Steeleye Span, Original Masters (BGO Records, 1996)
The editor posed the question, "What's the best boxed set put out by Steeleye Span?" - "Original Masters," I replied. "OK," he said, "write a review." I know when I've been suckered! So I thought for a moment, what made me pick Original Masters? I have to admit I'm a big Steeleye fan. Collectively, as a band, over the past 40 years, they have probably done more to further the 'interest' in traditional folk music than any other band. Their style and innovation reworking traditional tunes has set guidelines others strive to follow.
Ask any of the staff at GMR who is their favourite folk rock band and 10 out 10 will answer Fairport Convention, me included. However, there is a distinct difference between Fairport and Steeleye. Fairport Convention is a 'rock' band playing folk music, whereas Steeleye Span is a 'folk' band using rock band instruments and principles, so I don't think it is fair to really compare them side-by-side and say one is better than the other.
Steeleye Span's strength is definitely Maddy Prior on vocals. On this album you find Maddy in her heyday with the arrangements that put Span clearly on the map. I would hate to say that Steeleye Span has passed their best, but the last few albums haven't quite come up to the standard of the albums that go to make up the compilation of Original Masters. I know in artistic creativity terms a band should never go backwards, but sometimes I wish Steeleye could. It's inevitable with the passage of time and changes in the band's line-up that a different sound emerges. I have to say the line-up of Maddy Prior, Bob Johnson, Tim Hart, Rick Kemp, Martin Carthy, and Nigel Pegrum had that certain magic that goes to make a great band, allied to the chosen material.
Old Masters represents the cream of albums laid down between 1972 and 1996. A lot of readers are sure to have classic albums such as Below the Salt, Now We Are Six, Rocket Cottage, Parcel of Rogues, All Around My Hat, Hark The Village Wait, etc., in their collections.
Folk bands have changed a lot over the years and what you tend to hear at festivals these days is a lot different to 40 years ago. If you don't have any of these albums in your collection, Old Masters is a good starting point, should you be able to locate a copy! It does my old heart good to hear some of the comments made by young folkies in their teens when they hear some of these albums, perhaps for the first time. The magic lives on.
While Old Masters gives you 20 tracks on two CDs and sits high in my estimation as the best Steeleye compilation album, well so does Spanning The Years (with 35 tracks), and Tempted & Tried (with 21 tracks). The only problem buying with all three compilations is that several songs like 'All Around my Hat', 'Fighting For Strangers', 'Black Jack Davy' and 'Gaudete' appear on all or two of the compilations. But not to worry, whichever one you pick, you're sure to be delighted.
