Tempted and Tried
Encyclopedia
Tempted and Tried is the 13th studio album by the electric folk
band Steeleye Span
. The album was recorded after a three-year hiatus after the release of Back in Line
. After releasing ten albums in fairly rapid succession during the 1970s, the band entered something of a creative dry spell, with 'Tempted' being only their 3rd album in 10 years. The album cover proclaims the album a "20th Anniversary Celebration", and the band was clearly eager to commemorate their anniversary, since strictly speaking the band had only been rehearsing in 1969, and didn't record until 1970.
Long-time bassist Rick Kemp
had left the band a few years earlier, due to a repetitive-motion shoulder injury that left him unable to play bass without pain. On tours, the band had rotated a variety of bassists in to replace him, but it was decided that in advance of the new album and a tour that the band needed a permanent bassist. Nigel Pegrum
turned to a friend of his, Tim Harries
, a self-taught bassist and classically trained pianist, who agreed to join.
Harries brought the band some much-needed young blood, and 'Tempted' proved a return to the band's 70's approach. Their previous two albums had relied heavily on songs written by the band and relatively little on traditional songs. But 'Tempted' features mostly traditional songs arranged by the band, with only three new songs, all written by Peter Knight, and one of these, "Seagull", about the old game of Shove-penny, has a strong traditional feel to it. The only piece that feels strongly non-traditional is "Following Me", a song about a woman being stalked by a stranger who terrifies her. Highlights of the album include the vigorous "Jack Hall", the traditional ballad "The Two Butchers" and "The Fox", a short piece celebrating the cunning of a fox being hunted. In general, the album has a bright, confident feel to it, particularly "Padstow", which features a marvelous five part harmony bridge.
The album's title presumably refers to the fact that the band has become well-seasoned by 20 years of performing. The cover features the head of a fox, in reference to the song. The album is dedicated to all those who supported the band over the previous 20 years.
Shortly after the album was released, Pegrum chose to emigrate to Australia for relationship reasons, and the band brought in Liam Genockey
to replace him as drummer. Consequentlty, although Genocky does not appear on the album, he was the drummer for the band's 20th Anniversary Tour and appeared on the video of the tour.
The album was well-received, particularly in comparison to its two predecessors, although few consider it up to the high standards of the band's heyday. However, perhaps because of the infusion of new blood and perhaps because of the excitement of the anniversary, the album marks the beginning of a slow resurgence for the band. Over the next several years, the band members recommitted themselves to playing together and began exploring traditional material in new ways. Their real revival would still be a few years off, however. "Following Me/ The Two Butchers" was released as a single on "Dover Records
". However, it had a serial number "FLUT 4" which showed that it had originally been on the "Flutterby
" label.
UK track listing (Chrysalis):
Guest:
Electric folk
Electric folk is the name given to the form of folk rock pioneered in England from the late 1960s, and most significant in the 1970s, which then was taken up and developed in the surrounding Celtic cultures of Brittany, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the Isle of Man, to produce Celtic rock and its...
band Steeleye Span
Steeleye Span
Steeleye Span are an English folk-rock band, formed in 1969 and remaining active today. Along with Fairport Convention they are amongst the best known acts of the British folk revival, and were among the most commercially successful, thanks to their hit singles "Gaudete" and "All Around My Hat"....
. The album was recorded after a three-year hiatus after the release of Back in Line
Back in Line
Back in Line is an album by the electric folk band Steeleye Span.This album, the band's 12th, was released in 1986, after a hiatus of almost 6 years. It was their first album without founding member Tim Hart, who quit the music business entirely...
. After releasing ten albums in fairly rapid succession during the 1970s, the band entered something of a creative dry spell, with 'Tempted' being only their 3rd album in 10 years. The album cover proclaims the album a "20th Anniversary Celebration", and the band was clearly eager to commemorate their anniversary, since strictly speaking the band had only been rehearsing in 1969, and didn't record until 1970.
