What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?

Subject: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 01:27 AM

black leg miner,or maybe dark eye saler, not surew, plenty nice songs there=
anyway, wahts there best cd, i only got 2 and there both compilations.john

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 01:29 AM

female drummer is good as well, plebty good songs, not shure which is best, hard to say.

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: LadyJean
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 01:34 AM

Gaudete, or maybe Padstow. I got to hear them do that one the last time they were in town. They were at the Carnegie Music Hall, where the accoustics are wonderful. (Andrew Carnegie brought Lillian Russell in to test them!) Maddie Pryor danced around the hall belting that wonderful song. It was unbelievable.

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 01:39 AM

heloo lady jean-did you hear maddy prior sing with june tabor, they make 2 cd's as the silly sisters, i got them both, hey really nice, my favoutritw ones on them is who will play the silver whistle, and, raise your voice and sing out/.
i think they both on different ones, as all my cds is mixeed up, but they both good.,i played them both loads of times, i got all june tanbor solo stuff as well, exept her new one, i deint buy that yet, as i am skint, i will buy it soom, maybe after xmas.

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 02:40 AM

They had a Xmas hit a while back with "All Around my Hat". I liked that one.

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: Big Tim
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 09:45 AM

"King Henry" - mind blowin!

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 10:23 AM

King Henry, The Weary Cutters...oh so many. I hate to say this John but I do not think anyone really spells as badly as you do. It seems like a deliberate ruse to confuse readers. Why? Just an observation.

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: ray bucknell
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 11:00 AM

I second the vote for "All Around My Hat!"

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: GUEST,James
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 11:03 AM

Best CD..Below The Salt with Parcel of Rogues a close second..I think.

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: Peace
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 03:36 PM

Sir James, the Rose". It is great. I really love it.

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 04:00 PM

Hand weaver is wonderful . Marrowbowns. Low Lands Of Holland. Two Magicians..The spotted cow( first thing I learned on anglo concertina). All things are quite silent( second thing I learned on Anglo) .. Skewball ( Banjo G sus43) Black Leged mined ( banjo G sus4) Please to see the king. General Taylor. Gorer (sp?) Wassail   
                   I would love to hear a Steel Eyed Span cd that was all the original crew without the rock additions. ( I know that misses the point but I still would love to hear them in a realy traditional setting. I loved Matty Pior doing The blacksmith all alone > THat nice early duo record of Matty and Tim was great as was the Silly Sister cd's ( I agree John) .   All the best to all here, Guy

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: DaveA
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 04:23 PM

I saw them live in Melbourne in the early 80s in their folk rock incarnation. "Let Her Go Down" really stopped the show & remains my favourite to this day, followed by "Demon Lover" & "Parcel of Rogues".
Cheers
Dave

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: Dave Wynn
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 05:25 PM

Hark the Village Wait. The first and arguably still the best as an album.

Anyone heard Individually Collectively Steeleye Span. A little known album on Mad Hatter label. Someone borrowed mine and I can't find a replacement but it contains songs by the individual members and songs done collectively by Steeleye. Brilliant.!

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: Nerd
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 05:39 PM

Their version of Tam Lin is really good; they based the melodies and rhythms on something Bulgarian, having learned that the story has analogues there.

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 05:53 PM

Got to be the Weaver and the Factory Maid for me.

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: Susan of DT
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 06:43 PM

Another vote for King Henry, which I sing frequently. Thirty years ago, a friend said, "Just listen to this, never mind the arrangement." and played me King Henry on Below the Salt. It was the first time I had heard Steeleye. No, I don't like the arrangements, but they have recorded some rare ballads that no one else does.

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: GUEST,anais
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 06:44 PM

TAM LIN!!!!! the song the changed my life when i was eleven, got me singing while i washed dishes and thinking about where ballads come from. such killer cello in part three and maddy's voice! my vote goes out to the weaver, also maddy's killer version of pirate jenny. her voice and tim hart's blend so nicely together, i am also a big fan of their album together 'summer solstice'.

