Previous Guest Book Entries (15)
Nigel Newman: July 30th 2005
Just got in from Kentwell Hall - enjoyed totally. By the way, I remember an article
on you in Bike Magazine circa 1976, so the question is ... have you still got the Norton Commando?!
Maurice Walker: July 30th 2005
I would go for Original Masters. Less tracks than Spanning The Years, but it covers
a much shorter time period, 1971-1976, so the material hangs together better as a whole. There are a few tracks
on Spanning The Years which are odd choices, inasmuch as they`re not the best or even the better tracks from their
albums of origin. There are also some tracks that are incongruous. The compilers may think that Rave On, Rag Doll
and To Know Him Is To Love Him demonstrate the "versatility" of the Spanners, but I think they just get
in the way.
As with any band, some albums need to be heard in their entirety. I would recommend Below The Salt, Parcel Of Rogues,
Now We Are Six(the one on BGO Records with the full-length version of Thomas the Rhymer, and not the Shanachie
issue), Commoners Crown, All Around My Hat, Storm Force Ten, Live At Last to a newcomer.
The first three albums, Hark! the Village Wait, Please To See the King, and Ten Man Mop, from 1970-71, are now
available in a budget priced but high quality remastered 2-CD package called The Lark in the Morning. These three
albums are more traditional-sounding than subsequent albums and they could reasonably be described as `electric
folk`. And bloody great electric folk at that.
Submit: Submit
TimH: July 30th 2005
Indeed, Gryphon...don't make them like that anymore, though there's a new band called
I think, 'Circulus' who are doing that hanging around in forests in a pair of tights and false antlers thing...gotta
be done.
James: July 29th 2005
The trouble with compilations is that you can never find one that`s completely satisfactory.
I think that Original Masters is a more balanced compilation than Spanning the Years, because it doesn`t span as
many years, I guess. Spanning The Years contains the likes of Rag Doll, and To Know Him Is To Love Him, two pop-covers
that, to my mind, are really only of relevance to the Steeleye completist. In fact I always stop the Now We Are
Six CD before it comes to TKHITLH. Also, the frivolous New York Girls from Commoners Crown is included on this
comp. along with the quintessential Long Lankin. I know it`s subjective but New York Girls is my least favourite
track on Commoners Crown, partly because of guest Peter Sellers`s ukulele playing contribution!, and it`s the very
track from CC that I would leave out of a compilation. I don`t think that The Fox and Following Me, from 1989`s
Tempted and Tried, were a good choice, either. A neophyte might be put off by some of the less than definitive
material on Spanning the Years. But then it does have 35 tracks to the 20 tracks on Original Masters. I`d be hard-pressed
to know which, if any, of the various compilations to recommend.
The Elf Knight: July 29th 2005
There`s some info on that Electric Muse compilation at Reinhard Zierke`s Steeleye Span
website. It can be reached via Peter`s Links page, then go to "Discography:records", and scroll down
the lists until you come to the list of anthologies featuring Steeleye Span. Apparently, a 3-CD re-release was
issued, although I don`t know if it`s still available.
franci quinn: July 29th 2005
i have heard of fruup and i occasionally encounter their drummer, marty foy, in various
establishments here in co. tyrone. he is still giving the skins the odd rattle-usually with a band called 'the
bad articles'. i have my bid in now for 'spanning the years' but i have a bidding rival-will have to keep a good
eye on it.
francie quinn: July 29th 2005
thank you doubtful guest. if there is an easy route i'm the man to take it. 'spanning
the years' it is then. will take it from there.
Don Rodgers: July 29th 2005
One of the greatest collections of folk music I have was compiled by Karl Dallas of
Melody Maker fame (I used to buy it religiously even though it cost a fair bit to buy in Canada at the newsstands)
called Electric Muse...The History of Folk into Rock. I am in the midst of moving right now so it is boxed up ready
to be moved on the weekend but anyone who is a serious fan of folk music should surely pick it up if you can. I
still have the original 4 LP set on vinyl and would love dearly to find the compact disc version if there is a
such a beast. I know Steeleye is represented on there, along with Fairport, Ralph McTell, the late great Jackson
C. Franke (his rendition of Blues Run The Game will send shivers up your spine), Gryphon, Lindisfarne, Jack The
Lad and so on...it is a great primer for those new to the genre. It also illustrates how it moved from folk, into
electric folk and back into folk. I am sure Mr. Knight would have some comments to make on that release as I am
pretty positive he would be aware and familiar with it.
;¬): July 29th 2005
Fruup, yeah. But no, I can`t say I`ve heard of Phew. Any good? Or is that debatable.....
jaundiced eye: July 28th 2005
Phew.
