Fairport Convention – Liege and Lief (1969):  Widely viewed as the greatest English folk album of all time, Liege and Lief best exhibits the fresh British take on folk-rock that Fairport Convention managed at their best moments.  The album includes just two songs written by the bandmembers, with most being traditional English folk songs that are given a rock treatment – this formula works especially well on “Tam Lin” and “Matty Groves”.  This album includes some of the finest work ever by vocalist Sandy Denny, whose piercing alto even bests some opera divas.  Sadly, most Americans know Sandy Denny only from her duet with Robert Plant in “The Battle of Evermore” on the fourth Led Zeppelin album that was released in 1971 (the officially untitled album is often called Led Zeppelin IV and includes Led Zep’s signature song “Stairway to Heaven”).