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: Cluin
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 07:07 PM

The King

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 07:22 PM

Guest interested in pelling-It would not all fit on, so i took an e, off both words, to make it fit.

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: GUEST,mp
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 08:04 PM

Sails Of Silver

Let Her Go Down

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 08:11 PM

From: jOhn from Hull
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 07:22 PM

Guest interested in pelling-It would not all fit on, so i took an e, off both words, to make it fit.


Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song? = 40

What's your Favorite Steeleye Span Song? = 40



Doh?

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 08:46 PM

'Padstow' because I love Cornwall.

'Shaking of the Sheets' because I love the Black Joke in the middle. My daughter at the age of 10 could play that really well on her fiddle. She's now 20 and playing/recording with Al Jones of 'Blackfoot Sue' fame. Anyone remember them?

Sal

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: hobbitwoman
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 08:51 PM

I like their version of "All Around My Hat" too, and I also like "Fighting for Strangers". And "Gentleman Soldier".

Annie

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: LadyJean
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 12:19 AM

Silly Sisters 1 is one of my favorite recordings of all time, especially "Silver Whistle".   Silly Sisters 2 is pretty good, but a bit darker.

OH! I have Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band's CDs, they're wonderful.

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: GUEST,Elfcall
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 03:30 AM

Elfcall of course! - thanks for asking jOhn

Elfcall

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: The DeanMeister
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 03:56 AM

Guest, before you laugh at jOhn, who I happen to know can spell better than most, at least those of us who still speak the Queen's English can spell the word favourite.

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: poetlady
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 04:03 AM

I like most Steeleye Span songs and have a good many favourites, which change with my mood. Overall, I think I like The Lowlands of Holland the best.

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: John P
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 10:22 AM

This week's list:
Boys of Bedlam
King Henry
Wiltshire Wedding
Sir James the Rose
Rosebud in June
Two Magicians
Fighting For Strangers
The Black Freighter
Dogs and Ferrets
The Blacksmith
My Johnny Was a Shoemaker
When I Was On Horseback
Skewball
Cold, Haily, Windy Night
The King
Rogues in a Nation

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: John P
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 10:24 AM

Favorite albums:
Below the Salt
Parcel of Rogues
Please To See the King
Ten Man Mop

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 03:38 PM

I like too many to think about a specific one.
The only album I did not buy was "Rocket Cottage" I thought it was crap at the time. I wish I had bought it now.
Now we are Six, Below the Salt are a couple of favourites.
Picked up a compilation recently with Maddy doing "Twanky Dillo" with just a drum accompanyment absolutely brilliant.
"Somewhere Along the Road" is one of my favourites, although that is just Maddy I think not SES. Rick Kemp did write it though.
JohnB

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: RolyH
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 04:11 PM

Favourite track - Captain Coulston ( from Ten Man Mop)

Favourite novelty track - Rave On ( I had that single for ages before I realised the 'skip' was there on purpose.)

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: Les from Hull
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 07:19 PM

I just thought I'd better say that I had an interesting conversation with Rick Kemp's daughter tonight. Well, one of his daughters.

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: GUEST,anais
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 08:51 PM

i though rocket cottage would be terrible, but i found it for fifty cents at a yard sale and adore steeleye span so i bought it anyway! much of it is really quite good. still i will stick by hark! the village wait as far as entire albums go.

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: red max
Date: 12 Dec 03 - 08:20 AM

The live version of The Wife of Usher's Well on the "Original Masters" album is pretty good

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 12 Dec 03 - 12:38 PM

King Henry I think... especially with the verses I added...

:-)

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: Big Tim
Date: 12 Dec 03 - 03:55 PM

Wow! Clinton Hammond and I agree on something! Well,since nearly everybody else is defining the singular "favourite" as plural! - I'd like to add "Gamble Gold" and "Wife of Ushers Well".

