by Dave Thompson
Recorded during Fairport Convention's September 1970 shows in Los Angeles (their second visit to the city in six months), House Full captures the four-piece Full House lineup at its zenith -- a point proven by the marathon renditions of &Sloth& and &Matty Groves,& which are among its epic highlights. Anybody who thought Sandy Denny was the only person who could convincingly perform the latter is certainly in for a pleasant surprise, as is anyone who thought the Albion Band's version of &Battle of the Somme& was the definitive rendition. By year's end, however, this particular Fairport Convention lineup shattered, as Richard Thompson moved on to a solo career. This performance, with its taste of two songs originally intended for a presplit new album, is a vivid portrayal of all that listeners lost when he went.