Commoners Crown
Steeleye Span · 1975
38 min · 9 tracks · folk rock
A tapestry of traditional British folk tales woven with electric instrumentation and haunting harmonies that evoke a sense of timelessness.
Top tracks — play these first
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Little Sir Hugh — This track highlights the band's ability to reinterpret traditional ballads with a modern twist, showcasing powerful vocal harmonies and dynamic instrumentation.
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Long Lankin — The dark narrative and dramatic arrangement in this track exemplify Steeleye Span's storytelling prowess, capturing listeners with its haunting melody.
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Demon Lover — With its eerie tale and innovative use of rhythm, this song represents the band's unique blend of folk tradition and progressive rock influences.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album effectively blends traditional narratives with electric instrumentation, showcasing strong craftsmanship and thematic cohesion.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a traditional ballad, 'Little Sir Hugh', featuring layered harmonies and a steady tempo that sets a folk-centric tone.
- Tracks like 'Bach Goes to Limerick' incorporate playful instrumentation, blending classical motifs with folk rhythms.
- The sequencing includes several darker narratives, such as 'Long Lankin' and 'Demon Lover', creating a thematic cohesion around folklore.
- The final track, 'New York Girls', shifts to a more upbeat tempo, providing a contrast to the preceding somber themes.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic emotional journeys
- long, immersive listening sessions
- layered, dense sonic textures
- haunting and atmospheric vibes
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1975, Commoners Crown is Steeleye Span's fifth studio album and marks a continuation of their exploration into electric folk music. Following the commercial success of their previous album, Parcel of Rogues, this record solidifies their place within the British folk rock scene while also experimenting with psychedelic influences. The album showcases the group’s established sound while pushing creative boundaries further.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Fairport Convention· Pentangle· The Albion Band
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Little Sir Hugh
The narrative shifts from innocence to tragedy as the fate of Little Sir Hugh unfolds is striking.
The stark contrast in tone emphasizes the gravity of the story, drawing listeners deeper into its folklore roots.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Little Sir Hugh 4:45
- 2 Bach Goes to Limerick 3:41
- 3 Long Lankin 8:39
- 4 Dogs and Ferrets 2:44
- 5 Galtee Farmer 3:46
- 6 Demon Lover 5:54
- 7 Elf Call 3:54
- 8 Weary Cutters 2:05
- 9 New York Girls 3:14
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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