Steeleye Span are the greatest folk rock band ever. I live in Hull in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Steeleye came to Hull,as far as I remember. I think the first time I saw them the album they had out at the time was LIVE AT LAST The last time they came toHull Rick kemp wasn't on the gig. Wish I could see the latest line up. Steeleye Span, You're the best. 🎼
I lived in a house in Denver with a few housemates. This was '74. One of my housemates, Gary D., had a sister who was married to Peter Knight at the time. I had never heard of Span then, but Gary did and said they were different. When they played a small venue (almost a large bar), somewhere in Denver, Gary and I saw them pretty much in front. I was amazed. We went back stage and I got to meet everyone, then later to a party at their hotel. I don't remember too much of that party, we crashed at their hotel. Since then, I've been a Span fan, I have their complete discography, and have introduced many to their music.
Thank you to whom ever it was that put Steeleye Span on the road with Jethro Tull. I believe it was the Passion Play tour. You’re there to see Tull, all with that grubby bearded persona, but the prelude is something equally unique. It took us by surprise with its Scottish/Irish folk flavor and all with this lovely maiden floating and spinning about the stage. We were transfixed. Ultimately it led to a lifetime of enjoying traditional folk music by the likes of groups like The Baltimore Consort. Thank you so very much Steeleye Span.
Maddy Prior said it . . They were an Albums Band and Performing Band which is why they lasted and were bigger than any one song which being a hit only pointed back towards something far more memorable and worth celebrating . . I liked the feature it was good meeting them again . .
I was a folkie in Wichita, Kansas, USA, and my parents brought me a newly released copy of Ten Man Mop back from England. A record shop clerk had recommended it to them, and I’ve been a fan ever since. I don’t know who that clerk was, but if you’re reading this, my many many thanks!
Where DO you find them Greg? Fascinating to see all those insights into the Hat song. Nice to see the likes of Tim and Bob talking about it as they don't seem to pop up in interviews so much in the archives. Rip Tim. Thanks for posting.
Thank you for posting this feature. I have been a fan of Steeleye Span for .... a very long time indeed, since the days of Gay Woods, Martin Carthy and so forth. Wonderful to see the band.
I got Original Masters a year later in 1977, and it stayed on my turntable like ELP and Renaissance (this was the High Point of Western Civilization). "Hard Times Of Old England" would've been a perfect and historically apt follow up.
The Adventures of Robin Hood with Richard Greene, Season One, Episode 39 a/k/a The Prisoner, All Around My Hat is a brief part of the soundtrack, and this was made in 1955!
In Ireland 🇮🇪 this song is known as the tri-coloured ribbon or three coloured ribbon. Adapted by Peadar Kearney composer of the Irish National Anthem. He made it about a republican lass whose lover has died in the Easter Rising (1916) . (Although it was originally of nineteenth century english origin).It was published in 1921. A ballad group called the Wolfe Tones had a big hit with it in 1967 in Ireland 🇮🇪 🇮🇪 th-cam.com/video/NPqnjS8S5MQ/w-d-xo.html Curious how none of the band made any reference to a song that was obviously known to them from all the Irish artists that were frequenting the folk circuit at that time. 🤔
Don't forget that they only used the Chorus of the trad folk song and heavily adapted the tune/melody. And obviously they didn't want to raise any political connections to a pop/rock song.
Nice find! But, for me, All Around my Hat was the beginning of my loosing interest. Mike Batt and Wombles?!...Maddy said that's where they should be - TOTP, but don't forget Gaudete ❤ was on TOTP. They later say All Around my Hat was a one off? Lovely and talented folk, met them a few times after gigs. Thanks for the upload 🙂
Doesn't sound like 6/8 to me. Rather a shuffle rhythm over four beat phrasing. Great song. Successful traditional song - Whiskey in the Jar (Thin Lizzy) They make no mention of their top twenty UK hit Gaudete. I wonder why not?
So All Around My Hat broke them as a band? Nor surprised. It was awful. But no mention of the single "Gaudette", which was a success. Rare footage of Tim hart. People rarely mention him, forgetting he was the creator and genius behind all this.
