The Pentangle - Pentangling

The Pentangle - Pentangling

Bert Jansch John Renbourn The Pentangle Wednesday Club

OLD PA'S WEDNESDAY CLUB

Dr Robert

Hughie and Me!

THE PENTANGLE - Pentangling (1968)

When I first heard this, it totally freaked me out...I was already a fan of Bert Jansch and John Renbourn and this was a marriage of the best to me.

This is a bit of a strange story really, but part of me growing up and is absolutely true.

My friend Hughie was invited round to the brother of a next door neighbour whom he knew and asked me to come along. It was a great night, Robert lived in a bedsit and it was perfect. It was littered with books and LP's, there were interesting pictures and paintings on the walls. We had plenty interesting concoctions to drink and as we were, I would say around 16 or 17, we felt grown up and alive.

Robert had always the latest music and when I told him I was a Dylan fan, he said he had a friend who was also a fan and would get some albums for me. True to his word he popped into the chemist shop I worked in after school (great for my supply of johnnies, shame I did not know what to do with them apart from pinning them to the back of unsuspecting guys in school) and gave me the missing albums, at that time I had only 2 Dylan albums, The Freewheeling and Blonde on Blonde. Robert completed my set.

I was in Zimmer heaven.

The people in the chemist shop gave him and me some strange looks and it did not register, until I found out a few days later that Robert was 'Queen of the Queens' in Inverness. I was told that I should not be seen with him because I would get a 'Reputation'. It did not bother me and I still visited Robert occasionally, he never did try anything as I made it perfectly clear I was straight, well sort of straight. He did make hints of course.

One day Robert gave me an album to hear as he knew I liked Bert Jansch. It was the first album by the new 'Super Folk Group', the Pentangle. I loved it, especially Pentangling, a complete showcase for the great talents that made up the Group. I later found out not too much later that Robert had passed away. I liked Robert, I found him interesting and great company and even at that young age, his sexual orientation did not bother me.

He poured a mean Martini.

Watch out for another Old Pa special about the Pentangle reunion Concert.

More Wednesday club classics? or more on Bert Jansch here....

sfw Pada 00:19 Komentar

WEDNESDAY CLUB - Bert Jansch - Walk Quietly By x 2

WEDNESDAY CLUB - Bert Jansch - Walk Quietly By x 2

Bert Jansch Wednesday Club

BLIND DEVOTION 

It don't bother me!

 

BERT JANSCH - Walk Quietly By (1995)

We have all got a certain artist that even though we know their best days have come and gone, when they release a new album, we just know we will get it. I call it blind devotion. I have lots of these artist, for example I have bought everything by Van Morrision ever since I heard 'Here Comes the Night' (1965) way back in Them days. I know his latest albums are now sometimes a bit samey and in some cases a bit boring but I also know there will always be a couple of gems amongst the dross, which justifies the effort.

Another artist I stuck with throughout his whole recording career was Bert Jansch. I was with Bert  on his journey from his first album in 1965 until his last studio album in 2006. 

It was a pleasant surprise then, when I bought his album When the Circus Comes to Town (1995) and it was one of his best for a very long time. The track Walk Quietly By  just stood out for me. We all know that guy he is talking about. It just hit the right spot with me and was my track of the year. It was obvious the record company thought the album was good as the packaging was lavish for a Bert album.

I have loads of artists which come under Blind Devotion,  what are yours?

In a previous Post I told how I met  Bert,  made an ass of myself and he played this very song just for me!!!

The live take of the song was taken from a concert in the Fleece and Firkin,  Bristol 27th Sep 1993. Were you there SB?

 

BERT JANSCH - Walk Quietly By (1993)

sfw Pada 01:20 4 Komentar

WEDNESDAY CLUB - The Incredible String Band/Bert Jansch - October Song

WEDNESDAY CLUB - The Incredible String Band/Bert Jansch - October Song

Bert Jansch Incredible String Band Wednesday Club

MIDWEEK CRISIS you are looking for something amazing, come to WEDNESDAY CLUB we have the Incredible String Band, Bert Jansch and one of the best songs ever to come out of Scotland.

'If he needs a third eye'

THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND - October Song(1966)

I first heard this song in the mid sixties and it made an instant impression, it was on the first album by the Incredible String Band, it is well documented that Dylan himself acknowledged the greatness of this Robin Williamson classic. Take these lines for example :  

'The fallen leaves that jewel the ground, they know the art of dying,
and leave with joy their glad gold hearts in scarlet shadows lying'

That is pretty special. It is just a great song. If you want to know more about the Incredible String Band, just click.

They had a few albums in the late sixties which contained some very bizarre stuff indeed and were sometimes referred to as Psychedelic Folk and that sounds about right to me!. They had one of the biggest selling albums of 1968,  'The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter'

BERT JANSCH - October Song(2008)

The great Mr Bert Jansch did a great version of the song on his album Crimson Moon(2008).  Both version are just fabulous and I will leave you to decide which you like best. There is not really too much left to say, just sit back and enjoy!

