What We Did On Our Holidays – FAIRPORT CONVENTION****

Fotheringay/Mr Lacey/Book Song/The Lord Is In This Place/No Man’s Land/I’ll Keep It With Mine/Eastern Rain/ Nottamun Town/Tale In Hard Time/She Moves Through The Fair/Meet On The Ledge/End Of A Holiday

What We Did On Our Holidays, was the second album from British folk legend Fairport Convention, and the first to feature the celebrated new vocalist Sandy Denny. Released as the eponymous Fairport Convention in the States.

“An eclectic album that nevertheless begins to define Fairport's dusty, woodwormworn sound. What We Did On Our Holidays is a stellar set of originals and covers that usher in the band's classic era, signalled by the arrival of Sandy Denny. Their new vocalist's spine-tingling power is clearly evident. Stepping to the plate in no less a fashion is guitarist/songwriter Richard Thompson, penning his first definitive classic in the defeated yet defiant Meet On The Ledge, plus contributing underrated cuts like Book Song, No Man's Land and the world weary, Tale In Hard Time.”

“It all comes together with this one, and the excellence wouldn't let up for a long time. Sandy Denny is the big reason I suppose, but Richard Thompson plays some really unbelievable guitar as well. There may not be another vocalist like Sandy with the ability to stop me dead in my tracks the way she does.”

“It's got so many different moods. There's medieval Celtic folk, hippy folk-rock blues rock, etc. It is just glorious and another classic '60s record that doesn't get respect.”

“The addition of Ms. Denny has brought magic to their product. Whether flying solo or harmonizing with other vocalists, she sings like an angel and seems to have propelled them to write even better material. Most tracks are light and delicate; some are soft and slow ballads, with acoustic guitar. Still others rock out, providing welcome diversity. For newcomers, this one is probably the best place to start.”

“A now classic early Fairport Convention album, just as they decided Sandy Denny would bring more to the group as vocalist and composer. To me this is where things started to happen and every song is brilliant. Everything from the instrumental opener to Denny's voice is spot on, ancient and modern at the same time. It's a varied, entertaining album - the beginning of truly great British folk-rock and it would only get better.”