Cam Ye O'er Frae France - Steeleye Span

[danaraina]

The dancing is completely adorable. Nice performance. :)

[fossie32]

Very nice!!!!!! Just rediscovered this song :)

[gaiaiulia]

Am listening to this right now. It's an early version; the tempo is a bit fast, imo.

It was played slower in the Dublin concert in the '70's. (Any footgage of that concert, btw? Would be much appreciated. (The tape I made of it was stolen.)

If you listen to this on the double CD "Steeleyespan - Spanning the Years" from a few years ago it was slower and MUCH more impressive. In fact it sent shivers up my spine, espcially the drum rolls.

Fab song , though. Agree about seeing the video.

[motherthing]

Nice to have a video of this performance. Quality complaints are unfair, if the listener pays attention, you can hear that the music, even the drums, seem a bit "off" audio-wise. This means it is not a _performance_ issue, but a _recording_ one.

I would argue that it may be a substandard PA system, but more likely poor pickup from the mic on the camera; could be both. The subsequent compression to flash has not helped.

In either case, it's a wonderful snapshot of this group from 1987.

[angusban]

I am very interested if this performance was every released by the Philadelphia Folk Society. Anyone know? Answer to Myrna4Loy about whether that is Maddy Prior is a definate yes. She was one hell of a traditional step dancer too in her day.

Greg

[JoeMcdonnell]

I may be wrong but I have been told this song is about Caravan holidays the 'Blak Dowglas' used to take wae his ma and da down in France. Whilst a youngster, Sir James learned the basics of Guerilla Warfare by mugging the wumin that used to go for the roles for the kids club in the morning. He was caught once but escaped by 'wrappin' the nut' in a spanish holiday maker named 'Hungarian Kevin', the escape was made at night and James under cover of darkness, this lead to his night-time raids.

[Myrna4Loy]

very interesting performance.

is this really maddy prior?

she looks very young here

[t0md4111y]

Hey! for Maddy Prior.

Can't fault the dancing.

[hammelsburgh]

I love this performance! Can't see whats wrong with it.

[orokusaki420]

Taylor, thank you for the video.

Fecking glorious.

Can someone direct me to similiar bands...?

I don't dislike the singing, but favor instrumental stuff.

Gracias.

[Fibbing01]

Sounds fine to me.  Many thanks for uploading it.

[trdsf]

I don't know where the lack of love for this version is coming from. It's more uptempo and not as polished as the studio version, but it's a lot more alive.

That's the nature of studio vs live--in the studio, they can go back and change things, fix things, correct things if need be. That's actually why I generally prefer live to studio; most studio recordings sound a bit sterile to me.

Of course, I'd be happy even to see Maddy sing the phone book, much less a concert. :)

[Pitfossil]

trdsf, you have a problem, and I´m very happy to be able to say I share it. REAL musicians and singers, performing live - they react to each other, react to the public...to someone who doesn´t know but "singers" on full playback that just isn´t what they remember from the studio track, so it feels wrong. Pity them.

[Pangael]

@trdsf

I love this version. You can't beat live.

And yeah, I'd even hold the phone book for her. :-)

[darkval666]

I adore this band, and I love this clip too, it sounds raw and earthy, just as folk music should be.

[bcdigiart]

They sound awesome, this bassist in a band I auditioned for, turned me on to this music. VERY cool. Good drumming. Very DOORS-like 60s feel mixed with Keltic Irish folk....

[endora60]

OK, love the band, love Maddy, love the song, BUT....This is NOT their finest performance. She sounds tired and harsh, and the band is just kinda bashing about. I wish this video weren't up on YouTube; surely there are stronger performances of this song that would show them in a better light.

[Taylor510ceL9]

This performance was 27 years ago. We are all entitled to our opinions, some people actually like this clip, but I won't take it down because it doesn't meet your standards.

[redcrowdemon]

Quite right too - leave it up - it's a moment in musical history, if nothing else. But the singing is grim: all that swooping up onto notes and snatching off the ends of lines. I actually quite like the uninhibited dancing, but Rick Kemp's mullet is unforgivable. :)

[mistermousterian]

love this clip! better for it's flaws, sexy dancing

[Pitfossil]

@endora60 - rather a weak performance by Eddi& her band (and it isn´t weak) than today´s crap by casted plastic dollies. Twelve points from Germany

[MoseyOnout]

@endora60 yep. definitely an example of imperfection here... Why look elsewhere for such dispicable music when you can hit it right here.. what do you need? a lap job while you listen? go fuck yourself.

[endora60]

@MoseyOnout Wow. A little overboard, aren't you, MoseyOnout? I made it clear I'm a fan of Maddy and of the band. All I said is that she doesn't sound at her best, and the band's rough. Perfectly mellow comment. If you're not fucking the singer or managing the band, you're wayyyy too emotionally invested here.