Long-time bassist Rick Kemp
Rick Kemp
Rick Kemp is an English bass player, songwriter, vocalist and record producer, best known for his work with the pioneering electric folk band, Steeleye Span.-Projects:...
had left the band a few years earlier, due to a repetitive-motion shoulder injury that left him unable to play bass without pain. On tours, the band had rotated a variety of bassists in to replace him, but it was decided that in advance of the new album and a tour that the band needed a permanent bassist. Nigel Pegrum
Nigel Pegrum
Nigel Pegrum was a drummer with The Small Faces and Steeleye Span before becoming a producer.- Biography :Nigel Pegrum played drums with an early line-up of The Small Faces, then played drums with Lee Grant And The Capitols before joining Spice, who subsequently changed their name to Uriah Heep...
turned to a friend of his, Tim Harries
Tim Harries
Tim Harries is a British bass player.Harries studied music at the University of York, graduating in 1981 before going on to study Double Bass with Tom Martin at the Guildhall School of Music...
, a self-taught bassist and classically trained pianist, who agreed to join.
Harries brought the band some much-needed young blood, and 'Tempted' proved a return to the band's 70's approach. Their previous two albums had relied heavily on songs written by the band and relatively little on traditional songs. But 'Tempted' features mostly traditional songs arranged by the band, with only three new songs, all written by Peter Knight, and one of these, "Seagull", about the old game of Shove-penny, has a strong traditional feel to it. The only piece that feels strongly non-traditional is "Following Me", a song about a woman being stalked by a stranger who terrifies her. Highlights of the album include the vigorous "Jack Hall", the traditional ballad "The Two Butchers" and "The Fox", a short piece celebrating the cunning of a fox being hunted. In general, the album has a bright, confident feel to it, particularly "Padstow", which features a marvelous five part harmony bridge.
The album's title presumably refers to the fact that the band has become well-seasoned by 20 years of performing. The cover features the head of a fox, in reference to the song. The album is dedicated to all those who supported the band over the previous 20 years.
Shortly after the album was released, Pegrum chose to emigrate to Australia for relationship reasons, and the band brought in Liam Genockey
Liam Genockey
Liam Genockey is an Irish drummer.Liam Genockey was born in Dublin, Ireland. During the 1960s he lived in Plymouth, Devon, U.K, playing in local semi-pro groups, then in the early 70's playing with Torbay based rock band Adolphus Rebirth...
to replace him as drummer. Consequentlty, although Genocky does not appear on the album, he was the drummer for the band's 20th Anniversary Tour and appeared on the video of the tour.
The album was well-received, particularly in comparison to its two predecessors, although few consider it up to the high standards of the band's heyday. However, perhaps because of the infusion of new blood and perhaps because of the excitement of the anniversary, the album marks the beginning of a slow resurgence for the band. Over the next several years, the band members recommitted themselves to playing together and began exploring traditional material in new ways. Their real revival would still be a few years off, however. "Following Me/ The Two Butchers" was released as a single on "Dover Records
Dover Records
This article is about the British popular record label. For information about the earlier American classical label, see Dover Publications.Dover Records was a British record label that was formed about 1989....
". However, it had a serial number "FLUT 4" which showed that it had originally been on the "Flutterby
Flutterby Records
Flutterby Records was a British record label existing from 1985 to 1989.There were only 4 records on this label. "FLUT 1" was the single "Somewhere in London/ Lanercost". "FLUT 2" was the album Back in Line. "FLUT 3" was the single "Padstow /Reels:The First House in Connaught/ Sailor' s Bonnet" ,...
" label.
Track listing
US Track listing (Shanachie):- "Jack HallJack Hall (song)-Story:Jack Hall was a criminal who, as a young boy, was sold to a chimney sweep for a guinea. In later life he became a notorious highwayman. In 1707 he was arrested along with Stephen Bunce and Dick Low for a burglary committed at the house of Captain Guyon, near Stepney. All three were convicted...
