1. "I suppose a few comment s& links are in order" In response to Reply # 0
not that that makes this post 'in-depth music discussion' but hey man, I don't know what else to say that I haven't said before.
I mean... Jansch & Renbourn's combination of guitars is among the sickest sound ever. Fingerstyle, chording, single string soloing, trading fours, and, man... Renbourn's tone.
Danny Thompson? Jesus. And 45 years later he's *still* the best argument in favor of double bass in rock music... I've seen him backing Richard Thompson a few times (acoustic and electric) and the guy's a perfect complement. Check out his credits listing sometime.
Terry Cox. I mean, has a drummer ever done more with less (even Mattacks)? I've posted this before, but http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3Ipmg0in9Q - the beat's insane, but dude's so relaxed he looks like he could be sipping a brandy and scratching his hound's head by the fireplace while cranking that shit out.
and Jacqui McShee's vocals... while she tends to get overlooked, her unadorned but beautiful voice is as perfect a complement to the band's Anglo-folk/blues/jazz/rock stew as anything could have been.
3. "the two Schanachie comps* are great, and hit most of" In response to Reply # 2
that high points... but the albums all have quirkier songs that didn't make it onto the compilations. Including a few zingers like the title track to the Reflections album: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvxjKg10MXc
*the other one being "A Maid THat's Deep In Love," and to be fair, I only have those two + sweet child*. I've had access to most of the other records too (The Pentangle, Basket of Light, Reflection, but I'm not sure I've head Cruel Sister or Solomon's Seal in their entirety)
*I've got one or two later albums as well, and I'm more or less discounting them. Austin says the one(s) that has/have everyone except Renbourn is/are good though.
(if that makes sense... intense may be a better word)
as I find the earlier stuff. But I like traditional songs, and they kind of stopped doing them as much as time went on... which is somewhat understandable.
6. "Basket of Light is my favorite" In response to Reply # 2
They started to use more extra-instrumentation compared witht he first two albums even if those are dope too; however, the cd-reissue of "Sweet Child" render the debut somewhat unnecessary because the live-versions of the songs from the s/t-debut are so much better IMO. Actually, the only one of the early Pentangle-albums i don't care too much for is "Cruel Sister" which is a bit too pure brit-folk on the A-side and i find the B-side a bit meandering; still good though.
Also, "Reflection" is interesting because it to my ears sound like they were starting to do some more american-folky stuff on that record compared with the earlier albums where the US-influences seemed to be more blues- and jazz rather than country etc. And "Rain and Snow" and "Wedding Dress" are SO dope.
7. "No lie, I was just listening to them." In response to Reply # 0
I have the s/t and Basket of Light burned to one disc and in my car's cd changer. I also have a Liege & Lief/Full House twofer on another disc in that bad boy.
10. "as I suggested in the op" In response to Reply # 7
>I have the s/t and Basket of Light burned to one disc and in >my car's cd changer. I also have a Liege & Lief/Full House >twofer on another disc in that bad boy. > >Great band, I love their bassist.
didnt have time to leave a full response... thanks for bringing them up! I hadnt pulled out my "Sweet Child" vinyl since Bert Jansch died and listening to it again has inspired me to look up more of their/ jansch's shit..
13. "RE: Dude, Bert is a GAWD." In response to Reply # 12
I just picked up the reissue of LA Turnaround today. One listen through and, jeez, it's even better than A Rare Conundrum (which I thought would be impossible to top when I first heard it last year).
15. "I believe I was gifted a burn of LA Turnaround recently" In response to Reply # 13
Listened to it once through and found it a bit too... singer-songwritery... moments of greatness for sure, but missing a special something for me.
The only Bert modern solo I've got on disc is Heartbreak Hotel, and if memory serves, it's very mediocre.
I've actually got more Renbourn work in my library - I think two of the John Renbourn Group records, and two of the Renbourn/Grossman collabos from Kicking Mule. Plus of course the completely awesome Renbourn live album with Robin Williamson.
I used to have a copy of Live in America on tape as well (we're talking 20 years ago) and I still keep a lot of those songs close to my heart - THe Flower of Northumberland, John Dory, Lovely Nancy, Lindsay, Ye Mariners All (JRG's acap version >>>> Bruce Rowland-era Fairport's, though that's also very good.)
16. "RE: Well, it's obviously very influenced by John and Nick." In response to Reply # 15
But, maybe it's just the fingerpick whore in me. I hear that playing and it's just so. . . soulful. And I love what he sings about. Who knew he could be so great with words?
14. "I started out trying to play like Big Bill Broonzy..." In response to Reply # 12
and I'm still trying.
(Isn't that a paraphrase of Bert's, or maybe John's, comment on the gatefold? Kind of funny, since their playing comes from the very distinctly British school of fingerstyle - most notably different in that, even in its bluesier moments, it relies far less on the rolling alternating bass lines of their American fingerstyle contemporaries.)
Anyway, glad to hear it, and yes, Woman Like You is one of Bert's better moments on that one.
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