[JAKWIK]

frae is a scottish word it means (from)

[Hollandia777]

Does an old english word "Frae" mean "Beautiful"? (Coz "Fraai" in modern Dutch or Frisian does!)

[Gwid01]

Taylor, thanks for this. Would you happen to have the words? Thanks again, I've never gotten to see them live. :)

[ellieloudnclear]

my fave steeleye song scince i was 6

im now 13 and still love it!

i went to see there 40 year tour!

[Pitfossil]

Ellie, I´m ~ five times your age and still can´t quieten my feet when Maddy gets rocking.

[pubby1]

maddy so beatiful always so lovely and a vioce like honey steeleye span my favorite band

[DumDreamer]

superbe

[qlvz]

Say what ya will about Maddy and the boys. They still sound good here. They ALWAYS did sound good to me. I've been listenin' to them since back in the 70's. I"ll repeat an earlier post of mine; Skirmish put up their original "Parcel of Rogues" and it is the best version ever. Just my 2c

[thays35244]

I have a bad cassette recording of a late 70's recording of this song. Does anyone have it? I'd like to recreate it.

[celestemoon]

Maddy can't slip jig to save herself...

[lorgain2]

Did Steeleye ever disappoint? never.

[atfatw]

Ha! this is unbelievably bad. there is a much much, much, better version of this song complete with a happy Maddy dancing a scottish reel. of course she has been with this band since 1966 it may be time to retire.

[Nixie26]

The original version of this song is much better. I would like to find "Two Magicians"

[hildibildibaldi]

Terrible. If ye canny speak the words don't try to sing them.

[ramqen951]

I would just like to second qivz's request.I have a large collection of S.Span lp's but no record player. For my money,having probably heard most of their output,"Rouges in a Nation" is their masterpiece.Mind you,"Hares on the Mountains"isn't bad either.

[qlvz]

Just a quick note for you......Skirmish posted Parcel Of Rogues on here. It's GREAT to hear it again.

[michrigan]

I have to agree with all the critics. This is not good and I have seen them live and they are excellent.

[qlvz]

Could someone PLEASE post the song "Parcel of Rogues" by Steeleye Span?

Thanks

[thefreakydirector]

I adore this song.

[triarius]

Soon we will sing such songs again that bloody Eurokouchoz...

[emmzagirl]

i need to learn this song in school and a need to learn it tonight!!! its pure hard

[MorganScorpion]

You're telling me! I've been trying for ages.

How did you get on?

[emmzagirl]

I got on good but the 3rd verse confusses me!

[bgfd1]

Sounds more than fine to me. Great band. What is folk rock? What is folk? anyway?

[Hotelechomike]

I've seen them live a number of times in the 70s and then more recently in 2004 & 2006. The Oxford concert Spring 2006 was BRILLIANT. Plus my son got the last Steeleye Tour T-shirt given to him by Peter Knight & co.

Of to see them in Reading in 2 weeks time :)

[Loreuntoherself]

I love folk rock, this song in particular, and even some of Steeleye Span's work, but God this is painfully abyssmal as a performance. Someone once told me that're awful live, and it seems to be true:(

[balinois]

Je les ai vu dans les années 70 à Nantes lors d'un festival de musique folk rock brittanique et ils étaient excellents, je m'en rappelle encore!!.

[stiegy97291]

Saw Steel-eye Span the same night saw Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run tour in 1975. The Bottom Line in N.Y. holds apprx. 4-500 people and they were brilliant! Maddy was dancing not only on stage but throughout the entire place: Listen to their rendition of Gaudette live and you will change your mind!

[Rhiarti]

I have to agree, its a pretty terrible rendering of the song... and as for her preamble about the Lallans being incomprehensible; its perfectly understandable if she sings it properly! Its like she went out of her way to mess with the Americans or something. Actually saw them live back in the 70s and they were AWESOME. This on the other hand just sounds a mess.

[eirrac54]

I h'vnae seen them since the 70's, and they were great then... look, am scottish, and I understood it, anybudy used tae listenin tae folk music in aw different venues wid appreciate even this... the energy wuz there and Maddy wuz dancin awae fine... chill oot and pass that bottle o'er here... ;)~

[davalos8000]

I'd give it up to the fact that its not a professional recording of a live gig. AND its from '87 which further degrates the sound quality... The live recordings Ive heard and seen of them prove that they are very innovative and on form when live... I dont hear artistic flaw here as much as poor recorded sound quality....

[WMTCCHAIR]

Don't you believe it! This is not the best recording I've seen, nor the best line-up. Seen them live a lot and they're brilliant.

[Steinerrite]

this really dosen't do this song justice

[lahore55]

steeleye on speed. total crap.

[foreilly1958]

It is truly a joy to see someone who enjoys her music as much as Maddy Prior does.

