THE COLLECTION

A rather strange compilation this one. The tracks are taken from a random selection of Steeleye Span albums released between 1972 and 1989. During this period, the band released some ten albums, yet only seven of those contribute tracks here and the first three albums are ignored completely. Thus we have four tracks each from "Below the salt" and "Parcel of rogues" but just one from "Commoner's crown" and none at all from "Rocket cottage".

On the plus side, some effort has been made to include some of the band's more ambitious pieces such as the wonderful "King Henry", "Alison Gross", "Seven hundred elves" and "Long Lankin". It is also good to see a couple from the band's last studio album "Tempted and tried" appearing. Not surprisingly though, the ubiquitous singles "All around my hat" and "Gaudete" are also present.

In general, the track listing is an improvement on other Steeleye Span compilations to the extent that if this set was released as an original album in its own right I would have no hesitation in recommending it. The rather haphazard nature of the selection process though detracts from the value of the set as an overview of this fine band.

Note that the sleeve erroneously lists track 12 as "Sailor's bonnet"; it is in fact "Saucy sailor".