Previous Guest Book Entries (16)
Mark Compston: October 4th 2005
Speaking of obscurity value - On the Discography page of the Mandy/Spriguns website,
the original LPs are valued. £100 for Revels Weird and Wild, £175 for Magic Lady(1000 copies pressed)and
£300 for Magic Lady blue vinyl(20 copies). And, unless my eyes deceive me, £700 for the Jack With a
Feather LP.
KeithJ: October 4th 2005
I`d like to add something in response to those people who would dismiss Steeleye Span
on the grounds of the music being pedestrian and lacking inventiveness and rock `n` roll credibility. They`re missing
the point. Rock superstar David Bowie was more than happy to guest on the Now We Are Six album, the very same album
for which Jethro Tull`s Ian Anderson was "production consultant".
The Queen of Fair Elfland: October 4th 2005
A Sprigun is an evil Cornish pixie; and Tolgus the name of a "show" tin mine
in Cornwall.
And Tim Hart wrote the Seamus The Showman track for the Spriguns` Jack With A Feather album.
Johan Vanhecke, Antwerp (johnnyv89@hotmail.com): October 3rd 2005
Peter,
what do we have to do to get Steeleye Span in Belgium, let's say Antwerp? We have a lot of cultural centres, and
bigger concert halls. (And good restaurants...) I could post the information if you want. Are you planning summer
concerts too? I'd love yo see you again.
KeithJ: October 3rd 2005
Check out some interesting reviews of the more recent Steeleye Span albums, incl. Bedlam
Born and Present, at Michael Newbery`s album reviews page.
http://users.actrix.co.nz/newbery/Steeleye-Span/crit.html
There was a reference to the wah-wah(ish) guitar on When I Was On horseback in one review - but wasn`t that sound
effect produced by the octave violin?
Seems someone was unimpressed by Who Told the Butcher and Poor Old Soldier. The former song is one of my all time
favourite Peter Knight compositions. I`d have a problem with Arbour and White Cliffs of Dover from that album.
Just goes to show how much it really is down to personal tastes.
Maurice Walker: October 3rd 2005
Hi Nick. Regarding my comments on Bedlam Born, and Gay Woods, what I was saying is that
some of the Gay Woods material left me feeling at the time that here was someone who needed to be doing her own
material, who needed an outlet as a solo artist in her own right. I don`t think the album per se was too much Gay
Woods. But I was more used to the more balanced approach of the Maddy Prior Steeleye albums, and I just felt that
Maddy, who has had a long-standing solo recording career alongside her Steeleye collaborations, has always been
really comfortable as a member of the band and happy to be there without being frustrated at not being able to
do more of her own stuff.
I`d be the first to say that Gay Woods has a great singing voice, but I think that if, like Maddy Prior, she`d
had the chance to realise her own solo musical aspirations, she might not have been so self-indulgent on Bedlam
Born. ["Self-indulgent" may be controversial, and it is a subjective observation/interpretation, but
that was how it came across to me.] And after all, she did leave Steeleye soon afterwards to pursue a solo career
or whatever. I read an interview somewhere online in 2001, after she`d departed from Steeleye, in which Gay described
her dissatisfaction and frustration as a member of the band and how she had felt like a bit of an underdog - "serf"
was the word she used, if my memory serves me right. Does anyone remember which website that was on and if the
piece is still there? I wouldn`t want to misquote.
On the subject of Bedlam Born, as I said earlier, I have warmed to it. I read your message on the bulletin board
and I agree with you about how good Peter`s playing sounds on the album. And I like the more robust guitar playing
on some of the tracks. But I`m still glad it`s a one-off, as I had my doubts as to where Tim Harries and Gay Woods
might be leading the band in the(then)future.
Witchfinder: October 3rd 2005
Isn`t that Tim Hart pictured on the left hand side of the Magic Lady innersleeve photo
on the *Pictures* page of that Mandy Morton/Spriguns website?
Mr. Reservoir(Geezer)Butler: October 3rd 2005
That first(long) URL I posted is actually for the Lady Lake page.
The main page is at->
http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAND.asp?band_id=138
Mr. Reservoir(Geezer)Butler: October 3rd 2005
Wasn`t Bedlam Born recorded in the same studio where the Sabs recorded Sabbath Bloody
Sabbath?
Mr. Reservoir(Geezer)Butler: October 3rd 2005
There`s some reviews of the Gnidrolog albums, Lady Lake, In Spite of Harry`s Toenail,
Live 1972, and Gnosis at->
http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_CD.asp?cd_id=488.
The individual review page URLs end with =488#reviews
=489#reviews
=490#reviews
=491#reviews
I hope I got that right. There`s some MP3s too, which I haven`t tried yet.
There`s a neat photo of the band, with Nigel Pegrum, at http://www.algonet.se/~swopmxl/gnidrolog.html.
I`m reminded of early photos of Black Sabbath.
KeithJ: October 2nd 2005
Nick, I`m not averse to Gay Woods` vocal contributions to those Steeleye albums, including
Bedlam Born(which, incidentally, I, like the other chap you alluded to, did find a bit difficult to take to at
first, mostly because of the overall lack of cohesiveness of the album, even though I liked most of the tracks
individually). It`s interesting to reflect, though, how things might have turned out had she and Terry stayed on
after the first album - Below the Salt, Rogues et al wouldn`t have happened. I`m sticking my neck out here but
I suspect that Gay and Terry may have been more inclined to stick to a more basic folk format and might not have
gone in for the gothic-style epics and the kind of musical arrangements that Steeleye developed when Bob and Rick
joined. Also,I`ve read before that some people had a problem with Gay`s focussing on Irish material, and I tend
to agree with that, not because I have a problem with Irish traditional music - no, I love it, in fact - but because
I felt, at the time Gay was back in the band in the 1990s, that British tradrock bands being so few and far between,
there couldn`t be enough new recordings of British traditional material given the electric treatment.
the blacksmith`s son: October 2nd 2005
Did I say "The Trouble with Harry`s Toenail" ? It should be "In Spite
Of Harry`s Toenail". I`m a Gnidrolog neophyte. I`ve gleaned that the band name is a play on the name of the
two Goldring brothers, and that they were a Welsh band. Also, I think I read somewhere that band member Peter Cowling
was an influence on Canadian guitarist Pat Travers?
the blacksmith`s son: October 2nd 2005
2 copies of Spriguns "Jack With A Feather" CD, one new/sealed, one used, at
Ebay.com -
New/sealed CD:
Starting Bid - GBP 9.99
Bids - 0
Time Left - approx. 4 hours.
Used CD
Starting Bid - GBP 2.20
Bids - 2
Time Left - 8 days.
