Nine

Released in 1973, Nine is the ninth studio album by Fairport Convention and serves as a significant historical marker for the group, being the first release to feature no original founding members. The lineup, consisting of Dave Swarbrick, Dave Pegg, Jerry Donahue, Trevor Lucas, and Bruce Rowland, pushed the band’s sound toward a more pronounced country rock and Americana influence, largely due to Donahue and Lucas's backgrounds. While critics like AllMusic have labeled it 'uneven,' the album is highly regarded for its technical musicianship, particularly the 'Brilliancy Medley' which showcases the band's virtuosic instrumental interplay. The record balances traditional adaptations like 'The Hexhamshire Lass' with original compositions that reflect a more contemporary, cynical worldview. It remains a definitive example of the 'second era' of Fairport, where the delicate folk-rock of the Sandy Denny years was replaced by a sturdier, more rhythmically driven approach.