For their fourth album, Fairport Convention released what is regarded by many as not only the best record in their history but also one of the seminal English folk-rock albums of all time. This was also the album that marked the transformation of the group from, essentially, a rock band that utilized folk music (in tandem with modern singer/songwriter material) as a source for part of their sound, and an inspiration for their own songwriting, into a group specializing in reinterpreting traditional English songs. There's only one original number here, the soaring "Come All Ye," the rest being adaptations of old English folk songs; at the time, however, very few groups were doing this with any success, or mixing acoustic and electric sounds quite as adeptly, with the result that Liege and Lief was practically a consciousness-raising album for a lot of listeners. "Farewell Farewell," "Matty Groves," "Reynardine," and "Tam-Lin" were highlights of an LP filled with gems in this style, ornamented with gorgeous harmonies and striking instrumental virtuosity. Sadly, this lineup was in the process of splitting up virtually as the record was being made — after Sandy Denny's and Ashley Hutchings' exits, it would be remembered with a tone of nostalgia that was somewhat unfair to the equally impressive lineup that followed.
The 2002 CD reissue adds a previously unreleased version of "Sir Patrick Spens" with Sandy Denny on lead vocals (she was out of the band when the version that appears on Full House was recorded) and a previously unreleased cover of Richard Fariña's "Quiet Joys of Brotherhood." (Although take 4 of "Quiet Joys of Brotherhood" was released on the Sandy Denny box Who Knows Where the Time Goes, this version is the previously unavailable take 1.) It also has new liner notes by both Ashley Hutchings and producer Joe Boyd.