From Amazon.com
This has been remastered
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: and reissued from the UK with all original art, etc. in 2006
Avoid this issue from 1991.Hark the Village Wait
Quintessential "Classic" Steeleye Span...
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: Steeleye Span pioneered folk rock along with Fairport convention (whose music I still haven't picked up yet, though I've been meaning to for variety's sake). If you're a Steeleye Span fan, you will like this CD. Period. It's a Steeleye classic, and one of my many favorites.
Skip the newer releases, like: They Called Her Babylon, Bedlam Born, Bloody Men.
Go for the Classics: Tempted and Tried, All Around my Hat, Sails of Silver, Storm Force Ten, Rocket Cottage, Hark! The Village Wait, Please to See the King, Ten Man Mop, Commoners Crown, Now We Are Six, Parcel of Rogues, Below the Salt, Back in Line.
If you must pick up "modern" Steelye albums, pick up: Time (one of their best "modern" releases) and Horkstow Grange (their other good "modern" release). "Winter" is supposed to also be good, on par with the classics (traditional arrangements of holiday songs), though I haven't yet seen it.
The above "classic" albums cover the early and middle years.
Steeleye Span is off to a great Start!
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: "Hark! The Village Wait" is one of the best debut album rivaling Tull's "This Was". Starting off with a breath taking harmony "Calling-on Song", the group eases into a perfect ten, grade A album. One of the best Progressive rock albums, (Though not as popular as some), "Hark!" is truely a great album to own for any prog rock -or even Steeleye- fan. THis album stands out above the others mainly because there are two female vocalists, Maddy Prior, (In my opinion, could win American Idol) and Gay Woods. They originally started out with a drummer, but dropped one after the album. Though constantly shifting personnel, the band came out on top as one of Prog Rock's greats.
Hark!......... I hear a new and beautiful sound!
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: Steeleye's first album truly is something special! Every song on here is great...too bad that this line-up didn't get a more thorough work-out since the magic is flying everywhere on this recording, and having BOTH female singers makes this one SOAR (though the male vocals are spot-on as well)! The Blacksmith version on here may be one of my favorite songs I've ever heard in this genre. Other beautiful songs like Fisherman's Wife, Dark-Eyed Sailor, Lowlands of Holland, All Things Are Quite Silent, and One Night as I Lay on my Bed have such great harmonies, melodies and energy (some rock! I'd love to see Tull record a couple of these) that they stick with you long after the cd shuts off. Black-leg Miner is such an energetic and trippy string-whacking and cool vision of a new musical style, I am amazed...even that heavy accent really adds to the song (Bluegrass musicians should check this out). I could go on and on with other songs on HARK! This album is just wonderful from beginning to end, do yourself a favor and let this soak into your soul, you won't regret it. Cross-over appeal is broad with this band. I should further explore Terry and Gay Wood's music to see if this magic was created on other recordings of theirs. I know it was on the (also great) later Steeleye albums (this album has drumming which gives it a familiar feel, although they tried it without drums after this album for awhile). Is there a better way to start a new band and album than the Calling On Song?
You might want to get "Lark in the Morning" if you don't have the 1st 3 Steeleye albums - all 3 remastered on 2 cd's for about $11.00 is a nicely packaged steal! I imagine this band sometimes as hairy-feet Hobbits smoking long-bottom leaf cranking their wired, crazy little electric instruments to the Shire's delight at the great harvest festival - Mordor quakes at the power of these Middle-Earth minstrels, Orcs and Goblins run for their lives...fun thought anyway! Thanks for the gift of your music Steeleye members past and present. The world would feel more empty without it. Enjoy!
Fresh sound, amazing vocals
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: This first Steeleye Span album is folkier and less rock-influenced than their later work -- but, if you haven't heard them, don't get the false impression that "folky" means soft or wimpy -- or that "traditional" music has to be a dead museum piece. This album bursts with energy. The gutsy yet finely-honed voices of Maddy Pryor and Gay Woods never let you down, either separately or in rich harmony. The tunes are memorable and always make me want to sing along. The mood varies from the romantic "All things are quite silent," to the angry last verse of "Blacksmith" and the creepy, macabre "Twa Corbies." One of my favorite albums ever!
Purchases
1 A Calling-On Song - Steeleye Span, Hutchings, Ashley
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