Peter: July 28th 2005
This site will no longer host the debate that has developed during the past few days.
All the best,
Peter.
hippie chick: July 28th 2005
no wonder the world can't get along...people can't even get along on a guestbook...music
is a personal thing...just because you may not like it doesn't mean it's crap...it's a personal preference...we
should all be a little less "inflated" with ourselves
Joe Forde: July 28th 2005
Alex, I find your comments below somewhat.....( can't find the right word as I don't
wish to offend). Serious musicians, novelists, painters etc surely don't expect everyone to think all they have
done is fantastic, beyond criticism. It's a sign of respect to Steeleye and PK that their music can stir up such
a passionate and, in the main, well argued debate. That is what good art should be capable of doing! Nothing I
have said in this debate, or indeed any debate on music I have ever engaged in to my recollection, represents a
personal or vindictive attack on a musician or their music. It merely relates to my emotional response to their
art, some comparative analyitical references to the tradition, style and context within which they make their artistic
contribution, some technical observations perhaps, and ,yes, whether their art has the stuff about it to "blow
me away ". Give me this approach to the inevitable logic of your stance:polite,sycophantic,unanalytical, uncritical,pap,
tosh,sh..e; for that is where your perspective would take us if we let it. Three cheers to Green Gravel, Stephen
et al for ensuring that we won't; only if we ever did would PK have a need for sleepless nights.
Don Rodgers: July 28th 2005
Stephen Redi, I believer you are debating this topic with a very young, passionate,
personally connected individual who feels their cause is to defend the reputation of the Horslips, their music,
and their fans. As I said..the piss and vinegar fueled passions of youth. Nothing wrong with that as long as you
realise the youthful context from whence these passions spring.
Don Rodgers: July 28th 2005
Yep, still have a Frupp album in my collection. The only reason I still have it is because
no one else has ever heard of them...do you remember Gryphon?
Blue Angler: July 28th 2005
Gotta love that Don Rodgers. He's everywhere I want to be.
Housecar, allow me to compliment you on your musical tastes yet again
The Elf Knight: July 28th 2005
One way of looking at it is that Steeleye Span`s use of electric guitar was comparatively
basic, subtle and understated in order not to overwhelm the traditional feel of the music and so they eschewed
the more hard-rock approach in their arangements. For me, listening to the likes of Below The Salt, Parcel Of Rogues,
Now We Are Six etc. etc, I can`t help feeling that this is how the songs might have been perfomed back in the 18th.
century or the Middle Ages or whenever if musicians back then had had electric instruments. The tracks feel more
like the "proper" versions than what the purists would consider to be the proper versions. And, aside
from a few exceptions, as with the pop-song-cover on Now We Are Six, Steeleye Span stayed focussed on traditional
material throughout the seventies, which makes them; even Fairport Convention`s seventies` trad.-related albums
are peppered with Country-and contemporary style tunes.
Horslips` rock arrangements, on the other hand, had an unmistakably 20th. century flavour, with robust guitar riffs
and numerous guitar solos, along the same lines as rock music in general. Which was no bad thing.
But I get something from Steeleye`s music that I don`t get from Horslips, and vice versa. But I do think that Steeleye
Span, alone, did more for traditional music than any other band, even if they didn`t throw up any startling surprises.
On the subject of Irish music, I like the Pogues. Would that be considered "folk/rock"? Some brilliantly
edgy lyrics.
Stepehen Reid: July 28th 2005
Green Gravel. My use of the words crass, obtuse and insular was in reference to some
Horslips fans` inclination towards intransigence and overreacting -of which I can now conclude you are a prime
example- and it was not directed at Horslips the band. But then, I`m probably wasting my time trying to make you
understand anything. Or maybe you`re just deliberately twisting my words and taking them out of context. I offered
the hand of reconciliaton, but you`re apparently too obtuse to appreciate that.
It`s a pig-headed, immature fool such as yourself that does more of a disservice to Horslips and their music than
the opinions of any number of "hardcore" fans of Steeleye and other bands, with your inability for constructive
conversation and your determination to be rude and overly protective of a band that don`t need yours or anyone
else`s protection.
I don`t know where you get off on all this hate(?!?!) business between Steeleye and Horslips fans, either. That
really does have a strong whiff of the delusional about it.
TimH: July 28th 2005
Anyone here remember Fruup?
Doubtful Guest: July 28th 2005
Francie Quinn: you could always take the easy route and go for a greatest hits compilation.
"Spanning The Years" is a good one, it has 25 tracks and it's on eBay right now for £5.50.
