Steeleye Span : Parcel of Steeleye Span

I've always been a big fan of British folk-rock, and this band, along with Fairport Convention, represented the best of that subgenre in the 1970's. This reasonably priced package contains their output at the peak of their popularity: the five albums they released on Chrysalis from 1972 through 1975. Their evolution from a semi-electric folk group to a full folk-rock ensemble, complete with regular drummer, can be traced through this collection. The remastering is excellent, and I'm enjoying hearing many of these songs on CD for the first time. The set also includes some rare tracks like their UK Christmas single "Gaudete" b/w "The Holly and the Ivy", a live version of "The Wife of Usher's Well" , and "Bonny Moorhen" from the Parcel of Rogues sessions.Of course, with complete albums, there are invariably some high points and low points. "Below the Salt" (1972, ****1/2) is a strong album with classics like "Gaudete" and "King Henry"; "Parcel of Rogues" (1973, *****), one of their biggest commercial successes, contains FM radio staple "Allison Gross", "Cam Ye O'er Frae France", and many other memorable tunes. If any album could be considered relatively weak, it's "Now We Are Six" (1974, ***), their first with regular drummer Nigel Pegrum. Not that it's his fault - it's just the overall quality of the songs is down a notch from the usual Steeleye offering. While "Drink Down the Moon", "Thomas the Rhymer" and "Two Magicians" are equal to the best of their songbook, there is also the clunky "Edward", the twee children's songs "Now We Are Six" and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", and "To Know Him Is to Love Him", a less than successful rock-and-roll cover with an atrocious sax solo by David Bowie. "Commoner's Crown" (1974, *****) is possibly the most underrated of the lot, and in my opinion perhaps the best of these albums, with excellent songs throughout, from "Little Sir Hugh" and "Long Lankin" through even the silly closer, "New York Girls" (with Peter Sellers on ukulele). "All Around My Hat" (1975, ***1/2) was another relative commercial success, though not one of my favorites: I never warmed up to the orchestra on "Black Jack Davy", for instance, but the title track is fine and rockin', as is "Hard Times of Old England", and "Cadgwith Anthem" ranks as one of their most gorgeous a capella songs.The packaging is nothing to write home about, and a more substantial booklet with some history and factoids would have been nice. But what matters is that this is a box chock-full of great music, and a fitting companion to Lark in the Morning, the two-disc set that contains their first three albums. If you're a Steeleye Span fan like me, who's only acquired selected "best-of" compilations of this talented band, you owe it to yourself to get this collection.

When I discovered Fairport Convention's music in 1970, it was such a revelation that I jumped right on the English Folk train immediately. That led me to Pentangle, John Martyn, ISB, etc. and happily Steeleye Span as well. "Please to See the King" was my first purchase, and is still my favorite of the early years. Maddy has such a distinctive and beautiful voice, and the group, regardless of which musicians were currently involved, always kept the unique traditional flavor of the non-original songs. Both Fairport and Steeleye Span took traditional folk into a rock direction, but SS remained drummerless until Now We Are Six in 1973. Fairport lost most of its original members by 1971, and the result was that they had some difficulty deciding where to focus, and the albums were somewhat spotty from "Angel Delight" on. At the same time SS was experiencing great personnel changes, losing their most well-known members. The results were entirely different, as they went on to their greatest critical and commercial success. The 5 albums in this set starting with "Below the Salt" and ending with "All Around My Hat" represent that era of success in its entirety. Touring with Jethro Tull gave them a small but loyal stateside following, but in England "All Around My Hat" was a top 10 album, and Gaudette from "Below the Salt" was also a radio hit. The first two albums in this set are transition from the more traditional early albums into a more distinctly rock inspired direction, while the last three add a drummer and a more pop styled direction. It's all fabulous stuff, and provided that you're not either an acoustic folk purist, or a dyed-in-the-wool prog rocker, you should enjoy this immensely. At such a reasonable price, and considering how consistent their albums were, this is far better that a greatest hits disc. At one point I had all of these on vinyl, but I had not heard them in 20 years when I bought this set. Sometimes your memories are better than the actual experience of hearing the music again. This sounded better to me now than it did then, which is quite a compliment, considering how much I liked them four decades ago. If you ever liked them, this is a no-brainer. I listened to it for a week straight, which I hardly ever do any more.

Was Steeleye Span better than Fairport Convention? It's not an easy question to answer. The Convention, at least in their short moment of glory, worked outside English roots music. The Span rarely performed songs that were not at least partially based on folk tunes from earlier eras. Maddy Prior was and is a marvel, almost if not the equal of the late Sandy Denny, the harmonies could be mind-boggling, and the core of the band was much more stable. This first of two Chrysalis collections of their albums on that label collects 5 albums on 3 CDs. The albums are all from their 1970s peak. In order, they are Below The salt, Parcel Of Rouges, Now we Are Six, Commoner's Crown, and All Around My Hat. Many of their best songs and a few uncollected singles are here. I find I prefer the more rock-oriented, spacey numbers to the trad fare. There used to be a splendid best of collection on the Beat Goes On label titled Original Masters but it seems to be out of print. Unless you can find it this seems to be your best bet. For a smaller sample, try the 2002 re-recording of their hits called Present: the Best Of Steeleye Span. Despite its late date, it is a good representation of what they could do.

Replacing vinyl collection. Has made life easier

This 3CD package of those 5 original albums is exactly what it purports to be, and is a wonderful way to acquire or re-acquire that good music at a bargain price.

This boxed set delivers what it takes to make fans of Steeleye Span happy. It collects the fourth to eighth albums in one 3CD parcel. The minstrels carry on with their next five albums,  Another Parcel of Steeleye Span (Their Second Five ! Another Parcel of Steeleye Span (Their Second Five

to have the first 5 Chrysalis albums?--priceless!

Contains three CDs with five Steeleye Span albums, great value for money. The albums are very enjoyable and a reminder of some of the music of the 70's.