A Tree With Roots: Fairport Convention And The Songs Of Bob Dylan

Due for release on August 3rd via Island Records (about a week before Cropredy on 9-11th August), A Tree With Roots: Fairport Convention And The Songs Of Bob Dylan is a new Fairport Convention compilation. The release marks the 50th anniversary since the original 12-track Basement Tapes acetate of Dylan arrived in London.

It was from this white label that Fairport Convention got Million Dollar Bash. Dylan was also responsible for Fairport’s one UK hit single, ‘Si Tu Dois Partir,’ their version of his ‘If You Gotta Go, Go Now’,’ written in 1964 – the idea to cover it in French came from Sandy Denny who was now very entrenched in the band. Both tracks appeared on Unhalfbricking (1969) along with Dylan’s ‘Percy’s Song’. Despite the three Dylan covers, Unhalfbricking is seen as a transitional album for Fairport – a shift from American influences to traditional British folk music. It was on Unhalfbricking that Dave Swarbrick first played fiddle on several tracks (as well as Mandolin on Million Dollar Bash) including the traditional ‘A Sailor’s Life’ which came from Sandy Denny who apparently often sang the song in the tour van. Here’s Joe Boyd talking about the album for the John Peel Archive.

That all said, this new compilation is about Dylan – there are covers from Fairport, Fairport splinter group Fotheringay covering “Too Much of Nothing” as well as Sandy Denny covering ‘It Ain’t Me Babe’ and ‘Tomorrow is a Long Time’.

A Tree With Roots: Fairport Convention And The Songs Of Bob Dylan Tracklisting

1. Fairport Convention       Si Tu Dois Partir
2. Fairport Convention       Jack O’Diamonds
3. Fairport Convention       Lay Down Your Weary Tune
4. Fairport Convention       Dear Landlord
5. Fairport Convention       Open The Door Richard
6. Fairport Convention       I’ll Keep It With Mine
7. Fairport Convention       Percy’s Song
8. Fairport Convention       Ballad Of Easy Rider
9. Fairport Convention       George Jackson
10. Sandy Denny                 It Ain’t Me Babe
11. Sandy Denny                 Tomorrow Is A Long Time
12. Fairport Convention       Down In The Flood
13. Fairport Convention       Days Of 49
14. Fairport Convention       All Along The Watchtower
15. Fotheringay                   Too Much Of Nothing
16. Fairport Convention       Million Dollar Bash
17. Fairport Convention       Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door

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