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In the interim, of course, original vocalist Judy Dyble had left the band. It was the arrival of the incomparable Sandy Denny that triggered the first real signs of Fairport's new,
folksier direction. Not only did "Holidays" mark the debut appearance of the band's trademark "Trad. arr: Fairport" credit (here attached to "Nottamun Town" and "She moved through the fair"), but Sandy's plaintive
"Fotheringay" (later the name of her post -Fairport band) and Richard Thompson's rousing set-closer "Meet on the ledge" also proved to be landmark inclusions. Elsewhere, the choice of material, while not strictly
folk-based, was refreshingly diverse. The Book of Genesis (Ch.9, Verses 16 & 17, to be exact) was plundered for the title of the otherwise wordless "The Lord is in this place..." while a former neighbour of Ashley
Hutchings, the eccentric Professor Bruce Lacey, brought three of his robots into the studio to provide background effects for the 12-Bar rocker written in his honour.Curiously, although first Pink Label (E.J Day)
pressings and later Palm Tree (Robor) issues were stoutly laminated all over, rare second variation "Pinks" and early "Palms" were less well presented, receiving the glossy treatment on the front cover only, with no
mention of a sleeve printer. Fairport's first Island single "Meet on the ledge", featuring the (then) otherwise-unavailable B-side "Throwaway street puzzle" (WIP 6047), appeared in November 1968. Note the upside-down
'U' in "Puzzle" on the label! Known Label Variations:
1st. 2nd and 3rd pink labels; Palm tree label. Later re-pressed on all subsequent Island labels. Current CD: Island IMCD 97 |