@@maxwellfan55 Well, Steeleye Span was certainly the brainchild of Hutchings. It was he who wanted to create an electric band that focused on British folk song - and could take the music to a wider audience. Without him Prior and Hart might well have just carried on as an acoustic duo in the clubs.
@@YorkyOne You are probably right. But it was Hutchings who (in my opinion), also sowed the seeds of Steeleye's destruction as the electric dimension just got more and more ridiculous. Save the restraint of the first few Steeleye albums. Ultimately, Hart and Prior were always better together. Whether they might have succeeded in taking the more purist approach to a higher commercial level we will never know, except these were times where a wide variety of music was listened to, respected and appreciated, here and across the pond. Others, like Carthy, did succeed, and may still touring even today.
I adore steeleye span . Maddie has the voice of an angel . So pure
Sad to read today we lost Dear Bob Johnson just before Xmas 2023. Loved the man.
Steeleye Span are the greatest folk rock band ever. I live in Hull in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Steeleye came to Hull,as far as I remember. I think the first time I saw them the album they had out at the time was LIVE AT LAST The last time they came toHull Rick kemp wasn't on the gig. Wish I could see the latest line up. Steeleye Span, You're the best. 🎼
The greatest ENGLISH folk rock band, lest we forget the early Byrds.
Maddy is also so graceful and joyefull in her movements on stage.
I lived in a house in Denver with a few housemates. This was '74. One of my housemates, Gary D., had a sister who was married to Peter Knight at the time. I had never heard of Span then, but Gary did and said they were different. When they played a small venue (almost a large bar), somewhere in Denver, Gary and I saw them pretty much in front. I was amazed. We went back stage and I got to meet everyone, then later to a party at their hotel. I don't remember too much of that party, we crashed at their hotel. Since then, I've been a Span fan, I have their complete discography, and have introduced many to their music.
I love it when they sing together in the room, without the music.
I can't watch them singing without a big grin on my face. Thanks for posting this.
Looking back on this has made me quiet emotional...memories of my fabulous childhood.
An entertaining and insightful documentary. Very enjoyable. Thank you for posting it.
Thank you to whom ever it was that put Steeleye Span on the road with Jethro Tull. I believe it was the Passion Play tour. You’re there to see Tull, all with that grubby bearded persona, but the prelude is something equally unique. It took us by surprise with its Scottish/Irish folk flavor and all with this lovely maiden floating and spinning about the stage. We were transfixed. Ultimately it led to a lifetime of enjoying traditional folk music by the likes of groups like The Baltimore Consort. Thank you so very much Steeleye Span.
I saw Steeleye Span open for Jethro Tull July 1973 Buffalo NY and have been a fan ever since. They remain one of my favorite bands.
MADDY and RICK!! Amazing!!
Thank you for all your wonderful Span footage. X
Absolutely loved the album Now we are Six
Wow a timeless song that takes me back to my youth.......
Brilliant
Fantastic! Takes me right back to my childhood 40+ years ago, jumping and dancing around with my siblings.
Maddy Prior said it . . They were an Albums Band and Performing Band which is why they lasted and were bigger than any one song which being a hit only pointed back towards something far more memorable and worth celebrating . . I liked the feature it was good meeting them again . .
I can't believe that its 50 years later and i am just hearing about these guys
Bloody great this.
I was a folkie in Wichita, Kansas, USA, and my parents brought me a newly released copy of Ten Man Mop back from England. A record shop clerk had recommended it to them, and I’ve been a fan ever since. I don’t know who that clerk was, but if you’re reading this, my many many thanks!
Did you see Fairport in Wichita around 1971?
@@evansmith3589 Nope, never was much into them. Saw Pentangle though.
Where DO you find them Greg?
Fascinating to see all those insights into the Hat song.
Nice to see the likes of Tim and Bob talking about it as they don't seem to pop up in interviews so much in the archives.
Rip Tim.
Thanks for posting.
great stugf, thanks!
Many Thanks, SpanFan.
Thank you for posting this feature. I have been a fan of Steeleye Span for .... a very long time indeed, since the days of Gay Woods, Martin Carthy and so forth. Wonderful to see the band.
