Customer Reviews

Young Man Blues: Live in Glasgow 1962-1964

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This album provides a unique insight into the gestation of genius. In thirty cuts Colin Harper illustrates for us both the roots and the embryonic forms of Jansch's unique blues style.

Many Jansch favorites are here, sprung, like Athena, full grown from their father's brow. But the young Jansch's conceptions are beyond his abilities as a performer.

Part of the pleasure of this album is in comparing these early performances to later ones. Jansch fans will admire the artist's committment to fleshing out brilliant ideas with brilliant performances.

But the best parts of this album are the cuts themselves. They don't appear to have been recorded for publication, so the feel is raw, the energy is real, and the listener can feel the uncontrived excitement of Jansch's self-discovery.

I quite agree with the other reviewer's comments. There's an awful lot of raw creativity on display here, and for some the rawness may be a bit much (and of course the recording quality is quite poor besides). Nevertheless, this is required listening for any Jansch fan. We always hoped that something like this might turn up, now here it is! Imagine yourself as a fly on the wall in Bert's apartment in 1963, listening to him practice and work up pieces from scratch. Some rare insight into the early days of one of popular music's great creative geniuses.

Much as I wanted to love this set, and despite my appreciation for the historical importance to Jansch enthusiasts, the low quality of the recording makes it difficult for me to listen to this album. Still, its nice to have it out there. Now, when will the three remaining Charisma Jansch LPs ("Santa Barbara Honeymoon, LA Turnaround, A Rare Conundrum") finally get onto to CD?

Interesting hometape recording made long before Bert was known outside his circle of friends in Scotland. Surpricingly good recording quality make this legal bootleg essential listening to any Bert Janch fan. Highly recommended.