Now We Are Six (album)
| Now We Are Six | ||||
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| Studio album by Steeleye Span | ||||
| Released | March 1974 | |||
| Recorded | December 1973-January 1974, Morgan Studios, London | |||
| Genre | Electric folk, Progressive folk | |||
| Length | 42:35 | |||
| Label | Chrysalis | |||
| Producer | Ian Anderson | |||
| Steeleye Span chronology | ||||
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| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |
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Now We Are Six is an album by the electric folk band Steeleye Span. Its title (borrowed from Winnie-the-Pooh author A.A. Milne's collection of poems for children) refers to both its sequence among their albums, and the band's size, in light of the addition of drummer Nigel Pegrum. It reached number 13 in the UK albums chart.
Although two session drummers were used on the debut album, there was a conscious decision to add a full-time drummer to further bolster the band's rock-oriented sound. It has been suggested that the sound of the band on this album is that of a rock band turning towards folk, and not the other way around. Pegrum also contributed flute and oboe parts.
Now We Are Six was produced by Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson, although he admitted that his part on the making of the album was minimal besides little supervision and the invitation of David Bowie to play the saxophone.
The album received mixed reviews from critics. It was hailed as a finely crafted set of traditional songs given clever arrangements, and the track "Thomas the Rhymer", which was released as a single, was seen by many as the quintessential Steeleye track. Another highlight is "The Mooncoin Jig", which is a showcase for Peter Knight's abilities on mandolin and banjo; the track is a mix of folk and rock, with neither overshadowing the other. Both tracks also show how well drums fit into the increasingly elaborate sound.
The main criticisms of the album seemed to boil down to the inclusion of three tracks; the title track is a set of riddles sung by the band with only a piano accompaniment, and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" is the familiar children's song, given the same treatment. Credited as the "St. Eleye Primary School Junior Choir," the band sang these songs imitating children. The inclusion of the songs is valid in many respects as the material is traditional, but they do stand out as rather unusual and jarring. Many people also did not "get" the joke about the "St. Eleye" school choir, believing it was an actual school choir singing the songs (the joke being that a) St. Eleye is not a real saint, and b) "St. Eleye " is almost "Steeleye"). Bassist Rick Kemp believes the songs were misplaced on the album, and should instead have come at the end.
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