Bert Jansch, search and destroy.

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Which of his albums do you rate?

"Needle of Death" is so sad.

― Amateurist (amateurist), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 17:36 (10 years ago) Permalink

Let's talk too about other Britfolk guitarists like Davey Graham.

― Amateurist (amateurist), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 17:36 (10 years ago) Permalink

why not anne briggs?

search: "black waterside", "reynardine"... uh... i've done this all before on an unrelated thread?

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 17:39 (10 years ago) Permalink

malkmus invited bert jansch to ATP NY.

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 17:41 (10 years ago) Permalink

S: Rosemary Lane, Bert & John, Conundrum
D: the over-orchestrated bits of Nicola.

― summerslastsound (summerslastsound), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 17:41 (10 years ago) Permalink

what does he sound like? I AM CURIOUS, YELLOW.

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 17:44 (10 years ago) Permalink

Go to http://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/1875, cue up the archived show, move to about 52 minutes in, and play "Needle of Death."

― Amateurist (amateurist), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 17:45 (10 years ago) Permalink

Anne Briggs: I suppose I rate her as a guitarist, though I think of her more as a singer. I guess that's a gender thing huh? Anyways I like The Time Has Come but I don't much like her unaccompanied ballad singing.

― Amateurist (amateurist), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 18:03 (10 years ago) Permalink

search all. John Renbourn, that's another story.

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 18:07 (10 years ago) Permalink

I've never ever heard him - heard of him, though... and he's also supporting Alison Moyet on her forthcoming UK tour in April - what's he like?

― russ t, Wednesday, 12 March 2003 18:15 (10 years ago) Permalink

he's #1 on my list of stuff to buy right now.

but search: Pentangle's "Sweet Child"

― JasonD (JasonD), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 19:04 (10 years ago) Permalink

D: the over-orchestrated bits of Nicola.

Ha. Woe is love my dear and Life depends on love are the best things on Nicola. Lovely, bucolic slithers of calm. I'd pick those over his guitar pickings, fine though they are.

I'd imagine Tom E and Robin C would like them as well.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 20:04 (10 years ago) Permalink

i love jansch - his early stuff is amazing but hard to find (on vinyl at least). of his solo albums i have "jack orion", "moonlight" and "bert and john" with renbourn. the pentangle stuff is also amazing.

― john fail (cenotaph), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 20:10 (10 years ago) Permalink

I've seen a two-disc comp floating around the bins at my local CD store lately? Anyone familiar with it? Would it constitute a pretty good intro?

― Lee G (Lee G), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 20:20 (10 years ago) Permalink

eh, i'd avoid comps, though Shanachie's Best of Bert Janschi\ s very worthwhile. Start with Pentangle - the first album (s/t), Basket of Light, and Cruel Sister, in that order. Then hit Bert's Jack Orion (used to be a very decent twofer available with Jack Orion and Nicola on it)

You'll love him, he's great

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 20:22 (10 years ago) Permalink

S: Pentangle "Cruel Sistahz"

― Leee (Leee), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 20:24 (10 years ago) Permalink

My mistake it's singular, "Cruel Sistah"

― Leee (Leee), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 20:24 (10 years ago) Permalink

I've liked much Bert Jansch solo that I've heard (I have an anthoology and Birthday Blues) but little Pentangle. I guess I don't like the occasional jazzy affectations of the group, nor do I much like the other singers.

― Amateurist (amateurist), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 20:31 (10 years ago) Permalink

you don't like Jacqui McShee?? she's great! i really love her voice

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 20:33 (10 years ago) Permalink

to each his own. it's pentagle's slight jazz leanings (in the rhythm section) that make me like them so much.

― john fail (cenotaph), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 20:34 (10 years ago) Permalink

Davey Graham is a monster monster acoustic guitarist, but I find his singing mediocre and his choice of material generally a bit corny (he appears briefly in 'The Servant', playing not a v. exciting psuedo-jazzbo tune). The alb he made with Shirley Collins, 'Folk Routes, New Routes', is exceptionally beautiful in smallish doses, and in the UK at least there are a number of v. gd Graham comps and alb reissues.

I love 'Willie O'Winsbury' by Anne Briggs - an old English folk song abt gender confusion and bisexual desire, verily! Fairport Convention pinched the tune for 'Farewell Farewell' on 'Liege and Lief'. Briggs isn't as technically flawless as Shirley Collins, but I find that lack of perfection - a kind of nervousness, almost - very compelling.

I have REAL probs w/ Incredible String Band. The first five Fairports albs are all wonderful - a great STORY. I'd also like to hear more Jansch, Renbourn, 'the' Pentangle, or any other gd folkie stuff.

And what abt the American equivs? Fahey is kind of the tops of them all, of course - HE DIDN'T SING!! - but I'm also partial to Sandy Bull (meandering hippy-'world'-psych mindfuckery), Robbie Basho (scary whistling/vocalising plus v. technically correct and polished guitaring) and the Brazilian guitarist Bola Sete, whose 'Ocean Memories' set (parts of it originally released by Takoma as 'Ocean') is one of the v. greatest solo acoustic gtr recs ever - up there w/ 'Aida' by D. Bailey, 'Death of the Rare Bird Ymir' by Hans Reichel, 'Guitar Solos' by Fred Frith or 'America' by Fahey, easily.

― Andrew L (Andrew L), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 20:36 (10 years ago) Permalink

heh, Andrew, you just listed all the music i've been buying lately. s. bull, fahey, basho, fairport, frith, ISB.

all the rest (bola sete, shirley collins) are currently on my list

also add to this Steeleye Span. just picked up Pleased to See the King and it's beautiful.

a little different, but still pretty interesting: i got a record of American Folk Hymns from the Sacred Harp Tradition. it's acapella gospel singing in this weird round robin sort of way. pretty cool stuff.

― JasonD (JasonD), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 20:45 (10 years ago) Permalink

I'm halfway with the Amateurist on Pentangle--I like the jazzy bits, but don't enjoy the singing. That's why I've been curious about Jansch. No wavering folkie soprano.

― Lee G (Lee G), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 20:51 (10 years ago) Permalink

what exactly don't you like about the Incredible String Band? I warn you, you are speaking to an almost comically devoted fan!

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 20:53 (10 years ago) Permalink

I've enjoyed everything I've heard by him (and Graham for that matter), which admittedly is not much of a very extensive catalog. I even liked the two post-70's records I have (Heartbreak and When the Circus Comes to Town) though I haven't pulled them out in ages. The early ones I have are Bert Jansch, It Don't Bother Me, Jack Orion, Birthday Blues, and Rosemary Lane. The three Pentangle records I have (all the ones roger lists) are great.

I think I like the Dav(e)y Graham stuff better though. Just the way he combines so many strains of music is really exciting, and it never sounds like forced eclecticism. The Jansch stuff by comparison seems a tad too traditional (even though he largely composed originals). I also think Graham is technically a more interesting, resourceful player; he sounds equally at home playing Gary Davis and Charles Mingus. I also like it when he strays into eastern music, on cuts like "Afta" and "Maajun" (sort of wish he would do it more often actually). Though Jansch clearly has a far superior singing voice to Graham's. Still, that never bothered me much with the Graham discs.

The Folk, Blues, and Beyond cd on Topic is outstanding. My jaw dropped the first time I heard it. The After Hours at Hull University is pretty sloppy and poorly recorded, but still pretty charming for its immediacy; tipsy college students making requests. I've also got The Guitar Player, Godington Boundry, Large as Life and All That Moody; all highly recommened. It's a shame the bulk of his Decca stuff hasn't made it to cd; the lps go for ridiculous prices on eBay.

Amateurist, I'm curious what you don't like about the Briggs unaccompanied stuff. I've got the Topic cd and I love it to death.

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 20:57 (10 years ago) Permalink

oh of course I forgot I also have Folk Routes, New Routes. Andrew's post reminded me of that (sorry I've long ago turned off the 'notify of new posts feature').

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 21:01 (10 years ago) Permalink

Search: 'Running from Home', 'Blackwater Side', 'Needle Of Death' and lots more.

― the pinefox, Wednesday, 12 March 2003 21:33 (10 years ago) Permalink

is roy harper considered a folky? where should i start with him?

vashti banyan has been recommended to me, as well as the trees. i think i will have to investigate those next.

as to american's, there is a ton of american folk - but i've never heard much vocal stuff that's attained the same sense of mysticism i get from anne briggs. honestly that PG Six record from two years ago (where he covers Anne Briggs) is amazing. jackson c. frank comes to mind as sort of approaching the mystery....

― john fail (cenotaph), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 21:37 (10 years ago) Permalink

'Stormcock' is a gd Roy Harper alb.

― Andrew L (Andrew L), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 21:40 (10 years ago) Permalink

other things on the list. you guys can tell me if they're good or not

Mellow Candle
Trees
Grphon
Albion Band
Amazing Blondel
Tony, John & Caro
Brig Bhushan Kabra (indian classical music played on a slide guitar)
Karen Dalton
Forest
Joseph Spence
MF Dooms new project, Monsta Island Czars (sorry, wrong thread)

― JasonD (JasonD), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 23:53 (10 years ago) Permalink

Joseph Spence = incredible, but be careful. Some of the later recordings find his guitar skills dilapidated. Start with The Real Bahamas and then Complete Folkways Recordings

― Amateurist (amateurist), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 23:55 (10 years ago) Permalink

Full disclosure: I am an introverted Western MA Folk Psych Nomad.

No one has mentioned C.O.B. Yet?? Clive Palmer's Post String Band group. Both Albums are *stellar* get'em if you got the slightest interest in Britfolk. Turn off MoysheMcStiff and the Tartan Lancers of the Sacred Heart before the "reggae" single

I don't think I would destroy anything by Bert Jansch. Jack Orion and Bert and John are my favorites. Pentangle only gets played when I'm I'm a lively mood.

I'm sadly not as familar with Davey Graham's Solo. But what I've heard I like.

A couple of the later "scientology pase" String Band records don't do it for me but 5,000 Spirits,Hangman's Beautiful Daughter and if you can find it "Be Glad The Song Has No Ending" make me dance the boogaloo.

I love Vashti Bunyan- Just Anothe Diamond Day. Some conider her to be a little too "twee" but if you like your folk wispy and delicate dive in.

For John Fahey I like the Tacoma and Reverant albums more than the reprise ones. America and The Blind Joe Death series getting the most play. I hear that brand new one is pretty good too.

I got to see Sandy Bull Live and it was a jaw dropper.Best gutairist I've ever seen. Hopefully will get Wizz Jones over to the states soon. Last time he was in the air Sept. 11th and the plane had to go back to england...

Don't forget the new breed- Joshua, P.G. Six, MV (Matt Valentine),Tower Recordings, Hall of Fame,Six Organs Of Admittance,Greg Weeks

AND ROGER I NEED A GOLDEN CALVES ALBUM

― brg30 (brg30), Thursday, 13 March 2003 00:32 (10 years ago) Permalink

brg: i just found a bunch in the garage - it's yours for theprice of shipping dude, send me an email. will also send you a GC / Hall of Fame split 7", if you don't have it, but the covers were lost in a fire so I'd suggest making your own.

jason D - Mellow Candle a bit too Rennaissance Fair for me, but search Forest's first two albums if you can't get enough Incredible String Band, and Karen Dalton is essential, and recently resissued on CD. And first reports on Doom's new project are positive, though I can't vouch for it firsthand.

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Thursday, 13 March 2003 04:16 (10 years ago) Permalink

jansch & conundrum did an interesting all instrumental thing in the late '70s called "avocet" (as I recall 4 long pieces, each named for a bird).

davey graham was pretty darn good, but haven't heard him since his instrumental "irish" phase.

― bflaska, Thursday, 13 March 2003 18:41 (10 years ago) Permalink

1 year passes...

i never explained why i don't like anne briggs's unaccompanied singing, and now i've forgotten what it sounds like.

― amateur!st (amateurist), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 04:58 (9 years ago) Permalink

this is so fucking weird amateurist i was just looking at this thread thinking to revive it because i think you're underestimating anne's guitar playing.

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 05:09 (9 years ago) Permalink

i was listening to her playing on "black water side", it's like sterling morrison ripped it off wholesale for "pale blue eyes".

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 05:10 (9 years ago) Permalink

i'll have to dig those anne briggs cds out of storage!

i think i found her singing too ornamental, too "achieved" in a post-ewan maccoll/joan baez way.

― amateur!st (amateurist), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 05:18 (9 years ago) Permalink

Really? I find the collection I have to be really stark.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 05:29 (9 years ago) Permalink

yeah, well to be possibly snobby, it depends on what you're used to. by rock standards it's stark, by the standards of british traditional singers (and someone like shirley collins) it's a bit ornamented.

