The Albion Dance Band "The Prospect Before Us" 1976

One thing is certain in this uncertain world -- you can trust Ashley Hutchings to do interesting things with various areas of British folk and rock music. In the case of the Albion Dance Band, under its various names, the focus was on mutating traditional English dance and folk music, which led to escapades involving traditional tunes, Morris dancers, double drummers, dance callers, Philip Pickett's entire collection of medieval instruments, and serious rock guitar front lines that tend to leap onto the hay cart and start blazing away. The Prospect Before Us is particularly unusual, even for Hutchings and the Albions -- a number of the tracks were recorded live in the studio, complete with dancing by the Albion Morris Men, an effort that resulted in some especially raucous moments: the bonus version of "Merry Sherwood Rangers" is far more staid than the live rendition that made it to the original version of this album. An essential purchase, we think. ~ Steven McDonald, All Music Guide

01. Uncle Bernard's / Jenny Lind
02. Hunt Is Up
03. Varsovianna
04. Masque Tune
05. Huntsman's Chorus
06. Minuet
07. Wassail Song
08. Picking Of Sticks / The Old Mole
09. Merry Sherwood Rangers
10. Sexte Estampie Real
11. I Wish I Was Single Again
12. Whim
13. Hopping Down In Kent
14. Horse's Brawl (new)
15. On Christmas Night All Christians Sing *Bonus (new)
16. Merry Sherwood Rangers (Alternate Version) *Bonus (new)