Cam Ye O'er Frae France - Steeleye Span

1987 Philadelphia Folk Festival

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Folk
• Music
• Festival

[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.

[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. :)

[pubby1]

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

[danaraina]

The dancing is completely adorable. Nice performance. :)

[fossie32]

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

[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.

[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.

[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.