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Maddy Prior first became known in the folk world in a duo with Tim Hart. They released two albums, Folk Songs of Olde England Volumes One & Two in 1968 and 1969 respectively.
These two albums are now available on the budget priced double CD Heydays which also includes Summer Solstice originally released in 1971 after the formation of Steeleye Span.
Folk Songs of Olde England consist of simple traditional folk songs beautifully performed by Tim Hart and Maddy Prior. There seems to be approximately equal contribution from each singer. Some solos by each, and some sung as duets. Nothing more than a single accompanying instrument, much of which is a banjo, with other tracks having guitar or fiddle accompaniment played by Tim, and some songs are vocal only either in duet form or with excellent vocal harmony.
For such a simple combination of voices and instruments there is surprising variety and interest.
This is the typical material of many folk clubs still today, and performed in a similar way as you might see in a folk club. However the performances are truly of a professional standard and clearly done with ease. You get the impression that they could perform faultlessly every time and might have got the performance right first time in each case.
Summer Solstice builds on the above albums. There is a sprinkling of various guest musicians and more variety of instruments but strangely I prefer the simplicity of the earlier two albums.
It is surprising to hear Maddy Prior in particular sounding so similar as she does now. Any lover of Maddy Prior's singing will not be disappointed with Heydays, despite the age of the recording.
When Steeleye Span started Maddy was just one of a number of members of the band. However she stayed with the band through many changes of personnel and through this persistence she has come to be thought of as almost a personification of Steeleye Span's identity. "The voice of Steeleye Span".
Maddy has proceeded to develop a successful career in her own right, either under her own name or in partnership with others. She is dedicated to English Folk Music and has performed on at least 35 albums.
Maddy is notable not only for her singing but her honest appreciation of
good instrumental music too, and does not dominate the instrumentalists, thus
allowing them make a valuable contribution to the music.
One of Maddy Prior's first enterprises outside of Steeleye Span was with June Tabor, recording the album Silly Sisters.
She has collaborated with The Carnival Band a number of times since 1984. See below.
The album Year was released in 1993 under her own name alone. Mostly original songs composed by Maddy Prior and by Rick Kemp. Some traditional songs. The major part of the instrumental backing is from a variety of keyboards played by Nick Holland. A Cello and other instruments contribute nicely to the sound.
The album Flesh and Blood is somewhat similar in style to Year, but is more serious and less varied. Mostly original material composed by Prior/Kemp. It has only three traditional songs. Instrumental backing is mostly piano from Nick Holland, but there are pipes and low whistles on some tracks too.
Maddy collaborated with The Carnival Band in 1984 for a BBC radio programme of Christmas carols. Since then they have continued to work together occasionally and have released quite a few albums. These have mostly been collections of carols and other Christmas music most of which are traditional and early English music. One album is a collection of original compositions, and there is at least one live recording.
Note that not all their albums were on the Park label. Some, especially the earlier ones are to be found on the Saydisc label.
A Tapestry of Carols. Saydisc 1987. Perhaps the first CD by Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band. I haven't heard it yet.
Sing Lustily and With Good Courage. Gallery hymns of the 18th and early 19th centuries. Saydisc 1990. (CD-SDL 383). This is best thought of as a collection of early English music performed on authentic instruments of the period. It has more in common with folk music than hymns as we know them today from church and school. The title is a quote from Charles Wesley taken from his lengthy directions of how the congregation should sing the hymns of the day. Be not daunted by hobgoblin nor foul fiend, buy it!
Carols & Capers. Park Records 1991. A mixture of carols and other Christmas songs, plus one or two instrumentals. All traditional compositions. The definitive Christmas CD by Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band, done in their distinctive style. Great singing by Maddy, and great instrumental and vocal harmonies by the band. The music on this CD is still the basis of their live Christmas concerts.
Hang Up Sorrow and Care is an excellent album, by
Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band. Subtitled "A Cure for all Melancholy
being a collection of the Wit and Philosophie of Old Simon the King". Released
in 1995. In common with her other work with the Carnival Band Maddy's great
singing is combined with excellent instrumentation throughout, and includes
some instrumental tracks. It is based on Old English music, consists entirely
of traditional compositions and uses mainly traditional instruments. This album
is more secular than the previous work with the Carnival Band. It is also a
bit more varied and contains more up-tempo and lively material. Two tracks make
use of some well played electric guitar which surprisingly fits in well with
the early instruments.
Although the earlier works are very good, this album builds on the successful
formula and improves on almost all aspects of the music. Somehow it is less
formal, more uninhibited and more importantly perhaps, it is sheer fun. No superlatives
are good enough to describe it!
The Carnival Band exist in their own right and although most of their recordings have been with Maddy Prior they have an album of their own Hoi Polloi. It is a collection of different styles of music from around the world.
Andy Watts is the musical arranger and spokesman of the band. He plays Breughel bagpipes and a variety of other blown instruments, shawms, recorders etc.
Giles Lewin plays violin and also shawms, recorders and medieval bagpipes.
Other band members play upright acoustic bass, mostly bowed, drum kit and
other percussion, mandolin and various guitars including electric.
Maddy Prior - a personal site
Maddy Prior at Stones Barn - At present (2003) this appears identical to the above.
Park Records - The label for Steeleye Span and Maddy Prior's recent work. Pictures and information about her albums, some sound clips. Includes a short biography of Maddy Prior here.