Always a favorite
I got Original Masters a year later in 1977, and it stayed on my turntable like ELP and Renaissance (this was the High Point of Western Civilization). "Hard Times Of Old England" would've been a perfect and historically apt follow up.
What a beautiful documentary. Loved it. Thank you.
The Adventures of Robin Hood with Richard Greene, Season One, Episode 39 a/k/a The Prisoner, All Around My Hat is a brief part of the soundtrack, and this was made in 1955!
I remember New Musical Express' line: All Around Mike Batt.
Beautiful smiling maddie
In Ireland 🇮🇪 this song is known as the tri-coloured ribbon or three coloured ribbon. Adapted by Peadar Kearney composer of the Irish National Anthem. He made it about a republican lass whose lover has died in the Easter Rising (1916) . (Although it was originally of nineteenth century english origin).It was published in 1921.
A ballad group called the Wolfe Tones had a big hit with it in 1967 in Ireland 🇮🇪 🇮🇪 th-cam.com/video/NPqnjS8S5MQ/w-d-xo.html
Curious how none of the band made any reference to a song that was obviously known to them from all the Irish artists that were frequenting the folk circuit at that time. 🤔
Don't forget that they only used the Chorus of the trad folk song and heavily adapted the tune/melody. And obviously they didn't want to raise any political connections to a pop/rock song.
Nice find! But, for me, All Around my Hat was the beginning of my loosing interest. Mike Batt and Wombles?!...Maddy said that's where they should be - TOTP, but don't forget Gaudete ❤ was on TOTP. They later say All Around my Hat was a one off? Lovely and talented folk, met them a few times after gigs. Thanks for the upload 🙂
Cam Ye O'er frae France, is my favorite after this song, but I love many of the traditional songs by the band.
Delighted to see that Mike Batt LOOKS like a womble....😉
Besides her incredible voice, Maddie Prior is the darn sexiest woman I've ever seen!
Good to see some recent "folk royalty" in the recent line-ups: Benji Kirkpatrick & Sam Sweeney to name but two.
I still belive Sails of Silver is a remarkable and in many ways better than All Around My Hat
It could only have worked once they added Nigel Pegrum on drums.
Definitely not 6/8! Why would anyone think that?
That's what I thought too! Kind of a shuffle in my opinion.
The bass line is definitely 6/8. 1, _3 4, _6 1, _34 etc. And the the rhythm of the solo - diddley, diddley... (how many syllables is that?)
Doesn't sound like 6/8 to me. Rather a shuffle rhythm over four beat phrasing.
Great song.
Successful traditional song - Whiskey in the Jar (Thin Lizzy)
They make no mention of their top twenty UK hit Gaudete. I wonder why not?
And the dark side
Not even one of their better songs, in my opinion. Basically Pink Floyd's "Money," a bit repetitive but still fun (for a while).
Omg love her she’s so cute god bless her
Fascinating. But, erm, it’s not 6/8!
So All Around My Hat broke them as a band? Nor surprised. It was awful. But no mention of the single "Gaudette", which was a success.
Rare footage of Tim hart. People rarely mention him, forgetting he was the creator and genius behind all this.
Ashley Hutchings was the origin of all this.
@@YorkyOne The origins went much further back to Tim Hart and Maddy prior as a duo.
@@maxwellfan55
Well, Steeleye Span was certainly the brainchild of Hutchings.
It was he who wanted to create an electric band that focused on British folk song - and could take the music to a wider audience.
Without him Prior and Hart might well have just carried on as an acoustic duo in the clubs.
@@YorkyOne You are probably right. But it was Hutchings who (in my opinion), also sowed the seeds of Steeleye's destruction as the electric dimension just got more and more ridiculous. Save the restraint of the first few Steeleye albums.
Ultimately, Hart and Prior were always better together. Whether they might have succeeded in taking the more purist approach to a higher commercial level we will never know, except these were times where a wide variety of music was listened to, respected and appreciated, here and across the pond. Others, like Carthy, did succeed, and may still touring even today.
Maddison so gorgeous 😊
Madeleine actually!