Even in 1978, Steeleye Span were just a memory for Gay Woods and husband Terry. They had left after just one album and started The Woods Band using material they had written together. Unfortunately, after only the same output – one album, they disbanded and the husband and wife team was left to their own devices. After a time of living on their farm in Ireland they returned to the studio as a duo and enjoyed their most creative and successful musical phase. ‘Tender Hooks’ comes out of this mid-seventies time and given the styles around then, it is a wonder it was not a much bigger commercial success even than it was. In the same year as its release, Renaissance had a hit with ‘Northern Lights’ – a song not too
dissimilar to some of the material on ‘Tender Hooks’.
With the benefit of hindsight, it is possible to see why the album was so well acclaimed. The two had a wide repertoire of distinct musical styles to draw on, all of which were popular in that time and now make us folk of a certain age a touch wistful for what has passed. The album opens with ‘We Can Work This One Out’ – a song you will be singing long after the album is put away. It’s one of the most catchy and easy to listen to and the mixing on the album brings Gay’s voice to the front. It’s a very commercial sound. After that ‘Friends of Mine’ changes style with the emphasis on acoustic guitar. Likewise with ‘Full Moon’ it’s very much of it’s era. Terry takes vocals on ‘I’ve a Lady’ – a much more upbeat number and does it comfortably with backing vocals from Gay. ‘The Reward’ is much folkier and a bit like what you would expect nowadays – lovely vocals and a tune that stretches Gay and shows what a fine disciplined singer she had become.
Nick Clark
01. We Can Work This One Out (3.19)
02. Friends of Mine (3.14)
03. Full Moon (2.43)
04. I've a Lady (2.23)
05. The Reward (3.03)
06. I Won't Believe It (2.54)
07. Dream Come True (2.11)
08. Piece of Summer (2.21)
09. Lonesome Blues (3.45)
10. Heart of Stone (4.38)
Gay Woods: dulcimer, autoharp, vocals & harmony vocals;
Terry Woods: acoustic, electric & 12-string guitars, banjo, vocals & harmony vocals;
Phil Palmer: lead guitar & 12-string guitar;
Jim Russell: drums;
Kate McGarrigle: piano & harmony vocals [6, 10];
Pat Donaldson: bass & harmony vocals [10];
Keith Donald: alto saxophone;
Martin O'Connor: accordion;
Neil Toner: mandolin;
Fran Breen: percussion;
Jolyon Jackson: organ & cello