Please to See the King

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Please To See The King is the second album by Steeleye Span, released in 1971. A substantial personnel change following their previous effort, Hark! The Village Wait, brought about little substantial change in their overall sound, except for the lack of both drums and a second female vocal. The band even reprised a song from their debut, "The Blacksmith", with a similar, but more electric, arrangement.

The title of the album is derived from the "Cutty Wren" ceremony. A winter wren in a cage is paraded as if it were a king. This rite was carried out on December 26, Saint Stephen's Day, and is connected to early Christmas celebrations. The song "The King", appearing on the album, addresses this, and is often performed as a Christmas carol.

All songs appearing on the original album are traditional. "The False Knight on the Road" is one of the Child Ballads (#3), and concerns a boy's battle of with the devil in a game of riddles. "The Lark in the Morning", one of their more popular songs, has the same title as a different song about a lusty ploughboy, though there are strong similarities. This version was collected by Ralph Vaughn Williams. "Boys of Bedlam", another popular song, is told from the perspective of a member of a lunatic asylum. Carthy and Prior open the song by singing into the back of banjos, producing a muffled effect. Melody Maker made this their folk album of the year. Music journalist Colin Irwin in his book "In Search of Albion" describes it as one of his favourite folk-rock albums.

Personnel

Maddy Prior - (vocals, spoons, tabor, tambourine)
Tim Hart - (vocals, guitar, dulcimer)
Peter Knight - (violin, mandolin, vocals, organ, bass)
Ashley Hutchings (bass, vocals)
Martin Carthy (vocals, guitar, banjo, organ).

Produced by Sandy Roberton.

Tracklisting

The Blacksmith
Cold Haily, Windy Night
Jigs: The Bryan O'Lynn/ The Hag With The Money
Prince Charlie Stuart
Boys Of Bedlam
False Knight On The Road
The Lark In The Morning
Female Drummer
The King
Lovely On The Water

Bonus track:

11. Rave On (Buddy Holly/ Hardin). An a cappella version of a Buddy Holly song. It was meant as a prank to mock Ashley's solemnity, but he ended up liking it. This is a bonus track not on the original release.

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