" (Bob JohnsonBob Johnson (musician)Robert "Bob" Johnson is a British guitarist formerly in the electric folk band Steeleye Span from 1972–77 and again from 1980-2001....
, Traditional) – 3:57 - "Two Butchers" (Johnson, Traditional) – 4:49
- "Padstow" (Traditional) – 3:03
- "Reels: The First House in Connaught/Sailor's Bonnet" – 2:48
- "Betsy Bell and Mary GrayBessy Bell and Mary GrayBetsy Bell and Mary Gray are "twa bonnie lassies", the subject of one of the Child Ballads.According to the ballad, Betsy and Mary were daughters of two Perthshire gentlemen, who in 1666 built themselves a bower to avoid catching a devastating plague...
" (Child 201) – 4:59 - "Shaking of the Sheets" (Johnson, Traditional) – 4:11
- "Searching for Lambs" – 4:12
- "Seagull" (Peter Knight) – 4:32
- "The Cruel MotherThe Cruel Mother"The Cruel Mother" is a murder ballad.-Synopsis:A woman gives birth to one or two illegitimate children in the woods, kills them, and buries them. On her return trip home, she sees a child, or children, playing, and says that if they were hers, she would dress them in various fine garments and...
" – 5:36 - "Following Me" (Knight) – 3:38
- "The Fox" (Knight) – 3:02
UK track listing (Chrysalis):
- "Padstow" (Traditional) – 3:03
- "The Fox" (Knight) – 3:02
- "Two Butchers" (Johnson, Traditional) – 4:49
- "Following Me" (Knight) – 3:38
- "Seagull" (Peter Knight) – 4:32
- "The Cruel MotherThe Cruel Mother"The Cruel Mother" is a murder ballad.-Synopsis:A woman gives birth to one or two illegitimate children in the woods, kills them, and buries them. On her return trip home, she sees a child, or children, playing, and says that if they were hers, she would dress them in various fine garments and...
" – 5:36 - "Jack HallJack Hall (song)-Story:Jack Hall was a criminal who, as a young boy, was sold to a chimney sweep for a guinea. In later life he became a notorious highwayman. In 1707 he was arrested along with Stephen Bunce and Dick Low for a burglary committed at the house of Captain Guyon, near Stepney. All three were convicted...
" (Bob JohnsonBob Johnson (musician)Robert "Bob" Johnson is a British guitarist formerly in the electric folk band Steeleye Span from 1972–77 and again from 1980-2001....
, Traditional) – 3:57 - "Searching for Lambs" – 4:12
- "Shaking of the Sheets" (Johnson, Traditional) – 4:11
- "Reels: The First House in Connaught/Sailor's Bonnet" – 2:48
- "Betsy Bell and Mary GrayBessy Bell and Mary GrayBetsy Bell and Mary Gray are "twa bonnie lassies", the subject of one of the Child Ballads.According to the ballad, Betsy and Mary were daughters of two Perthshire gentlemen, who in 1666 built themselves a bower to avoid catching a devastating plague...
" (Child 201) – 4:59
Personnel
- Maddy PriorMaddy PriorMaddy Prior is an English folk singer, best known as the lead vocalist of Steeleye Span.-Early life:...
(vocals) - Bob JohnsonBob Johnson (musician)Robert "Bob" Johnson is a British guitarist formerly in the electric folk band Steeleye Span from 1972–77 and again from 1980-2001....
(vocals, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
) - Tim HarriesTim HarriesTim Harries is a British bass player.Harries studied music at the University of York, graduating in 1981 before going on to study Double Bass with Tom Martin at the Guildhall School of Music...
(vocals, bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
) - Peter Knight (vocals, violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, mandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
) - Nigel PegrumNigel PegrumNigel Pegrum was a drummer with The Small Faces and Steeleye Span before becoming a producer.- Biography :Nigel Pegrum played drums with an early line-up of The Small Faces, then played drums with Lee Grant And The Capitols before joining Spice, who subsequently changed their name to Uriah Heep...
(drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussion)
Guest:
- Martin Ditchum (percussion)