Gaudete - Steeleye Span - LIVE 1974!

[@vordman]

I long for the days when something as obscure as this could become a chart hit and be played on commercial radio. But then it was the 70s. Music's greatest decade.

[@colinslant]

Mind you, it was 1981 when "O Superman (for Massenet)" by Laurie Anderson got to number 2 in the UK chart. That's pretty obscure!

[@nigelbevan8449]

Most "chart" music these days is pretty obscure.

[@DerekNevatte-hb1do]

Reached No.14 on UK charts in 1974.

[@SuperCholdi]

I wasn't born until '77 but it was definitely the decade where you could pull some seriously mad shit and get away with it.

[@walkinghenry7905]

Gone are the days when a band perform a song with their fingers in their ears.

[@KeithWright-ug4dy]

great comment. so true

[@billgreen2348]

Simon and Peggy of Fairport Convention sing with their fingers in each others' ears.

[@HrLBolle]

Not quite, they place their hands in such a way as to amplify the external voice in comparison to what is transmitted internally through the bones

[@alunepps4272]

​@@HrLBolle - what a great explanation.

[@frankheilingbrunner7852]

I've never seen performers sing with their hands over their ears before. What baffles me is that only one of them was covering both ears, and the rest made do with covering one ear-the ear pointing away from the center, except in one case. Given the lack of a consistent pattern, my best guess was that each of them had the equivalent of an earbud to provide cues for singing in Latin.

[@lordofys]

I have heard four different recordings of them doing this song. It never ceases to amaze me how Maddy nails it every time.

[@folkme3042]

I know.I must of seen them about 15 times over the last 46 years and although Maddy's voice has changed and matured she never ceases to impress.

[@a.y.t.a.s.494]

Can you post links here to their other renditions please?

[@dogbandit]

Maddy is Amazing 🤩

[@lordofys]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3XGY3l6Ytusbq8

[@LadySophieofHougunManor7325]

Maddy is awesome

[@russs7574]

Maddy Prior has one of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard. I love 1970's British Progressive and Folk, and could listen to Maddy, Annie Haslam, June Tabor, Jacqui McShee and Sandy Denny for hours on end.

[@peterrobin1881]

I would add Joan Baez to that list!

[@telmas7183]

Like Judith Durham; there is a beautiful crystal clarity in her voice!

[@sedwards2207]

Yes, very much like Judith Durham! ❤

[@peterclark9653]

50 years on since i first heard this, and to my mind it is still the best Christmas song ever to get into the charts.

[@folkme3042]

I absolutely agree! And the least played unfortunately.

[@Cronezonetarot]

Maddy's voice sends shivers down my spine!

[@pleatedskirt18]

More shivers here...

[@hildefischer1169]

Every time ❤

[@andymatthews7617]

BRILLIANT.

[@AceinIN]

I first heard this in the fall of 73. Never forgot it.

[@rrbh]

Listen to this - it'll blow your socks off.

[@SuperCholdi]

You are so diiirty...

[@pearlwhitney4532]

An underplayed and under-rated Christmas song. They harmonise wonderfully and no-one could give the song more credit than Maddie. Love it!

[@TheRadioAteMyTV]

Probably because most wouldn't dream of singing along with it. But yeah, it's beautiful.

[@spackretired]

​@@TheRadioAteMyTVWhy not?

[@TheRadioAteMyTV]

@@spackretired Language barrier.

[@dupont135]

Just so beautiful, i want to hear this in my funeral.

[@liamemerson7208]

This is the best live version of this tune. It's the right tempo, perfectly in tune, well recorded, just beautiful.

[@danceswithchihuahuas]

Overlooked. Underappreciated. The building blocks of my soul. I was lucky to grow up with Steeleye Span.

[@timpiercy9713]

A haunting tune of Christmas past, we have returned to the medieval. Thank goodness this was saved

[@TheRadioAteMyTV]

Jesus saves. And so it seems appropriate that this song was saved.

[@CliffJekel]

Maddy Prior must have one of the top 10 folk voices of all time. Wow.

