Parcel Of Rogues - STEELEYE SPAN***

One Misty Moisty Morning/Alison Gross/The Bold Poachers/The Ups & Downs/Robbery With Violins/The Wee Wee Man/The Weaver & The Factory Maid/Rogues In A Nation/Cam Ye O'er Frae France/Hares On The Mountain

By the time of the release of Parcel Of Rogues Steeleye Span had developed into the premier British folk group. Helped by the voice of Maddy Prior they would maintain this position during the next few years. (UK:26)

“Maddy Prior's voice is one of the most peculiar of the whole English folk revival: much more crystalline than velvety, it makes every song shine of a solar allure which deeply contrasts with the wonderful dryness of the strongly rhythm-based arrangements.”

“It is in pretty much the same vein as the preceding albums and is in fact probably a bit varied sounding. There also seem to be a few attempts at being more hip so you get the wah-wah guitars on Alison Gross, a proper drum kit on The Wee Wee Man and of course the full on wah-wah fuzz of Robbery With Violins.”

“Good bold production and playing, but it marks their transition into full-blown ring-around-the-rosy folk, and was consequently my last stop with Steeleye. It does however contain my favourite song of theirs, Cam Ye O'er Frae France, which is an out-and-out brooding, jagged heavy folk-rock song.”

“All the songs are traditional ballads and reels of olde England. There is some lovely harmony singing, and violin. For the most part, the strategic influx of power chords and electric guitars complement, rather than intrude.”

“The shortcomings of Parcel Of Rogues are made up for by the discordant yet wonderful penultimate track Cam O'er Ye Frae France which mixes heavy guitar with acoustic folk, yet Maddy's very soft vocals seem to work amazingly well. The instrumental Robbery With Violins showed the band could move effectively into rock territory, but Alison Gross sounded rather flat due to the lack of atmosphere.”

“Probably the most direct and accessible of Steeleye Span's many fine albums, this starts out in fine style with the sprightly One Misty Moisty Morning, with Maddy in typically powerful and melodic voice, solid support from the band and some elegant wah-wah guitar.”

“This includes all the elements that I love about Steeleye Span: intricate instrumental lines, wonderful harmony, songs with both history and humour and Maddy's voice.”