Heydays [Box set]

The music is suitably primitive with very little musical accompaniment, sometimes none at all. These albums were apparently each recorded in one afternoon with no second takes although Tim and Maddy wanted to re-record some songs. There are mistakes but one of the biggest is when Tim incorrectly pronounces Keighley (Key-ley instead of Keith-ley) in Dalesman's lament. Re-recording would not have helped there since Tim didn't realize his mistake until the album was released.

Maddy and Tim each sing solo and there are also some duets. Tim's rustic voice will not appeal to everybody although I quite like it. Nevertheless, Maddy was then (and still is) a class act and the best tracks are those that feature Maddy. My favorites here include Maid that's deep in love, Bruton tow, The brisk butcher, The stately southerner, Copshawholme fair, Horn of the hunter, Queen Eleanor's confession and Captain Wedderburn's courtship. You don't get songs like those anymore. One of Tim's solos (Paddy stole the rope) is an amusing song about two men and a rope.

After forming Steeleye Span, it came as a surprise that they recorded this third album of old English folk songs in 1972. Unlike the previous two albums, this was recorded professionally and includes three non-traditional songs. While the music is still clearly traditional (albeit more polished) with none of the rock influence of Steeleye Span, there are none of the mistakes that you can find on the first two. This album is on the second CD. It's a pity there wasn't a fourth album to fill the spare capacity.

Maddy does nearly all the singing although Tim gets some solos (The ploughboy and the Cockney, Dancing at Whitsun) and joins Maddy on other songs (Of all the birds, Westron wynds, Sorry the day I was married, Adam catched Eve). Tim is mainly preoccupied playing guitars, dulcimer, harmonium, psaltery and tabor. Other musicians (not from Steeleye Span) play mandolin, string bass, percussion, bells and electric bass. This may seem a lot of instruments for a traditional folk album but of course, they aren't all used on the same tracks. Quite rightly, the dominant instrument here is Maddy's superb voice, one of the finest that has ever graced the world of folk music. Among the highlights are The false knights on the road, I live not where I love, Three drunken maidens and Serving girls holiday.

If you enjoy traditional folk music and you didn't buy the albums when they were previously available separately, you will surely enjoy this fine collection.