Product ReviewsFairport Convention - Quiet Joys Of Brotherhood (+DVD, 2004)

Capturing the spirit of Cropredy

I bought this because I missed the 1986 and 87 Cropredy Festivals, having attended 1984, 85 and 88. This 2CD set is interesting for documenting the first and second appearances of the "new boys" Ric Sanders and Maartin Allcock at Cropredy. It captures the spirit of Fairport and Cropredy with some cracking guitar and fiddles and (mostly) wonderful vocals.
The first disc (1986) has a good selection of early material featuring Ian Matthews and his a cappella version of Woodstock, with Richard Thompson, Clive Gregson and Christine Collister is superb. 2nd disc (1987) notable for great performances of Rosie and Hand of Kindness - the same versions that are in the It All Comes 'Round Again video.
Cathy LeSurf makes a far better Sandy substitute than June Tabor, who is seriously off form. Mercifully, Tabor's tuneless reading of A Sailor's Life (which was in the IACRA video) is omitted.
DVD interview is entertaining, as Pegg and Nicol always are, though several familiar stories are retold.Read full review...