Green Gravel: July 28th 2005
Doubtful Guest: Well I really don't know who you are but I wouldn't consider anyone
who judges me in public guestbook through my words and actions under an alias and not even to my face a friend.
What the hell has your age and length in musical appraisal of Horslips and Steeleye got to do with this?
Maurice Walker: That journalist had his head up his ass, sadly in this world there are people called langers. He
was one of them. We threatened abusive emails because it was deserving of him.
Stephen Reid: Perhaps you didn't realise this, but this debate started because some sod wrote up having some minor
hissy fit or something about the fact that Horslips were reviewed on Amazon as a true rock band who re-invented
trad and Span were merely electric folk. Then you go and knowingly fuel this with your personal faults with the
band.
Paranoid? I doubt that. Seeing as I said above you immeadiatly launched into your own personal dislikings of Horslips
and their music. I mean then in your 2nd post on them you labelled them as crass and naff. Hmmm, kind words. Yes
you said something kind and true about King of the Fairies. But I mean one daffodil doesn't mean it's spring now
does it.
Yes from Steeleye fans, and by hardcore fans I mean true dedicates to the band as well as the music and sadly there
is alot of hatred spread between both fans.
The DCWA was a snipe at the fact that you said they had problems containing their trad element within songs and
here we have DCWA, a PURE trad album done brilliantly so. Where was the trad element lost in this? Just as long
as we dont compare? Oh right, then you'd be withdrawing your comments in that case.
Vicky Elliot: Eh excuse me where in that sentence did that imply you or Span? Nowhere. Cheeky yes, deluded; I think
that would apply to you, naive; don't make me laugh, a bollox? So much for non vulgar terms in arguments sake.
Fran Webster: Live! Was released in order to finance the Book of Invasions album, had they scrapped it is possible
BOI might not have surfaced at all. And again as Joe Forde, it's the playing not the recording.
Philip Wylton: It just goes to show how much you really know then: The band split in 1980. And they "allowed"
their Irish manager to sell their rights like I was born at the North Pole. Their livelyhood had just taken a nose
dive after 10 years of reckless touring and physical and mental wearing. So they didn't disappear as you quaintly
put it. And they didn't "see fit" to go into the legal process in 1999, but through many legal loopholes
that is when their case came to court.
francie quinn: July 27th 2005
so what about some suggestions then for a steeleye virgin? if i was only to buy one
album which one would it be? and presuming i like it where would i go next?
Joe Forde: July 27th 2005
Of course, Don is right. I had meant to say "Pleased to See the King". Did
that have a cover once that looked a bit like basket woven cloth? The years have been long gone!
Doubtful Guest: July 27th 2005
Perhaps he meant "Parcel of Rogues"?
Vicky Elliot: July 27th 2005
Even crap tea is better than The Unfortunate Cup Of Tea.
Alex: July 27th 2005
Personally, I adore SS and Horslips, both of whom have contributed something of great
significance to the continuance of Trad music, albeit in diferent ways and degrees.
Which means that the musicians from both bnads will have left something worthwhile behind, which is more than the
contributers to this debate will be able to say, most of whose only contribution to music is posting stuff onto
websites that will be forgotten as soon as it has been read.
I am sure that Peter Knight when he reads some of the offensive and negative comments that have been said about
his lifetimes work, will not be losing any sleep.
Don Rodgers: July 27th 2005
I always thought Basket Of Light was by Pentangle. Must have been a popular album name.
Joe Forde: July 27th 2005
There is a book coming out in October on the history of Horslips by Mark Cunningham.
This will probably cover the "Horslips Live" thing-basically the band had lost their RCA recording contract
at that time and brought "Horslips Live" out on their own label, originally just for release in Ireland.
It was a very low budget thing and that, plus the time period for live recordings and equipment( ie the 1970s),
is the explanation for the poor production quality. The Book Of Invasions was under a new recording contract of
course and was studio and what a difference! My favourite Steeleye album was "Basket of Light" by the
way. Good talking to you folks.
perforated eardrum: July 27th 2005
Truent Horslips GB'rs are going to find themselves issued with ASBO's if this keeps
up. We'll be loitering around on wee Danials site next saying things like his ma makes crap tea.
Philip Wylton: July 27th 2005
I know that Horslips split up in 1981, but is it true that back then they apathetically
allowed their manager to sell the rights to their back catalogue for a couple of thousand pounds...... until they
eventually saw fit to fight a legal battle to regain the rights and royalties pertaining to their albums, in 1999!
That`s weird, that. Disappearing from the face of the earth for going-on twenty years and then showing up on a
website in 1999 saying `here we are!` Curious. No wonder they`re defensive.
Gamesmaster: July 27th 2005
See if you can spot someone here who's got 'Multi-Personality Disorder'.
