Customer Reviews

Pentangling - The Collection

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In 2000, Sanctuary/Castle Records released a two-disc anthology entitled THE PENTANGLE FAMILY, which explored the music of this influential British folk band. Four years later, they expand that collection to a third disc, devoting one disc to group material and one disc each that focuses on the solo material from Pentangle's two standout guitar players, John Renbourn and Bert Jansch.

Disc one begins with their debut single "Travelling Song" and continues chronologically with their 1968 self-titled debut through 1972's SOLOMON'S SEAL (the last album with the entire original lineup). While much of the attention is given to the interplay between guitarists Jansch and Renbourn, percussionist Terry Cox and bassist Danny Thompson make a formidable rhythm section. In addition, Jacqui McShee more than holds her own with contemporaries like Sandy Denny and Maddy Prior. Most of these songs are taken from their first three (and arguably their best) albums. Highlights include the 7-minute instrumental "Pentangling," "Sweet Child" and their remake of the Jaynetts' 1963 hit "Sally Go 'Round the Roses." Only the last five tracks are culled from their last three albums. Of special note is "Lord Franklin" from 1970's CRUEL SISTER which features Renbourn on guitar and Jansch on concertina.

Disc two contains solo material from John Renbourn before, during and after his collaboration with Pentangle. The disc begins with "Judy," an instrumental from his 1965 self-titled debut, and concludes with another instrumental, "The Hermit," from his 1976 album of the same name. In addition to the folk material he is best known for, there are several tracks from FARO ANNIE ("White House Blues," "Shake Shake Mama" and the title track) where he works in a blues vein. He also shows his jazz side on the Charles Mingus tune "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat," a duet with Bert Jansch.

Disc three does the same for Bert Jansch. It covers material from his first eight albums, beginning with 1965's self-titled debut and stops with 1973's MOONSHINE (his first album for Reprise after leaving Transatlantic). Jansch is a gifted guitar player and songwriter and expressive singer. Standout tracks are the bleak "Needle of Death" and the lovely "Rosemary Lane."

While Pentangle would continue to record into the eighties and nineties (with various configurations of the five original members), disc one does a nice job of hitting most of the highlights from the peak of the band's career.

However, both Renbourn and Jansch have continued to record to the present day. Further suggested listening for anyone wanting to hear more of John Renbourn is encouraged to pick up A MAID IN BEDLAM or LIVE IN AMERICA, both featuring Jacqui McShee. Also, Renbourn has done a number of fine albums with guitarist Stefan Grossman. As for Bert Jansch, almost everything he has recorded is worth a listen, and BIRTHDAY BLUES and ROSEMARY LANE are classics. Also worth seeking out are HEARTBREAK, ORNAMENT TREE and WHEN THE CIRCUS COMES TO TOWN.

As an introduction to one of the finest British folk bands, as well as two of its finest guitar players, PENTANGLING: THE COLLECTION succeeds magnificently. If you are a fan of British folk in general or of Pentangle's contemporaries like Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span in particular, this is a must-have purchase. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Hauntingly beautiful, technical genius. You don't even need to be a folky to admire it. Bert Jansch and John Renbourn were already icons when they joined to form Pentangle, revered in English and American folk circles. The addition of Jacqui McShee gave them one of the sweetest and purest voices you will ever hear in your life. The bass and drum underpinning added a hip, jazz sensibility that made for a group nobody could quite define. This anthology handles the matter nicely, devoting 1 CD to Pentangle, 1 to Renbourn, and 1 to Jansch. You will certainly be awed by the virtuosity of these two guitarists, but what will linger is the emotion, this is English "soul" music. Many standouts, especially on the Pentangle CD - Light Flight, Once I Had A Sweetheart, Lord Franklin, Cruel Sister. Life is too short not to listen to this - treat yourself.

In 2000, Sanctuary/Castle Records released a two-disc anthology entitled THE PENTANGLE FAMILY, which explored the music of this influential British folk band. Four years later, they expand that collection to a third disc, devoting one disc to group material and one disc each that focuses on the solo material from Pentangle's two standout guitar players, John Renbourn and Bert Jansch.

