1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die #163. Fairport Convention - Unhalfbricking (1969)

163. Fairport Convention - Unhalfbricking (1969)

Label – Island
Producer – Joe Boyd, Simon Nicol & Fairport Convention
Art Direction – Diogenic Attempts
Nationality - UK
Running Time – 39:45

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

Side one
"Genesis Hall" (Richard Thompson) – 3:41
"Si Tu Dois Partir" (Bob Dylan) – 2:25
"Autopsy" (Sandy Denny) – 4:27
"A Sailor's Life" (traditional, arranged by Denny, Thompson, Simon Nicol, Ashley Hutchings, Martin Lamble) – 11:20

Side two
"Cajun Woman" (Thompson) – 2:45
"Who Knows Where the Time Goes?" (Denny) – 5:13
"Percy's Song" (Dylan) – 6:55
"Million Dollar Bash" (Dylan) – 2:56

“Unhalfbricking” was the third album by the British folk rock band Fairport Convention, and it was released in 1969. This is another one of those bands that I see mentioned from time to time – mainly because Richard Thompson was a member who went onto greater things – but a band that I had never really heard before. Maybe even ever! I’m not a huge fan of folk rock, so I really didn’t care a whole lot for it, but I didn’t hate it either.

It’s kind of an odd mixture with obscure American folk-rock songs, some original material, and three at the time unreleased Bob Dylan songs. Pleasant enough, but not too memorable. Their 11-minute take on the traditional song "A Sailor's Life," is pretty remarkable, and I learned it was recorded in just one take. That song alone is considered pivotal in the development of English folk rock music.
The album reaching number 12 in the UK album chart, and the single release, "Si Tu Dois Partir", achieved number 21 in the UK singles chart.
In 2004 Q magazine placed “Unhalfbricking” at number 41 in its list of the 50 Greatest British Albums Ever, and in the same year The Observer, describing it as "a thoroughly English masterpiece",listed it at number 27 in its Top 100 British Albums. The track, “Who Knows Where the Time Goes?”, was voted "Favourite Folk Track Of All Time" by listeners in the Radio 2 Folk Awards 2007.
It is recommended with caution