It ain't difficult.
Fran Webster: July 27th 2005
What I don`t understand about `Horslips Live` is why did they allow it to be released.
They should have either sorted it out or scrapped it. But unfortunately no, they did neither. How ironic then that
their best album, The Book Of Invasions/A Celtic Symphony, should be released so soon after such a lamentable dud
as Horslips Live. How inconsistent was that!
Vicky Elliot: July 27th 2005
I take exception to that "Green Gravel"`s remarks on the Horslips guestbook
referring to "some half assed fans/band" putting down Horslips.
Huh?
What`s he on about now. The cheeky, naive, deluded little b****x.
James: July 27th 2005
Joe, I agree that writing new songs that incorporated traditional tunes and historical
or mythological concepts was harder. Sure thing. But have you and fellow Horslips aficionados not considered the
possibility that perhaps, just perhaps, Steeleye Span didn`t do that not because they didn`t have the ability to
but because they didn`t choose to.
The English a wee bit stiff? That would be the Viagra...
Stephen Reid: July 27th 2005
Oh yeah, just one or two more points I should make that might put your mind to rest
for once and for all. When I said that Horslps were inconsistent, I meant that in trad/rock terms, although as
a rock band I think they were just fine, even if they did lose the plot somewhat on the last studio album, but
needless to say I love Guests Of The Nation, The Life You Save and Rescue Me.
As for my allusions to the "transatlantic" singing accents and generic sound of the songs, again that
was a criticism in terms of trad/rock. Which brings us back to the point that it really is a disservice to both
bands to make direct comparisons.
Hey! Who knows, but we may have finally achieved what was for so long considerd the impossible, by bringing Lipsos
and Spanners together in an articulate and amiable discussion on the merits of our favourite folk-related bands,
and in the process encourage neophytes to discover the music of whichever band they were previously unfamiliar
with, if, unlike me for one, they`re not already au fait with the music of both bands.
Just as long as we remember not to compare. Just enjoy.
Slan agus go raibh maith agat.
Stephen Reid: July 27th 2005
Come on now, Green Gravel. To suggest that I started the needless comparison between
the bands is patently ludicrous, and you know it is. My fundamental point was that the music of the two bands need
not be compared, but enjoyed on its own merits. The original posting I made was in response to a posting by another
contributor to this guestbook which was in turn a response to needless comparisons made by a contributor on the
Horslips guestbook back in June I believe, and also to a disparaging review of Steeleye Span`s "Gone To Australia"
live CD that was posted on the Amazon.com music section which dismissed Steeleye Span`s music as "electrified
folk" whilst extolling Horslips and other bands, but which I think missed the point and was unfair.
As for my supposed covert attempts to rubbish Horslips, now it sounds like you`re being paranoid although you may
just be trying to wind me up. I`m a straight talker. If I didn`t like/respect Horslips, I would say so. If you
care to have another look at my first posting you will see that I suggested that Horslips` King Of The Fairies
is arguably the best trad-rock instrumental of all time. Hardly the words of someone trying to covertly rubbish
the band.
I accept your claim that Horslips have endured criticism from purists(as have Steeleye Span and Fairport Convention)
- but from hardcore fans of bands like Steeleye? I hope that`s not true. Shame if it is. But I wouldn`t know about
that as I`m not a "hardcore" fan of any band.
I don`t know where you`re coming from with the DTCWA thing. I am all too familiar with the album, as I am with
all of the Horslips albums, and yes I know Green Gravel well and it`s definitely a classic track, and the original
LP cover of Happy To Meet, of which I once owned a copy, is a real gem of an album cover concept and all the rest,
but the reason I didn`t mention DTCWA in my initial posting was because it`s an acoustic album, and the whole "argument"(although
hopefully we`ve agreed to transcend all of that by now)was concerning folk-rock, trad- rock, electric-folk, call
it what you will. Nice album nonetheless, I hasten to add.
I think that`s about it, for now.
At least for as long as the ceasefire lasts. Eh,lads? 