― amateur!st (amateurist), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 05:34 (9 years ago) Permalink

Hahaha Shirley Collins is only the greatest singer ever. If I measured all folk singers against her I wouldn't like anything.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 05:36 (9 years ago) Permalink

she is so wonderful. (collins)

but my reasons for loving her change a lot, in that way i have the kind of relationship with her music i have with few other things.

she doesn't have a conventionally fantastic voice, and her pitch is unsteady--which is why i was surprised why i girl for whom i copied "anthems in eden" didn't like it and explained "ew. they have 'angel voices.'"

but this belongs on the shirley collins thread.

― amateur!st (amateurist), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 05:49 (9 years ago) Permalink

Just wanted to echo the upthread COB recommendation. Just got Spirit of Love and it's a beauty. Will post more when I've chewed on it longer.

― NickB (NickB), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 08:14 (9 years ago) Permalink

Talking of voices, and returning to the initial subject of this thread, Bert's big problem is his singing has never really been strong enough but he's a genius.

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 08:56 (9 years ago) Permalink

1 year passes...

Woe is love my dear and Life depends on love are the best things on Nicola.

on the money - and clear precursors to Bryter Layter in my opinion

― Paul (scifisoul), Monday, 19 December 2005 20:54 (7 years ago) Permalink

and Harper's "Another Day" ?

― Paul (scifisoul), Monday, 19 December 2005 20:55 (7 years ago) Permalink

hes at devs atp may 2006

― dan bunnybrain (dan bunnybrain), Monday, 19 December 2005 23:30 (7 years ago) Permalink

I always think 'Needle of Death' sounds very like Morrissey

― bham, Tuesday, 20 December 2005 10:21 (7 years ago) Permalink

Best thing on "Nicola" is that Anne Briggs' song

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 10:28 (7 years ago) Permalink

3 years pass...

gonna pick up LA Turnaround i think. country-rock/brit folk hybrid sounds promising

― velko, Monday, 31 August 2009 10:40 (3 years ago) Permalink

I've sometimes wondered who was the better Go player between him and John Renbourn.

― Bob Six, Monday, 31 August 2009 11:14 (3 years ago) Permalink

xp l.a. turnaround is good--don't know yet abt those other two drag city put out.

― call all destroyer, Monday, 31 August 2009 11:19 (3 years ago) Permalink

2 years pass...

RIP? :(

― Stevie T, Wednesday, 5 October 2011 09:17 (1 year ago) Permalink

Hey, you better be wrong

― Juice Should Be Sterliized (Tom D.), Wednesday, 5 October 2011 09:19 (1 year ago) Permalink

^^^^

He's been poorly recently by all accounts though.

― master musicians of jamiroquai (NickB), Wednesday, 5 October 2011 09:33 (1 year ago) Permalink

@Terrascope - Phil McMullen
Bert Jansch has unfortunately passed away after a long battle with cancer. A true legend the likes of which we shan't see again for a while.

― master musicians of jamiroquai (NickB), Wednesday, 5 October 2011 09:34 (1 year ago) Permalink

I'd imagine that Phil is a pretty reliable source :(

― master musicians of jamiroquai (NickB), Wednesday, 5 October 2011 09:35 (1 year ago) Permalink

Hoping it's not true

― Juice Should Be Sterliized (Tom D.), Wednesday, 5 October 2011 09:37 (1 year ago) Permalink

Oh man :-(

― Young Swell (Le Bateau Ivre), Wednesday, 5 October 2011 10:30 (1 year ago) Permalink

http://open.spotify.com/album/4BJtl9XSPI4ILUA7eSxBTT

RIP

― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Wednesday, 5 October 2011 10:34 (1 year ago) Permalink

Anyone know who this Gary Boyle fellow is who plays electric guitar on this track from Moonshine? Love stuff like this, sounds a whole lot like Barry Clarke's playing on those two Trees albums.

― master musicians of jamiroquai (NickB), Wednesday, 5 October 2011 19:12 (1 year ago) Permalink

Okay, I've answered my own question:

"Gary's career began in the 1960's. His first big gig was working with the great Dusty Springfield. This was followed by albums with Brian Auger and Julie Driscoll which included tours of the UK, Europe and the USA. Having left Auger in the 1970's, Gary began three years of studio work in London, during this period he worked on albums with Mike Westbrook, Mike Gibbs, Norma Winstone and Keith Tippett. Other highlights during this period include four albums with Japanese percussionist Stomu Yamashata and an album with Bert Jansch. He then went on to form the award-winning jazz-fusion band Isotope, who recorded three albums and toured extensively worldwide"

Also some nice footage of him sitting in with Soft Machine here, his solo is from 3.45 through to the end.

