Steeleye Span, Hark! The Village Wait, LP USA Chrysalis 1976 - CHR 1120 

The first album is published by different publishers in different graphic designs, in this first American edition Chrysalis presents on the cover the image of a typical British village. Even today, after more than thirty years, listening is very pleasant and the arrangements are effective, the drums are not too invasive and leave space for string instruments, such as Terry Woods' mandolin. You can feel the genius of Ashley Hutchings and the voice of Maddy Prior, in songs like "The Blacksmith" and "Dark eyes Sailor", is enchanting.

Il primo album è pubblicato da diversi editori in differenti vesti grafiche, in questa prima edizione americana la Chrysalis presenta in copertina l'immagine di un caratteristico villaggio britannico. Ancora oggi, a distanza di oltre trent'anni, l'ascolto è piacevolissimo e gli arrangiamenti sono efficaci, la batteria non risulta troppo invadente e lascia spazio agli strumenti a corde, come il mandolino di Terry Woods. Si avverte la genialità di Ashley Hutchings e la voce di Maddy Prior, in brani come "The Blacksmith" e "Dark eyes Sailor", è incantevole.

Tracks: A Calling-On Song [1:13]The Blacksmith [3:41] - Fisherman's Wife [3:12 - The Blackleg Miner [2:46] - The Dark-Eyed Sailor [5:59] - Copshawholme Fair [2:35] - All Things Are Quite Silent [2:38] - The Hills Of Greenmore [4:02] - My Johnny Was A Shoemaker [1:11] - Lowlands Of Holland [6:00] - Twa Corbies [2:06] - One Night As I Lay On My Bed [3:30]

Musicians: Tim Hart - electric guitar, 5-string banjo, electric dulcimer, harmonium, fiddle, vocals, Ashley Hutchings - electric bass, Maddy Prior - vocals, Gay Woods - vocals, autoharp, concertina, bodhrán, Terry Woods - mandola, mandolin, 5-string banjo, electric guitar, vocals, Gerry Conway - drums on [2,3,5,6,7,8], Dave Mattacks - drums on [4,10,11,12]