Maurice Walker: July 26th 2005
I don`t understand why those Horslips devotees see this as such an emotive issue and
why they seem to be compelled to defend Horslips even though nobody attacked Horslips to start with! It`s as if
they see this as some sort of tribal warfare. LOL
I`ve visited their website from time to time and I remember a few months back, when some newspaper journalist had
written an article by way of reviewing a Horslips-devoted tv programme that had various people talking about the
revolutionary effect that Horslips had on the Irish music scene, and on Irish society in general even, in the early
1970s. This journalist basically expressed his scepticism as to the sociological importance of Horslips and went
on to say that he and his friends had not been impressed by Horslips` music and had regarded the band`s musical
(and sartorial) style as naff and laughable at the time. So, someone at the Horslips guestbook then transcribed
this journalist`s newspaper article on to the guestbook and all and sundry proceeded to tear his(the journalist`s)character
to shreds, with the usual expletive-riddled and over the top personal insults, and someone even suggested that
everybody send him abusive e-mails. Crazy! I mean, however harsh or disparaging this journalist`s comments may
have appeared to fans, and even I felt some of his comments were a bit too dismissive, it`s not as if this guy
attacked Horslips by posting his less-than-sycophantic views on the Horslips website. He was merely exercising
his journalistic right to review a television programme in his own newspaper column.
francie quinn: July 26th 2005
hello there-just popping over from the horslips site to see what all the fuss is about
but don't worry i am quite calm and rational. truth be told i don't know enough steeleye span music to make a comparison
with horslips but as someone ponted out why make comparisons anyway? its a big enough world to contain fans of
both bands, and those people who like both bands as well. i like tom waits and talking heads and the wombles so
go figure. and don't come on here and diss the wombles btw, 'superwomble' rocked! i must admit that all this "spirited"
debate has put me in the notion of buying a steeleye span album-where would be a good place to start for someone
whose knowledge is limited to 'all around my hat'?, which i really liked btw.
Don Rodgers: July 26th 2005
Arguing about music is like dancing about architecture. I have always maintained there
is only two kinds of music...music I like, and music I don't like. Full stop. Steeleye like Horslips are two bands
I like, but certainly not everything they did. Steeleye are far and away more Scottish/English while Horslips embraced
the Celtic strain of things. The two musical styles certainly overlap which is to be expected and nothing remains
the same. Innovation and change add to the culture of a civilisation. Just remember theat Horslips endured a great
deal of slagging for tampering with the pure Celtic sound yet they endured and progressed. This whole arguement
is rather silly and may perhaps be written off as the heartfelt passionate renderings of a neophyte with good intentions.
Try living in country and western country for a while and let me tell you, Steeleye and Horslips would both be
gifts from the gods.
Joe Forde: July 26th 2005
The recording of Horslips Live was indeed, oh so f...ing awful-but surely not the playing?
The extended version of Furniture on that album is still one of the best examples of Celtic Rock music in my view,
and the guitar solo by Johnny Fean simply sublime. Try to look beyond the awfulness of the recording James, and
you will find some good stuff in there. But that album does not capture the magic of the band live at that time,
that I certainly grant you, as was often the case in those days with live albums.
Horslips and Steeleye were and are very different bands( Horslips the John Lennon( innovative, iconoclastic, irreverent
etc) and Steeley the Paul McCartney, melodic,cautious,sweet, harmonic etc). It really depends on what you like.
When Horslips played the Royal Albert Hall with Steeleye around 1974, Johnny Fean's performance was later described
as the loudest guitarist to play that venue since Jimi Hendrix had some time previously, and I can believe that-
and him so good at it too! How could Steeleye have been expected to follow that with their much softer, sweeter
sound and make it come off?- needless to say they did not quite pull it off at that gig and others when Horslips
played support to them. And this really is the difference between Celtic Rock and Electric Folk( they should not
have been put on the same bill), very different things.
Steeleye and the early Fairport did not combine traditional instrumental melodies in their song compositions/arrangements
in the way Horslips did to such good effect, and this is one of the reassons why I feel they were less innovative
than Horslips. All three could cook an electric version of some jig or other but that was the easy part-writng
new songs with traditional melodies woven in and interesting historic themes was so much harder. But Steeleye and
Fairport were and still are damn good bands well worthy of respect. However, for me I was always fonder of the
John Lennon approach.
NB. Drive the Cold Winter Away was and still is in a class of its own, as a contribution to traditional Irish musical
interpretation.
As for the Englishness comment- well, I am Irish by parentage! But the English can be a wee bit stiff now, surely?
Green Gravel: July 26th 2005
The Elf Knight: had you been paying attention to the posts you would have realised I
pointed out DCWA as a lips album because Stephen Reid claimed Horslips had the habit of losing the trad element.
I wanted to show that sometimes this happend, but in the whole it did not. DCWA is the perfect example of this
being of pure trad. It's an example as one of the greatest recordings of Irish Folk music in the last 50 years.
I was saying that to show that Horslips didn't just play a few hot guitar licks and not have an exciting trad backround
to it. And as for rehearsing yes, touring to be confirmed.
James: The poor recording quality of Live! is not to be burdened on the Lips, but it was down to the point of poor
production. But the quality really doesn't matter buttons seeing as the playing is superb. And SSTT did lose the
trad element totally, but that was all down to hugely extensive touring taking its toll on a band wha had worked
flat out for 10 years straight.