[@paulgardner6239]

I would have her in my top 5 I remember hearing them on a 45rpm that my Mum had it may have been this line up ( Or another ) and I was captivated I don't think I'd reached 6yrs old.

[@russs7574]

@@paulgardner6239 Top 5 definitely. Maddy Prior, Annie Haslam and Karen Carpenter have 3 of the most awesome voices I've ever heard.

[@tudormiller887]

100% Her Jacqui McShee, Sandy Denny, Shirley Collins & Judy Collins are my favorite women Folk artists. Any fans of Mumford & Sons, Laura Marling, The Lumineers or any of those Modern Folk artists & bands should really listen to bands like Steeleye Span, Pentangle to appreciate Folk music.

[@kraftwerkdj9190]

Maddy Prior and Grace Slick.

[@paulabraham2550]

@@tudormiller887 I'd add Judith Durham to that list. There are probably dozens in the top ten, actually. ;-)

[@davidperry813]

The drummer. Brilliant

[@roop366]

I love his outfit!

[@bobeades4248]

Rupert Bear was right on trend in 1974!

[@jetbike81]

Dead right,perfect.

[@MsMiika13]

Always the drummer.

[@folkme3042]

Nigel Pegrum was a great drummer although I don't think this song showcases his talents as well as others I could mention.

[@petrolhead1960]

I just love Maddy’s voice. And this being one of my favourite songs of the season is just the icing on the cake.

[@paulpayton8238]

Always loved this band ❤️ and she's got a really lovely voice 😊God bless you always from me in Birmingham England xx 😊

[@asboukcomfortable1670]

I sang this in the street. Even the rich and homeless struggling daily peoples recognised Gaudete. Brilliant 🎵. E5. Uk 🇬🇧 💷 🇬🇧

[@j32g68]

Spine tingling ⚡️

[@davidrogers9749]

Maddy has one of the finest female voices on the plant, it has remained consistent over the years and is as pleasing to the ears now as it was when she first started

[@petermay5488]

Can't thank you enough for the video. It brought tears to my eyes. I saw them live in October 1973 as the warm up band for Procol Harum. I was completely blown away. I fell in love with Maddy and her almost impossibly great voice, bought the album in the theater foyer and have owned several copies since. It is an experience I have never forgotten and never will.

[@marie-ctunnicliff513]

Joyeux Noel - I just love Gaudete sung by Maddy - she still has such an amazing an voice. I saw Steeleye Span in Frome Somerset a couple of weeks ago, what a fantastic evening!

[@eh1702]

Doesn’t her voice just give you goosebumps? There is another live one uploaded 14 years ago on Parkrecords channel, with better sound balance - and Maddy’s more mature voice purer than ever.

[@asboukcomfortable1670]

Hardcore rap fiend forever but this gorgeous song is my guilty 70s treat. Stunning anytime!

[@avocados4all]

Long overdue a Dj Premier remix

[@paulgardner6239]

Maddie Prior has an incredible voice that has lasted for years. I want this played at my funeral.

[@stevenbeale4317]

Maddy prior how she never mentioned in great singers catalogues,what a voice she has

[@rogueriderhood1862]

First heard this round about 1973/4 on the BBC. At that time the station BBC1 or 2 used to close down with a piece of music or a poem, with the title and artist's name displayed. One night they closed with this and it blew me away. Couldn't wait to find out more about Steeleye Span, and been a fan ever since. Last saw them in November 2024, only Maddy there from the classic line up, but still a great band.

[@HrLBolle]

this is truly a fine example for the art of song and singing as it should be done

[@michaelgibson4705]

Possibly my favourite pop song in Latin

[@amandashare1281]

Maddy's pure vocals on this song really hit home xx

[@ThomasJJacksonVA]

Saw Steeleye Span open for the Peter Gabriel Genesis at Winterland in SFO back in the mid-1970s. They opened their set with this hymn. Have been a fan of the band and Maddy's ever since.

