Matty Groves. Fairport Convention.

[argyl]

Last edited Sat May 25, 2019, 08:11 PM - Edit history (2)

The one LP with the great Sandy Denny. And a very young Richard Thompson on guitar.

The melody is Shady Grove, the old bluegrass tune. Which was probably taken from Matty Groves, an English folk tune at least 400 years old.

Doc Watson and many others have done this but this is my favorite version. This was on Fairport's superb LP Liege and Lief. Came out in 1969. Fairport was blown away by the The Band's Music From Big Pink with its interpretations of American folk music and wanted to do the same with English folk music.

Matty Groves is the centerpiece for this LP but there isn't a less than stellar tune on the whole LP.

The one objection I have to this rendition is their tacking on a four minute instrumental jam on the end. It's good playing but I'd have ended it with Sandy singing the final verse. What a voice. When I listen to it I usually just skip the final four minutes.

Just a great song.

[The Polack MSgt]

1. Thanks for this post, love Fairport Convention

In related news, Richard Thompson remains a musical genius, and has just released the score and soundtrack for the WW2 documentary "The Cold Blue"

https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2019/05/22/725502494/hear-richard-thompsons-stunning-score-for-a-new-wwii-documentary.

I streamed a good portion but have not heard it all.

Fans looking for his guitar will be a little disappointed - It is mostly chamber music - but the sound and melodies are gorgeous.

Cheers Argyl

[Cartoonist]

2. Matty Groves is the reason Sandy left

She didn't like just standing there the final four minutes.

[argyl]

4. I didn't know that. Thanks for the info.

[sprinkleeninow]

3. Hay, thx! Forgot about them. "Back in th' day..." eom