Est'd 1969

Released to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the band's formation, Est'd 1969 is the 24th studio album by Steeleye Span. Far from a retrospective, the album features entirely new recordings of traditional and contemporary material. The lineup, led by founding member Maddy Prior, leans into a 'prog-folk' sound characterized by long track lengths and complex instrumental interplay. Notable tracks like 'The Boy and the Mantle' showcase the band's enduring interest in Child Ballads, while 'January Man' pays tribute to the late Dave Goulder. The production is notably high-fidelity, emphasizing the band's signature multi-part vocal harmonies and the sharp, melodic violin work of Jessie May Smart. Critically, the album was received as a robust late-career statement that maintains the band's reputation for blending scholarly folk research with rock dynamics.