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 12 Dec 03 - 07:05 PM

John P I realy liked your list and you put in lots of songs I was trying to remember . Thanks and our taste buds seem to be related. All the best , Guy

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Dec 03 - 11:09 AM

From: jOhn from Hull
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 07:22 PM

Guest interested in pelling-It would not all fit on, so i took an e, off both words, to make it fit.


Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song? = 40

What's your Favorite Steeleye Span Song? = 40

From: The DeanMeister
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 03:56 AM

Guest, before you laugh at jOhn, who I happen to know can spell better than most, at least those of us who still speak the Queen's English can spell the word favourite


DeanMeister - actually either is acceptable in the Oxford/English Dictionary - I presume you are in the UK

N.B. I was not having "a Laugh" at jOhn (sic) simply pointing out the reason he gave didn't make sense - and if, as you say, John can spell better than most - what reason is there for the bad spelling and punctuation in his posts????? effect or effected?

and if the former why make an excuse??????

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: Fran
Date: 14 Dec 03 - 11:23 AM

The Song Will Remain

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Dec 03 - 12:10 PM

To hell with the Queen's English. "Favourite is a prissy affectation in the USA. Andy

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: Matt_R
Date: 14 Dec 03 - 12:27 PM

Alison Gross, of course. That distortion guitar at the end gets me every time. Rick Kemp is god.

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 15 Dec 03 - 03:17 AM

Bet Amazon will be baffled as Steeleye Span CDs join hundreds of Wish Lists at the same time!

Guest, you're jeering at prissy affectations when Andy and spelling are obviously not good friends. There are people who can spell and there are people who have given up the fight. Leave the man alone!

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: GUEST,Longarm
Date: 15 Dec 03 - 03:26 AM

Why hasn't anyone come up with 'The Pricali(phonectic spelling!)Bush'
The 'Tme' album from which it is off is one of their best.

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: GUEST,Guest count not spell
Date: 15 Dec 03 - 05:17 AM

Guest GTT ----- Differents Guest ----- confusing ain't it...


not having a go guest


Guest

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: clueless don
Date: 15 Dec 03 - 10:28 AM

Three-way tie:

One Misty, Moisty Morning

All Around My Hat

Dogs and Ferrets

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 09:11 PM

guest-why dony you just get lost, so, i spelled it wrong, so waht, did you never spell anything wrong in your lif?
you are rubbish person, always moaning, blar, blar,m blar
if you was here i would through some orange peel at at you, and domt tell me i spelled orange peel wrong, vecause i;m not really bothred,
if i wanted to know all about spelling, i would have joined a spelling site.john

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 09:13 PM

ps, no wonder nobody likes you, tou moan to much!

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: GUEST,Seaking
Date: 17 Dec 03 - 12:27 AM

'Long Lankin' and 'My love'

-and about fifty others..

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: GUEST,allen woodpecker
Date: 17 Dec 03 - 07:55 AM

jOhn from hull posts to threads all the time, and his spelling, grammar, punctuation are always uniformly terrible. The thing is, I reckon he's doing a Ronnie Barker. He doesn't have a stutter, but in Open all Hours he did a really convincing one - so jOhn is winding y'all up most righteously. Now there's another John from Hull who can't string a bloody sentence together, and he's Deputy Prime Minister!
So let jOhn from hull get on with it - I reckon he's a comical genius, making fools of everyone who despairs of his written English. Good on you, jOhn - a more convincing impression of a dyslexic you'd never want to see.
p.s. On the subject of the thread, I'd say "All things are quite silent". a.w.

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: GUEST,Alsyan
Date: 17 Dec 03 - 04:50 PM

Perhaps jOhn's problem is more with typing and not so much with spelling? And so what, either way?

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 17 Dec 03 - 08:11 PM

WAHT YOU STILL TALKING ABOUT SPELLING FOR THEN/
this is a a steal eye span song, dont talk about othher thihgs.

