Now We Are Six - STEELEYE SPAN***

Seven Hundred Elves/Drink Down The Moon/Now We Are Six/Thomas The Rhymer/The Mooncoin Jig/ Edwin/ Long-A-Growing/Two Magicians/Twinkle Twinkle Little Star/To Know Him Is To Love Him

Now We Are Six was notable for Steeleye Span moving away from their folk roots to embrace a more rock sound. The inclusion of a nursery rhyme and a pop cover disappointed some traditional fans. (UK:13)

“Let down by the incongruous Twinkle Twinkle and To Know Him that end the album, what were they thinking?”

“The only downside for me is a rather lame version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, but the rocking Thomas The Rhymer and the rollicking Mooncoin Jig more than make up for that.”

“By the time you get to this album, there aren’t so much warning signs that the band were in decline, instead you're just presented with an album that's plain and simple bad. There's no lightness of touch here and there's none of the band's earlier icy beauty. In fact I'd go as far as saying this isn't really much of a folk album - instead it is just some bland mid-70s rock/pop album, in large part due to the addition of a full time drummer.”

“I had forgotten how good this album was. Plenty of great tunes and Maddy Prior's great vocals. Sure I could do without Twinkle Twinkle and a couple others, but for fans of that British folk-rock this is a must get.”

“This album isn't bad, but this was the one that alienated a few listeners. Because the band started to include something other than traditional British Isles folk music, like a couple of children's songs and a cover of a Phil Spector song. The line-up was now augmented by a drummer, resulting in a more rock effort than what they done before.”

“Steeleye's sixth album continues on the path of the previous ones, with mostly positive results. The album features the magnificent Thomas The Rhymer, an exquisite blend of traditional British folk and a thumping rock beat. Many years later, it still excites.”

“Many fine songs may be found here. In fact, the only thing that spoils this album are two tracks sung with a boys choir, and a very odd and out of place cover of To Know Him Is To Love Him with David Bowie on saxophone.”