Stephen Reid: I believe you are the person who began the needless comparison between the two, and yes I agree,
different bands. As for boorish comments and idiotic behaviour, well I believe that was all triggered by your own
covert attempts to ahem, "rubbish" Horslips' music and creative ability. You basically pointed out every
point that was at your own personal fault in comparison to Steeleye.
And yes some Horslips fans do indeed react badly to offensive remarks on the band because the band have had to
put up with enough, lets face it, bullshit from purists and people like hardcore fans of bands like Steeleye who
immeadiatley blow off Horslips music and style.
And I'm quite proud to defend the music and innovation of Horslips because not only was the music inspiring to
many many musicians, but they are also great people as individuals and especially as friends. They and their music
means a hell of alot to a hell of alot of people. It revolutionised teen culture in Ireland and gave us something
to be proud of at times when Ireland didn't have much going for it.
And people will never seen Horslips' Music as crass, because it is great music and great music will never die,
nor do hero's.
Mark Compston: July 26th 2005
"Steely Dan" indeed. Ha-bloody-ha. Cheap and snidey little stunts like that
won`t impress anyone here.
Doubtful Guest: July 26th 2005
My friends from the green page, Joe Forde and Green Gravel the apple of my eye, shame
on you!
Surely you have to appreciate the skill of the Steeleye members, even if their music isn't your cup of tea. "cheesy-on
the bandwagon-diddly-eye farce music"??? Not even close, Green. You need to have another listen. And ask any
of the members of Horslips what THEY think of Steeleye Span...I think you'll hear nothing but good things.
Put me in Mark Cloud's camp. I've been a huge Horslips fan since I was younger than you, Green Gravel, but I love
Steeleye as well. I just wasn't fortunate enough to catch them live. I still think Maddy Prior has THE best voice
of any female vocalist, anywhere, ever. She could sing the telephone directory and I'd listen.
There need not be any "Horslips vs Steeleye", that's silly.
To Stephen Reid: they really are a nice bunch of lads over there on the Lipso guest book, I don't know what's got
into them this week. Must be the heat.
James: July 25th 2005
In response to Joe Forde`s sentiments, what`s he got against the "oh so f---ing
Englishness" of Steeleye`s music? Irish music, in its various incarnations, has been all too familiar to people
for yonks. Surely it`s a good thing that we had bands such as Steeleye Span that recorded British traditional material
for a change. Anyway, as any Steeleye fan will tell you, a large proportion of the traditional material used by
Steeleye Span is Scottish.
But Joe, what about the oh so f----ing awfulness of "Horslips Live"! What a stinker that one was. And
Short Stories Tall Tales? What were they thinking? Tragic. Horslips should have stuck with their "Celtic Rock"
and not tried so hard to diversify.
Stephen Reid: July 25th 2005
Now now children, where`s your manners!
I was beginning to think that EVERYone from that Horslips website is hysterical and incapable of putting their
views across without feeling the need to resort to despicably puerile abuse and innuendo, but Joe Forde has gone
some way to restoring my faith in the potential for calmness and a sense of proportion in the hardcore Horslips
fan when "defending" their beloved band. It`s a measure of the graciousness and open-mindedness of Peter
Knight and co that such uncalled for attacks from the other Horslips-obsessed contributors are tolerated and that
even mean-spirited, petty-minded, bad-mannered idiots intent on rubbishing Steeleye Span are allowed to deposit
their bile here, unlike on the Horslips guestbook where any message that mentions Steeleye Span in favourable terms
is promptly deleted. Yes, "Lipsos", now people will definitely perceive you as being insular, obtuse
and crass. Shame really, and so unnecessary, when you take the trouble to actually think about it.
To Joe Forde -I think you`ll find that Steeleye`s music is indeed innovative, although not in the way that Horslips
was. I`m not a big fan of trad./folk music(in its "pure" form), you see, but yet I`ve bought over twenty
Steeleye Span albums, which speaks for itself.
My original point was that the music of Horslips and Steeleye Span is so very different that it p***es me off when
narrow-minded and chauvinistic Horslips fans with negative intentions make a direct comparison between Steeleye
and Horslips with the object of dismissing Steeleye. I was just pointing out that, for those who would make such
comparisons, it can be reversed in favour of Steeleye Span.
Horslips and Steeleye Span were two very different bands who had markedly different approaches to their music.
I certainly was not rubbishing Horslips and I think that my comments, which I stand by, were fair.
If I`d known my views would attract the boorish rantings of the Lipso lunatic fringe I might not have bothered
posting them, as the last thing this website needs is an invasion of bigoted and hate-fuelled yobs.
