50:50@50


50:50@50 is the twenty-eighth studio album by British folk rock band Fairport Convention, released in January 2017 to mark the band's 50th anniversary. Half of the album was recorded in the studio, and the other half is a selection of songs recorded from live performances.

Recording and release

The album features six new tracks that were recorded at Woodworm Studios in Oxfordshire in November 2016, and a re-working of "Danny Jack's Reward" that features members of Joe Broughton's Conservatoire Folk Ensemble, which was recorded in Sound By Design's Delta Studio and The Bowman's Retreat studio in Oxfordshire. The live tracks were recorded between 2014 and 2016 at different concerts including the band's warm-up concerts for their Cropredy Festival at the Mill Arts Centre in Banbury. The album became available to buy from the band's website in January 2017, and was also available at all concerts on the band's 2017 winter tour. The album was made available everywhere else from 10 March.

Track listing

  1. "Eleanor's Dream"
  2. "Ye Mariners All"
  3. "Step by Step"
  4. "The Naked Highwayman"
  5. "Danny Jack's Reward"
  6. "Jesus on the Mainline"
  7. "Devil's Work"
  8. "Mercy Bay"
  9. "Our Bus Rolls On"
  10. "Portmeirion"
  11. "The Lady of Carlisle"
  12. "Lord Marlborough"
  13. "Summer by the Cherwell"
  14. "John Condon"

Personnel

Guest musicians
  • Robert Plant – vocals and harmonica on "Jesus on the Mainline"
  • Jacqui McShee – vocals on "The Lady of Carlisle"
  • Joe Broughton – violin on "Danny Jack's Reward"
  • Paloma Trigas – violin on "Danny Jack's Reward"
  • Aria Trigas – violin on "Danny Jack's Reward"
  • Natasha Davies – flute on "Danny Jack's Reward"
  • Arjun Jethwa – flute on "Danny Jack's Reward"
  • Rose Rutherford – clarinet on "Danny Jack's Reward"
  • Rob Spalton – trumpet on "Danny Jack's Reward"
  • Jake Thornton – alto and tenor saxophone on "Danny Jack's Reward"