Gnidrolog CDs Gnosis, Lady Lake, The Trouble With Harry`s Toenail, and Live 1972, listed on several sites, including
ebay, amazon, songsearch.
Nick Clark: October 2nd 2005
I hope I'm not too late to join in the discussion. I was particularly intrigued by the
comment from someone who said they considered the 'Bedlam Born' album to be a mere interlude in Steeleye's progress.
To me, its their most challenging album for many years - not as easy to listen to as the material round about it
maybe but all the more enjoyable. I would argue against anyone saying it was too much Gay Woods. Much of the credit
should go to Tim, who began to contribute on the writing more and the type of material seemed to suit Peter who
played as well as he has ever done in my opinion on that and the albums around it.'Present' was an attempt to touch
base with fans who liked the band in the seventies which is OK by me, but I prefer their new material now. The
one thing they seem to be able to do, is replace outgoing musicians with ones that not only fit neatly into the
existing sound but also bring new ideas of their own. I'm much happier seeing where that road leads than revisiting
the 'old days'of thirty years ago..
Folk-rock enthusiast from County Cork, Ireland: October 1st 2005
Does anyone know of any other old bootleg recordings aside from 1974`s Live At Richard`s?
A friend lent me a cassette copy of that back in the late 1970s and that got me into the band. I enjoyed the witty
introductory comments to some of the tracks, too, something you don`t get so much of on edited official live recordings.
I seem to recall Peter, when introducing Two Magicians, telling how the lass in the song was determined to protect
her maidenhead, which he went on to explain is the name of a town... And Bob referring to the blood-filled Little
Sir Hugh as their answer to The Exorcist.
Oh the wit and the talent therein!
Keep it up folks. All the best.
Tam Lin: October 1st 2005
Don Rodgers; the URL for that one would have sufficed. No need to post the whole thing
here.
For anyone who wants to see "the picture above" that was referred to, the URL is:
http://www.boroughloch.demon.co.uk/macs/finnmac.html
King Henry: September 30th 2005
The Bit-Torrent was taken down--it seems the guy who posted it screwed up.....I got
all of the show though, except for two songs. It was from an FM broadcast during the "Ten Man Mop" period
so it sounds damn good for that era. There is a Tim Hart sea Shanty type song that's on no Steeleye record and
Martin Carthy sings Handsome Polly ac apella. Maddy does a couple fun poems too. Anyone wanna trade?
downupstair@yahoo.com
J. Trenton: September 28th 2005
Also, according to the "Now?" page of the same website, Tim Hart "appears"
on the Spriguns "Jack With A Feather" album(1975), though it gives no details.
J. Trenton: September 28th 2005
I found some info. on Mandy Morton and Spriguns of Tolgus at
http://www.geocities.com/fantasticmandy/
Tim Hart produced and mixed the 1976 Spriguns album "Revel Weird And Wild", and is credited with dulcimer
and vocals on the 1978 "Mandy Morton and Spriguns: Magic Lady" album.
Interesting.
I`d love to know how they came up with the band name, and was it a...ahem!... >joint< decision.
engagingly Prior: September 28th 2005
Anyone else see a more than passing facial resemblance between Maddy Prior and BBC2
presenter Kirsty Wark?
I just had to mention it.
And even as I type the BBC2 Morris dancing ident is on the tv!
The plot thickens.....
Steven Schoevaart: September 23rd 2005
Please come over to the continent for a Steeleye Span tour also (Netherlands, Belgium).Steven
An Interested Fan: September 23rd 2005
Gnidrolog was Nigel Pegrum's band before Steeleye Span. Their last album, I believe,
was titled "Gnosis" and may still be available for purchase. Rick Kemp, as I recall, was not part of
the original band, although he did play on that album. Their music was reminiscent of King Crimson--operatic rock,
although that may not be an accurate term. A more detailed account can be found on Reinhard Zierke's website, which
can be found on Peter's "Links" page.
Ravenchild: September 20th 2005
I can't wait having missed last years tour. I thought about buying some live Steeleye
albums but will wait to see what the double cd has on it. Should be good:-)
the fairest lady that ever was seen: September 19th 2005
"More info, more info, you King Henry,
more info you give to me."
(You can leave your clothes on, though.)
I couldn`t figure out that Bit Torrent thing, either.
IAN H: September 19th 2005
Good news about the live double CD and tour next year. The Spriguns album was produced
by Tim Hart of Steeleye and I
saw them live once at the Park Hall folk festival (Chorley.Lancashire) around 1976/1977 Fronted by Mandy Morton
Owen McLoughlin: September 19th 2005
Just read the news on the Unofficial Steeleye Span site that there is a double live
album planned as well as the tour. Great stuff.
Any news on Bob Johnson? Hope he`s doing okay.
Owen McLoughlin: September 19th 2005
Speaking of obscure bands, anyone heard of Gnidrolog? I don`t know much about them myself,
apart from that Steeleye`s Rick Kemp and erstwhile Steeleye drummer Nigel Pegrum were(still are?)involved.
Then there`s Spriguns of Tolgus. I think someone asked about this band before because apparently their producer
was a Tim Hart, not sure though if it was THE Tim Hart.
Alison Net: September 19th 2005
Is it any wonder Miriam Titterton`s whereabouts are unknown. She`s probably changed
her surname - wouldn`t you! I know I would.
Torrent-ial Downpour: September 17th 2005
Hey, King Henry! Thanks for your post about the Steeleye Bit Torrent. I am interested
in finding it, but somehow can't figure out how to navigate the site you mentioned! I'm hoping you can help me
out!
IF you don't mind, could you please post some additional info here in the Guest Book... or else send me an e-mail
at:
UL59 @ aol.com
I'd really appreciate it!
visitor name: Don Rodgers: September 13th 2005
Finn mac Cuill began at Stirling University in 1972 when Tony Ireland met Nick Keir
and started playing gigs together. The first residencies were in Edinburgh, notably the St Clair and Doric Hotels.
After a spell with Miriam Titteron as vocalist, Tony and Nick returned to playing as a duo, working with John Cairney
and in a Folk and Poetry programme with Norman McCaig, as well as the usual round of pubs and clubs.
Soon they formed the Finn mac Cuill Folkshow with actors Colin Brown, and (latterly) Megg Nicol and Avril Stewart.
This theatre group toured quite extensively in Scotland, and although the scripts were, with hindsight, crap, they
were often quite well received. The logistical problems and personality conflicts in the Folkshow became too much,
and after the infamous "Battle of Carrubbers Close" Keir and Ireland decided to return to a purely music-
based act.
