Steeleye Span

Steeleye Span is a British folk-rock band that has been active since 1970.

Singles

• Rave On/ Reels/ Female Drummer (1971)
• Jigs and Reels (1972)
• John Barleycorn Must Die / Bride's Favourite/Tansey's Fancy (1972)
• Gaudete / The Holly and The Ivy (1973)
• The Mooncoin Jig (1974)
• New York Girls/ Two Magicians (1975)
• All Around My Hat/ Black Jack Davy (1975)
• Rave On/ False Knight On The Road (1976)
• Hard Times of England/ Cadgwith Anthem (1976)
• London/ Sligo Maid (1976)
• Fighting For Strangers/ The Mooncoin Jig (1976)
• The Boar's Head Carol/ Gaudete / Some Rival (1977)
• Rag Doll/ Saucy Sailor (1978)
• Sails of Silver/ Senior Service (1980)
• Gone To America/ Let Her Go Down (1981)
• Somewhere In London/ Lanercost (1985)
• Padstow / First House in Connaught/ Sailor's Bonnet (1989)
• Following Me/ Two Butchers (1989)
• The Fox/ Jack Hall (1990)

"Gaudete" was released in 1973, intended for the Christmas market, but wasn't a hit. It was re-released in 1974 and reached the top ten. It is one of only two top 50 British hits to be sung in Latin. (The other was 12-year-old Charlotte Church who recorded "Pie Jesu" from Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Requiem". In the 1980s Mike Oldfield had a top 10 hit with "In Dulci Jubilo" but this Latin song was performed as an instrumental.) "Gaudete" is one of only a handful of a capella performances to become hit singles. (Another notable example is "Only You" sung by the Flying Pickets.) When "Gaudete" was performed on "Top of the Pops", the resident dance troupe walked onto the set in medieval-style robes, holding candles and followed by the members of Steeleye Span.

Related Topics:
Gaudete - Charlotte Church - Andrew Lloyd Webber - Mike Oldfield - A capella - Hit single - Top of the Pops

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At Christmas 1975 Steeleye Span scored again with "All Around My Hat" by Archie Fisher. The song was produced by Mike Batt, better known for his hits with the Wombles. Peter Knight, the fiddler from Steeleye Span, was secretly a member of the Wombles. Batt's skill as a producer probably contributed much to the success of "All Around My Hat." This time on Top of the Pops Steeleye Span did a lively dance on the stage, with Maddy Prior flouncing around in a long dress with wide sleeves. At this point in their career the band indulged in picturesque clothes, much to the disapproval of the pop press. Despite touring almost every year since 1975, they have not had another hit, either in the singles chart or the album chart.

Related Topics:
Archie Fisher - Mike Batt - Wombles - Peter Knight - Maddy Prior

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