Search - Steeleye Span :: The Journey

Reunion

05/07/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This double-CD live album consists of about two thirds(a reliable source who attended the gig states that there was enough music performed on the day to make up another CD) of a `special concert` recorded in 1995 by all except for one of the musicians who had been members of Steeleye Span at different times since the band`s formation in late 1969. One significant factor is that this was the first time for Gay Woods to sing live on numbers that she`d performed on for the first ever studio album, before leaving the band. It`s also Tim Hart`s first recording with the band since 1982. His vocals sound as good as ever. The best tracks, technically speaking, are those from the earliest(first three, 1970-71)) albums, on CD1, and, the tracks from the then upcoming album(`Time`,1996), on CD2.
The playing sounds a bit tentative at times, apparently the various musicians had only rehearsed together for a few hours beforehand, and the sound quality isn`t as good as other Steeleye live albums. This is an album for long-time Steeleye Span fans. The main appeal of `The Journey` is the reunion aspect, a fact that would probably not be of interest to a newcomer to the band. Steeleye Span`s `golden` era, 72-78(inclusive) is not well represented here and I would recommend a delve into the albums from that period. Incidentally, for the first year or so a 40-page booklet with track notes, band info. and photos old and new came with this double-CD. This is no longer the case, unfortunately. For Steeleye Span *live*, I would recommend `Tonight`s the Night` or `The Collection, In Concert`, to the newcomer."