Live At The Bottom Line 1974
Omnivore, 2024
8/10
Listen to Live At The Bottom Line 1974
The British folk-rockers Steeleye Span got underway in the late ‘60s, when Ashley Hutchings and Sandy Denny left Fairport Convention and joined up with the duo of Tim Hart and Maddy Prior. Toss in Terry and Gay Woods, and you’ve got a bit of a supergroup, who released 10 albums through the ‘70s.
“Beg Your Leave” opens the listen with group vocals that harmonize with a campfire-esque feeling, and “Irish Jigs” follows with Peter Knight’s swift strings alongside Nigel Pegrum’s thumping drums for the rhythmic, Celtic climate.
Further into the set, “John Barleycorn” showcases Prior’s radiant tone amid Tim Hart and Bob Johnson’s warm guitars in the setting that’s danceable, while “Saucy Sailor” carries a mesmerizing spirit that makes great use of Rick Kemp’s skilled bass.
Deeper yet, “Thomas The Rhymer” carries plenty of classic rock nods, but not without Irish bouts that populate the busy versus calm disc highlight, and “The Mason’s Apron” exits with the fiddle acrobatics suiting the frisky bass, jangly percussion and buzzing guitars that build into a lightning fast finish.
This set captures the band on one of their most successful tours, and with their evolving live band in attendance. Steeleye Span are still active today, with Prior still at the front of the stage, and this previously unissued performance documents how great they were during their formative years.
Travels well with: Terry Adams- Terrible; The Babys- Live At The Bottom Line, 1979