I`ll conclude with a quote from Tim Hart from the liner notes to 1978`s Live At Last : .." eight years ago
a collection of musicians formed a group called Steeleye Span with the intention of taking this well preserved
music, revitalising it, and putting it back in the world of popular song" . And that is exactly what they
did. Horslips did not, for the most part, do this, regardless of how wonderful one may consider their particular
approach to have been.
Yeah? Do you get it now, Lips fans? (no, obviously not). At no point did Steeleye purport to be in competition
with Horslips. Sure, it ain`t The Book Of Invasions or The Tain, but then that kind of approach would have been
way too far removed from the source material to have interested Steeleye Span, in fact it would have defeated their
whole purpose, as alluded to by Tim Hart.
So, let`s just appreciate one or other or both(yes, it is possible)bands without making needless comparisons.
Best regards and love to all.
The Elf Knight: July 25th 2005
To Green Grovel -- Drive the Cold Winter Away is just an essentially acoustic album
of traditional song and tunes. Alright in its own limited and underwhelming way, but I don`t see what it has to
do with this debate. All it signifies is that Horslips could do acoustic as well as rock. Like, big deal.
As for Horslips being "active", in what way, apart from the recent "re-workings" album. Are
they rehearsing? When`s the tour?
Mark Cloud: July 25th 2005
I will never understand the need some people have to create competition in the arts.
I love Horslips' music; I love Steeleye's music. If you happen to love one over the other, good for you; that says
volumes about your own musical taste, but absolutely nothing about the music of the artists involved, in any objective
sense.
Btw, I never, ever watch the Grammy awards for the same reason. Excuse me now, but the day nurse says it's time
for my meds. Cheers.
McGinley Óg: July 25th 2005
all i can say is different strokes for different folks. as far as i'm concerned horslips
are the best band ever...full stop. (thats period for all you "transatlantic readers") horslips not as
good as steely dan because they liked to experiment???!! shame on you , so called music fan. the only music i am
prejudiced against is formulaic music... so fair play to horslips even if some of their experiments werent up to
scratch with their classics. that said...steely dan are good also
Green Gravel: July 25th 2005
To Stephen Reid:
The Horslips Vs. Steeleye Debate.
Hmmm, Stephen have you ever listen to "Drive the Cold Winter Away"? (Horslips album), well it would appear
you have not because if you did then you would have seen a few "flashy" guitar solo's that Span were
not even in the league of, possibly because they were on acoustic guitars, with use of only acoustic mandolins,
banjo's, fiddles, bodhráns, bongo's, flutes, pipes, concertina's, and only an bass being the electric backing.
With reels, jigs, laments the list goes on. the only singing on the album is pure trad and not all in the same
language, taking Irish, manx and some other languages.
In comparison Span is cheesy-on the bandwagon-diddly-eye farce music. And there's nothing flashy in the way you
implied in the guitar solo's of Johnny Fean, a master of many versatile instruments (guitar being No.1), traditional
or otherwise, and a true hero of mine.
Yes it can be admitted that sometimes the traditional parts in songs may have been layered over. Like for instance
on electric guitars, but what is a reel or jig on an electric guitar? It's folk/celtic-rock. You have the contemporary
guitar using a melody that is hundreds of years old. I mean what would you define as folf rock then?
Horslips started as an experimental unit as drummer Eamon Carr once said, and what is experimenting without never
ceasing to try something new. Without experimentation every band that had something original going would never
have existed!
And if you hadn't noticed Horslips HAD split up and are now active once more with their new acoustic re-working
album Rollback.
Furthermore while you claim Horslips forgot true traditional instrumentation you would fail to notice the debut
album "Happy to Meet-Sorry to Part" had a sleeve which was shaped like a concertina, a landmark piece
of album design, that would be the CONCERTINA players concertina, the one he used for most of the songs. But then
again whats a piece of art in a record sleeve like that when you could have a Rocket Cottage! Wow! How non-tacky!
And note, the name "Green Gravel" is the name of the bands 2nd ever single, a Trad Arr. of a traditional
Irish song. It was only pressed in Ireland so I don't think it was, err as you say "Transatlantic".
P.S. Horslips were, are and always will be the greatest folk rock band on the planet.
Joe Forde: July 25th 2005
Hi Stephen. A well constructed and interesting posting from you.
Innovative Steeleye most certainly were not( and still are not). Musical they most certainly were and sometimes
still are. Vocally they have produced some magical stuff of great warmth and taste too. You don't have to play
rock music to play music with balls, but the combination of rock guitar stylings( with the musical intelligence
that went with them), and the celtic spirit so evident in Horslip's music and live performances in particular,
was such a contrast to the oh so fu--ing Englishness of Steeleye-traditional but ballsless and too often lacking
in fire.