To this end they were joined by John Wilson.... a fine singer... on vocals, guitar and bass This line up produced
the flawed LP "Finn mac Cuill".but toured reasonably successfully in the UK, Germany and Holland. It
was not until Madelaine Taylor joined the group that the band really took off. The picture above shows that line-up
at Blackford Hill Pond circa 1976...left to right: Ireland, Keir, Taylor, Wilson.
Together they produced the much better "Sink Ye Swim Ye" album. Before it could be released the band
was involved in a nasty van accident and, although no one was seriously hurt, the bands finances and morale never
recovered. Keir and Taylor played some gigs as a duo, but soon even that ceased. A hiatus of about a year followed
until Keir and Ireland met again and , lured by the prospect of a tour of Germany persuaded Wilson back on the
road and the last throes of the band began.
The tour of Germany, marked as it was by vile hotels, food poisoning, eccentric management and unsuitable venues
proved nearly as devastating as the van accident, but a lifeline was thrown by 7:84 Theatre Scotland and the band
joined them for tours of "Joe's Drum" and "Swings and Roundabouts", a happier experience altogether.
With Ireland deciding to leave the UK and live in Germany the group was joined by Richard Cherns (later of RunRig
and Theatre Alba). Cherns' undoubted instrumental skills failed to gel with the other members' music and when Keir
left to pursue a solo career the band came to a halt.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Where are they now?
Tony Ireland lives in Germany and performs solo.
John Wilson lives on the Isle of Mull and writes and performs under the name of Joahn(sic) Grace
Miriam Titterton's whereabouts are unknown.
Nick Keir lives in Edinburgh and performs with The McCalmansThe
Madelaine Taylor lives in Fife and works as an actress and musician.
Richard Cherns lives in Edinburgh works as a musician and music teacher
visitor name: Vicky Elliot: September 11th 2005
Joe Forde, it`s not time but way past time you bowed to the inevitable and bowed out.
So begone!
visitor name: Fran Webster: September 11th 2005
"Conspiracy theorising" - not!
Just a reasonable response to the decidedly unreasonable conduct of someone who appears to have finally seen fit
to wind up his unwelcome "contributions" to this guestbook.
visitor name: James: September 11th 2005
Da Do Ron Wrong, point taken on the subject of "obscurity", and I agree with
you to an extent(although I wouldn`t say that anything obscure is necessarily good for that reason alone). I only
used the term in a somewhat dismissive sense in relation to Horslips in order to put things into perspective, and
as a response to the flagrant abuse of this guestbook by certain misguided Horslips fans with little or no appreciation
of Steeleye Span(another obscure band, don`cha know).
Mr. Reservoir Butler: September 11th 2005
Yes, and if the Horslips fans who don`t like Steeleye Span would make themselves obscure
that would be something fine and rare.
Joe Forde: September 11th 2005
Time for me to "bow out" I reckon. Sorry for winding you guys up so much.
I do love your talent for conspiracy theorising though( I have had difficulty keeping up with you there). Anyway,
enjoy your music. Rock on!
Da Do Ron Wrong: September 10th 2005
It is SINK Ye Swim Ye, not 'sing'. Apologies. And I am sincere in saying that I regard
obscurity and cult status as indicators of something rare and fine and worth sharing with like-minded souls. I
didn't want that misinterpreted.
True Thomas: September 10th 2005
Anyone arrogant and ignorant enough to have the gall to denigrate a musician`s work
in that musician`s own guestbook, and then go on to recommend and plug musicians he does like, until eventually
finding an opportunity to mention his own band, is too far gone to benefit from `going away and thinking about
it`.
Do Da Ron Wren: September 10th 2005
Thought I'd also mention that I own Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band's Hang Up Care
and Sorrow. I can't find it at the moment, but the tracks I like include "The Jovial Begger," "The
World Turned Upside Down" which I have a question about, "Northern Catch/Little Barleycorn," "The
Prodigal's Return" and the rave-up "Old Simon the King."
My question about "World Turned Upside Down" is that I think this song about the banishment of Christmas
and all of its ritual charities during Cromwell's time. It is the reference to Naseby that led me to think this.
Am I right?
I have Maddy Prior's Ravenchild, because I saw the television show on ravens that she provided the music for. I
also have a Maddy album called Arthur the King. I usually listen to that one on cold, dark afternoons.
Here's an obscure group! Finn Maccuíll. I found their CD Sing Ye Swim Ye at a flea market of a Celtic Music
Festival. Have any here heard this mid-70s Scottish group? Obscurity and cult status describe nearly everything
I love.
Mark Compston: September 10th 2005
Alex, it looks like that claim was based on nothing more than the fanciful supposition
of a biased H-------(I won`t deign to mention the name)fan. By invading this guestbook to sully it with his prattle,
all he`s achieved is to give H------- fans a bad name. It`s the sort of behaviour you`d expect from a callow teenager,
but it`s perverse coming from a middle-aged man who should know better.
Brian Dawes: September 10th 2005
John G, Stanley Unwin's contribution to the Electric Folk series was indeed a "comic
interlude". Steeleye were about to launch into a song, when they were interupted by Stanley Unwin dressed
as a tour guide, who gave a short talk about the stately hall the show was taking place in. Of course, in true
Unwin style, this talk was completely unintelligible! Happy memories...
Lyke-ly explanation: September 10th 2005
The mention of Lyke Wake Dirge prompted me to do a quick websearch. I`d never really
thought about what the `Lyke` bit meant and just assumed it was a place name. Anyway, for anyone, like myself,
who didn`t already know, it`s from Middle English `lyke`/Old English `lic`, meaning corpse.
Maurice Walker: September 9th 2005
If Peter Knight is not insulted by the likes of Joe Forde`s spamming on behalf of his
favourite Irish musicians who he wants us to understand are all SO much better than the "oh so f****ing English"
Steeleye Span, then I am insulted on Peter Knight`s behalf. It`s the hidden agenda that I despise. Joe Forde`s
unsolicited information on forthcoming books, CDs, or DVDs is not in any way intended for our benefit, but is a
devious and transparent ploy to promote various musicians that Joe Forde happens to like while at the same time
giving the one-finger salute to Steeleye Span and its fans by conspicuously not mentioning the name. He probably
thinks he`s killing two birds with the one stone, bless him. Well, it`s not big and it`s not clever.
Mark Cloud: September 9th 2005
Obscure? Ya wanna talk obscure? Why, my band is twice as obscure as Horslips and The
Muffin Men combined!
...uh, wait, why am I bragging about this?
Oh, well. Sure am enjoying "Too Late for Shadows." (It's on as I cyber scrawl this note.)
Carry on with the bickering, kids.
Alex: September 9th 2005
It's a funny old world isn't it?
