Steeleye Span, Please To See The King, LP USA Big Tree 1971 - BTS2004 

A "classic" album that opens with the memorable "The Blacksmith". The cover features a very particular texture, a warp similar to that of a jute sack. Musically, this was their most electric, dense recording, with loud guitars and strong looping bass lines and no drums. It reached number 45 in the UK album charts, originally on B & C Records; before the year was out the rights were acquired by Mooncrest Records. It was issued in the US at the same time on Big Tree Records, when the small label was distributed by Ampex. It sold poorly and was deleted quite soon after release. Remaining copies were bought up by a couple of the 'cut-out' distributors and by that time, the band had signed with Chrysalis and the cut-out original sold very well.

Un album "classico" che si apre con la memorabile "The Blacksmith". La copertina presenta una texture molto particolare, un ordito simile a quello di un sacco di juta. Musicalmente, questa è stata la loro registrazione più elettrica e densa, con chitarre rumorose e forti linee di basso in loop e nessuna batteria. Raggiunse il numero 45 nelle classifiche degli album del Regno Unito, originariamente su B&C Records; prima della fine dell'anno i diritti furono acquisiti da Mooncrest Records. Fu pubblicato negli Stati Uniti nello stesso periodo su Big Tree Records, quando la piccola etichetta era distribuita da Ampex. Vendette male e fu eliminato abbastanza presto dopo l'uscita. Le copie rimanenti furono acquistate da un paio di distributori "cut-out" e a quel punto, la band aveva firmato con Chrysalis e l'originale cut-out vendette molto bene.

Tracks: The Blacksmith [4:49] - Cold, Haily, Windy Night [4:37] - Jigs: Bryan O'Lynn / The Hag with the Money [3:21] - Prince Charlie Stuart [4:17] - Boys Of Bedlam [4:22] - False Knight On The Road [2:45] - The Lark In The Morning [4:33] - Female Drummer [4:05] - The King [1:31] - Lovely On The Water [5:20]

Musicians: Maddy Prior - vocals, spoon, tabor, tambourine, bells; Martin Carthy - vocals, guitar, banjo, organ, bells; Tim Hart - vocals, guitar, dulcimer, bells; Ashley Hutchings - vocals, bass guitar, bells; Peter Knight - vocals, fiddle, mandolin, organ, bass guitar, bells