This band was formed in late 1969, when bassist Ashley Hutchings left the band Fairport Convention. He wanted to go in an even more traditional direction, despite the fact that Fairport was also moving in a traditional direction at the time. But the most visible person in the band soon turned out to be Maddy Prior, who sang most of the songs. The band become one of the most important bands in the British folk revival of the early 1970s.
By 1973, the band gained a full-time drummer and pursued more of a rocking sound, while still covering many traditional folk songs. Also in 1973, they had a surprise hit with "Gaudete." It made the Top Twenty in Britain, despite the fact that is was sung acappella while being completely in Latin!
Here's the band's Wikipedia page:
At the time of this concert, they had released the album "Now We Are Six" earlier in 1974, with the title referencing the fact the band had grown to six members. Naturally, they played some songs from that album, including their one hit at the time, "Gaudete." However, note that the band was much less popular in the U.S., which would explain why they were booked at the small Ebbets Field venue. As an example, their "Now We Are Six" reached Number 13 in the British album chart, but didn't make the U.S. album chart at all.
One year after this, the band would have their biggest hit with "All Around My Hat." It's a shame that's not here, but it makes sense in terms of the year.
By the way, note that the song "John Barleycorn" performed here is a very different one than the one made famous in 1970 by Traffic. That would be a bizarre coincidence, except that name has a historic general meaning in Britain to symbolize alcohol, especially alcoholic drinking, so it's a generic name like "Uncle Sam." I believe both songs with that title are hundreds of years old.
The music is unreleased. The sound quality is excellent.
This album is an hour and 17 minutes long.
01 talk (Steeleye Span)
02 We Beg Your Leave (Steeleye Span)
03 Tunes [Instrumental] (Steeleye Span)
04 Alison Gross (Steeleye Span)
05 talk (Steeleye Span)
06 Cam Ye O'er Frae France (Steeleye Span)
07 talk (Steeleye Span)
08 John Barleycorn (Steeleye Span)
09 talk (Steeleye Span)
10 Little Sir Hugh (Steeleye Span)
11 talk (Steeleye Span)
12 Drink Down the Moon - The Cuckoo (Steeleye Span)
13 talk (Steeleye Span)
14 Two Magicians (Steeleye Span)
15 Robbery with Violins [Instrumental] (Steeleye Span)
16 Summer Is Acumen In (Steeleye Span)
17 Staines Morris (Steeleye Span)
18 McBride (Steeleye Span)
19 One Misty Moisty Morning (Steeleye Span)
20 Gaudete (Steeleye Span)
21 Thomas the Rhymer (Steeleye Span)
22 talk (Steeleye Span)
23 The Musical Priest - The Steel Spear [Instrumental] (Steeleye Span)
24 talk (Steeleye Span)
25 Sea Shanties (Steeleye Span)
26 talk (Steeleye Span)
27 The Royal Forester (Steeleye Span)
28 The Mason's Apron [Instrumental] (Steeleye Span)
29 talk by emcee (Steeleye Span)
https://pixeldrain.com/u/PbaQjgvN
alternate:
https://bestfile.io/en/9i1oYzw1Bdpww2X/file
The cover image shows lead singer Maddy Prior in a concert in England in 1974.
In case youre interested, under George Harrison Vol 5...I put the You Tube links for the new Rod Stewart Grammy Salute Concert on CBS, and the Judds Final Concert with Wynonna and Special Guests like Brandi Carlile from 2022. Just wanted to make sure you saw just in case you're interested. Both are great quality.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I saw those, but haven't had time to reply. I'm interested in the Judds one. The Rod one doesn't interest me so much. Those kinds of things typically have special guests, but I don't think there are any in that show, are they? I'm wary about him getting so old.
DeleteNo special guests on the Rod one, just his final tour. I watched it and he sounded best i have heard him in a long time. Sings the songs a bit different probably to preserve his voice, but still goes for the notes and hit them...at least this time. Agreed though, the Judds one was really good and unique type of show with guests on most even if backing her up. That would be my favorite over the two as well easily.
ReplyDeleteThis is a fantastic snapshot of early–mid 70s British folk-rock when everything was still half traditional, half electric, and completely unpredictable in the best way.
ReplyDeleteSteeleye Span at Ebbets Field in 1974 feels almost like a cultural time capsule: medieval ballads, Latin hit singles (“Gaudete” is still wild in hindsight), and then suddenly electric guitars and drums turning centuries-old stories into something that hits like rock music. That contrast is exactly what made the UK folk revival so interesting — they didn’t just preserve tradition, they rewired it.
Also, “John Barleycorn” being shared across different interpretations is a perfect example of how folk music evolves: the same idea surviving centuries but constantly changing shape depending on who performs it.
Reading this also sent me down one of those random internet detours (as these things always do), including https://BalmoralGreen.com/ — which somehow fits the same vibe: old stories, new forms, and things resurfacing in unexpected places.
I'll leave this post here just once, so I can warn you: any comment with a link for a commercial product in it gets deleted. I have a feeling this is written by AI. All such comments will be removed.
DeleteA small point but Gaudete was actually from their Below The Salt LP, two albums before Now We Are Six. I saw Steeleye a number of times live (here in the UK) and they were wonderful, loved them.
ReplyDelete