It wasn't too long ago that Joe Forde publicly accused Steeleye Span of ridiculing the Horslips, and refused to
produce any evidence when Peter Knight requested it. Joe's line of reasoning that it would be 'indiscreet' seemed
weak to me, as discretion obviously wasn't foremost in his thoughts when he made his original accusation.
Now here we have the same individual using an opportunity to shamelessly plug his own Band on Peter Knights website!
Mindblowing stuff.
Peter, I take my hat off to you. Your tolerance and fairness are an example to those who have recently sought to
diminish the Band's musicality via this Guestbook.
I hope that they go away and think about it.
Mr. Reservoir Butler: September 9th 2005
Peter, you`re a living saint.
Not only for the fact that you tolerated postings to your guestbook from an individual who used terms like "ballsless
and too often lacking in fire" and "oh so f---ing Englishness" in describing your band-- and then
went on to explain why he loves that other band so much-- but that you still humour this same individual`s continued
efforts to talk here, on your guestbook, about anything other than yourself or Steeleye Span. You`ve more character
than all of them put together.
Condoleezza Rice: September 9th 2005
Johnny who?
Frank N Furter: September 9th 2005
To compare the reputation of something as world renowned and famous as The Rocky Horror
Show with that of a relatively unknown Irish band is frankenfurterly ridiculous.
James: September 9th 2005
Well well, Joe Forde, you`re still lurking, I see. Funny you should mention the last
sentence of my earlier posting, because I thought I should have re-phrased it as soon as I posted it. To be truthful,
"cult status" is a bit ambitious, considering. "Doomed to obscurity" would have been a more
appropriate term, and that`s what I should have typed. I mean, what sort of rock band needs to be compared by its
fans to a mere "electric folk" band like Steeleye Span in order to seem important. I do admire your devotion,
though. Now, seeing as you couldn`t care less for Peter Knight/Steeleye Span, I wish you would have the decency
and courtesy to desist from posting here in reference to Horslips and what not. I understand that you posted here
originally in response to some less than sycophantic remarks on Horslips, but the bottom line is that those comments
were made here, on a Steeleye-related fan forum, and not on the Horslips guestbook. The gentlemanly thing to have
done would have been to post a brief message here saying that you took exception to some of the comments, and then
to have invited anyone who was interested in your views to come to the Horslips guestbook to read them.
King Henry: September 8th 2005
In case anyone does Bit Torrent downloads here, there is a classic 1971 Steeleye show
that has been posted on www.dimeadozen.com as of 9/8/05.
Old Steeleye shows are rare indeed. Hope you don't mind me posting this Peter--it's commercially unavailable and
nobody is making money from it. A friend sent me an e-mail saying it was up, and well, I got excited and had to
share it.
John G: September 7th 2005
A member of the "Missing Episodes" forum (Chas) recently posted a song listing
for the BBC Electric Folk series. I've always wondered what songs Steeleye performed on the series, so I thought
this list may be of interest to others (and maybe prompt someone to consider acquiring the DVD rights. (Hint Hint!)
Gaudette, One Misty Moisty Morning, Hares On The Mountain, Cam Ye O'er Frae France, Allison Gross, Two Magicians,
Musical Priest/Silver Spear, Saucy Sailor,
Summer Is A Coming, Seven Hundred Elves,
Long A Growing, Edwin, Albion Morris Men,
Upton Stick Dance, Little Sir Hugh, Little Song and Tune.
We Jolly Boys, Elf Call, Wife Of Ushers Well, Lake Wyke Dirge, Mummers Play, Dance with Me, Sum Waves/De'il
Among The Tailors, Long Lankin, Dogs and Ferrets, New York Girls, Rosebud In June, Robin Hood and Gamble Gold,
Prof Stanley Unwin, One Misty Moisty Morning,
Spotted Cow(slow reggae version), Mason's Apron.
Anyone remember what Stanley Unwin did with SS, or was he just a "comic interlude"?
Joe Forde: September 7th 2005
Jim, Thin Lizzy and Rory Gallagher certainly were great Irish rockers. Rory had a fire
in his soul and the ability to come up with great riffs around which a song would emerge. Even now when Electric
Blueshouse Band do the British blues clubs I nearly always find that when I go into his riff from Secret Agent
in a number we do called Heartbreaker, the crowd rock with you on that one. And it can be fans as diverse as those
attending a Wilko Johnson gig or a Paul Jones and The Blues Band gig( very different audiences we have recently
played to as support to these guys and yet the same reaction from their fans). Rory had that timeless magic in
his playing and blues/rock writing that us lesser mortals only dream about.
Dr Frankenfurter: September 5th 2005
And just what's wrong with 'mere cult status?' It took me all the way to Broadway. Even
the great Condaleezza Rice even came to see me last week. Oh the wind and rain, the dreadful wind and rain.
Joe Forde: September 5th 2005
James, your posting below is considered and the last sentence in particular is undoubtedly
true. Your points about Johnny Fean are also of interest. Check out the recent posting by Steve Travers on Johnny's
recent performance at the Phil Lynott tribute concert at the Point theatre in Dublin. You will find this in the
Guestbook on that site if you scroll down. It beautifully sums up why he was and still is a master guitar player
better than I ever could ( oh and it's coming out on DVD too!).
Jim McCann: September 2nd 2005
Thin Lizzy and Rory Gallagher were the real Irish rockers.
Da Do Ron Wren: September 1st 2005
Good suggestions on the CDs, particularly if your "Lark in the Morning" helps
me move on two separate CDs to others. But I'm proud to say that I had "Morris On" the vinyl for years
and eventually replaced it with "Morris On" the CD. Not fond of the way there's a beep in the line "Hi
diddle-diss let's go and get p---d and off goes the incapable Morris."
That's also interesting background on the egg customs. Easter herself was a Saxon goddess of fertility, wasn't
she? To be honest, I'm relying on Neil Gaiman's American Gods for my research on that. And weren't eggs on the
'don't eat at Lent' list, hence Easter morning's riotous bacchanal of shells and yolks? Later realized that the
40 day reprieve gave your egg producing fowl a chance to hatch the next generation of your dinner for the season.
I can't figure out a way to work in the modern metaphor of Easter Egg as hidden computer treat, so I won't mention
it.
The Jolly Boys sound similar to the Spy Boys and Flag Boys of New Orleans Mardi Gras krewes. See lyrics to Dixie
Cups' "Iko Iko" for details.
Okay. That's about all I know on that. Now. Cold, Haily, Windy Night. Is it true that in the night-visit ballad
tradition "drenched to the skin" or otherwise being cold and wet is code that the visiting lover is a
ghost? Or is that just pub talk?
