Fairport Convention make traditional music sound completely alive and contemporary. Rather than simply reproducing old folk arrangements, the band uses electric instruments, rock rhythms and extended improvisation to create something new from centuries-old material.

The album is also important in the history of British folk rock. Following the pioneering Liege & Lief, Fairport continued to demonstrate that traditional English and Scottish songs could work alongside electric rock instrumentation without losing their character. The influence of this approach can be heard throughout the subsequent British folk-rock scene.

For collectors of Fairport Convention vinyl, British folk rock, traditional folk and progressive folk, Full House is an essential record. Fans of Steeleye Span, Pentangle, Richard Thompson, Sandy Denny and The Incredible String Band should also find plenty to enjoy.

With its combination of electric guitar, fiddle, traditional balladry and extended instrumental performances, Full House remains one of Fairport Convention's most accomplished and influential albums – a cornerstone of the British folk-rock canon.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Walk Awhile – 3:57
2. Dirty Linen – 4:12
3. Sloth – 9:13

Side B

1. Sir Patrick Spens – 3:27
2. Flatback Caper – 6:18
3. Doctor Of Physick – 3:30
4. Flowers Of The Forest – 4:00