Burning Bright: The Life And Music Of Ashley Hutchings
Though some of his musical associates enjoy a higher popular profile, this expansive anthology makes a strong case that Ashley Hutchings has played as crucial a role in the development of British folk-rock as John Mayall has in British blues. Dubbing him the "Godfather," the exhaustively annotated set (with a fully illustrated, 156-page book of notes) highlights Hutchings' career as the founding bandleader of Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, and various versions of the Albion Band and the Morris On collaborations through recent recordings with Rainbow Chasers. It also suggests an artistic range beyond folk revivalism, from his recitation of his own poetry ("On Seeing Grace Slick") and that of William Blake to a stately rendition of the space-age instrumental "Telstar" (credited to Ashley Hutchins Big Beat Combo). Each disc has a theme (songwriter, arranger, dancemaster, chronological overview), and all feature previously unreleased live and archival tracks. Collaborations with bassist Hutchings's more famous Fairport bandmates such as Richard Thompson and the late Sandy Denny highlight the proceedings, but the focus remains on Hutchings. With the Albion Band's "Wings," he pays tribute to the seminal influence of the Byrds, whose electric approach to American folk music inspired Hutchings to attempt the same with British traditional music. This set attests to the richness of the results.--Don McLeese