For more WEDNESDAY CLUB Incredibleness

sfw Pada 15:42 4 Komentar

DYLAN COVER # 17 - Bert Jansch - Lily of the West/Auld Triangle(Banks of the Royal Canal)

DYLAN COVER # 17 - Bert Jansch - Lily of the West/Auld Triangle(Banks of the Royal Canal)

Bert Jansch Dylan Covers

 Bert Jansch - Lily of the West


This post is in honour of the Great Bert Jansch who passed away earlier this week. He was sometimes known as the Scottish Bob Dylan or even the acoustic Jimi Hendrix, somekind of accolades.  I became a fan of Bert around the time I first heard Dylan in 1964/65 and have remained committed to both ever since.  

I looked long and hard but could not find Bert actually covering a song written by Dylan, however I hope under the circumstances you can accept these two songs which are sung by Dylan on albums. 'Lily of the West' appears on the album 'Dylan' a collection of outtakes released by CBS, when Dylan had a short break with Asylum records. The other is on the excellent 'Boot' 'A Tree with Roots' where Dylan and The Band recorded for fun and the result became known as the L
legendary 'Basement Tapes' (when will CBS release the full Basement Tapes?) and is called 'The Banks of the Royal Canal' or better known as the 'The Auld Triangle'.

 Mean, Moody, Magnificent

BERT JANSCH - Auld Triangle/Royal Canal

Download

Bert Jansch - Lily of the West
Bert Jansch - Auld Triangle/Royal Canal
And a real treat
Bob Dylan - The Banks of the Royal Canal

More Dylan covers? Click here....

sfw Pada 12:25 3 Komentar

R.I.P. - Bert Jansch - Blues Run the Game

R.I.P. - Bert Jansch - Blues Run the Game

Bert Jansch Heavens Supergroup

Bert Jansch - 'Blues Run the Game'

It is with great sadness I have heard the news that Bert Jansch has passed away. I have been a great fan of Bert since his first 'self titled' album in the early sixties, it had so many great songs 'Needle of Death', 'Running from Home', 'Anjie'. As far as I was concerned he was up there with Dylan and I was surprised he never enjoyed the stardom his undoubted talent deserved. However 'cult' status remained with him until the end and he was the true epitome of the 'musicians musician' and has had a great influence on many of the top rock and folk stars.

I have seen Bert a couple of times and once with the 'Pentangle' when they briefly reformed a few years back, (see the post) where I recall when I actually spoke to the great man.

I like this video as it shows Bert displaying his sublime guitar skills and his unique delivery, It is a fantastic rendition  of the Jackson C. Frank classic, 'The Blues Run the Game'.R.I.P.

Now another member of Heavens Supergroup

sfw Pada 04:44 1 Komentar

WEDNESDAY CLUB - Bert Jansch - Needle of Death

WEDNESDAY CLUB - Bert Jansch - Needle of Death

Bert Jansch Close Encounters Old Pa's Corner Wednesday Club

BERT JANSCH - Needle of Death(1965)

I first heard this way back in the early 60's and have been a big fan of Bert ever since. His first Album where this is taken from is incredible with many great memorable songs. And it was once said he is the Hendrix of the acoustic guitar, I must agree. He later became part of the Pentangle and along with John Renbourn formed the best 2 lead guitars in any group, bar none. This is one of the great drugs songs and still sounds fresh and relevant today.

I did have the pleasure of meeting Bert in the flesh. He was playing in a small venue in Isleworth Middlesex. I had a few drinks one lunch time to celebrate a colleagues birthday and it was him that told me Burt was playing locally.That was it we were going Bert has always been one of my favourites.

Straight from work to the Venue and to the Bar, we were there for a few hours when I looked up and standing next to me was Burt himself. I could not believe my eyes. Normally I would have been quiet and reserved but because of the session I was straight in. 'Hi Bert, what can I get you'. He told me that he did not drink anymore. I then stumbled out like some kind of obsessed groupie that I was his greatest fan and in the sixties he, Dylan and Muhammad Ali were my Heroes. He replied with great humility that he was in great company there.

I asked him if he would play 'Walk quietly by' from his just released album 'When the Circus comes to Town' as I told him it was my track of the year so far. He promised he would. Bert my mate.

The venue was one of these all tables and candle in the middle jobs. Some fans sat cross legged in front of the stage (ex hippies).

It was all a very civilised affair until Burt announced that the next song was for me. I immediately stood up arms waving and smashed my full pint across the table. to the gasp and horror of the dedicated well behaved fans.

Sorry Burt, but thanks and a great song.

   
Wednesday Club....I want more!

sfw Pada 01:25 1 Komentar