state of mynd: Music Catalog B

Bert Jansch - Bert Jansch (1965)

Bert Jansch - Bert Jansch (1965)

Recorded with a portable tape player on a borrowed guitar in the kitchen of his London flat, the impact of Bert Jansch's debut has been somewhat blunted by time, but it was a vastly influential work. His masterful acoustic picking, which blended elements of traditional British folk, blues, and jazz, inspired not just other folk players, but rockers who frequently used acoustic guitars. Specifically, Jimmy Page and Neil Young have gone on record as noting their heavy debts to Jansch's early material. He was also a talented songwriter, and all but one of the 15 tracks on his debut was an original composition (the set closes with his version of the instrumental "Angi," originally performed by fellow British folk guitarist Davy Graham, and popularized by Paul Simon). The artist sounds quite close to early Donovan with his Scottish inflections, though he is darker and less pop-oriented; indeed, Donovan recorded a couple of early Jansch tunes, and wrote a couple of songs directly inspired by the artist ("Bert's Blues" and "House of Jansch"). Jansch reflects a rambling, beatnik sort of lifestyle with his compositions on this album, which includes one of his most famous tunes, the somber "Needle of Death" (about the heroin-induced death of one of his friends). [Castle reissued the album in 2002, adding a pair of bonus tracks.]

Tracklist:

1 Strolling Down the Highway Jansch 3:06
2 Smokey River Giuffre 2:56
3 Oh How Your Love Is Strong Jansch 3:40
4 I Have No Time Jansch 3:09
5 Finches Jansch 0:51
6 Rambling's Going to Be the Death of Me Jansch 3:18
7 Veronica Jansch 1:32
8 Needle of Death Jansch 3:20
9 Do You Hear Me Now? Jansch 2:06
10 Alice's Wonderland Mingus 1:46
11 Running from Home Jansch 2:24
12 Courting Blues Jansch 4:02
13 Casbah Jansch 2:10
14 Dreams of Love Jansch 1:44
15 Angie Adderley, Graham 3:15
16 Instrumental Medley 1964 [*] Jansch 8:44
17 Angie 1964 [live/*] Adderley, Graham 2:50

Bert Jansch & John Renbourn - Bert And John (1966)

Bert Jansch & John Renbourn - Bert And John (1966)

British guitarists Bert Jansch and John Renbourn have created an amazing musical landscape in this album, which is their only collaboration outside of their band Pentangle. Pentangle released six albums and enjoyed an unprecedented amount of success for an acoustic band. Bert Jansch is a virtuoso acoustic guitarist, famously revered by Neil Young and Jimmy Page, and John Renbourn is a virtuoso guitarist who is every bit as talented as Jansch. This album is produced in stereo - it sounds like there are really two guitarists sitting in your room - and it is very interesting to hear how the two seperate guitar parts interplay with each other. Overall, this is a very good album, and the conver of Mingus' "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" is worth the price of the album alone.

"At one point I was absolutely obsessed with Bert Jansch. When I first heard that LP (1965) I couldn't believe it. It was so far ahead of what everyone else was doing. No one in America could touch that." - Jimmy Page
"As much of a great guitar player as Jimi was, Bert Jansch is the same thing for acoustic guitar ... and my favourite." - Neil Young (amazon.com)
Tracklist:

1. East Wind 1:25
2. Piano Tune 1:39
3. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat 3:51
4. Soho 3:00
5. Tic-Tocative 1:56
6. Orlando 1:40
7. Red's Favourite 1:33
8. No Exit 1:24
9. Along The Way 2:02
10. The Time Has Come 2:53
11. Stepping Stones 2:42
12. After The Dance 2:23

Bert Jansch - The Bert Jansch Sampler (1969)

Bert Jansch - The Bert Jansch Sampler (1969)

1969 LP Transatlantic 10
The Bert Jansch Sampler
Label: Transatlantic Records
Catalog#: TRA SAM 10
Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: UK
Released: 1969
Genre: Rock
Style: Folk Rock
Credits: Written-By - Bert Jansch (tracks: A1, A2, A6, B5, B6)

