A Parcel of Steeleye Span [Import]

Steeleye Span | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 27, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Import
• Label: 101 DISTRIBUTION
• ASIN: B002MVS19W
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,712 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Spotted Cow

2. Rosebud In June

3. Jigs/The Bride's Favorite/Tansey's Fancy (Medley)

4. Sheepcrook And Black Dog

5. Royal Forester

6. King Henry

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. The Wee Wee Man

2. The Weaver And The Factory Maid

3. Rogues In A Nation

4. cam Ye O'er Frae France

5. Hares On The Mountain

6. Bonny Moorhen

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Little Sir Hugh

2. Bach Goes To Limerick

3. Long Lankin

4. Dogs And Ferrets

5. Galtee Farmer

6. Demon Lover

See all 18 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

2009 import-only three CD set from the British Folk Rock institution. Subtitled: A Parcel of Steeleye Span. Their First Five Chrysalis Albums - 1972-1975, this triple disc set contains the entirety of their first five albums for the Chrysalis Records label (from 1972's Below The Salt to 1975's All Around My Hat) with a few bonus tracks thrown in for good measure. 50 tracks total. EMI.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FANTASTIC BOX SET, October 27, 2009

By 

brazuka (Brazil) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Parcel of Steeleye Span (Audio CD)

First was the release of the double CD "The Lark in the Morning" by Castle in 2003, putting together the first three albums by Steeleye Span - "Hark! The Village Wait" (originally released in 1970 on RCA Records), "Please to See the King" (released in 1970 on B&C Records) and "Ten Man Mop or Mr. Reservoir Butler Rides Again" (released in 1971 on Pegasus Records).

Now, EMI releases this fantastic box set, assembling the next five albums by the band, with its most successful lineups: Tim Hart (vocals, guitar, banjo, dulcimer), Maddy Prior (vocals, spoons), Peter Knight (fiddle, banjo, mandolin), Bob Johnson (guitar) and Rick Kemp (bass), with Nigel Pegrum as the drummer since 1974.

The box set gathers together five albums - "Below the Salt" (1972), "Parcel of Rogues" (1973), "Now We Are Six" (1974), "Commoner's Crow" (1975) and "All Around My Hat" (1975), along with four bonus tracks - the single "Gaudete" c/w "The Holly and The Ivy" (1972), "Bonny Moorhen" (1973) and a live version of "The Wife of Ushers Well" (1974).

The five albums are outstanding, although there are small differences between them: the first two albums from the set are no drumming (except for two songs), but the heavy bass and guitar playing (providing by Kemp, Johnson and Hart) creates an insuperable English folk-rock sound. Highlights: the a capella "Rosebud in June", the jigs "The Bride's Favourite/Tansey's Fancy", the beautiful ballad "One Misty Moisty Morning" and the rousing "The Ups and Downs".

The next three albums are full of energy, grace and great songs, with a better balance between the electric and the acoustic sides, with the wonderful vocal performances from Maddy Prior. Highlights: the traditional songs "Drink Down the Moon" and "Two Magicians", the great instrumental "The Mooncoin Jig" (with guitar and mandolin), the upbeat "Little Sir Hugh", the fancy "New York Girls" (with the late actor Peter Sellers on ukulele) and the exquisite harmonies from "Hard Times of Old England" and "All Around My Hat".

It's a treasure for the Steeleye Span fans and for all those who like folk-rock.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Now You're Talking!, November 24, 2009

By 

Remaster Bob (Hong Kong, China SAR Hong Kong) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Parcel of Steeleye Span (Audio CD)

(Copy of UK Review - pay the postage from .co.uk!)

EMI - what a paradox you are. I'm still reeling from the brutal marketing decisions you made with Apple concerning the 2009 remastered Beatles (like spending 130 quid to hear Sgt Pepper in Mono), and then I discover this gem of a bargain. Five well-remastered Steeleye Span albums for twelve quid! [Sterling] Yiha!

Below The Salt was the unknown one for me and I am well impressed. Sufficiently impressed that I may now buy "Lark In The Morning" - another great deal, this time with the band's first three albums for a fiver! [Five pounds sterling].

Then the glorious run of albums from the muscular powerhouse of Parcel Of Rogues (the mix still veering over the edge of screechy in this remaster but I love it just the same) through to the semi-collapse of Mike Batt's anaesthetic "All Around My Hat" which nonetheless has the brilliant Black Jack Davy and - if I'm in the right mood - Hard Times Of Old England.

In between, well there's the truncated pleasure of Now We Are Six (which prompted one waggish reviewer to speculate on what type of distractions were afoot in the studio when they decided to include Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and the appalling To Know Him Is To Love Him).... which nonetheless contains one of my most favourite tracks: The Two Magicians. Splendid!

Then, my overall favourite. And unusually, not the first one I owned, that was Parcel of Rogues. But Commoner's Crown was the album which I enjoyed so much back in my first year at University and I still do. It's worth the twelve quid all on it's own. Hear the smoothness of Long Lankin, Demon Lover, and Weary Cutters. Maddy Prior, you're an angel.

This, by the way, is clearly a shot of heaven for Steeleye fans who like to make their own compilations. I have been distracted for days now....ending up with one collection, but now beginning to start on these discs again which may lead to a second volume.

So; for those of you seeking quality sound, the news is a surprise to me: EMI have delivered on this occasion. (They are notoriously unreliable imho).

For those of you wondering if you will still like Steelye Span so many years after their folk-rock heyday - fear not! You'll love this organic music more than ever....it will remind you of how dismal is the new music you may be listening to. (They just don't make music this way anymore - see Tony Parsons/Ian MacDonald).

And if anyone out there is reading these reviews thinking "Well, it's a good deal, and they sound like an interesting band...maybe I should take a chance..." TAKE IT! You will not regret purchasing this fantastic triple-CD five-album Bargain of the Year. (Should be Re-Issue of the Year in the mags, but will any of them notice?). [U.S. customers - can you buy it direct from the British site? Am I allowed to suggest that? Anyhow - it's brilliant.]

And a gruding Thanks to someone at EMI who may be a little less mercenary and cynical than the...people?....involved with the Beatles marketing.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice remastering for vibrant albums, October 31, 2010

By 

J. TIMMERMAN (Lawson, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Parcel of Steeleye Span (Audio CD)

Excellent remastering for 5 of Steeleye's classic albums, which with their first 3 I believe represent the best of their output. This set is a testament to the brilliant pioneering job Steeleye did in the English Folk Revival. Modern elements that hallmark the band's sound are by no means overpowering or detract from the traditional style of the music. In fact the arrangements are generally spot on, best of the era. Could have done without one or two songs like To Know Him Is To Love Him and Twinkle Twinkle but there is a wealth of wonderful English folk music here played with enthusiasm and aplomb, brought back to life in a bright and lively remastering. Great value.