From: owner-jangle-poets-digest@smoe.org (jangle-poets-digest) To: jangle-poets-digest@smoe.org Subject: jangle-poets-digest V9 #114 Reply-To: jangle-poets@smoe.org Sender: owner-jangle-poets-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-jangle-poets-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk jangle-poets-digest Friday, December 7 2007 Volume 09 : Number 114 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: [JP] Re: Fairport Convention @ Cropredy Festival 2007 - "Liege & Lief" //... [Nieldsforeve] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 22:49:01 EST From: Nieldsforever@aol.com Subject: Re: [JP] Re: Fairport Convention @ Cropredy Festival 2007 - "Liege & Lief" //... >> > > "Liege & Lief" ("loyal and ready" in Middle English), Fairport >> > > Convention's fourth album, released in 1969, was seminal in my early >> > > folk roots/folk-rock education. >> "Liege & Lief" (of "Matty Groves" fame) was probably my first exposure to both Sandy Denny and Richard Thompson. Only one 1969 album has influenced me more -- King Crimson's "In the Court of the Crimson King" -- my first album (I got in high school as soon as I had a job and could finally afford records) -- and almost certainly the inspiration for Gandalf Murphy's "Talkin' to the Buddha." (the song "Epitaph" especially) I can still remember the palpable thrill, the shivers sent up and down my spine, by my hearing Richard Thompson's guitar solos on "Matty Groves" -- not yet the banshee wail of despair of 1982's "Shoot Out the Lights" solos -- but already in 1969 fully formed stylistically, the fundamentals all there, and really powerful stuff. And the shock of the sheer beauty of the forlorn fallen angel voice of Sandy Denny -- the poignant regret on "Farewell Farewell" -- the icy sword thrust of cutting edge elocution on "Reynardine" -- and the jaw-dropping excitement of her phrasing of the storylines on "Matty Groves" and "Tam Lin" -- all Sandy Denny trademarks -- made "Liege and Lief" an instant classic for me. I've never really gotten over the shock of her singing, of her later songwriting as a solo, and (sadly) of her untimely passing in 1978 at the really tragically young age of 31. "Liege and Lief" is a must-have, revealing a young Sandy Denny (22) and an even younger Richard Thompson (20) already at the height of their powers, two quintessential cult phenomena in the making, and on L&L making really incomparable music together, alchemical soul-transforming magic. And thanks to the Strangelings for playing "Matty Groves" in the first place - -- so stirring up yet again for me such a honey-dripping buzzing beesnest of delight! It brings back the sting of Sandy's loss, but oh the sweetness too! Bruce Check out the Kennedys' Official Home Page: http://www.KennedysMusic.com/ Fab photos, the Official tour diary, dashboard Buddha haiku, groovy merchandise...what more could you ask for? ------------------------------ End of jangle-poets-digest V9 #114 **********************************