HEYDAY BBC RADIO SESSIONS 1968-1969

"Heyday" is a stellar compilation featuring Fairport Convention with Sandy Denny (IMHO, the best stage of this band's career), recorded at BBC. Originally released in 1987 and featuring only 12 tracks, this album was expanded to 20 on this CD re- release. These bonus tracks are important because they show Fairport's evolution to a folk rock band with more depth than the original 12 songs (which are closer to Fairport's first two albums). "I don't know where I stand" was featured at the band's first album, and it's interesting to compare Sandy Denny and Judy Dyble's versions. "Reno Nevada" and "Suzanne" (yes, Leonard Cohen's tune) were also released as bonus tracks at the first album, and although "Suzanne" shines here, "Reno Nevada" pales by comparison, since it lacks Thompson's guitar solo featured at the longer version available at the first album. "Fotheringay" and "Nottamun Town" came from "What We Did...", the second album (first with Sandy Denny), and these versions shows Fairport in a more relaxed way, simply playing for the good of it. "Si Tu Dois Partir", "Autopsy", "Cajun Woman" and "Percy's Song" all hail from "Unhalfbricking", and only "Cajun Woman" isn't up to the standards of the studio version. Finally, "Reynardine" and "Tam Lin" are staples from "Liege and Lief", Fairport's masterpiece, and both are simply wonderful. In sum, only 9 of the 20 tracks were released at the original versions, but almost all these new versions are pretty interesting. This makes "Heyday" a must to any Fairport Convention's aficcionado, and since it features a good overview of Sandy Denny's work with the band, will appeal to casual listeners too. Any prog-rocker interested in folk rock must give this album a good listen.