Mr. Reservoir Butler: August 31st 2005
Da Do Ron Wren - Here`s some more English folk-rock CDs that might be worth your while
checking out.
Shirley Collins/No Roses(1971)- She was married to Ashley Hutchings at the time and Fairport`s Richard Thompson,
Simon Nicol, and Dave Mattacks are on the album, along with many others including a couple of the Watersons, and
there`s even a vocal harmony from Maddy Prior on one track.
Morris On(1972) - Electric Morris music. Very engaging, and you don`t have to be into Morris music to enjoy it.
There`s a couple of good songs as well, I`ll Go and `List for a Sailor, Staines Morris(Steeleye used to perform
that at early gigs), and The Cuckoo`s Nest. Thanks to Richard Thompson, Hutchings and Dave Mattacks, Morris music
is given some much-needed *oomph*. Also features renowned concertina/melodeon/accordion player and singer John
Kirkpatrick(who later joined Steeleye Span to record Storm Force Ten and Live At Last).
Albion Country Band/Battle Of The Field(rec. 1973; rel. 1976)- Great mix of songs and tunes. Hutchings, Martin
Carthy, Simon Nicol and John Kirkpatrick.
James: August 30th 2005
Jack Tar, your observations prove how relative this whole music issue is. Horslips music
obviously had far more rock clout than Steeleye Span, but then that`s a convenient comparison. As far as actual
rock bands go, Horslips weren`t exactly "out there". I can`t comment on the Irish scene, but all of the
Irish expats or people of Irish descent I`ve known here in England were into all the famous English, US etc. rock
artists of the seventies, and the guitar enthusiasts among them would not have rated Johnny Fean("Johnny who..?").
When it came to songs with mythological themes, the hip rock fans were more likely to be turned on to a band like
Rush, with its breathtakingly elaborate rock arrangements and mind-blowing guitar virtuosity. It was inevitable
that Horslips, with its ceili tunes and songs about Irish mythology, would never have the mass appeal of the true
rock legends, and would forever be doomed to mere cult status.
Mark Compston: August 28th 2005
To the Da Do Ron Wren person. Don`t get Ten Man Mop. Get the 3-album Lark in the Morning
CD.
Mr. Reservoir Butler: August 28th 2005
I forgot to mention earlier that, if you`re thinking of buying Ten Man Mop, you might
be better advised to get The Lark In The Morning instead, even if you`ve already got Please To See The King and/or
Hark the Village Wait. I bought it in the high street and it was actually slightly cheaper than any one of the
three albums on individual CDs. So, three albums for the price of one. The sound quality, I think, is better too.
And last, but not least, it has the bonus track General Taylor, which is a great example of the sheer vocal prowess
of early Steeleye Span.
Daniel Floyd: August 28th 2005
Rex In Las Vegas, there is a copy of the Bootleg CD up for grabs on e-bay.
Mr. Reservoir Butler: August 28th 2005
Da Do Ron Wren -- Pace-egging is another folk custom you may have heard of, and Steeleye
used to do a Pace-Egging Song at their gigs years ago, although it`s not on any of the albums. The word pace here
derives from the Latin pacha, meaning Easter. A band of men, called Jolly Boys, would go around the community performing
dramas and scrounging eggs (and beer) from people. One of the performers would black-up his face and this character
was known as Old Tosspot. Oh did they knew how to live in ye olde Englande!
Encountering a rival band of Jolly Boys would lead to some good-natured exchange of banter or "egging"
and the stealing of eggs from the rival band, which some say might be the origin of the phrase "egging someone
on".
Peter: August 28th 2005
Since the Steeleye/Horslips diatribe was initiated, the content of guest book entries
has become increasingly vitriolic.
In the spirit of fair play, I decided to post them.
However, regular visitors to this site are well aware that the ethics of this site are no bad language, no verbal
abuse, respect each others point of view and be nice to each other.
Please feel free to debate any issues as much as you like, but from now on any submissions that breach these basic
courtesies will not be posted.
RexinLasVegas: August 28th 2005
Hi Peter, do you read this stuff anymore? I just put "Shadows" on today for
the first time; then again, ...and once again. It's very good. You're very good. Thanks.
I'm still looking for a copy of the official bootleg, by the way. I have much to trade.
Rexinlasvegas@yahoo.com
Gerard Rohlf - www.NewLanders.com: August 23rd 2005
I've enjoyed your music since a friend of mine introduced me in 1972. At last I saw
you perform in Pittsburgh, PA, after you released "Time". What a wonderful performance! I am just glad,
finally, to be able to let you know how I, and my friends feel - thank you!
James: August 21st 2005
How nice to see that The Edge has good taste and appreciates Steeleye Span too. Good
on ya! The Edge, and welcome.
I reckon he may be a wee bit jealous, though, that David Bowie actually got to record with them when Dave Evans
was still at school.
Da Do Ron Wren: August 20th 2005
Naming calls. No sooner do I start lurking around here, but Amazon.com sends me emails
with Steeleye Span based recommendations. ("People who bought The Drunks, X-Ray Spex and Captain Tractor also
bought Commoners Crown and Now We Are Six...)Then a local cittern-wielding bar band warbles their way through "My
Johnny Was a Sailor" and I said to my friend "That's a Steeleye Span song." My friend, unfamiliar
with even Fairport, took my word for it and then, five songs down the road, the band said "You probably noticed
we're influenced by Steeleye Span, so get ready for another one" and launched into "Lowlands of Holland".
I made my friend by me a round just to drive the point home that I knew my stuff. So I guess I'll be ordering Ten
Men Mop sometime soon to make album number five.
Other than the Wren Day, another folk custom thing that interests me is the Pancake Races or Pancake Day. But I
just like pancakes.
Mark Compston: August 20th 2005
Hi Peter.
I see on your bulletin board that someone made reference to the folk songs in The Wicker
Man. It just reminded me that Steeleye Span used to perform one of those songs, -the one sung at the climax of
the movie - "Summer-is-a-Coming-in" I think it`s called, at gigs in the 1970s, although they never released
it on record. It`d be interesting to know if there`s a recording of it in the Steeleye Span archives.
All the best, and keep up the gigging!
Jim McCann; Edinburgh: August 20th 2005
A big hello to Peter Knight and to Steeleye fans the world over.
I`ve been a fan of folk-rock since the Seventies but Steeleye Span have always been my favourite folk-rock band.
Other bands only dabbled intermittently with traditional music but Steeleye Span were the only band that kept it
going for so long and they truly revived a genre(British traditional music)that had been largely forgotten, and
I am eternally grateful that they did so.
