Customer Reviews

Thirteen Down

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A completely un-Janschian offering but wonderful in its lightheartedness. I also completely agree with the shrewd Chas Smith about the more urgent need to have 'Avocet' and 'LA Turnaround' out on CD.

I love this album for all the non-Bert reasons: his voice has a spring in it *and* the talented combo - incl the brilliant and under-recognised Nigel Portman-Smith - is totally "in tune" with the spirit of the songs.

Una Linea - One of the few instrumentals where Bert actually uses the electrically amplified guitar as it should be.

Down River - I've never spent much time 'down river' but this song just melts me and makes me wish I could wind the clock back and take that boat out of Richmond - and just be like things were. Bert's leathery voice is at its most apt here: like a pal who's pulled out the old Yamaha on a whim and launched into this most perfect song.

If I had a Lover - The non-pareil Jacqui McShee from Pentangle

Sovay - Interesting to hear Bert's treatment of this McShee-chanted folk song. Ingenious arrangement.

Single Rose - Hypnotic love song. We all think we can write them like this, til we try.

Ask Your Daddy - Now I'm a father myself, this 'resonates'. Not that i've sung it to my bairns but if they ever release Bert for the karaoke crowd, this is the one we'll all lurch onto stage to croak.

Side note story: Never been sure how to say Bert's last name - Yarnsh? Yansh? Jansh? One day in a Seattle store I was baffling the assistant with my efforts, and a voice came at my elblow: "Jantz". It was John Renbourn, in town for a concert at the Tractor Tavern.

I'm a little surprised that this title has been re-issued as a CD when there are other better and more interesting titles by Jansch out there that have not received such treatment (namely, "Avocet," "L. A. Turnaround," and "Moonshine"). Anyway, this album has Bert playing in a small combo setting in a vaguely bluesy-country music-ish atmosphere. Importantly, none of the material is particulary riveting in any sense--lyrically, musically, or instrumentally (this is *not* a CD to seek out if you are an acoustic guitar maven). Still, neither is it an outright dud in any sense, and if you are a real Jansch fan or a listener who enjoys hearing some true professionals making some good, unpretentious sounds together, you'll like it.

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