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Now We Are Six

Artist: Steeleye Span
Label: Chrysalis
Catalog#: CHR 1053
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1974-02
Tracklist
A1 Thomas The Rhymer 3:15
  Notes:

Acoustic Guitar, Vocals - Tim Hart
Recorder - Nigel Pegrum
Vocals - Peter Knight
Vocals - Rick Kemp

A2 Two Magicians 4:23
  Notes:

Acoustic Guitar - Rick Kemp
Vocals - Peter Knight
Vocals - Tim Hart

A3 Edwin 3:40
  Notes:

Acoustic Guitar - Bob Johnson
Banjo - Tim Hart
Flute, Oboe - Nigel Pegrum
Vocals [Whisper] - Maddy Prior
Vocals, Acoustic Guitar - Rick Kemp

A4 Twinkle Twinkle Little Star 1:32
  Notes:

Choir - St. Eleye Primary School Junior Choir

A5 Seven Hundred Elves 5:11
  Notes:

Synthesizer - Nigel Pegrum
Vocals - Tim Hart
Vocals, Synthesizer - Bob Johnson

B1 The Mooncoin Jig 3:50
  Notes:

Mandolin, Banjo [Tenor] - Peter Knight
Tambourine - Nigel Pegrum

B2 Drink Down The Moon 6:21
  Notes:

Mandolin - Peter Knight
Oboe - Nigel Pegrum
Vocals - Tim Hart

B3 Long-A-Growing 2:17
  Notes:

Acoustic Guitar - Rick Kemp
Acoustic Guitar - Tim Hart
Acoustic Guitar, Piano - Peter Knight

B4 Now We Are Six 4:02
  Notes:

Choir - St. Eleye Primary School Junior Choir
Piano [Accompaniment] - Peter Knight

B5 To Know Him Is To Love Him 2:12
  Notes:

Saxophone [Alto] - David Bowie
Vocals - Bob Johnson
Vocals - Peter Knight
Vocals - Rick Kemp
Vocals - Tim Hart

Credits

Bass - Rick Kemp
Drums - Nigel Pegrum
Dulcimer [Electric] - Tim Hart
Electric Guitar - Bob Johnson
Engineer - Robin Black
Producer [Consultant] - Ian Anderson
Violin - Peter Knight
Vocals - Maddy Prior

Notes

Recorded at Morgan Studios, London.

Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
The arrival of ex-Gnidrolog drummer Nigel Pegrum on 1974’s Now We Are Six saw Steeleye Span’s music take a nod towards the progressive. Of course, having Ian Anderson in the producer’s chair certainly pushed things along: “Thomas the Rhymer” has that complex meter that is quite like Jethro Tull. Whether this is vindication of their progressiveness or proof positive that Anderson was a folkie at heart is another matter. Whatever the setting, and despite rather strange production, the band presents first-rate music here. “Drink Down the Moon” has a somber tone that shines in the electric setting, while “Two Magicians” remains traditional. “Seven Hundred Elves” and “Edwin” both dial up the prog quotient on their folksy tunes; and throughout, Steeleye Span offer a lively dose of electric folk—though the inclusion of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” and a rather languid cover of Phil Spector’s “To Know Him is to Love Him” (complete with David Bowie on saxophone) are dubious at best. Nonetheless, the album rose to No. 13 on the UK charts. Their second 1975 release, All Around My Hat—also the first in a series to be produced by ex-Womble Mike Batt—was a commercial success fueled by the title track, which rose to No. 6 on the UK single charts. However, their subsequent albums couldn’t sustain the momentum, even with the readdition of Martin Carthy, and after a live album in 1978, the band ostensibly broke up; though throughout the 1980s, recordings would occasionally appear. Prior would join Mike Oldfield’s touring band in 1979.
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