BERT JANSCH The Bert Jansch Sampler (Original 1969 UK 12-track Transatlantic vinyl compilation LP

Tracklist:

A1 Rabbit Run
A2 The Wheel
A3 Go Your Way My Love
Written-By - Anne Briggs , Bert Jansch
A4 Come Back Baby
A5 Angie
Written-By - Davy Graham
A6 Needle Of Death
B1 Wishing Well
Written-By - Anne Briggs , Bert Jansch
B2 The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face
Written-By - Ewan MacColl
B3 Nottamun Town
Written By - Trad. Arr. Jansch
B4 Blackwater Side
Written By - Trad. Arr. Jansch
B5 Veronica
B6 Running From Home

Bert Jansch - Birthday Blues (1969)

It's no accident that Jansch's 1969 album sounds like a modified version of the Pentangle. He was a member of the great British folk-rock group at the time of this album's release, which was produced by Shel Talmy (who also worked with the Pentangle). And he's backed by the group's sterling rhythm section of Danny Thompson (bass) and Terry Cox (drums), with occasional touches of harmonica (played by British blues singer Duffy Power), alto sax, and flute. The effect is akin to hearing an unbalanced Pentangle, with no John Renbourn on dueling guitar or Jacqui McShee on vocals. That's not at all a bad thing — Jansch was one of the group's main motors, and can still be a compelling writer and performer on his own. All of the cuts on this LP are originals, showing the artist leaning a little more toward bluesy styles than usual, though the mood is predominantly British folk. It's a pleasant effort, but not his best work, either as a solo performer or within a group context.

1 Come Sing Me a Happy Song to Prove We All Can Get Along the Lumpy, ... Jansch 2:05
2 The Bright New Year Jansch 1:34
3 Tree Song Jansch 2:37
4 Poison Jansch 3:16
5 Miss Heather Rosemary Sewell Jansch 2:10
6 I've Got a Woman Jansch 5:15
7 A Woman Like You Jansch 4:27
8 I Am Lonely Jansch 2:31
9 Promised Land Jansch 2:51
10 Birthday Blues Jansch 1:14
11 Wishing Well Briggs, Jansch 2:17
12 Blues Jansch 2:40


Bert Jansch - Jack Orion (1966)

Tracklist:

1. The Waggoner's Ladd 3:25
2. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face 1:41
3. Jack Orion 9:47
4. The Gardener 1:42
5. Nottamun 4:33
6. Henry Martin 3:11
7. Blackwaterside 3:44
8. Pretty Polly 4:09

Bert Jansch - Moonshine (1973)

Bert Jansch - Moonshine (1973)

Even when performing with others, Bert Jansch has always continued his solo career. Moonshine was recorded in 1972 and released in 1973, and while it gained little attention at the time, it is greatly superior to later Pentangle efforts like Reflection. The arrangements are fuller than on his earlier solo work and more varied than Pentangle's, creating a distinct folk-rock sound. There are violins, harps, harmonicas, and even electric guitar. Things get started with the traditional "Yarrow," highlighted by a lovely flute, and brought to fullness by Jansch's deep vocals and acoustic guitar. Tony Visconti's bass work and Dave Mattacks' percussion build a sturdy bottom end that perfectly underlines the other players. The original "Night Time Blues" receives a nice boost from Aly Bain's fiddle, while "Oh My Father" is tinted with Gary Boyle's stinging guitar. Ralph McTell adds bluesy harmonica to "Brought With the Rain," and Jansch strips things down to voice and guitar for "Twa Corbies." In fact, there are no bad cuts here. Jansch is in great voice throughout this project, and sings all except one cut alone. His duet with Mary Visconti on "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" is fascinating. Her alto voice, like Jacqui McShee's, offers a perfect contrast to Jansch's deeper pipes. The arrangement is also intriguing, allowing Visconti to enter each stanza half a step behind Jansch, overlapping with the same lyrics. Danny Thompson produced the album, lending a hand to its beautiful, dense sound. For Jansch, Pentangle, and folk-rock fans, Moonshine will be a real find.

