Album review: STEELEYE SPAN – The Green Man Collection

Park Records [Release date 01.12.23]

Steeleye Span went into the studio in September of this year to record four new tracks for inclusion on this collection, which also includes two newly recorded studio tracks from 2019, six songs selected from their ‘Dodgy Bastards’ and ‘Est. 1969′ albums, two live recordings from 2018 (‘Edward’ and ‘Sir James The Rose’) and the previously unreleased song ‘The Green Man’.

The latter will be of particular interest to Steeleye Span fans as it is a ‘lost’ recording from 1986 or 1987, written by former member Bob Johnson. The band have also recorded a 2023 version of the song, included as one of the four new songs on this fifteen track collection.

Maddy Prior gives the background to ‘The Green Man’ song – “We found it on a cassette. We were doing an album in the ’80s and it didn’t go on there for whatever reason, I don’t remember why, I can’t even tell you which album it was! It could have been anything – we were working a lot and rowing a lot – we did come to blows and all that sort of stuff! As a way of understanding the world, and particularly the western world it’s a very interesting song.”

The 2023 version of the song shows the rock emphasis Steeleye Span put into their folk, courtesy of Spud Sinclair and Julian Littman. Maddy Prior is on fine vocal form, whilst the fiddle of Athena Octavia is the icing on this song’s musical cake. The original version certainly sounds from the 80′s with the distinctive drum sound and a younger sounding Maddy Prior! The band’s trademark harmonies lift the chorus nicely, along with the fiddle playing of Peter Knight.

Keeping the rocking theme going, Status Quo’s Francis Rossi guests on ‘Hard Times of Old England’. The original version came out ion 2019 and for this version they added the undoubted talents of Mr Rossi! A proper foot stomper and ff Quo went folk it would sound a lot like this…

‘Hey Nonny Violence’ was written by Maddy Prior, a “reflection on the coexistence of beauty and violence in the world.” Steeleye Span may have been around the block a few times, however, they still pen relevant songs that pack a punch. Athena Octavia nearly steals the show with her sublime fiddle playing.

They do a stunning version of Elvis Costello’s ‘Shipbuilding’, where the vocal performances are truly breath taking. Steeleye’s version of ‘New York Girls’ is a tad slower paced than Bellowhead’s, yet they add a guitar to good effect.

Good to see ‘January Man’ and ‘Harvest’ included from their ‘Est. 1969′ album, one of the band’s strongest albums in many a year. Ian Anderson guesting on ‘Old Matron’ also makes this collection.

Part compilation, part new recordings, ‘The Green Man Collection’ will certainly delight the band’s fans, both new and old. A good a place as any to delve into the musical world of wonders created by Steeleye Span. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

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