Doubtful Guest: July 25th 2005
AND I LOVE THEM BOTH!!!
Stephen Reid: July 8th 2005
Interesting comments concerning the Steeleye v Horslips debate.
Horslips was not a folk-rock band in the same way that Steeleye, Fairport, The Albion Band etc. were. (BTW I only
use the past tense because Horslips split up decades ago.) Most of Horslip`s material was not even Trad. Arr.;
the musical arrangements were predominantly guitar-orientated with the obligatory guitar solos; and, significantly,
they sang with generic "transatlantic"(if that`s the right term) accents, unlike Steeleye, one of the
strongpoints of whom was the array of very strong and individual folky singing accents, most notably with the likes
of Tim Hart, Martin Carthy, John Kirkpatrick(albeit fleetingly), not to mention Maddy Prior, which gave Steeleye`s
music a much more authentic traditional feel than the more generic Horslips sound.
Sure, Horslips was much more daring in its approach to adapting traditional music to a rock format and, with some
of their early instrumental numbers(e.g. King of the Fairies{arguably the best trad-rock instrumental of all time,
and the guitar solo really works}, High Reel, Johnny`s Wedding, Musical Priest, amongst others) would even rival
(or, dare I say it, occasionally surpass)Steeleye Span in trad.-rock terms. But that`s only because there`s no
singing on those tracks. The trouble with Horslips was that they were inconsistent and tried too hard to be versatile
and try out different musical styles, until they lost their way completely.
So, to sum up, Horslips was a rock outfit that produced a couple of good concept albums with Celtic mythological
themes and traditional motifs cleverly woven into the fabric of what were actually original songs. But it`s not
folk-rock. Unfortunately, as the band`s own liner notes to Dancehall Sweethearts proclaimed, "believe it or
not, these tracks have traditional airs concealed about their persons", i.e. the traditional factor was often
so cryptic, vague or even irrelevant as to be indiscernible unless pointed out.
Steeleye Span, on the other hand, was(and still is) THE folk-rock band of all time. No flashy guitar solos, true,
and nowhere near as radically innovative as Horslips were, but then that`s why I like Steeleye - the traditional
material hasn`t been re-interpreted and diluted to the point of being unrecognisable.
Anne: July 6th 2005
Hi Peter, I would like to retract a comment I made a few months ago, implying that the
cost of Too Late For Shadows would be prohibitive when sent to Australia, given postage and currency conversion.
This is absolutely incorrect, the CD ended up being just a shade over $30 which is well within normal range over
here. Hopefully that comment has not deterred any other Aussies from getting this wonderful recording.
Anne: June 30th 2005
Hi Peter
Amazingly quick delivery of Too Late For Shadows. Loved it on first listen. Especially like Too Late For Shadows,
Moulin Rogue and the second Lark in the Morning. Thoroughly recommend this CD. Thanks very much
Steeleye and (to a lesser extent)Horslips fan: June 24th 2005
If that link doesn`t work, go to www.horslipsrecords.com or www.horslips.ie and then click
on the guestbook page.
Steeleye(and Horslips) fan: June 7th 2005
I`ve just read some comments, posted by a fan, on the Horslips website, that I think
might be of interest. I`ve come across remarks of this nature before, in an Amazon.com review(posted by a customer)of
Steeleye`s "Gone To Australia" CD, in which the reviewer dismissed Steeleye Span as being mere "electric
folk", whereas Horslips were a proper rock band who completely re-invented traditional music etc. etc.
This attitude really irritates me. I have owned all of the Horslips albums at one time or another and I can safely
say that a lot of their material, especially on the later albums, is just straight rock or pop/rock music, with
original lyrics written by the band, and with the occasional few bars of a traditional tune added here and there.
Ergo, the traditional element of some of their albums, where it exists at all, is often quite minimal. So, why
the comparisons with Steeleye!?! The Horslips guestbook can be viewed at http://cgi.horslips.force9.co.uk/cgi-bin/guestbook.org
The comments I`m referring to are in the entry posted on Monday 6th. June at 23.34.58.
By the way, re said comments, is it true that Steeleye and Fairport "ridiculed Horslips for doing this because
they could not see traditional folk music as being a basis for rock & roll(bless them!)".
To save space, and time, if you want to read my views on the subject of so-called "electric-folk" versus
Horslips` brand of "folk-rock" go to the reviews of "Gone To Australia" on the Amazon.com site,
to read my response. Needless to say, I`m the one sticking up for Steeleye.
