“ Steeleye Span started in late 1969, when London-born bass participant Ashley Hutchings left
Fairport Convention, the band he had co-based in 1967. Fairport had been concerned in a street accident in 1969
wherein the drummer, Martin Lamble, and guitarist Richard Thompson's girlfriend,
Jeannie Franklyn, were killed and other band members injured.
Martin Carthy and Ashley Hutchings were also concerned in the choice and arrangement of some
songs launched on this album, while Ashley Hutchings wrote the sleeve
notes. Hutchings' new band was formed after he met established duo Tim Hart and Maddy Prior on the
London people club scene, and the initial line-up was
completed by husband and spouse workforce Terry Woods (previously of Sweeney's
Men, later of The Pogues) and Gay Woods. With the release of their
fourth album, Below the Salt, later in 1972, the
revised line-up had settled on a distinctive electrified rock sound, although they continued to play mostly preparations of very traditional materials, together with songs
courting back a hundred years or extra. ”