Liege And Lief

The advertisements for Fairport Convention's epoch-making fourth album ran: "Liege And Lief created the template for all subsequent recordings in that style, representing a catharsis for the band after a traumatic road accident. With redoubtable folk fiddler Dave Swarbrick now permanently involved, Fairport threw themselves into the electrification of ballads, myths, and rollicking jigs.

The results were both innovative and stimulating, with the union being blessed. From the lusting pace of "Matty Groves" to the tender cooing of "Crazy Man Michael," Sandy Denny's voice and Richard Thompson's virtuosic guitar are the perfect conduits for this milestone album, which has been imitated a thousand times, but never equaled.