Sunday 18 April 2010

CLASSIC: Bill Fay - Time of the Last Persecution (1971)


Incredible album. Kinda like Nick Drake in the sense that during the 70s he was pretty much ignored and only recently started to get the recognition he rightly deserves. If you like Dylan, Van Morrison, Cohen, Nick Drake or any other singer-songwriters from that era this is for you.

Take a look at this NME review from 1971:

"Another rather tuneless singer who writes his own songs, Londoner Bill Fay is 28 and has the right sound in his voice for today’s folk tunes… He plays piano and is backed by a six-piece at times, including guitarist Ray Russell, who helped produce his second LP, which is versatile and interesting’ – NME, 20/2/71"

Tuneless, but has the right sounds in his voice and is still versatile and interesting?? Huh??? The production is amazing and the LP is haunting, beautiful and heartbreaking in equal measures. It took me a while to get into this album, but once you do it'll be with you for life.

The album isn't on Spotify, but there is an excellent compilation from last year called 'Still Some Light' that collects both old unreleased versions of many of the songs found on 'Time of the Last Persecution' and some from his self-titled debut, as well as last years home recorded album full of new songs.

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