Take it on it's own merits
jon van horn | mount kisco, new york United States | 01/29/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Interesting how Fairport fans (and I'm sure anyone who'll take the time to review a disc is a serious fan) are so deeply divided about this disc. Well, count me with the fans who think it's pretty brilliant! Yes, it probably would've been even better had Thompson been in the group then--but he wasn't, was he? Based on it's own merits, it's great. An interesting story, well told, fine musicianship (Simon does a great job stepping into the breach), and memorable (yes, memorable) songs and melodies. This is the first Fairport album I heard, which made me a life long fan, and caused me to discover Thompson and Denny even though they weren't on this disc! To me it's brilliant even without them."
A unique album and a real sleeper.
David Hutton | Bedford, NH USA | 11/10/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Reviewer: A music fan from New Hampshire
This album has not been released on CD in the US; this British import will do nicely to introduce you or reintroduce to (IMHO) the best concept album ever done, the story of a man hanged three times for a murder he said he didn't commit; Fairport (no Sandy Denny on this one) create great songs (and also manage to rock out) while telling this story in a very coherent manner (compared to how most concept albums 'hang together' as concept albums); they throw in a great old sailor's tune (The Alphabet Song) to boot (John 'Babbacombe' Lee had been a sailor). Very enjoyable!
Note: This is my 1999 review now put under my own name. My opinion has not changed. This album still has no US release. Amazing!"
The Last Great Fairport Album
Robert G. Daugherty | Los Angeles, CA | 12/28/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This was the last "legitimate" Fairport lineup, the "Angel Delight" group--Dave Pegg, Dave Swarbick, Dave Mattacks and founding member Simon Nicol. Simon is truly an amazing musician. He replaced both Richard Thompson AND Sandy Denny. His guitar playing and singing are superb on both this and "Angel Delight".
As concept albums go, this is most certainly the best. It tells the true story of John Babbabcome Lee ("the man they could not hang!") coherently (unlike the Who's Tommy and the Kinks' Preservation). And the songs are great. There are 11 Fairport songs on this album-all originals (by DS mostly). The songs are individual songs, not suites that are run together as the sleeve implies. And they are ALL great songs. The title song, "John Babbacombe Lee" rocks harder than any Fairport song in ANY lineup..
This was my first Fairport album. I had their Anthology on A&M so this was a nice find, a Fairport album with no overlap from the Anthology (I HATE overlap!). Found a used copy--the album was out-of-print at the time. And I was DELIGHTED to get it. Not only was it GREAT but it was hard-to-find--a Collector's Item!
I loved "Babbacombe Lee" so much that I had to go out and eventually collect all of Fairport's individual albums. Got rid of the Anthology. And now I've bought them all once again on CD.
I believe that "Babbacome Lee" is one of Fairport's most even albums. There is not a clunker in the bunch. Try it--you'll LOVE it!"
Track Listings (5) - Disc #1