STEELEYE SPAN/HARK! THE VILLAGE WAIT SF 8113 (-70) UK

One of the most reliable, persistent and likable English folk rock bands. From 1969 up to today they have released twentyone studio and nine live albums. This debute was the only one with the original setting - Maddy Prior, Tim Hart, Ashley Hutchings, Gay Woods and Terry Woods - and the first of three produced by Sandy Robertson. My earliest love affair with the group came with the popular "All Around My Hat" and "Rocket Cottage" albums and subsequently the ones closest to those. This was a relatively late aquaintence and although lacking some of the power and catchy melodies of the mid seventies recordings it soon became a favorite. It's the same kind of numbers as most of their later stuff - traditional songs partly played by instruments faithful to the periods against a bass/drum backing - but the performance sounds more controlled here making it cooler and easier to digest. What makes it really yummy is the double female vocals. Maddy Prior was always the band's leading vocalist, but here she's accompanied by the lovely Gay Woods on equal terms and the result is very attractive. Premiere release in UK only. Early US 1976 on Chrysalis (CHR 1120). This first UK on RCA only lasted for about a year. Later vinyl re-issues on United Artists, Mooncrest and Chrysalis. Japan 2006 CD on Arcangelo (ARC-7149). UK RCA had label as shown here, thin matt cover and insert sheet with song notes and pictures. (BRYF*)(FÄV*)(SÖPX*)