Maddy Prior & Tim Hart "Summer Solstice" 1971

Recorded during Steeleye Span Mark II's early days, this album -- the most advanced of the three that they recorded together early in their careers -- has a very different feel from the Steeleye work of the era. Hart (vocals, guitar, dulcimer, harmonium, psaltery, tabor) and Prior (vocals) are working with Sweeney's Men (whence Steeleye Mark I's Terry Woods came) alumnus Andy Irvine and Steeleye Mark I guest drummer Gerry Conway. The sound is mostly fairly spare, just Hart and Prior backed by Irvine on mandolin, John Ryan on string bass, Pat Donaldson on electric bass, and Conway on percussion. The only exception is "Dancing at Whitsun," and which features a very tasteful backing orchestral arrangement. Hart and Prior do a version of "False Knight on the Road" that's very different in pacing and nuance from Steeleye's, and a beautiful, droning rendition of "Bring Us in Good Ale." Their voices mesh wonderfully on "Sorry the Day I Was Married," and Prior gets a chance to shine as a solo on "Westron Wynde," "Fly Up My Cock," and the two most Steeleye-like track here, "Cannily, Cannily" and "Three Drunken Maidens." ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide