Rare Conundrum

Bert Jansch | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 21, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 1977
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Drag City
• ASIN: B002F3BQRG
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #538,470 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Daybreak

2. One to a Hundred

3. Pretty Saro

4. Doctor, Doctor

5. 3 A.M.

6. The Curragh of Kildare

7. Instrumentally Irish

8. St. Fiacre

9. If You See My Love

10. Looking for a Home

11. Poor Mouth

12. Cat and Mouse

13. Three Chord Trick

14. Lost Love

15. Three Dreamers [*]

16. Dragonfly [*]

17. Candyman [*]

Editorial Reviews

Digitally remastered and expanded edition of this 1977 album from the British Folk legend. A Rare Conundrum was Jansch's third and final album for Charisma Records and was recorded in 1976. Jansch is an innovative and accomplished guitarist, singer and songwriter. His solo work is extremely influential as is his recordings as a founding member of Pentangle. Includes three bonus tracks: 'Three Dreamers', 'Dragonfly' and 'Candyman'.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally . . . and still A Rare Conundrum!, October 7, 2009

By 

Wayne Dawson (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rare Conundrum (Audio CD)

Even though this album consists of highs and averages, it's still a solid album. Thanks to an older brother, I had the good fortune of appreciating this release when it was first issued during the halcyon punk and new wave days of 1977. Although the liner notes are generally correct in stating this kind of finely wrought folk didn't make much of an impression during those brashly creative days, it certainly seemed like a sylvan glade amongst an urban riot at the time and had a way of freshening up your ears for dealing with the more abrasive material of the new wave. In many ways, it was very much part of those pluralistic times, compared to today's monotonous, unimaginative offerings.

The remastering is superb making an album that already sparkled positively glisten: Daybreak, One to a Hundred, Pretty Saro, Doctor, Doctor; 3 AM, The Curragh and Lost Love are all sterling performances. On Doctor, Doctor, we're treated to an unaccompanied banjo groove by Bert, doing what he does best.

The band is just great with violin, drums, bass and acoustic guitar all on the same musical frequency and as with all of Bert's music, there's always space for a raunchy drumming groove to beef things up, as on Lost Love.

So good to have this recording back in the collection and perhaps more than ever it really is A Rare Conundrum.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars not bad not his best, October 5, 2009

By 

Book McTell (New York City) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rare Conundrum (Audio CD)

not bad, a bit more "ralph Mctell" cheese than dylan folk. However ther L,A turnaround reissue was great. Be warned the Santa Barbara honeymoon reissue is absolute s@#@#**T! stay away. And buy the live river sessions for sure.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth the Wait!, October 23, 2009

By 

revdrtomb (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rare Conundrum (Audio CD)

I'm almost embarrassed to say how long I've been searching for this album on CD. A friend let me borrow her LP years ago, and I made a cassette tape of it and wore it out. I'd almost lost hope that I'd ever get to hear this again. What a gem this is! The melodies are accessible, Bert's guitar playing is, as usual, outstanding, and the variety of styles is wonderfully refreshing. One of the 10 best albums I've had the pleasure of listening to.