Babbacombe Lee (album)
Encyclopedia
Babbacombe Lee is the seventh album by English folk rock
group Fairport Convention
, and was released in 1971. It tells the life story of John "Babbacombe" Lee, a Victorian
-era murderer who, although condemned to death, was reprieved after the gallows
failed on three occasions to work properly. After the commercial and chart success of its predecessor, Angel Delight
, the album sold disappointingly, and although critically acclaimed, it has its place in musical history as the first "folk rock
opera".
that follows John "Babbacombe" Lee's life story. The events of his life are described in song, from his boyhood through his conviction for murder, sentence of death, and the failure to carry out the sentence. The songs describe his boyhood poverty, his time in the Royal Navy
, and his being invalided out. The album then describes how Lee went to work in the service of a Miss Keyes. While Lee was in her service, she was murdered, and he was accused, tried and convicted of the crime, and sentenced to death. However, when authorities attempted to hang him, the gallows
failed three times, resulting in his release. These events are all told in song, and all but one of those songs are originals.
Dave Swarbrick
has explained that he conceived the album after discovering a file of old newspaper clippings in a junk shop; this file contained John Lee's own copies of the newspaper articles and was bound by him, signed and dated January 30, 1908.
Because of its relatively complete narrative structure, Babbacombe Lee has been called a rock opera
, and because of the band's musical style, in particular the first folk rock
opera.
The original album listed tracks episodically rather than as discrete tracks, reflecting the structure of the narrative.
Each of the five sections is composed of a number of songs and fragments of songs that were not listed spearately on the original album.
Two additional bonus tracks appear on some post-2004 CD releases:
These tracks were recorded in late 1974 for the BBC 2 documentary
about John Lee narrated by Melvyn Bragg
. The programme was broadcast in the BBC 2 2nd House series as "The Man They Couldn't Hang - John Lee" on February 1, 1975. The tracks are performed by a different line-up of the band than on the original album, one formed after the departure of Simon Nicol
and the return of lead singer Sandy Denny
.
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
group Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention are an English folk rock and later electric folk band, formed in 1967 who are still recording and touring today. They are widely regarded as the most important single group in the English folk rock movement...
, and was released in 1971. It tells the life story of John "Babbacombe" Lee, a Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
-era murderer who, although condemned to death, was reprieved after the gallows
Gallows
A gallows is a frame, typically wooden, used for execution by hanging, or by means to torture before execution, as was used when being hanged, drawn and quartered...
failed on three occasions to work properly. After the commercial and chart success of its predecessor, Angel Delight
Angel Delight (album)
Angel Delight is the sixth album by the British folk rock band Fairport Convention. This was the first Fairport Convention album without guitarist Richard Thompson, and the lineup consisted of Simon Nicol , Dave Swarbrick , Dave Pegg , and Dave Mattacks .The title derives from "The Angel" in...
, the album sold disappointingly, and although critically acclaimed, it has its place in musical history as the first "folk rock
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
opera".
Concept
The album is a concept albumConcept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
that follows John "Babbacombe" Lee's life story. The events of his life are described in song, from his boyhood through his conviction for murder, sentence of death, and the failure to carry out the sentence. The songs describe his boyhood poverty, his time in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, and his being invalided out. The album then describes how Lee went to work in the service of a Miss Keyes. While Lee was in her service, she was murdered, and he was accused, tried and convicted of the crime, and sentenced to death. However, when authorities attempted to hang him, the gallows
Gallows
A gallows is a frame, typically wooden, used for execution by hanging, or by means to torture before execution, as was used when being hanged, drawn and quartered...
failed three times, resulting in his release. These events are all told in song, and all but one of those songs are originals.
Dave Swarbrick
Dave Swarbrick
Dave Swarbrick is an English folk musician and singer-songwriter. He has been described by Ashley Hutchings as 'the most influential [British] fiddle player bar none' and his style has been copied or developed by almost every British, and many World folk violin players that have followed him...
has explained that he conceived the album after discovering a file of old newspaper clippings in a junk shop; this file contained John Lee's own copies of the newspaper articles and was bound by him, signed and dated January 30, 1908.
Because of its relatively complete narrative structure, Babbacombe Lee has been called a rock opera
Rock opera
A rock opera is a work of rock music that presents a storyline told over multiple parts, songs or sections in the manner of opera. A rock opera differs from a conventional rock album, which usually includes songs that are not unified by a common theme or narrative. More recent developments include...
, and because of the band's musical style, in particular the first folk rock
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
opera.
Track listing
Songs written by Fairport ConventionFairport Convention
Fairport Convention are an English folk rock and later electric folk band, formed in 1967 who are still recording and touring today. They are widely regarded as the most important single group in the English folk rock movement...
The original album listed tracks episodically rather than as discrete tracks, reflecting the structure of the narrative.