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 17 Dec 03 - 08:36 PM

I meant thread not song, its about songs,
anyway-=i spelled it wrong, so bloody waht, dsoes it really matter/
i started a few music threads here lately =your favourite martin carthy song, your favourite roger whitaker song, what you think to.., etc etc,
you know whyt?
look at the whole forum!, count the threads, there is nearly as many bs threads now as there are music threads, !
this is folk music site, some people decide to make a few music threads, ie there is now [16th december], TWELVE, threads about saddam huseen/iraq etc, and people statr music threads and they find any reason to moan, and dont tell me i spelled twelve wrong, because i dont give a shit!
this is a good site, you can learn all sorts here, about folk music, blues music, sessions, festivals, instruments, etc etc etc, loads of stuff,
but the ones that sploi it is them that moan, ie 2you spelled it wrong!, you new exactly waht i mean, or why did you click on the thrad then?, just to take the piss?
anyway, if you play in a band , do you need to spell?, no, weell then!,
if martin carthy or somnmeone like that came here, and spelled it wrong, wpuld you say2, martin you are shit, yoiu cant spell etc?,

if so, you are stupid, look at his misic, not spelling,
as fr as i am concerned,, if you know waht people are on about, and WSPECIALLY if it is to do with folk music, and they spell it wrong, you should shut up!

dont tell me i spelled it wrong, i'm not fucking intrested!
if your that bothereed about spelling, then piss of and make a spelling site, i know plenty of ,musicians that are great at music, but thet cants spell, so what.

if you spotted any spelling mistakes in this message, [and i bet some arsehole going to check it!
dont bother telling me, im NOT bothered,

anyway it just prooves your a sad bastard with nowt beter to do.

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Dec 03 - 10:12 PM

Sorry jOhn, I didn't mean to make it worse. I just wanted to point out that your issue wasn't spelling as much as typing - mostly because I get sick of people who attack other people's use of language or ability to spell or country of origin.

Anyway, the only reason I made it THROUGH 40 threads of this topic is because I, too, love Steeleye Span. And how you spell doesn't mean tap to me. Carm Doan.

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Dec 03 - 10:22 PM

jOhn - sounds like you've got a chop on your shoulder

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: Bearheart
Date: 20 Dec 03 - 02:28 PM

It would be easier (and take a lot less time!) to list the songs I don't like.
I think I was 13 or 14 when I started listening to these folks in the early 70s -- including the ones Maddy and Tim did on their own. Though by then I'd been listening to field recordings (Folksongs of Britain,primarily Child ballads) of my dad's from the 50s for some years, Steeleye opened a whole new world, and got me looking for other stuff-- including the Watersons.

As to spelling-- I think mine definitely suffers when I'm in a hurry, and frankly it is confusing to edit it on the forum because of how things look on the screen-- but I guess most of the time we can figure out what we all mean, which is the important part. And yes, we all convey meaning about ourselves when we communicate-- whether we mean to or not... The question is, what else are we all trying to say in other more subtle ways, when we share our thoughts here? Without a voice to express our feelings, how do we know when we are being sarcastic or kind with one another? I've seen friendships kindle, die and be rekindled because of how folks express--or don't express-- their feelings adequately, by voice or by (e)mail. Sometimes one may judge another by the placing of a comma. But is this fruitful?

And Mercury IS retrograde!!!

Thanks, John, for this lovely thread...

Bekki

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: Big Tim
Date: 20 Dec 03 - 04:07 PM

John didn't mispell "bastard"!

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: GUEST,biker Dave from Bampton
Date: 18 May 04 - 09:00 AM

one of my favourt songs is jack hall, its really catchy and puts me in a good mood when ever i hear it. i like the hole band they're all good people. i morris danced at the oxford apollo for martin carthys 60th birthday bash. i known martin, norma and eliza since i was a baby. they come down to bampton in oxfordshire nearly every year for witson at the end of may. for them its like a holiday, maddy comes down too sometimes.

