Genre: folk-rock
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title:  Angel Delight
Company: A&M
Catalog: SP-4319
Year: 1971
Grade (cover/record): VG / VG
Country/State: UK
Comments: gatefold sleeve; small punch out hole top right corner
Available: 1
Catalog ID: 6126
Price: $15.00

The first album following founding member Richard Thompson's decision to pursue a solo career, 1971's "Angel Delight" saw Fairport Convention reduced to a quartet featuring Dave Mattacks, Simon Nicol, Dave Pegg, and Dave Swarbrick. While no longer an active member, Thompson's influence on the band wasn't entirely missing given he'd co-written two of the ten songs prior to his departure - 'The Journeymen's Grace' and 'Sickness and Disease'. So here's the surprisingly thing about this set - even with the loss of singer Sandy Denny and guitarist Thompson, the album was friggin' good. Exemplified by tracks like 'The Journeymen's Grace' and 'Sickness & Diseases' parts of the album showcased Fairport coming close to recording outright rock and roll as you were going to ever head (okay, okay, there was no chance you were going to confuse these guys with a conventional AOR group ...) With Nicol and Swarbrick stepping into the leadership roles, the album offered up a surprisingly enjoyable mix of traditional English folk ('') folks inspired band originals (''), and more conventional and commercial numbers ('Sickness & Disease'). While neither Nicol or Swabrick were fantastic singers (;course neither was Thompson), once you gave them a chance, the results weren't half bad. Swarbrick's voice was particularly well suited to the more traditional tunes. Nicol also deserved considerable credit for having successfully stepped into Thompson's shoes as lead guitarist. Judging by his performances on songs like '' he must have spent considerable time watching Thompson.

- I'll readily admit that I'm not a gigantic fan of Fairport's traditional offerings, but the opener 'Lord MacIlborough' is one of the exceptions. With Swarbrick handling lead vocals, Fairport's arrangement was innovative and entertaining, growing increasingly rock-ish as it went along,. Coupled with the engaging historical lyric it made for a nifty opener. rating: **** stars
- Kicked along by some great Nicol fuzz guitar (he also handled the lead vocals) and a kick-ass Pegg bass line 'Sir William Gower' was one of those songs you wish would have run even longer. Is there such a thing as folk-blues? Well, that's what this one struck me as. rating: ***** stars
- The first of two instrumentals, 'Bridge Over the River Ash' showcased Swarbrick's multi-tracked fiddle on a song that seemed to be a mash-up of folk and classical genres. I'm still not sure how the track worked, but like the debut, this traditional number surprised me in terms of being so memorable and enjoyable. rating: *** stars
- Co-written by Swarbrick and Nicol, Wizzard of Worldly Game' was a beautiful ballad showcasing the talents of Mattacks on drums and keyboards. Sweet melody (with another nice contribution from Nicol), and haunting lyrics made this one a real pleasure. rating: ***** stars
- As mentioned earlier, 'The Journeymen's Grace' was one of two tracks that had been co-written by Thompson. In this case the result was a blazing folk-rocker. Mattacks drums were killer while Nicol's guitar solo would have made Thompson proud. rating: ***** stars
- The title track was apparently inspired by the band's collective stint living in an old English inn. In severe financial straits, they were piled into a two room suite and were forced to move when a truck crashed through one of the walls. Kicked along by a jaunty melody and some nice group harmonies, as far as I can tell the lyrics were a reflection on the difficulties associated with living in close quarters, with an emphasis on each other's personal shortcomings. The song was actually pretty funny and sported one of the best mandolin solos I've ever heard. rating: ***** stars
- 'Banks of the Sweet Primroses' started out as a routine folk number, but quickly morphed into one of the album's biggest surprises ... This has to be one of the prettiest melodies they ever crafted. I clearly remember the first time I heard it the song stuck in my head for months. rating: ***** stars
- The instrumental medley 'The Cuckoo's Nest / Hardiman the Fiddler' was professional and mildly interesting. Nicol dominated the first segment, with Swarbrick's fiddle and pennywhistle showcased on the second segment. Pleasant, but hardly the album's most interesting endeavor. rating: ** stars
- The biggest disappointment, 'The Bonny Black Hare' was a pedestrian folk number that simply never got in gear. rating: ** stars
- The second Swarbrick/Thompson collaboration, 'Sickness & Diseases' was another rocker. Yeah, this one actually rocked. Some fans shun the song, but I love it. rating: **** stars

Perhaps because it's consider to be post-prime Fairport material, this one tends to get lost. Shame since it's easily as good as anything in the earlier catalog and you can still find cheap originals. Well worth looking for.

"Angel Delight" track listing:
(side 2)
1.) Lord MacIlborough (traditional arranged by Fairport Convention) - 3:21
2.) Sir William Gower (traditional arranged by Fairport Convention) - 4:52
3.) Bridge Over the River Ash (instrumental) (traditional arranged by Fairport Convention) - 2:19
4.) Wizzard of Worldly Game (Dave Swarbrock - Simon Nicol) - 4:00
5.) The Journeymen's Grace (Dave Swarbrick - Richard Thompson) - 4:20

(side 2)
1.) Angel Delight (Fairport Convention) - 3:34
2.) Banks of the Sweet Primroses (traditional arranged by Fairport Convention) - 4:06
3.) The Cuckoo's Nest / Hardiman the Fiddler (instrumental) (traditional arranged by Fairport Convention) - 3:35
4.) The Bonny Black Hare (traditional arranged by Fairport Convention) - 3:03
5.) Sickness & Diseases (Dave Swarbrick - Richard Thompson) - 3:45