Silly Sisters
During the lull which followed the commercial high point of Steeleye Span's ALL AROUND MY HAT album, vocalist Maddy Prior performed an abrupt volte face and plunged back into pure folk song recording with a traditional album recorded with June Tabor, a librarian in Swindon, England. Despite its ‘awful’ cover, SILLY SISTERS undoubtedly helped launch Tabor. It contained an all-star band of musicians, on the sometimes chaotic, though always jovial set. It has since become something of a legend, with Prior's high soaring voice, contrasted by Tabor's more earthy tones. The whole escapade attracted a great deal of media attention and quite naturally there was clamour for a follow up. In 1988 the Silly Sisters did reunite for NO MORE TO THE DANCE for the folkist Topic label. More touring followed, this time selective and considered, and whilst this set is still a fine record, backed by musicians of reputation and note, it hasn't the charm and innocence of the debut. However, neither singer has ruled out another collaboration