Wintersmith (Steeleye Span album) explained

Wintersmith
Type:	Album
Artist:	Steeleye Span
Cover:	Front_cover_of_Steeleye_Span_cd_Wintersmith.jpg
Released:	28 October 2013
Recorded:	2013
Genre:	British folk rock, progressive rock
Label:	Park Records
Producer:	Chris Tsangarides
Prev Title:	Cogs, Wheels and Lovers
Prev Year:	2009
Next Title:	Dodgy Bastards
Next Year:	2016

Wintersmith is the twenty-second studio album by British folk rock band Steeleye Span. It was released in October 2013. It features the line-up of Maddy Prior, Peter Knight, Rick Kemp, Julian Littman, Pete Zorn and Liam Genockey. Guest musicians are Terry Pratchett (voice), Kathryn Tickell (Northumbrian pipes), Bob Johnson (vocals), and John Spiers (melodeon).

The songs on the album were inspired principally by Wintersmith and other Discworld books featuring Tiffany Aching. There is a spoken contribution by the author, Terry Pratchett.

A double CD Deluxe Edition was released in October 2014: the second disc featured a mixture of new tracks, live performances and demos.

Personnel

Steeleye Span

• Maddy Prior – vocals
• Peter Knight – violin, vocals (except CD2, tracks 1-4)
• Jessie May Smart – violin on "deluxe version" CD2, tracks 1 to 4
• Rick Kemp – bass, vocals
• Julian Littman – guitar, piano, vocals
• Pete Zorn – acoustic guitar, saxophone, vocals
• Liam Genockey – drums, percussion

with:

• John Spiers – melodeon
• Kathryn Tickell – Northumbrian pipes
• Bob Johnson – vocals
• Terry Pratchett – voice (spoken word)

Tracks

2014 Deluxe Edition

Tracks - Deluxe Edition Disc 2:

1. "To Be Human"
2. "Be Careful What You Wish for"
3. "Granny Aching"
4. "Just One Heart"
5. "You" (live)
6. "Ancient Eyes" (live)
7. "The Dark Morris Tune" (live)
8. "The Dark Morris Song" (live)
9. "The Making of a Man" (live)
10. "Crown of Ice" (live)
11. "Summer Lady" (live)
12. "We Shall Wear Midnight" (live)
13. "Ancient Eyes" (demo)
14. "The Wee Free Men" (demo)

Chart performance

Wintersmith debuted at No. 77 on the UK Albums Chart.

Critical reception

The album received very positive reviews and has been described as "a marriage between the written word and music that is devastatingly superb."^[1]

Folk Radio UK hailed the release as "a concept album it has that feel of being made for a stage production".^[2]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Steeleye Span, Wintersmith. Album Review.. Liverpool Sound and Vision. Ian D.. Hall. 27 November 2013. 27 January 2018.
2. Web site: STEELEYE SPAN – WINTERSMITH. Folk Rock UK. Alex. Gallacher. 23 November 2013. 27 January 2018.