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: sledge
Date: 18 May 04 - 09:11 AM

The saucy sailor.
Parcel of rogues.
Alison Gross.

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 18 May 04 - 09:38 AM

My favourite has to be "The Rosebud in June" as it has everything...The chorus, the harmony...the whole sound of the thing...Oh and the sheep shearing (I SAID "SHEARING" GENTS).
The other I really like is "Let Her Go Down"...BUT........
Don't you just love all their songs???????????

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: GUEST
Date: 18 May 04 - 03:09 PM

Dark Eyed Sailor - I believe Gail Woods was the lead female voice on that at one - great delivery .

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: Big Tim
Date: 18 May 04 - 03:13 PM

Nothing will ever beat King Henry, I think!

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 18 May 04 - 03:49 PM

From the brilliant Hark the Village Album, I would select Copshawholme Fair, this Album was only bettered by Planxty [1972].

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: GUEST,Strudelbag
Date: 18 May 04 - 06:17 PM

I spent most of the week after I bought *Below the Salt* (25 years ago it was) with my head sandwiched between the speakers trying successfully to absorb the music into my very bones. One decibel more and I'd be deaf now. Ran out ASAP to buy their other stuff. It was YEARS before they laid down even one, um, "infelicitous" track.

Surely their first four five albums are among the greatest pop (in the broadest sense) albums ever recorded! (Incredible that 3 different lineups could maintain that quality!)

I'm rambling. Best song: "Sheep Crook and Black Dog," perhaps.

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: Shanghaiceltic
Date: 18 May 04 - 06:41 PM

My Johnny was a shoemaker
Guadete
Lowlands of Holland

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)
Date: 18 May 04 - 06:48 PM

Steeleye were my no. 1 favourite band from about 1970 until they broke up in 1978. All my mates at school thought I was mad. I probably was. Never quite got back into them as much after they reformed in the 80's - thrill is gone, I suppose.

For me:

'Dark Eyed Sailor'
'All Things Are Quite Silent'
'Hills of Greenmore'
'Lowlands of Holland'
'The King'
'Lark In the Morning'
'Female Drummer'
'Cold, Haily, Windy Night'
'Lovely On The Water'
'Fisherman's Wife'
'When I Was On Horseback'
'Four Nights Drunk' and all the tune sets from 'Ten Man Mop'
'Rosebud In June'
'Sheepcrook'
'Royal Forester'
'King Henry'
'Saucy Sailor'
'Robbery With Violins' (the full, live version with 'Duffy the   Dancer' and 'Lucy Campbell'
'Weaver and the Factory Maid'
'Parcel Of Rogues'
'Drink Down The Moon'
'Thomas the Rhymer'
'Demon Lover'
'Cadgwith Anthem'
'Usher's Well'
'Dance With Me'
'Bachelor's Hall'
'Sir James The Rose'
'Fighting for Strangers'
'Awake, Awake'
'The Victory'
'The Wife of the Soldier'
'Galtee Farmer (live version with Martin Carthy)'
'Boar's Head Carol (anyone remember 'Jim'll Fix It?')'
'Some Rival'
'Maid And The Palmer'
'Bonnets So Blue'
'Montrose'
'Hunting the Wren''
'False Knight On The Road (Live)'

Well, that's my list but God knows, the last thing the world needs is another Steeleye compilation.

If I NEVER hear 'Gaudete' and 'All Around My Hat' again it will be a damn sight too soon.

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: ranger1
Date: 18 May 04 - 08:34 PM

Let Her Go Down
The Blacksmith

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: Jackie in the Green
Date: 19 May 04 - 05:32 AM

Blimey, what a question! There are just too many wonderful songs to choose from, but after giving it much thought I'd have to go for Edwin from Now We Are Six. My favourite album is Commoners Crown.

