ALL AROUND MY HAT

By the time of this eighth album, SS is a far cry from the superb super folk group that had recorded the great Hark debut album, a very different outfit that had separated after the poor Commoner Crown (in spite of good sales) only to regroup again later that year and produce All Around My Hat, which would eventually (and surprisingly?) become their best selling album; this in a period where folk was definitely expanding into rock realm (Jethro Tull's Song From the Wood or Gryphon or GG's exploration of pre-classical musics) well past the folk-rock realm of the previous decade (from 65 until 75). With such an atrocious artwork though, one can wonder how this album met so much commercial success, as there is no evident single or hit to carry it. Compared to their listless CC forerunner, AAMH is a much rockier album, seemingly taking from where Now We Are Six and Parcel Of Rogues had left off and CC had ignored. And sure enough, the opening Black Jack Davy bears a strong Tull-influence, most notably on the guitar riff and in the typical string arrangements. And it won't be the only track throughout the album, that we'll be able to apply the same remark: indeed Wife Of Usher Well and the closing Batchelors Hall. Even the instrumental Sum Waves has some Tull flavour on the strong guitar alone. There are also woodwinds spread throughout the album, mostly flutes and oboes, but they don't have a determining influence on the music.

Not everything is Tull-inspired though, as Dance With Me or Hard Times bear a Fairport feel (with Maddy pulling a credible Sandy in the former) that of course made them a constant comparison with Convention. Pure folk is still present with the almost a capella Cadgwith Anthem, its almost country-esque follow-up title track and the fun hedgehopping Gamble Good.

For me, AAMH is not really an interesting album for progheads and - even though it's clearly their rockiest album so far (ever?) - rockers alike, but it will please many, but certainly not folk purists, whom will pull their hair out of despair. Although a vast improvement on CC, AAMH is seen as their last classic album with the following Rocket Cottage (that I've never seen or heard) and I suggest most everyone to stop their SS explorations at these two.