I`ve recently listened to some of former Steeleye member Martin Carthy`s early solo recordings which were acoustic
and quite different to his work with Steeleye Span, and it`s interesting to compare his treatment of the likes
of `Long Lankin`, `King Henry`, `Two Magicians`, `The Trees They Do Grow High`(Steeleye`s `Long-a-Growing`)with
Steeleye`s arrangements of the "same" songs. So completely different. And tangible proof that Steeleye
Span was about much more than mere electrified folk music.
Brilliant!
Jimmy Savvy: August 19th 2005
Well ow`s about that then guys `n gals. As it `appens, The Beatles, The Police, and
all the other wonderful pop bands were all top of the pops for your uncle Jimmy here.
Now then, now then...
answers on a postcard please: August 19th 2005
What`s the name of that pop music show the Police were on? Top Of The .... ?
Sting: August 17th 2005
re The Police - for the sake of convenience, they and other bands come under the definition
popular music, aka pop.
Hence Top of the Pops, a programme which you may recall The Police appeared on.
Even Steeleye Span was on Top of the Pops.
So there`s no need to be pedantic about it.
Mark Cloud: August 16th 2005
My three all time favorite Steeleye records: They Called Her Babylon, Present, and Bedlam
Born. Probably only until the next one, though.
I love it when bands re-work their older material. The Kinks' "To the Bone" was fantastic as well.
I'm just sayin'.
King Henry: August 15th 2005
I like the idea of a band re-recording their classics. I don't have a problem with that
at all. However, I think if a band chooses to do this, they should work on making every song different from the
original. The only track on "Present" that has an interesting re-arragement is "When I Was on Horseback."
While I don't hate "Present" by any means, I do feel all of the songs on the double album are best in
their original form. It's like Star Wars--I dig the special new versions with the new effects--but still, nothing
beats the original. "Present" is cool---but nothing too special. I think if anything, it was a way for
Steeleye to say, "Hey--we're back with Maddy."
Paul Russell: August 15th 2005
Make all the smartass distinctions you like, but, as any intelligent person knows, it
all falls into the category of "popular" music, i.e. "pop".
As in Top of the Pops?
Yeah???
Jack Tar: August 14th 2005
To Joe Forde - Yeah, I read that info concerning the forthcoming Gary Moore CD. I`m
not well informed on Gary Moore`s solo stuff but I seem to recall he once did a song called Over The Hills and
Far Away with The Chieftains on the Late Late Show.
Now, as for Horslips, I grew up in Dublin in the seventies and eighties and I never met anyone else who was really
into the band. Maybe a single or two, or one of the more accessible and well known albums, but that was as far
as their interest went, if at all. I had all of the Horslips albums, but kept quiet about it. They had no "cool"
appeal whatsoever amongst my peers at school and to have said you were into Horslips would have been tantamount
to saying you had no willy or were thinking of taking up knitting as far as coolness was concerned. Even my father
would laugh at some of their more traditionally-oriented material. I took to Horslips instantly and I could never
understand peoples` dismissive attitude to them. Jethro Tull was the closest most would go to folk-rock. As for
Steeleye Span! When I was 14 someone once asked me if I liked Steely Dan(who I`d not heard of) and I was laughed
out of the room for thinking he`d said Steeleye Span(who I had heard of but only really discovered years later).
I don`t know, maybe the whole Horslips "phenomenon" was more evident in rural Ireland than in Dublin,
because I experienced no evidence of it, unless it was because of my age-I was only 6 in 1972 and 13 when I got
into the band in 1979, but surely the effect they`d had on the music loving population wouldn`t have worn off or
been forgotten so quickly.
The Edge: August 15th 2005
The Beatles are pop; the Police are white reggae.
Paul Russell: August 14th 2005
My main criticism of "Present", aside from the twee chocolate-box cover graphics
and the crucial absence of Tim Hart, is Bob Johnson`s guitar sound, which lacks the punchiness of his original
1970`s recordings with Steeleye. Okay, he was never exactly a heavy-rock axe-hero but his earlier guitar playing
did have significantly more bite to it, and it punctuated the songs in a way that is mostly lacking here. On one
of the tracks that he hadn`t actually recorded with Steeleye fist time round, the re-arranged When I Was On Horseback,
his guitar playing even manages to remind me of The Police(the pop band, not the Mounties), which is very unfortunate
indeed. There`s a distinct mellow-ness permeating this album, which wasn`t surprising to me as the Steeleye sound
had already evolved away from its 70`s heyday a long time ago. There`s nothing wrong as regards musical competence
and the production values may be better than on some of the originals(which isn`t necessarily a good thing, in
my opinion), but I find this album, for the most part, to be underwhelming.
I nevertheless would not knock the band for having made the re-recordings as I`m sure they had their reasons and
it is rather the trend these days, after all. And at least they didn`t go down the "unplugged", acoustic
route chosen by other bands. I also recognise the fact that fans personally close to Steeleye Span, who were at
the gigs and had a drink or two and their photos taken backstage with the band and have the t-shirt etc. would
have more of an affinity for their signed copies of "Present" than someone, like myself, who`s experienced
it from a more objective, impartial and unsentimental perspective.
Anyway, who am I. It`s only my opinion, and everyone`s got one.
Sax and Clogs and Folkrock `n` Roll: August 14th 2005
Brill Building Fan, something like Da Do Ron Wren would be more apt in your case.
Maurice Walker: August 13th 2005
All of the points of view below are understandable, but I imagine that in years to come,
when Steeleye Span is finally gone forever(!) the re-recordings album will be more widely appreciated.
I remember when Bedlam Born was released in 2000, I had serious reservations about it. I felt it was a departure
and that Gay Woods was over-asserting her own personal ideas and tastes, almost as if for her it was the closest
she could get to a solo album and that she didn`t consider herself as part of the band Steeleye Span.
But now, five years on, with Gay Woods long departed from the band and Maddy back where she belongs with two Steeleye
tours and two new Steeleye albums under her belt, I see Bedlam Born as a quirky one-off that I`ve warmed to and
no longer see as a threat to Steeleye Span.
Morris Miner: August 13th 2005
I think that Present, by its very nature, is the kind of album that invites the most
polarized of opinions from fans. It`ll be deemed to be everything from superfluous to excellent, and with comments
ranging from sycophantic and platitudinous to execratory. You can`t please all the people all the time. I don`t
have any particular affinity with the album myself{I love the original recordings and find that they`re quite sufficient
for me}, not having been able to make it to any of the gigs to see the band perform the tracks live, and I agree
with an earlier posting that a live album would have made more sense, but I think that Trev Edwards was a little
harsh to suggest that it was the worst piece of work by the band to date. In my opinion, it`s not at all bad, just
unnecessary, surplus to requirements. However, in Steeleye`s defense, it was released three years ago and they
have since released two more studio albums of new material, not to mention a limited edition free "Official
Bootleg"{surely that`s an oxymoron.. ;)} and a DVD from last year`s 35th. Anniversary Tour during which they
performed the new material alongside their classics. So, they`re not resting on their laurels.