I saw Steeleye last week on their 35th anniversary tour and they were on excellent form. Maddy's voice just gets better and better. My only complaint was that they didn't sing Thomas the Rhymer.

As anyone heard any news on how Bob Johnson is? I know sadly he has heart problems and wasn't up to 2002 tour or the latest tour.

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)
Date: 19 May 04 - 09:10 AM

Ranger1:

Are we sure we aren't missing a preposition?

Oh, I missed a couple: 'Orfeo', 'Cam Ye O'er From France', 'Brian O'Lynn/The Hag With The Money', 'The Drunkard' (though NOT the crude, racist preamble to it), 'Padstow', 'Shaking of the Sheets', 'Old Maid in a Garrett', 'Lady Diamond'.

OK, playmates. Drift time. What are your Least favourite Steeleye numbers? Any entries from the first four albums will be disqualified.

I've already made a couple of suggestions, to which I would add 'Gamble Gold and Robin Hood', 'Hard Times of Old England', The Wee Wee Man' (go on, try playing it to your mates. I dare you.), most of 'Sails of Silver', and all the 'comedy' numbers from 'Now We Are Six' and 'Commoner's Crown'. I also find it very difficult to listen to the songs about infanticide these days, such as 'Little Sir Hugh, 'Long Lankin' and 'The Cruel Mother'- so I don't.

Subject: RE: Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: GUEST,I love jOhn fan
Date: 19 May 04 - 09:43 AM

I would never dream of interfering with jOhn's choice of speling

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: Compton
Date: 19 May 04 - 06:59 PM

I'll put my two pennorth with "The Drunkard"..perhaps 'cos I are one !!

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: LindsayInWales
Date: 19 May 04 - 07:06 PM

The entire Commoners Crown LP does it for me plus Thomas the Rhymer, Two Magicians, The Ups and Downs...

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: Matt_R
Date: 19 May 04 - 08:01 PM

Alison Gross, of course...especially the ending

Subject: RE:Wahts your' favourit Stealeye Span song?
From: s&r
Date: 20 May 04 - 04:08 AM

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: Amos
Date: 20 May 04 - 04:02 PM

King Henry, I think....

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: GUEST,boris
Date: 06 Jan 10 - 01:13 PM

Gay Woods - unerestimated tribute of her tremendous lyrical voice interpreting some of the most beautiful ballads ever : I see his blood upon the rose , Old maid in the garrett , Erin , Beyond the dreaming place , Go from my window . Among the others : Lord Randall , Who told the butcher , Horkstow Grange , You will burn .

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 06 Jan 10 - 03:52 PM

The Sound of their silence - love it!
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 06 Jan 10 - 07:53 PM

Oh JIM.......... *sigh*

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: GUEST,Ken Brock
Date: 07 Jan 10 - 07:17 PM

Lots of favorites - If I hve to pick one, it would probably be One Misty Moisty Morning

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 07 Jan 10 - 07:23 PM

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 07 Jan 10 - 07:48 PM

Wossat, Jim? speak up! :)

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: GUEST,EF
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 09:00 AM

Lark in the Morning. Gorgeous.

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: machree01
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 10:36 AM

The Blacksmith

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 09 Jan 10 - 03:27 AM

The Blacksmith - just for being the song that really opened my eyes/ears to traditional song. Never looked back.

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: Tradsinger
Date: 09 Jan 10 - 04:44 AM

Tam Lin
Let her go down
When I was on Horseback

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 09 Jan 10 - 05:14 AM

I'm with Jim on this, but must admit to owning the early stuff + the extended double disk Castle edition of Lark in the Morning with the radio sessions which reveals a rougher edge, though quite so rough as Mr Fox who at least provided an alternative to the Steeleye / Albion / Fairport axis (aka The Hutchings Dynasty) with respect of English Folk Rock which never quite got up to the same sort speeds reached in France with Malicorne etc. Still, there is a charm here that pervades to this day. Of course you'll have all seen this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGHYl7Kv50g

Which was recorded in 1970, when I myself was either 8 or 9; I recall it from school, along with so much other folky fol-de-rol which I either found irksome or inspirational, but which never lived up to the promise realised on Bright Phoebus and The Battle of the Field which turned out to be swan-songs, pretty much.

