Below the Salt
AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Albums:
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Below the Salt
- Artist: Steeleye Span
- Rating:
- Release Date: 1972
- Total Time: 38:42
- Type: Lyrics are included with the album
- Genre: Folk
Review
The most successful of all Steeleye Span lineups, with Bob Johnson and Rick Kemp in place of Martin Carthy and Ashley Hutchings, makes its debut on what could be their best album. There's not a weak note here, and all of its has a harder, more muscular sound courtesy of Kemp and Johnson, matched to impeccable vocals and uniformly excellent material. Kemp's bass playing makes it possible to overlook the absence of a drummer, while the match-up of Johnson and Hart made them one of the best electric guitar teams in English folk-rock (and helps explain Steeleye's successful eclipsing of the post-Richard Thompson Fairport Convention). Prior's voice was never better than on this album, and while Carthy's backing vocals are missed, the group's singing is still up to a very high standard, with "Rosebud in June" perhaps the best a cappella number in their repertory and "Royal Forester" their most charmingly lusty performance. "John Barleycorn" -- which every Traffic fan should hear -- is in a class by itself, and the dazzling "Gaudete" actually made the British charts and got Steeleye Span onto Top of the Pops. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi| Below the Radar (2008 Album by Frank Schwartz) | |
| Below the Surface (2004 Album by Semisextile) |
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Below the Salt
Wikipedia on Answers.com:
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Below the Salt
For the novel by Thomas B. Costain, see Below the Salt (novel).
Not to be confused with "Unwound", also known as "Below the Salt", from the album Leaves Turn Inside You.
| Below The Salt | ||||
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| Studio album by Steeleye Span | ||||
| Released | September 1972 | |||
| Recorded | May–June, 1972 Sound Techniques, Chelsea, London |
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| Genre | Electric folk | |||
| Length | 39:42 | |||
| Label | Chrysalis | |||
| Producer | Steeleye Span and Jerry Boys | |||
| Steeleye Span chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   link |
Below the Salt is a 1972 album by Steeleye Span, and considered by many fans to be one of their best. The album has a slightly medieval theme, most notably in the artwork and title. The album cover shows the band in period costume at a feast, while the title refers to practice in the Middle Ages of placing salt (something of a rarity) in the center of the table separating the family from the servants, who were situated "below the salt". Some of the music on the album has a medieval motif, but only a few of the songs arguably date back quite so far. The ballad "King Henry" (Child Ballad 32), and the a cappella "Gaudete" are certainly very old, and the lyrics to "Royal Forester" date from 1293. However, while "Gaudete" is performed in an authentic style, electric guitars abound in the performance of "King Henry".
Gaudete became the band's first hit, reaching number 14 on the UK charts. To give the impression of the choristers approaching and then moving away, as if on a pilgrimage, the song was given a long fade-in and -out on the album. The single release, however, featured no fade.
By this point, Ashley Hutchings had left the band, leaving Maddy Prior and Tim Hart as the only remaining founding members. The album reached number 43 in the UK album charts.
Track listing
All songs on the album are traditional, adapted by Steeleye Span
- "Spotted Cow"
- "Rosebud in June"
- "Jigs: The Bride's Favourite/Tansey's Fancy"
- "Sheep-crook and Black Dog"
- "Royal Forester"
- "King Henry"
- "Gaudete"
- "John Barleycorn"
- "Saucy Sailor"
Personnel
- Maddy Prior - vocals
- Tim Hart - vocals, appalachian dulcimer, guitar
- Peter Knight - violin, viola, mandolin, banjo, piano, vocals
- Rick Kemp - bass, drum, vocals
- Bob Johnson - guitar, vocals
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AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Albums
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