[@defender1006]

A wonderful antidote to todays over produced and autotuned tracks that clutter the airways today. Just get every band singer to try and carry this off without any 'enhancement' and see what we're left with? Maddy/Steeleye Span rules!'

[@miles-thesleeper-monroe8466]

Any version of theirs is the best. Hard to find anything close. The modern King's Singers do a great job. Maddy is iconic but those deep male folk harmonies are incredible

[@janemata6407]

You’re right, I think the in-between parts are harder than the top line to maintain

[@finncullen]

"It'll knock your socks off" - Alan Partridge

[@karenphyland5692]

Maddy Prior has the voice of an Angel, I think God created her to sing this 16th century hymn!✝️❤️😁🤠

[@tudormiller887]

Beautiful music, amazing vocals. I could listen to this for hours. ❤

[@marcmacario7611]

Voice from heaven...🙏

[@andymatthews7617]

SUPERB.

[@asboukcomfortable1670]

What a range, play this every Christmas. Bit of mulled wine, family 👪 and keeping warm. Tittie! Beautiful 😍 with the ones you love xx. An a bit of Chas n Dave. E8. UK 🇬🇧

[@philjohnson4367]

Very well done. Congratulations.

[@andymatthews7617]

Nobody's clever enough to produce something this good today.

[@HrLBolle]

or skilled at least in "Mainstream"

[@andymatthews7617]

@@HrLBolle ABSOLUTELY.

[@sumerandaccad]

Always nice to hear around Xmas

[@donnyrover1]

As much as i love metal, punk ,ska and indie , this would be pretty close to the top of my list , written circa 1580 i think , for all the tech available at present , its a great tune and simple vocal harmony what really count

[@BC0101]

Exactly the same as me I'm more punk,metal,grunge ect but i never tire of this

[@MakerfieldConsort]

Good call on the date - it was first published in 1582, but its origins most likely go back at least a century further.

[@bootsiedidread2612]

First heard this in the early 70s didn't know what they was saying and still don't but I absolutely love this song👊🏾

[@EdwardBast]

The chorus is: "Rejoice, Christ is born of the virgin Mary, Rejoice." It's a Christmas hymn from the Renaissance.

[@deborahherridge7201]

Beautiful and spiritual - although as this popped up for me in September I'm not sure I want to be thinking about Christmas yet! I do love it though.

[@skylarkman2000]

Amazing band , amazing song .

[@staceymango6804]

What an amazing voice!!!!! And great backing singing too. Love it!

[@andymatthews7617]

SUPERB.

[@seanycage2610]

Maddy is a Goddess

[@Traumm9]

Absolutely awesome! Love this version the best of all those i've heard

[@kangaroogroundboy]

saw them in Melbourne Town hall in the seventies, best concert before or since...and the harmonies are sheet bliss, thanks to all of them

[@Claymore5]

I just love this track - I always have....it soothes the soul.

[@trevissproson3166]

Happy Xmas y'all. Bring it! Uk ❤❤

[@jozefmolnar1580]

Simply wonderful. I love it.

[@marinapeache7027]

I love this song it very spiritual❤️

[@PLuMUK54]

When I hear other versions of this song, they sound like an interpretation of what it possibly sounded like. This, however, always sounds so "genuine". They obviously would have spent hours rehearsing this, but it has a spontaneity and unpolished quality that takes me back to a Medieval church where a far from professional group of parishioners have been taught the Latin and sing it with meaning. Takes me back to my younger years...

[@BillSingleton-bx5jd]

First concert I believe was at Salford University. They had trouble setting up so left it to the backroom team, went to the mikes and sang Gaudete, a sensation still remembered over 50 years later!

[@YuiKitaro]

A rather muted response to such an outstanding performance.

[@SIRRUBADUBDUB]

Beautiful 😍

[@CoherentChimp]

The SAS of folk bands.

[@stconstable]

Timeless!!

[@trevdowson5810]

WONDERFUL! More please and thank you for this.

[@TheMjakub]

I love this song 💕 Love Maddy 😘

[@sirpancho]

Amazing live version!