Disc one begins with their debut single "Travelling Song" and continues chronologically with their 1968 self-titled debut through 1972's SOLOMON'S SEAL (the last album with the entire original lineup). While much of the attention is given to the interplay between guitarists Jansch and Renbourn, percussionist Terry Cox and bassist Danny Thompson make a formidable rhythm section. In addition, Jacqui McShee more than holds her own with contemporaries like Sandy Denny and Maddy Prior. Most of these songs are taken from their first three (and arguably their best) albums. Highlights include the 7-minute instrumental "Pentangling," "Sweet Child" and their remake of the Jaynetts' 1963 hit "Sally Go 'Round the Roses." Only the last five tracks are culled from their last three albums. Of special note is "Lord Franklin" from 1970's CRUEL SISTER which features Renbourn on guitar and Jansch on concertina.

Disc two contains solo material from John Renbourn before, during and after his collaboration with Pentangle. The disc begins with "Judy," an instrumental from his 1965 self-titled debut, and concludes with another instrumental, "The Hermit," from his 1976 album of the same name. In addition to the folk material he is best known for, there are several tracks from FARO ANNIE ("White House Blues," "Shake Shake Mama" and the title track) where he works in a blues vein. He also shows his jazz side on the Charles Mingus tune "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat," a duet with Bert Jansch.

Disc three does the same for Bert Jansch. It covers material from his first eight albums, beginning with 1965's self-titled debut and stops with 1973's MOONSHINE (his first album for Reprise after leaving Transatlantic). Jansch is a gifted guitar player and songwriter and expressive singer. Standout tracks are the bleak "Needle of Death" and the lovely "Rosemary Lane."

While Pentangle would continue to record into the eighties and nineties (with various configurations of the five original members), disc one does a nice job of hitting most of the highlights from the peak of the band's career.

However, both Renbourn and Jansch have continued to record to the present day. Further suggested listening for anyone wanting to hear more of John Renbourn is encouraged to pick up A MAID IN BEDLAM or LIVE IN AMERICA, both featuring Jacqui McShee. Also, Renbourn has done a number of fine albums with guitarist Stefan Grossman. As for Bert Jansch, almost everything he has recorded is worth a listen, and BIRTHDAY BLUES and ROSEMARY LANE are classics. Also worth seeking out are HEARTBREAK, ORNAMENT TREE and WHEN THE CIRCUS COMES TO TOWN.

As an introduction to one of the finest British folk bands, as well as two of its finest guitar players, PENTANGLING: THE COLLECTION succeeds magnificently. If you are a fan of British folk in general or of Pentangle's contemporaries like Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span in particular, this is a must-have purchase. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

On my copy, the contents of disc 3 are actually on the CD labeled "disc 1" and vice versa. Not only were the recordings in the wrong boxes, the labels on the CDs are switched as well. Not a serious problem, but if what you hear doesn't match what you read in the notes, check to see whether this has happened to you too.

Of course, one doesn't spend too much time considering the package these days. But, to those of us who still want to touch media, cheap packaging tarnishes an otherwise brilliant set. First, the box doesn't look at all like the image on Amazon. Second, the Jansch disc contains the Pentangle set and vice versa. And, there's not a bit of printed information about the band, the performers, or the LPs from which this collection was gleaned. Hardly a value-add collection.

As for the music . . . outstanding and memorable.

Check out the YouTube videos of their performances. Great stuff.

Despite the title, only one disc of this three disc set collects Pentangle. It's not a Pentangle retrospective per se. The other two discs collect early Jansch and Renbourn, respectively, primarily their Transatlantic recordings. The way Amazon markets this makes the confusion much worse, claiming that all the individual tracks are by Pentangle in the track listings and showing the picture of the individual Pentangle disc in the package. The set I bought also confusingly labeled the Pentangle disc as Jansch and vice-versa.

These flaws to the side, however, the remastering on Jansch and Renbourn discs is excellent, clear and resonant. The Transatlantic CD's are not bad, but the sound on these is noticably improved. (I don't have the equivalent Pentangle discs to compare). The selections are generous and well-chosen although, if you're a serious fan of either of these outstanding guitarists, there are too many early gems omitted. It would be impossible to do justice to either with a single disc.