Mark Edward Askren: August 13th 2005
I have to agree with Messers Anthony and Hollis below regarding "Present."
It is not only an excellent album; it's the one I have the most affinity for, having seen the band perform it on
their reunion tour.
Graham Anthony: August 12th 2005
Steeleye's "Present" is excellent - it showed that the band still has an incredible
amount of musical ability to bring classics from their repetoire up-to-date, whilst still retaining the original
feel of the number - it is the album I put on for choice if I want to experience Steeleye from my almost full collection
of their albums.
The Elf Knight: August 12th 2005
"Street Cries"- that was the name of that Hutchings CD.
The Elf Knight: August 12th 2005
What did you exchange it for, Trev, or did you get a refund? The CD that I most recently
returned to the shop was that Ashley Hutchings album project, which I can`t remember the name of, from 2002, featuring
various artists performing traditional songs but with completely re-written lyrics dealing with modern day subjects.
Not my cup of tea. I like all the cliches in those old songs, the fair maidens, the poachers, the soldiers and
sailors and lords and ladies and what have you, and the escapism that the songs provide nowadays thanks to the
passage of time.
I agree with you about Present. But at least Steeleye still do come up with new material of their own, whether
self-penned or trad.arr., unlike Fairport who, with a lot of their post-Seventies albums, have relied too much
on songs written by various individuals not even in the band. But really,I would go so far as to say that all of
the electric- trad-related artists that originated in the late-sixties and seventies are bland shadows of their
former selves, in terms of albums, I mean, not personally, although that may be the case too.
Brill Building Fan: August 12th 2005
Mr. Reservoir Butler: most of those wren songs should be out there. For the Christmas
Revels Players, visit
http://www.revels.org/about_revels/about.htm
There's just the one Brill Building at 1619 Broadway, New York City and in its heyday it was the hit-seeking dynamo
of songwriters, musicians, singers, producers, radio people and publishers. Phil Spector did his apprenticeship
as a songwriter with Leiber and Stoller, two Brill Building giants. Spector's lyrics in "To Know Him"
were adapted from his father's epitaph. Though undeniably a legend in rock history, Spector seems to have been
heading for the dark side from the very first.
http://www.history-of-rock.com/brill_building.htm
http://www.spectropop.com/hbrill.html
However, if I am going to become a regular visitor here and contribute a post or two, I'd like use a different
name. I considered "Blackleg Miner" because, with only the four CDs kicking around the house, I'm not
quite the dues-paying Steeleye fan and some might rub wet clay in my face. Then I thought of "Black Fishnet
Stocking Leg Miner" but that's too much work on the keyboard.
So to honor the topic that first drew me out of the furze, I will use "Wren." Just don't expect posts
from me on St Stephens Day.
Hark at the Moon: August 12th 2005
Hi Peter.
I know that the dubious "debate" has been terminated but, if I may make one
salient point, not by way of debate but just as an observation, that nobody mentioned, regarding the comparative
mildness, if you like, of Steeleye`s music. And that is, that Steeleye Span has always had a female lead vocalist(and
even had two in the beginning and later during the mid-90s), and consequently the Steeleye sound has always been
more in touch with its feminine-side, as it were.
Just thought it was worth mentioning. Of course that`s not to say that bands in general having female singers/musicians
precludes the possibility of making hard-rocking music. But in the case of trad/folk music, I think it does tend
to be the way.
Mr. Reservoir Butler: August 12th 2005
Re the "Present" album, I think it was an unwise move. Why re-record tracks
that have pleased fans for thirty years or more and that don`t need re-recording. Considering that it was released
during the Reunion Tour, it`s not unreasonable to suggest that they should have waited and released a LIVE album
at the end of the tour. I appreciate the attraction that re-recording their old material must hold for musicians,
but I`d rather they didn`t do it, and I don`t just mean Steeleye Span. It robs the original recordings of their
uniqueness. I`m also unconvinced by this "re-workings" gimmick resorted to by certain, let`s say, erstwhile
bands. Next it`ll be the re-formed Pink Floyd with acoustic re-workings of some of their old classics, done blues-style.
Perish the thought.
Richard Hollis: August 12th 2005
Mmmmn? Can't be the same 'Present' that I bought then which was a wonderful re-working
of classic Steeleye.
Trev Edwards: August 11th 2005
I recently purchased the Steeleye album "Present" as I love all the old material
and thought instead of re-buying all the albums again on CD buying this recording would be the answer to all my
wishes as it included ALL my favourite tracks ..... I have never been in the position before but I had to return
it to the shop. It was the worst piece of work the band has done to date and surely must be the reason for the
band to cease playing if they are now resorting to ruining all their classic back catalogue they are obviously
just going through the motions and creaming the money from the disappointed fans that have supported their every
move over the last 30 years. I thought Steeleye were better than that and now it looks as though they are going
down the same road as Fairport in this case. Shame on you!
Mr. Reservoir Butler: August 9th 2005
Brill Building Fan, I`m not familiar with any of the wren-related songs/tunes you`ve
mentioned below. You know quite a few. I might check them out, provided they`re still available. The best that
I`ve heard to date is Hunting The Wren, on Steeleye Span`s Live At Last album. That combination of a jaunty traditional
song, sung well and in the traditional style, with electric instrumentation and that pounding bass guitar courtesy
of Rick Kemp, is a real classic of TradRock.
So, what`s your fave brill building, Brill Building Fan?
Joe Forde: August 8th 2005
Hi Jack Tar.With your wide musical tastes you might be interested to hear that Gary
Moore's forthcoming CD is going to be a Celtic rock album recorded in Ireland. He has spent months going back over
old Irish musical influences and he may well have come up with something very interesting. I always felt he left
Celtic rock for the blues in 1990 without really having got the most out of that genre. More info on this on the
"Lord of the Strings" fan web site.
Sax and Clogs and Folkrock `n` Roll: August 8th 2005
Bril Building Fan, To Know Him.... was originally on the Now We Are Six(Sax?)album,
1974. However, the Spanning The Years compilation has not only that song, but also Rag Doll and Rave On.
Rag Doll was recorded by the band during their 1972 US tour, and it features guest drummer Hal Blaine, who appeared
on many Elvis recordings, I`ve been told. For some insane reason best known to the record company involved, the
US release of Live At Last(1978)had the Rag Doll single instead of the live Bonnets So Blue on the British release.
Rag Doll is also on Steeleye Span and Maddy Prior/A Rare Collection(1999).