Tracklist:

1 Yarrow Traditional 5:09
Composed by: Traditional
Performed by: Jansch, Les Quatre,
2 Brought With the Rain Jansch, Traditional 2:55
3 The January Man Goulder 3:31
4 Night Time Blues Jansch 7:14
5 Moonshine Jansch 4:56
6 The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face MacColl 3:00
7 Ramble Away Traditional 4:35
8 TWA Corbies Traditional 3:00
9 Oh My Father Jansch 4:07

Bert Jansch - Santa Barbara Honeymoon (1975)

Bert Jansch - Santa Barbara Honeymoon (1975)

2009 Remaster + Bonus

Santa Barbara Honeymoon is the tenth album by Scottish folk musician Bert Jansch, released in 1975.
The three 70's Charisma albums L.A. Turnaround, Santa Barbara Honeymoon and A Rare Conundrum
had been out of print for decades and never been available on CD before.

In June 2009 these three albums were released by Virgin Records (EMI). Bert supervised the re-mastering
himself as well as hand-picked the bonus material. The CD includes newly discovered material from the
album sessions as well as live recordings from the Montreux Jazz Festival 4 July 1975, all of them
previously unreleased.

Release Info

Released: June 2009
Label: Virgin Records (EMI)
Catalog#: 5099996486429
Playing Time: 59 minutes
Remastering: Peter Mew and Bert Jansch

Personnel

Bert Jansch (guitar/vocal)
Jim Baker (guitar)
Jay Lacy (electric guitar)
Bill Smith (keyboards)
David Barry (keyboards)
George Seymour (synth)
Robert Greenidge (steel drum)
Don Whaley (bass)
Ernie McDaniels (bass)
David Hungate (bass)
Danny Lane (drums)
Tris Imboden (drums)
+brass and backing vocals

Review by Daniel S. Crommie on amazon.com, Rating: 5/5 Stars

Under-rated, beautifully remastered and expanded

I bought this as an LP back in the early eighties - used, as it was difficult to find a new copy to procure
at the time, and I have to say I was underwhelmed by the material and the band he chose to accompany
him on this third Charisma Records excursion. With 30 years passed I can safely say I was quite wrong
in my judgement of this fine, fine album. Sure, there are some unexpected production touches that seemed
jarring at the time: spacey synth on Mary and Joseph, steel drums and horns, etc. Now I can see these
were very appropriate and complemented the arrangements with good result. I used to cringe at You are
My Sunshine - now I find it to be a really emotionally touching song with some fine backing vocals from
the other musicians. Of course Blues Run the Game is also a marvelous song by one of his favorite
songwriters, the late Jackson C. Frank - and a song he would later revisit on his live CD Downunder.
The remastering is splendid on all the Charisma releases, but the real bonuses are the live tracks recorded
in 1975 at Montreaux, especially the live version of When the Teardrops Fell which I personally prefer over
the studio version from the album proper. I am very pleased that I had a chance to re-evaluate this
recording, especially considering my early reluctance to pick it up when I saw it was going to be made
available again.

Tracklist:

1. Love Anew
2. Mary and Joseph
3. Be My Friend
4. Baby Blue
5. Dance Lady Dance
6. You Are My Sunshine
7. Lons And Gone
8. Blues Run The Game
9. Build Another Band
10. When The Teardrops Fell
11. Dynamite
12. Buckrabbit
13. Build Another Band [Alternate Version] - (previously unreleased)
14. When The Teardrops Fall - (previously unreleased, live)
15. Lady Nothing - (previously unreleased, live)
16. Dance Lady Dance - (previously unreleased, live)
17. Angie - (previously unreleased, live)
18. One For Jo - (previously unreleased, live)