Side one
- "John's reflection on his boyhood, his introduction to Miss Keyes and The Glen, his restlessness, and his struggles with his family, finally successful, to join the navy." - 6:19
- "This was the happiest period in his life. All locked set fair for a career until he was stricken with sickness and invalided out of his chosen niche in life. Reluctantly and unhappily he turned to a number of menial occupations and finally returned to the services of Miss Keyes." - 10:12
- "Tragedy now strikes hard. The world's imagination is caught by the brutal senseless[ness] of the apparent criminal who slays his kind old mistress." - 3:57
Side two
- "John was hardly more than a bewildered observer at his own trial, not being allowed to say more than a few words. The tides of fate wash him to the condemned cell where he waits three sad weeks for his last night on earth." - 7:32
- "When it comes, he cannot sleep, but when he does, a strange, prophetic dream comes to him, and helps him to bear the strain of his next day's ordeal as scaffold and its crew try in vain three times to take his life." - 13:20
Each of the five sections is composed of a number of songs and fragments of songs that were not listed spearately on the original album.
2004 Compact Disc listing
The later release of the album abandoned the original five-part division of the album and lists the songs as separate tracks complete with songwriting credits, as follows:- "The Verdict" (read by Philip Sterling-Wall) - 0:28
- "Little Did I Think" (Dave SwarbrickDave SwarbrickDave Swarbrick is an English folk musician and singer-songwriter. He has been described by Ashley Hutchings as 'the most influential [British] fiddle player bar none' and his style has been copied or developed by almost every British, and many World folk violin players that have followed him...
) - 2:19 - "I Was Sixteen (Part 1)" (Simon NicolSimon NicolSimon John Breckenridge Nicol is a guitarist, singer, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. He was a founder member of British folk rock, or electric folk group Fairport Convention and is the only founding member still in the band...
, Dave PeggDave PeggDave Pegg is an English multi-instrumentalist and record producer, arguably most visible as a bass guitarist. He is the longest-serving member of the pre-eminent electric folk band Fairport Convention and has been bassist with a number of important folk and rock groups including The Ian Campbell...
) - 1:29 - "John My Son" (Nicol, Pegg) - 0:44
- "I Was Sixteen (Part 2)" (Nicol, Pegg) – 1:17
- "St Ninian's Isle" (Ronald Cooper) / Trumpet Hornpipe (trad. arr. Swarbrick) - 1:14
- "Sailor's Alphabet" (trad. arr. A.L. Lloyd) - 5:50
- "John Lee" (Swarbrick) - 3:04
- "Newspaper Reading (read by A.L. Lloyd) - 0:46
- "Breakfast In Mayfair" (Nicol) - 3:09
- "Trial Song" (Swarbrick, Pegg) - 3:55
- "Cell Song" (Swarbrick) - 3:35
- "The Time Is Near" (Pegg) - 2:31
- "Dream Song" (Swarbrick, Pegg) - 5:24
- "Wake Up John (Hanging Song)" (Swarbrick, Pegg) - 5:25
Two additional bonus tracks appear on some post-2004 CD releases:
- "Farewell to a Poor Man's Son" (Swarbrick) - 4:55
- "Breakfast In Mayfair" (Nicol) 3:59
These tracks were recorded in late 1974 for the BBC 2 documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
about John Lee narrated by Melvyn Bragg
Melvyn Bragg
Melvyn Bragg, Baron Bragg FRSL FRTS FBA, FRS FRSA is an English broadcaster and author best known for his work with the BBC and for presenting the The South Bank Show...
. The programme was broadcast in the BBC 2 2nd House series as "The Man They Couldn't Hang - John Lee" on February 1, 1975. The tracks are performed by a different line-up of the band than on the original album, one formed after the departure of Simon Nicol
Simon Nicol
Simon John Breckenridge Nicol is a guitarist, singer, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. He was a founder member of British folk rock, or electric folk group Fairport Convention and is the only founding member still in the band...
and the return of lead singer Sandy Denny
Sandy Denny
Sandy Denny , born Alexandra Elene Maclean Denny, was an English singer and songwriter, perhaps best known as the lead singer for the folk rock band Fairport Convention...
.
Personnel
- Simon NicolSimon NicolSimon John Breckenridge Nicol is a guitarist, singer, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. He was a founder member of British folk rock, or electric folk group Fairport Convention and is the only founding member still in the band...
- guitar, dulcimer - Dave MattacksDave MattacksDave Mattacks is a rock and folk drummer. Best known for his work with Fairport Convention, Mattacks has also worked both as a session musician, and as a performance artist...
- drums, electric piano - Dave SwarbrickDave SwarbrickDave Swarbrick is an English folk musician and singer-songwriter. He has been described by Ashley Hutchings as 'the most influential [British] fiddle player bar none' and his style has been copied or developed by almost every British, and many World folk violin players that have followed him...
- fiddle, mandolin - Dave PeggDave PeggDave Pegg is an English multi-instrumentalist and record producer, arguably most visible as a bass guitarist. He is the longest-serving member of the pre-eminent electric folk band Fairport Convention and has been bassist with a number of important folk and rock groups including The Ian Campbell...
- bass, mandolin. - Trevor LucasTrevor LucasTrevor George Lucas was an influential folk artist, a member of Fairport Convention and one of the founders of Fotheringay...
- Jerry DonahueJerry DonahueJerry Donahue is an American guitarist and producer primarily known for his work in the British folk rock scene as a member of Fotheringay and Fairport Convention as well as being a member of the rock guitar trio The Hellecasters.-Biography:Donahue was born in New York, the son of big band...
- Sandy DennySandy DennySandy Denny , born Alexandra Elene Maclean Denny, was an English singer and songwriter, perhaps best known as the lead singer for the folk rock band Fairport Convention...
- vocals on "Breakfast In Mayfair"