Rave On was Steeleye Span`s first single, in 1971. They sang it a cappella.
Richard Hollis: August 7th 2005
New Electric Muse No.2 on eBay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Electric-Muse-II-Story-of-Folk-into-Rock-3CD-set
Tortoise from Hell: August 7th 2005
Les Barker wrote some amusingly irreverent lyrics on the `Hunting the Cutty Wren` tradition,
in the song performed by Martin Carthy et al on the Oranges and Lemmings album. His `Hard Cheese of Old England`
is on that one as well.
http://www.mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=1420
Brill Building Fan: August 6th 2005
Mr. Butler. I never made the connection between “The King” and the wren customs. When
I think of “The King” it is usually the one who left the building some years ago, though his court still gathers
once in a while at Graceland. And I don’t think of that album as a seasonal album either. But I could have listened
to the lyrics a bit closer, which I just did. ‘We have traveled many miles over hedges and stiles in search of…etc.’
I should have figured that one, if I’d paid attention.
I have the Chieftains’ Bells of Dublin with “The Arrival of the Wren Boys” and “Wren in the Furze,” and the Boys
of the Lough with “Wren Polkas 1 and 2” the “Wren Chase” and, cheers for the wren!, “The Wren’s Escape” from Midwinter
Night’s Dream. Also “The Wren Song” sung by the Christmas Revels Players.
John B. Keane’s The Bodhrán Makers” is an excellent novel about a small Irish community planning what will
be its last wrenboy day and wrendance in mid-50s Ireland.
Sax and Clogs and Folkrock `n` Roll – David Bowie AND a Phil Spector composition? Excellent. What was the name
of that album again?
Mr. Sissons: August 6th 2005
Jack Tar. I can assure you that Ms Mouskouri sang of having had >"sissons"<
in the sun.
Mr. Reservoir Butler: August 6th 2005
Little Sir Hugh- Tim Hart said that the the sleeve costs, 6/8d(33p), which the band
had to pay for each copy of Ten Man Mop, were more than the 4/3d(22p) royalties.
As for awards, I think that the sculpture photographed on the Commoners Crown album cover won an award.
By the way, for anyone who wants more information on Steeleye Span and other folk-related artists, Reinhard Zierke`s
pages are a veritable mine of information.
Brenda Moses: August 6th 2005
Cannot wait to see you at Abergavenny or Cardiff
Little Sir Hugh: August 6th 2005
Re- Mr Reservoir Bulter..I think steeleye got an award for the original album sleeve
back in 1971..??
The Elf Knight: August 5th 2005
Just looking again at Tim Hart`s comments accompanying Ten Man Mop`s "Four Nights
Drunk", which is not too distantly related to The Dubliners` "Seven Drunken Nights" [notwithstanding
the significant disparity in alcohol tolerance levels suggested by the two different song titles], where he said
"there`s no horns on the Dubliners". I`d never quite understood what he meant, but it seems that, in
historical terms, a pair of horns was an emblem of a cuckold, so to say they had no horns on them just meant that
they hadn`t been cuckolded. And, erm, not something else... Which reminds me, wasn`t there a band in the 70s called
Brewers Droop?
Sax and Clogs and Folkrock `n` Roll: August 5th 2005
Incidentally, Brill Building Fan, did you know that guest artist David Bowie played
alto sax on Steeleye`s recording of To Know Him is to Love Him?
Mr. Reservoir Butler: August 5th 2005
I`ve been informed that, according to the Concise Oxford Dictionary, a "wait"
was an official band of musicians maintained by a city or town. There`s also the plural "waits", an archaic
term denoting street singers of Christmas carols.
A "mop" was an autumn fair or gathering at which farmhands and servants were hired. The term comes from
the seventeenth century and is probably in reference to the practice at the fair whereby a mop was carried by a
maidservant seeking employment.
Don Rodgers: August 5th 2005
A non-musical question, unless of course one were to play Steeleye Span in the background...does
anyone know of the game Nine Men's Morris, and if so, could someone email me a diagram or other pertinent facts
of the board and the rules etc. I had this once but lost it...all of this talk lately about wrens and birds and
kings sparked a memory.
Mr Reservoir Butler: August 5th 2005
Yes, that`s right. The King in question being in fact the wren, the "king"
of birds, apparently, and said to symbolise winter. The wren was traditionally hunted and killed on Twelfth Night
in Pembrokeshire(from where the song The King on this album originates), to symbolise the death of winter, and
taken from house to house where the occupants would pay to ask to see the king with the words "please to see
the King". Which explains the at first odd-sounding album title.
And while am at it, and to the best of my knowledge, the "Wait" in Hark The Village Wait refers to a
group of travelling musicians. And, I think that a Ten Man Mop was a phrase given to a group of men looking for
casual work, or something like that. Correct me, someone, if I`m wrong.
Brill Building Fan: August 5th 2005
It's PLEASE to See the King, isn't it? Apologies for the quik post with that error.
Brill Building Fan: August 5th 2005
"To Know Him Is To Love Him" and "Rag Doll?" Hey, now I'm interested!
I have some classic Steeleye Span (Village Wait, Pleased to See King, etc), but never heard their take on those!
If that checks out, I'm going to see about getting Steeleye cited over at www.spectropop.com
Jack Tar: August 2nd 2005
Hello, Peter.
Having just perused the postings below I get the impression that some of the recent "foreign" visitors
you`ve had on your guestbook may be labouring under the misapprehension that fans of Steeleye Span consist of a
tight-knit homogeneous group of middle-aged stereotypical middleclass wishy-washy "English" folk-head
clones, attired in tweed, sporting deerstalker caps, and comfortably ensconced in their collective English folkie
pigeonhole. Say what! But, by way of clarification and edification, I shall hereby make it be known, that Steeleye
fans are a heterogeneous lot, from different parts of the world, and with a wide variety of interests and expertise
and views. I myself am from southern Ireland. And I`ve got a wide taste in music; everything from classical to
Motorhead; from jazz to Thin Lizzy; from traditional to Horslips; from JL Hooker to Led Zeppelin; from Bert Lloyd
to Pink Floyd; from Dave Swarbrick to The Swarbriggs(little joke there); from the Spanners to the Spinners(and
another one), and from Nana Mouskouri to AC/DC and Saxon(heehee). And everything else in between.
" She`s got..seeeasons...in the sun!"
Keith: August 1st 2005
I was lucky enough to be at the Steeleye concert at Kentwell Hall on Saturday. What
a perfect setting for the music - I'm sure it inspired the band as the performance was absolute magic especially
your fiddling, Peter - I didn't want it to end! Thanks to all for a truly memorable evening.