[@asboukcomfortable1670]

Someone sing it yo me! Sang this for a busker on a mike in THE STREET. People came running with smiles, very loved song! Uk 🇬🇧

[@JMxx6204]

Beauty.

[@robertwilkinson2232]

She has the voice of an angel

[@raymondbonington9355]

A hit in late 73 in the uk ,

[@brendaleake]

Happy belated holidays everyone! I never heard this carol before, it's so beautiful!

[@General.Longstreet]

Voice of an Angel!💖

[@kitkatmeowville5601]

Thanks so much for posting this, I've been looking for it for a long time!

[@neilsharman4704]

My first reaction was to think it is way too slow. The word Gaudete means rejoice, and it sounded gloomy. Then I realised that you can hear the harmonies really clearly and the clarity in Maddie's voice. It also sounds more sort of bleak and wintry like this. A lovely interpretation.

[@knowhere60]

Things were slower back then, in the 1500s...😊

[@janemata6407]

It was probably a dance tune, but flexible!

[@grahamboffey457]

Extraordinary. And sublime.

[@pinball1970]

Beautiful!

[@miles-thesleeper-monroe8466]

👍

[@TimothyJarrett-uq9np]

So taken by this chant was I that I went to launde abbey and asked a good father to translate it...he did..except for one or two words that he told me where medieval Latin and he wasn't sure...and signed the translation.."made this poor effort"...such humility is unknown to most of us...I've been a steelye span fan ever since and cannot thank the good father enough.❤

[@a.y.t.a.s.494]

This is Christmas for me. Let it snow 😇🙏

[@raybede]

We saw the band as it is here several times and they were wild and wonderful. Thank you for uploading this I am now in tears with the memories.

[@chrisbarnes35]

Can’t believe there all on there phones while there singing this.

[@brianmorrison7542]

Brilliance

[@davidtyler6329]

No idea what it means but it's so uplifting.

[@frankheilingbrunner7852]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaudete

[@starshine6472]

Wow, I've never heard Latin pronounced with such a distinctive English accent!

[@asboukcomfortable1670]

Prithee , obsessed! UK 🇬🇧

[@L-AstridsArt]

have still an old recording from a French Radio (Radio Luxembourg the French one) . Now I thought I will look if I find this on YT and ... voilà! Thanks for sharing!

[@glensalt7460]

BRILLIANT TALLENT

[@OBLONGATA61]

Pure.

[@MikeNitro-og2xb]

Maddy's voice makes me so nostalgic...if I could I would visit her before I die

[@a.y.t.a.s.494]

Perfect performance from Maddy. The drummer had too much 😂

[@lindapadley5806]

Have the single. But to see a performance without any extras must be brilliant! To see Maddy using her hsnds instead of ear pieces shows how good an artist she is

[@paulcollis7651]

Best Christmas song ever. Never get it sung at mass nowadays. Maddies role would've been sung by pre pubescent boy originally .....or eunuch 😂

[@hooper1605]

Thank you!

[@deansinger8285]

Maddy is harmonious

[@huw3851]

I'd not heard this for a long time - apart from when I occasionally find myself whistling it.

[@ZiggySearchfieldCactus]

Most excellent 😎😎

[@dankdoctor6572]

Incredible.

[@skyboswell]

Maddy: pitch perfect every time.

[@тоткоторый-д6ц]

That is great!

[@johnllewlyndavies222]

This is SO good🎉

[@walkinghenry7905]

Someone once told me the Eagles hated Steely Dan and the line in 'Hotel California' "They can cut it with their steely knives but they still can't kill the beast" was a dig at them. I got confused and thought it was Steeleye Span they hated and had this mental image of the Eagles swearing at the radio whenever 'All around my hat' was played.

[@melvinmmelvin]

Also love the B-side, The Holly ansd the Ivy :)

[@geoffjoffy]

Great voice and what lovely teeth she has too.

[@user-ip6mv3hy3c]

Thanks a lot!

[@leonardodaria7370]

🎉🎉🎉 gaudete