The impetus for Steeleye Span's formation, ironically, came from ex-Fairport Convention bassist Ashley Hutchings. The supple-voiced Prior had been in a folk duo with guitarist Tim Hart. The original lineup, formed around the beginning of 1970, included guitarist Terry Wood, who had been in a traditional Irish folk group called Sweeney's Men (with Andy Irvine). One thing that differentiated Steeleye Span from their counterparts was that Fairport came to traditional folk from a rock background, whereas Steeleye traveled in the opposite direction. Prior was the constant factor that gave the group something of a recognizable identity at all phases of their journey. Steeleye Span, too, would undergo numerous personnel changes even at their peak. Although Fairport was more innovative in its early days, Steeleye Span was arguably the more interesting band after 1970, when personnel changes had gutted the original Fairport lineup. The parallels between the bands are numerous: both updated traditional British folk material with rock arrangements, both featured an excellent female lead singer (Sandy Denny for Fairport, Maddy Prior for Steeleye Span), both frequently employed multi-part harmonies, and both mixed original and traditional songs. Steeleye Span - Full-Length Discography (1971-2013)įolk-rock from the United Kingdom, full-length discography of twenty one albums released between 19.Īside from Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span was the most successful and enduring British folk-rock band. Steeleye Span - Full-Length Discography (1971-2013)

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