A STACK OF STEELEYE SPAN

The sub-text on the cover of this compilation proudly proclaims "Their finest folk recordings, 1973 - 1975. A proud boast indeed, but since the tracks are all taken from Steeleye Span's first three albums, released between 1970 and 1972, perhaps a trifle inaccurate. Above that boast is a fine illustration of the band, all six of them. Wait a minute though, wasn't there just the five in the band up until their sixth album "Now we are six", the clue was in the title?

With such an alarming disregard for accuracy, together with the complete absence of sleeve notes of any kind, one could be forgiven for thinking that this collection is completely devoid of value. Fortunately though, the quality of the music does save the day.

Here we have four tracks from the band's debut "Hark, the village wait", no less than six (out of ten) from "Please to see the king", and a further six (of nine) from "Ten man mop". With such a comprehensive coverage of the three albums, it would be churlish to bemoan the absence of the other tracks, especially when one bears in mind that this budget label album tends to be available for buttons.

The three albums covered do not capture Steeleye Span's most progressive period of course, but they did serve to further the cause of electric folk in no small measure.

For the curious looking for a convenient way of sampling Steeleye Span's earliest releases, this collection will serve well. Just make sure you ignore the rubbish printed on the cover!