Francis J. O'Reilly

[99chandlerm]

i can't believe that the crowd arent all dancing

[stiegy97291]

imagine seeing Fairport Convention, Renaissance, and Steel~eye~span all on the same venue @the Beacon theatre in New York City June 1985.

[davalos8000]

Im jealous...

[guitimad]

super amazing band... everything they did was high quality, even dancing as its seen here.

[viking1au]

Maddy was always known for her dancing. Ralph McTell in fact wrote the song "When Maddy Dances". --- The 2 guys in the middle seem to be stand ins. Peter on the fiddle is a true band member.

[Hotelechomike]

Ouch - stood next to Peter is Bob Johnson - member since Below the Salt & writer of most of the bloodthirsty songs. Retired due to ill health 2002 I think & replaced by Ken Nicol who has contributed a new breath of fresh air.....

[viking1au]

Yes, you are right. It is Johnson. Can't say I was ever a fan of his work.

[narkiz]

How they'll skip and dance

o'er the bum o' Geordie!

LOL

[Plruk]

This Song was originally on the Steeleye Span album "Parcel of Rogues",another Scottish view of the English.

[ronhelf]

there is some video out there somewhere from steeleye span's appearance on a pbs show that includes the wonderful gaudete...

[harkingmopsalt]

Always my favourite live Steeleye song. Does anyone know who the bass player is? This was filmed after Rick Kemp left the band and they had stand-in bassists for a few years.

[brianstrange]

I wore out Below the Salt album too , then replaced it. They're the greatest.

[riseandshine1804]

Surely it's a Newcastle song not Scottish? Awesome anyway.

[pwei34]

The song is in Lowland Scots. Both Scots and "Geordie" are based on the Nothumbrian version of Anglo-Saxon, hence your confusion.

[pwei34]

The Geordie referred to in the song is George I, the non-English speaking Elector of Hanover. He was placed on the British Throne by the Whigs after Q. Anne's death in 1714 rather than restore the house of Stuart,

[riseandshine1804]

Well, I'll be blowed. I've had Parcel of Rogues from when it came out and I had thought it was about Geordies until now. Looking up Wikipedia I read that even the album's title comes from a Robert Burns poem denouncing the Act of Union between England and Scotland. And I agree with brianstrange, Below the Salt is my favourite too.

[viking1au]

Geez pwei34: You have a good grasp on history. Much better than I. If you are correct; congrats!

[stephers1000]

Great job Taylor5 ... I've loved this band since the 70's ... don't quite go back to the origins of Fairport Convention in my Brit folk-rock following, but close. In some ways Steeleye span surpassed them.

[ja9mai]

Thanks so much for posting this! I saw Steeleye Span as second band to Jethro Tull lo these many years ago...I had never heard of them, and they blew Tull off the stage. They opened with "Gaudete" sung in the pitch dark - it took my breath away. It made me weep for the beauty of it, and you can't really ask for higher praise than that, I suppose.

[toftmf]

Just watching Maddy's onstage cavortin' exhausts me...only wish I had seen the band in their heyday, but this video puts a picture to the group I so often listen to, still....thanks so much !

[barryb83110]

I was working in the middle of the New Mexico desert in 75 when I first heard this and I decided then and there I was going to marry either Maddy Prior or Gracie Slick. What a voice. I wore out the album Below the Salt. Thanks for the post.

[wjwmorrow]

Superb and unique clip. The sound quality conveys the superb performing abilities of Maddy and the Steeleyes quite adequately. Thank you for posting.

[folkmusicgirl]

Thank you so very much for posting this video. I truely enjoyed watching it, loved the music and watching Maddy dance. Really enjoyed this! Really appreciate you sharing this video on Youtube.

[wendellhoff]

Maddy Prior, Sandy Denny, Jacqui McShee, what more can I say. Lest you think all Maddy could do is dance up a storm check out CD "Below The Salt". Steeleye Span had super harmonies (Gaudete). These Youtube selections do not include or do justice to their early recordings.

[Taylor510ceL9]

These clips are what they are, 20 year old amateur video shot in the rain from the audience. I am sorry that they are not up to your standards.

[wendellhoff]

Please don't misinterpret, any video's of Steeleye Span are greatly appreciated, if you have more please put them on.

[kennyincanada]

I remember seeing "The Span" many times in Edinburgh, at The Usher Hallin the late 70's early 80's. It was always marvelous when Maddy got herself off the stage and was dancing n jigging around the aisles with the audience. It was wonderful. What an atmosphere...

[kayjay83]

hard to see, the song needs just a touch of what its about for those not in the 'know'- lyrics are rushed

[rogthedodger]

google is your friend.

[tropicaldoodad]

Check out Maddy's fling!

[deathnerd7]

this was such a great studio tune, but i think that more than a decade of playing it made them take more... uh... chances (to be charitable). Parcel of Rogues still rocks.

[Taylor510ceL9]

Thanks to gypsies0 for the title!