Fairport Convention

Song of the Day Revisited: Fairport Convention ... Crazy Man Michael

Another quick update, Oct 2023: Dave Swarbrick's widow Jill has firmly and correctly reminded me that the gorgeous music that so perfectly suits Richard Thompson's words for this song was composed by the mighty Swarb. Read her comment below, reproduced... Read more →


Song of the Day Revisited: Dave Swarbrick with Fairport Convention ... Now Be Thankful

June 2021 update: just over five years ago the wonderful musician Dave Swarbrick left us. As I explain below, I have particular reasons to remember Swarb, his battles with ill-health and the passion for music that remained with him to... Read more →


Overpaid, oversexed, over here? 'Not a bit of it - I'm exploring British folk-rock'

Some variations of the phrase add overfed and overdressed. It goes without saying that I have no idea whether Peter Obermark was excessively remunerated when serving as a US marine in Britain in the 1970s nor indeed whether he ate... Read more →


Dylan neat or Dylan beat: Bob and Sandy, two giants clash again and she wins

Earlier this week, I confessed to having changed a view held for decades. Listening again to Bob Dylan's very early Percy's Song original, I conclude that I had been wrong to consider Fairport Convention's cover, excellent as it was, superior.... Read more →


Dylan neat or Dylan beat: Percy's Song, Bob, Sandy and a battle of musical giants

As my interest began to flag a little while watching the good-in-parts but excessively long Hemingway and Gellhorn, a thought occurred to me. In later stages of the film, some of the antics of the two heroes (played by Clive... Read more →