Steeleye Span - Electric Folk

[John G]

Does anyone have a copy of this early 70s BBC-2 series? I only became a fan of Steeleye in the late 70s, and although I have a vague memory of seeing part of it, I would love to see it in full. Can anyone help?

[andrew martin]

Electric Folk: Steeleye Span - transmitted 17/9/75, it still exists. Can't help with a copy I'm afraid...!

[John G]

Yes, I'd heard it still exists , but thanks for the confirmation. Unfortunately it is the kind of thing that will never, ever get repeated.

Just about the only hope is if someone reading this happens to have a copy.

[andrew martin]

Oh I don't know - BBC4 might do a folk music night...?

[chas]

John said:

Does anyone have a copy of this early 70s BBC-2 series? I only became a fan of Steeleye in the late 70s, and although I have a vague memory of seeing part of it, I would love to see it in full. Can anyone help?

I Remember the programmes about 1974/75 and I taped some audio cassettes recorded from the speaker
of the telly so quality is not very good,I think I still have the tapes somewhere ,I will check them out and put a track listing on when I get the chance,I to wish they would put the series on BBC 4 we live in hope.

[chas]

John said:

Does anyone have a copy of this early 70s BBC-2 series? I only became a fan of Steeleye in the late 70s, and although I have a vague memory of seeing part of it, I would love to see it in full. Can anyone help?

As I remembered audio tapes are poor quality lots of hiss and background noises but here is what is on the tapes,

March 1975, not sure if dates are correct,

Gaudette,One Misty Moisty Morning,Hares On The Mountain,Cam Ye O'er Frae France,Allison Gross,
Two magicians,Musical Priest/Silver Spear,
Saucy sailor(only part tape runs out).
Summer Is A Coming,Seven Hundred Elves,
Long A Growing,Edwin,Albion Morris Men,
Upton Stick Dance,Little Sir Hugh,Little Song and Tune.

October 1975

We Jolly Boys,Elf Call,Wife Of Ushers Well,Lake Wyke Dirge,Mummers Play,Dance with Me,Sum Waves/De'il
Among The Tailors,Long Lankin,Dogs and Ferrets,
New York Girls,Rosebud In June,Robin Hood and Gamble Gold,Prof Stanley Unwin,One Misty Moisty Morning,
Spotted Cow(slow reggae version),Mason;s Apron.

[Pop]

Thanks Chas, for going to the bother of sorting out your tapes and listing the songs they sung - absolutely fascinating for a SS fan like myself. Although I've seen them sing in concert many times, they seldom appeared on TV, so to see such a rich track listing and know that (a) it resides in the vaults and (b) the chances of ever seeing it are virtually zero is both fascinating and extremely frustrating.

[Tristan]

I'm sorry, could you repeat that please?

[Todd Campus]

Looks to me like someone has had too many achopops!!

[John Stewart Miller]

Just looking at that audio listing - if this is whats on the series, sounds like an impressive and comprehensive selection of the bands work. I'm particularly pleased to note 'Gaudete' as the previous TV performance (in concert 73) has been wiped according to the KAL guides.

I remembered the song being repeated on something else following 'in concert', but seem to think it was 'Top of the pops' and 'Pebble mill at one'? Very important, think it was a minor hit at the time, originating earlier, 1970?

P.S. in the clips I seem to recall, the studio lights were dimmed, the band with hands cupped round one ear stepping into a central spot light.

[chas]

John said:

Just looking at that audio listing - if this is whats on the series, sounds like an impressive and comprehensive selection of the bands work. I'm particularly pleased to note 'Gaudete' as the previous TV performance (in concert 73) has been wiped according to the KAL guides.

I remembered the song being repeated on something else following 'in concert', but seem to think it was 'Top of the pops' and 'Pebble mill at one'? Very important, think it was a minor hit at the time, originating earlier, 1970?

P.S. in the clips I seem to recall, the studio lights were dimmed, the band with hands cupped round one ear stepping into a central spot light.

Cant remember much visually about the TV performances now after 30 years,but seem to recall
that Steeleye also appeared on Jim'll Fix It I think that
was a Boar's Head Carol cant remember anymore TV
performances of Gaudette,There was also a clip of very early Steeleye on a Martin Carthy Documentary from a
programme called Music Room .

[John G]

Hi
In case you think i am being impolite, to all the fascinating material posted here, another John G must have started thsi thread?

[John Stewart Miller]

chas said:

John said:

Just looking at that audio listing - if this is whats on the series, sounds like an impressive and comprehensive selection of the bands work. I'm particularly pleased to note 'Gaudete' as the previous TV performance (in concert 73) has been wiped according to the KAL guides.

I remembered the song being repeated on something else following 'in concert', but seem to think it was 'Top of the pops' and 'Pebble mill at one'? Very important, think it was a minor hit at the time, originating earlier, 1970?

P.S. in the clips I seem to recall, the studio lights were dimmed, the band with hands cupped round one ear stepping into a central spot light.

Cant remember much visually about the TV performances now after 30 years,but seem to recall
that Steeleye also appeared on Jim'll Fix It I think that
was a Boar's Head Carol cant remember anymore TV
performances of Gaudette,There was also a clip of very early Steeleye on a Martin Carthy Documentary from a
programme called Music Room .

If it was around the time of 'Gaudete' it would probably be 1973. I think 'Jim'll fix it' was called 'Clunk click' at that stage, so don't know if they exist. Think all Jin'll fix its do, but start around 1974.

Wonder if music room exists? Was it BBC or ITV.

Pleased at least on 'Gaudete' exists though (electric folk). I thought all that was left was 'All around my hat' which is hardly the best number to represent the group or their best song!

[Geoff Sear]

'Electric Folk, with Steeleye Span' -
BBC2 , 20/3/74 - 3/4/74 ; 17/9/75 - 29/10/75

They were also on 13/1/73 as part of 'Full House' from 10.45 to 11.15, and 12/4/73 (which is just listed as 'Steeleye Span', so I dunno if it is a repeat of the 13/1/73 thing)

Those are all the 70s listings I can find, but I'm afraid I have no details about what songs were on any of the shows.

[chas]

John said:

chas said:

Cant remember much visually about the TV performances now after 30 years,but seem to recall
that Steeleye also appeared on Jim'll Fix It I think that
was a Boar's Head Carol cant remember anymore TV
performances of Gaudette,There was also a clip of very early Steeleye on a Martin Carthy Documentary from a
programme called Music Room .

If it was around the time of 'Gaudete' it would probably be 1973. I think 'Jim'll fix it' was called 'Clunk click' at that stage, so don't know if they exist. Think all Jin'll fix its do, but start around 1974.

Wonder if music room exists? Was it BBC or ITV.

Pleased at least on 'Gaudete' exists though (electric folk). I thought all that was left was 'All around my hat' which is hardly the best number to represent the group or their best song!

Have checked Martin Carthy documentaries and the clips
from Music Room are from ATV 1970 in colour only short segments of Steeleye ,Martin and Maddy Prior singing The Lark in The Morning and playing Bryan O'Lynn (Jig)
with Martin on Guitar.There is also a short clip of the
Jimmy Saville programme in which Jim has to fix it for a young girl to sing with Steeleye Span This is definately
post 1974 as it has Nigel Pegrum in the clip he joined
1974 on Now We Are Six Album, and if I remember rightly Martin rejoined Steeleye in the late 70's so it would have to be approximately 1977 round about the time of Storm Force Ten Album.It would be very enjoyable to see the completel Music Room programme I wonder what the list of tracks performed were,
probably mostly from Please to see the King album it also appears to be live.