My friend Ron Baxter maintains that Steeleye Span didn't do Folk Rock as such, rather they did Folk with Electric Instruments; I'd say that's about right, although I still wake up screaming when 700 Elves invade my nightmares....

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: Smedley
Date: 09 Jan 10 - 05:16 AM

Dark-Eyed Sailor.

(Interesting points, Sweeney)

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: Lighter
Date: 09 Jan 10 - 10:25 AM

My two cents (I know you're all waiting):

Steeleye couldn't do a less than wonderful track before "Robbery with Violins."

From that moment on, step by step....

But fortunately they've been slow and often fabulously interrupted steps.

Fave: "Sheep Crook"? "Prince Charlie Stuart"? "When I was on Horseback"? "Gypsy Laddie"? "Seventeen Come Sunday"? I give up.

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 09 Jan 10 - 10:41 AM

Just lately.. have listened to some of their stuff on Youtube and 'Marigold' is the one I am enjoying most...... change of taste with age I suppose.

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: Smedley
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 12:44 PM

This thread has prompted me to revisit a lot of their 1970s albums. the problem with a lot of them (though emphatically not the first two) is that the production sometimes mixes the vocals too low and the instrumentation too much in the forefront. Added to this, that instrumentation can be a bit, erm, crunchy. Not subtle enough, and sometimes an air of stretching rather too desperately to attract a 'rock audience'.

But there are still great tracks to be found.

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: GUEST,Jim in Rose City Downunder
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 02:27 AM

So many - but - Weaver & the Factory Maid probably gets the nod esp for Maddy's harmonies with herself at the end (played loud)

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 02:59 AM

Well the most memorable one I heard them do *live* was in about 1974 at Leicester De Montfort Hall.

It was their version of "Rave On"!!!

Very memorable for me. It was their encore, and as they started Maddy whipped off her long dress to reveal a red satin microdress with plunging neckline and a pair of long legs which she then proceeded to put to good use dancing down into the audience and grabbing various people to dance with her for a few bars. I was one of those people!

It's probably not the qality of the song that makes it stick in my mind so strongly :-)

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 07:40 AM

Probably Weaver & Factory Maid mixed up with When I Was A..., Wearisome Trade, & all; + 3 (I think: hard to count) Maddys all singing at once.

All Around My Hat has many nods above, & one no-no-no ~ from Smedley, I think. BUT no-one seems to have raised interesting query as to why they should have sung the words of [or, to avoid cries of "No correct version of traditional song" & stuff, usually associated with] Farewell He, to tune of [or ditto &c usually assocd with] All Around My Hat.

Just seemed to me worth asking ~ or wondering... I mean, if they were going to sing All Around My Hat, why not just sing the words of All Around My Hat, & not those usually sung as another song to some other tune?

~Michael~

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: Deneb
Date: 01 Sep 10 - 06:53 AM

My favourite Steeleye Span song? "Sheepcrook And Blackdog".
Definitely.

Gaia

P. S.: Now that I think of it - "Below The Salt" was the first folk recording I listened to. :)

Subject: RE: What's your favourite Steeleye Span song?
From: GUEST,Claire M (Permanant GUEST!)
Date: 18 Jul 12 - 03:40 PM

Hiya,

> "It would be easier (and take a lot less time!) to list the songs I don't like."

Snap. They've been there when I felt good, bad or indifferent, so much so I got ill when I went a couple of years without listening. It could just be coincidence....... or not?? BWA HA HA HA !!

I like all their nasty ones the best. I think that's why they appealed so much.

'The Wife Of Usher's Well' is the first song I really took notice of. Very disappointed to find said Well isn't a real place.