― master musicians of jamiroquai (NickB), Wednesday, 5 October 2011 19:23 (1 year ago) Permalink

"Moonshine" is one of my favourite Bert albums

― Juice Should Be Sterliized (Tom D.), Thursday, 6 October 2011 08:35 (1 year ago) Permalink

Almost tempted to do a poll of his albums, but I don't really do those and don't know how many would take part. Anyway, "Rosemary Lane" is his best album by miles - not that the others aren't good but that album is soooooo good. Also particularly like 1st album, "Jack Orion", "Moonshine". I've never heard a bad album by him but the second album is a bit skimpy and second album-like. I'm not so fond of those mid-70s crossover albums he made with Mike Nesmith (well at least one of them was made with him) and I don't know some of his later albums at all - last one I heard was the one with "Born and Bred In Old Ireland" on it and it was good.

― Juice Should Be Sterliized (Tom D.), Thursday, 6 October 2011 13:16 (1 year ago) Permalink

i dunno, i love LA Turnaround (the nesmith one). Not a terribly radical departure -- jansch could only sound like jansch, you know? But the little country rock touches are cool, i like the sound of the pedal steel mixed with his guitar. but you're probably right, rosemary lane is the best one overall.

― tylerw, Thursday, 6 October 2011 15:48 (1 year ago) Permalink

listening to rosemary lane RIGHT NOW as a matter of fact.

― tylerw, Thursday, 6 October 2011 15:51 (1 year ago) Permalink

I'm going to listen to it on my way home tonight!

― Juice Should Be Sterliized (Tom D.), Thursday, 6 October 2011 15:52 (1 year ago) Permalink

The Black Swan from 2006 is pretty great.

― beta blog, Thursday, 6 October 2011 16:09 (1 year ago) Permalink

yeah, i like that one. i know some people weren't nuts about his gruff vocals in the past decade or so, but they work for me.
man, his version of "reynardine" on rosemary lane is so gorgeous.

― tylerw, Thursday, 6 October 2011 16:14 (1 year ago) Permalink

2 weeks pass...

AVOCET! What a beautiful record.

― tylerw, Friday, 21 October 2011 22:14 (1 year ago) Permalink

yeah i've been listening to that one as a concert from the same year (1979) -- both are great.

― flesh, the devil, and a wolf (wolf) (amateurist), Friday, 21 October 2011 22:18 (1 year ago) Permalink

as WELL as

― flesh, the devil, and a wolf (wolf) (amateurist), Friday, 21 October 2011 22:18 (1 year ago) Permalink

yeah, i didn't even know there was a live album with the same dudes until this week. need to track it down.

― tylerw, Friday, 21 October 2011 22:20 (1 year ago) Permalink

i dunno about an album but i got some bootleg from 1979. what's the album?

― flesh, the devil, and a wolf (wolf) (amateurist), Friday, 21 October 2011 22:21 (1 year ago) Permalink

this one? http://www.amazon.com/Live-at-Laforet-Bert-Jansch/dp/B000CQM11I
ridiculous prices at the moment. must be floating around on the net somewhere...
might you be able to hook me up w/ the bootleg?

― tylerw, Friday, 21 October 2011 22:24 (1 year ago) Permalink

are you on d.a.d.? if not, email me.

― flesh, the devil, and a wolf (wolf) (amateurist), Friday, 21 October 2011 22:32 (1 year ago) Permalink

9 months pass...

never heard this one, apparently being re-ished soon

Heartbreak - Bert Jansch. Remastered reissue of out-of-print classic Bert Jansch album! CD includes 2nd disc Live At McCabe’s Guitar Shop from June 1981. LP’s first pressing on limited-edition clear vinyl.

― tylerw, Monday, 13 August 2012 17:59 (9 months ago) Permalink

Oh My Father (posted above) is a standout track for me and I always wished there was more Jansch that sounded like it. Is there?

― Will Chave (Hurting 2), Monday, 13 August 2012 18:26 (9 months ago) Permalink

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.