Search - Steeleye Span :: Please to See the King

In many ways...their greatest achievement

B. Margolis | Minneapolis, MN United States | 03/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Though this is their second album; in many ways, it's really their first. A wonderful previous LP, "Hark The Village Wait" (UK RCA, unissued in US until much later on US Chrysalis) was something of a one-off....Terry & Gay Woods left after that first album. The band came back with this amazing album (with the temporary addition of Martin Carthy) and Terry Knight. Originally issued on UK B&C and US Big Tree/Ampex, the album starts with a remake of "The Blacksmith" from the first album. This album is more densly electric than most of the later albums...yet with no drums. It stands alone as an achievement of performance and arrangement. The entire album is first-rate, though I wish Shanachie had used the original album art.



There's four tracks on this album that I consider among their greatest recordings; "Cold, Haily, Windy Night", "Boys of Bedlam", "False Knight On The Road" and "Female Drummer". "Boys Of Bedlam" and "Female Drummer" are especially remarkable.



For those of you who know their more popular Chrysalis albums, this one will be a very pleasant surprise.



I consider this to be in the Top 5 all-time greatest UK 'folk-rock' albums."

Please to see the King is awesome.

Horkstow Grange | San Fransisco, California USA | 05/30/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Amazing. Just amazing. I can't believe how good this album is. These are the best pieces of music I have ever had my pleasure to hear. You may enjoy other Steeleye albums, but this one will knock you off your feet. This is certainly, above all, my favorite Steeleye Span album. Give every song its chance, and listen to it well. This album is magic. You will never want anything more once the harmonious music fills your ears. Your heart will be complete. A great buy. If I were you, I would buy this album for a hundred dollars. Amazing. Just Amazing. There. I said it. Whew!!"