Parcel of Rogues

Steeleye Span | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Shanachie
• ASIN: B000000E79
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,366 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #8 in Music > Indie Music > Folk > Folk Rock
  • #23 in Music > Folk > British & Celtic Folk > British Folk
  • #42 in Music > Indie Music > Folk > General

Editorial Reviews

Japanese 24-bit remastered reissue of 1973 album, the group's first real rock album with guitars turned up very loud for the first time, packaged in a miniature LP gatefold sleeve, features 10 tracks. EMI. 2003. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Their Two Best, August 15, 2000

By 

C. H Smith (Bowling Green, Kentucky United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Parcel of Rogues (Audio CD)

Along with "Below the Salt," "Parcel of Rogues" must be considered Steeleye Span's finest work. The band still sounds like a folk string band at this point (they added a drummer on their next release, "Now We Are Six"), but they use amplification where appropriate and verge on having a pop feel. The individual cuts on the album are all excellent, especially 'The Weaver and the Factory Girl' (with a stunning performance by Maddy Prior), and 'Alison Gross,' a good bad witch story if there ever was one. This album was a success when it was released and still sounds fresh to my ears, in part due to the band's uncanny arrangement talents.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Their fifth (and probably last great) album, April 23, 2000

By 

Terry Saundry (Keysborough, Vic, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Parcel of Rogues (Audio CD)

Although I'm always keen for artists to progress, I must admit that I found the opening tracks a little too much at first in 1973. On subsequent listens, however, my fears were allayed - it's a corker! Can't agree with the fuss about "Robbery With Violins" - listen to Rick Kemp on bass. A word of warning, though: Shanachie reissues are notoriously ordinary. As this record has always had a trebly sound, you don't need it sounding any harsher. I got this and the just as good (if not better) "Below The Salt" as BGO (UK) remasters. While not state-of-the-art, they are very good.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This 19-year-old music student's favorite album of all time, February 17, 2003

By 

BGFN8 "If you ain't listenin' you ain't livin'" (Farmingville, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Parcel of Rogues (Audio CD)

This album, along with its sister Below the Salt, is my favorite album of all time. These two albums are a part of who I am. I have enjoyed a lot of different music over the years, but like I have my whole life (literally), I can always come back to this great music by Steeleye Span.

Once again, all the songs are traditional, with some of the music written by members of the band. "Alison Gross" tells a story of a witch bribing a man to be her lover, but he won't and she makes him sorry. The instrumental "Robbery with Violins" showcases the talents of bassist Rick Kemp and violinist Peter Knight. "Hares On The Mountain" is a beautiful tune, reminiscent of "The Ash Grove," and old Welsch Air. "The Ups and Downs" is yet another tale of the loss of virginity. The words to "Cam Ye O'er Frae France" may not be fully understood at first (I've been listening to this for my whole life, and I still don't know all of the lyrics), because they are sung in a Scottish toungue, and the booklet prints the words spelled as they are pronounced. "One Misty Moisty Morning" is a great story of romance, while "The Wee Wee Man" is a great magical fairy tale." "The Weaver and the Factory Maid" is arguably vocalist Maddy Prior's greatest performance to date. The harmonies on this track will blow your mind. The band is also very tight on this track, as they are on many others as well. "Rogues In a Nation" showcases the groups excellent skill at ensemble singing, backed only by a bass drum.

Along with "Below The Salt," this album marks a major part of who I am. Whenever I can't think of anything else to listen to, I can always go back to the music of Steeleye Span. I would recommend this album to anyone wanting to hear great traditional music. If you buy this, also buy "Below the Salt," they both go well together and are virtually one album. When I become a father, I will definitely make sure that this music fills the ears of my children, enriching their lives as it did mine.

5/5