Steeleye Span

I picked up a set called Hills of Greenmore in I think the late 90s which was a 2cd cheap label compilation which had the Hutchings era stuff in non chronological order. So great stuff but couldn't really tell what came from where, I didn't seem to come across the really early stuff much, then picked up the Lark In The morning set when it came out in the early 00ies which at least was in chronological order and had some kind of linernotes.
I think there have been more recent multidisc sets of the early stuff, possibly 1st 5 lps together and a 2nd volume of similar length following it .

I'd definitely look into what Ashley Hutchings did on leaving the band cos the Albion stuff is great. No Roses with his recent wife Shirley Collins doing a rare electric setting set, Battle of The Field which is a more proggy take on traditional and traditional style music. PLus definitely the 1st 4 Fairport Convention sets and the BBC material . Hope those don't need to be mentioned really

... first 5.

My gateway into them was Zeni Geva's version of their version of When I Was On Horseback. On reflection I'd say Steeleye's version is superior, but has less grinding noise riffery.

digging into Hark! more...this is definitely up there with any Fairport, Thompson, Pentangle etc. just excellent.

also that whole electric UK folk thing....the records just sound so beautiful, like the apex of recording bands.

i wish i could go back in time and convince my teenage self to pay attention when i saw them open for procol harum in 1973. no recollection whatsoever. same deal when i (apparently) saw lindisfarne open for yes in 1972.

oh wow that would have been amazing

with all this stuff i just love the guitars, those twisty serpentine parts derived from folk modal scales, that stinging fender tone

also the super dead, woody drum and bass sounds

from hark to parcel it's all stellar stuff, then it starts getting just a bit iffy for me. along with hark the next two albums featuring martin carthy are def my faves. the prior/hart summer solstice lp is well worth checking out too!

I think those Pentangle records are about my favorite sounding records ever. That rhythm section!

All I have of Steeleye is Parcel of Rogues, which I like fine, but felt like it leaned too much in the rock direction. I need to check out the earlier stuff.3

I think the thing I heard earliest was All Around My Hat which I think was a hit or certainly got a lot of airplay in the mid 70s. & first thing I bought I think was Now We Are Six though can't quite remember at which point. I did note the AA Milne nod in the title.
I was being driven around to morris dances in my pre teens so may tie in with that.

But discovered the really early stuff in the wake of knowing the Fairport Convention stuff that Hutchings is on, those first 4 lps after which he left on the same day as Sandy Denny. Do wish there was more unofficial material from that era, could do with a couple more live sets.
The book the Guv'nor was pretty good but it has been a while since I read it and I think it may not have been reprinted since Helter Skelter books closed.

Can I just put in a good word for the Maddy Prior/June Tabor album 'Silly Sisters'? Amazing folk album, their voices sound incredible together

Alan Partridge is a fan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCBV-VrfxV4

i think i have to admit that the cover art of basically every record is a factor in me avoiding them for so long