'Babbacombe' Lee' was Fairport Convention's foray into the concept album, so loved by groups in the 1970s. Instead of looking at something fantastical or progressive, the group went back to the tale of John 'Babbacombe' Lee, the man they couldn't hang: The gallows failed three times after he was convicted of the murder of Emma Keyse in Torquay in 1885. Dave Swarbrick found details of the trial in a junk shop, and the band worked up the story into an album. Released at the end of 1971 with ephemera from the day telling the story, ''Babbacombe' Lee' had episodes listed rather than tracks. It contained the most original material of a Fairport album to date, and was seen as taking folk-rock a huge step forward. Within weeks of the album's release both Dave Mattacks and Simon Nicol left the group, leaving Swarbrick and bassist Dave Pegg to lead Fairport on through their next chapter. Today, ''Babbacombe' Lee' is one of the group's most enduring albums.
Track Listing:
1. The Verdict - Fairport Convention
2. Little Did I Think - Fairport Convention
3. I Was Sixteen (Part 1) - Fairport Convention
4. John My Son - Fairport Convention
5. I Was Sixteen (Part 2) - Fairport Convention
6. St. Ninians Isle/Trumpet Hornpipe - Fairport Convention
7. Sailor's Alphabet - Fairport Convention
8. John Lee - Fairport Convention
9. Newspaper Reading - Fairport Convention
10. Breakfast in Mayfair - Fairport Convention
11. Trial Song - Fairport Convention
12. Cell Song - Fairport Convention
13. The Time Is Near - Fairport Convention
14. Dream Song - Fairport Convention
15. Wake Up John (Hanging Song) - Fairport Convention
Year of Production: 1971
