Classic Rock Legends: Steeleye Span

Rating:
Summary: Great concert, mediocre production
Review: While I am not an expert on SS, I do very much like their music, and this DVD of an SS live performance is a rare treasure. Maddy Prior's voice is an amazing instrument. And unlike reviewers who may be more able to judge the relative merits of this particular concert, it sounded great to me.

My only gripe is with the filming. Too many bizarre angles, too many head shots, too much quick cutting, not enough long views of the band playing, and frankly, a wee bit too much Maddy. The ant's eye view gets old fast and the film editor's insistance on a two second shot of the druummer (Liam Genockey)and then back to Maddy Prior for extended head shots is annoying, especially as her hand and arm movements come in and out of the picture and seem almost disembodied. And while one may commend Classic Rock Productions for releasing this and other concert DVDs, the lack of liner notes is distressing. There isn't even a listing of band members, let alone anything about the band's history to that point (1989). The company seems more interested in promoting itself than the musicians.

That said, unless there are filmed concerts stored away in locked vaults from SS in their heyday, this is the best there is.