The Pentangle | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 17 May 1968 | |||
Recorded | February – March 1968 | |||
Studio | IBC Studios and Olympic Sound Studio, London, England. [1] | |||
Genre | Folk, folk rock [2] | |||
Length | 30:52 | |||
Label | Transatlantic | |||
Producer | Shel Talmy | |||
Pentangle chronology | ||||
|
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [2] |
Rolling Stone | (positive) [3] |
Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [4] |
The Pentangle is the 1968 debut album of the band Pentangle: Terry Cox, Bert Jansch, Jacqui McShee, John Renbourn and Danny Thompson. It brought together their separate influences of folk, jazz, blues, early music and contemporary songwriting. One of the band's most commercially successful albums, it reached number 21 in the British charts. [5]
By the time the album was produced, the members of Pentangle were already accomplished musicians, in their own fields, and had played together in various combinations. Jansch and Renbourn were recognised as solo artists and played together regularly, including their recording of the Bert and John album. McShee had sung folk and blues in pubs and clubs, and had recorded with Renbourn on Another Monday. Cox and Thompson were experienced session musicians and had played together in Alexis Korner's band. The album's liner notes were written by radio personality John Peel.
Richie Unterberger said of the album "If it was more a folk-jazz-blues stew than it was folk-rock, it certainly rocked with a beat, and was executed with vocal harmonies, vocal and instrumental solo trade-offs, and a daring, irreverent spirit that immediately connected with rock-oriented listeners. And rock listeners, rather than folk ones, probably comprised the majority of the Pentangle's audience." [6] In his Allmusic retrospective review, Ronnie D. Lankford wrote, "There's something exciting about the first album of a band that goes on to greatness, and The Pentangle, by the group of the same name, is no different. Here, the listener witnesses the first studio work of a band struggling to get their essence down on vinyl... Equally comfortable with traditional songs, instrumentals, and originals, they made few missteps on their early albums." [2]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Let No Man Steal Your Thyme" | Traditional; arranged by Jansch, McShee and Cox | 2:37 |
2. | "Bells" | Pentangle | 3:52 |
3. | "Hear My Call" | The Staple Singers | 3:01 |
4. | "Pentangling" | Pentangle | 7:02 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
5. | "Mirage" | Bert Jansch | 2:00 |
6. | "Way Behind the Sun" | Traditional; arranged by Jansch, Thompson, McShee, Renbourn and Cox | 3:01 |
7. | "Bruton Town" | Traditional; arranged by Jansch, Thompson, McShee, Renbourn and Cox | 5:05 |
8. | "Waltz" | Pentangle | 4:54 |
The Pentangle album was released in the UK as an LP as Transatlantic TRA162 on 17 May 1968. The U.S. version was also released in 1968 as Reprise RSLP63 15. A CD version was released as Transatlantic TACD 9.00549 O and a digitally remastered version as Castle CMRCD131, in 2001. The digitally remastered version includes some additional tracks: "Koan", "The Wheel", "Casbah" and four alternate takes of other album tracks.
Transatlantic Records was a British independent record label. The company was established in 1961, primarily as an importer of American folk, blues and jazz records by many of the artists who influenced the burgeoning British folk and blues boom. Within a few years, the company had started recording British and Irish artists. The company's philosophy was intentionally eclectic.
Pentangle are a British folk rock band, formed in London in 1967. The original band was active in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and a later version has been active since the early 1980s. The original line-up, which was unchanged throughout the band's first incarnation (1967–1973), was Jacqui McShee (vocals); John Renbourn ; Bert Jansch ; Danny Thompson ; and Terry Cox (drums).
Herbert Jansch was a Scottish folk musician and founding member of the band Pentangle. He was born in Glasgow and came to prominence in London in the 1960s as an acoustic guitarist and singer-songwriter. He recorded more than 28 albums and toured extensively from the 1960s to the 21st century.
John Renbourn was an English guitarist and songwriter. He was best known for his collaboration with guitarist Bert Jansch as well as his work with the folk group Pentangle, although he maintained a solo career before, during and after that band's existence (1967–1973). Several albums were credited to the John Renbourn Group. He worked later in a duo with Stefan Grossman.
Listen Here! is a sampler album released by Transatlantic Records in 1968. It was the second significant UK contemporary music sampler release in the period.
Jacqueline McShee is an English singer. Since 1966, she has performed with Pentangle, a jazz-influenced folk rock band.
Bill Leader is an English recording engineer and record producer. He is particularly associated with the British folk music revival of the 1960s and 1970s, producing records by Paddy Tunney, Davey Graham, Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, Frank Harte and many others.
Glasgerion is Child ballad 67, existing in several variants.
Basket of Light is a 1969 album by the folk rock group Pentangle. It reached no. 5 on the UK Albums Chart. A single from the album, "Light Flight", the theme from BBC1's first colour drama series Take Three Girls, reached no. 43 on the UK Singles Chart. Another single from the album, "Once I Had a Sweetheart", reached no. 46 in the charts.
Cruel Sister is an album recorded in 1970 by folk-rock band Pentangle. It was the most folk-based of the albums recorded by the band, with all the tracks being versions of traditional songs. Whereas their previous album had been produced by Shel Talmy, and featured quite a heavily produced, commercial sound, Cruel Sister was produced by Bill Leader, noted for his recordings of folk musicians.
Sweet Child is a 1968 double album by the British folk-rock band Pentangle: Terry Cox, Bert Jansch, Jacqui McShee, John Renbourn and Danny Thompson.
Reflection is an album recorded in 1971 by folk-rock band Pentangle.
Solomon's Seal is an album recorded in 1972 by folk-rock band Pentangle. It was the last album recorded by the original line-up, before the band split in 1973. Jacqui McShee has stated that it is her favourite Pentangle album. The album title refers to the Seal of Solomon — a mythical signet ring with magical powers, sometimes associated with the pentagram symbol adopted by Pentangle.
Open the Door is an album by Pentangle. The band had split in 1973 and reformed in the early 1980s. By the time this album was recorded, John Renbourn had left the band to enroll in a music degree course and his place was taken by Mike Piggott. The other band members were unchanged from the original Pentangle line-up: Terry Cox, Bert Jansch, Jacqui McShee and Danny Thompson. It was produced by John Chelew.
In the Round is an album by Pentangle, jointly produced by Doug Beveridge, Roger Wake, and Pentangle. It was issued in 1986 on Spindrift SPIN 120 in 1986 and on Varrick CDVR026 (CD) VR026 (LP) and CVR026 (cassette) in 1990. There is a typo on the sleeve, as it credits the licence to "Jackie" McShee, not Jacqui McShee. There is also a widespread use of the name "Vanick", a mistake for "Varrick". It was reissued in 1988 on Plane CD88505. It was reissued in 2006 on Talking Elephant. Nigel Portman Smith replaced original bassist Danny Thompson.
L.A. Turnaround is the ninth album by Scottish folk musician Bert Jansch, released in 1974.
Live 1994 is a live album by Pentangle, released in 1994. It was reissued along with One More Road on CD in 2007.
Dando Shaft is the name of a short-lived psychedelic/progressive folk and folk jazz band that was primarily active in the early 1970s. The band has attracted a measure of attention from recent compilation releases and Dando Shaft is today known primarily as one of the major influences on the progressive stream of the 1960s folk revival.
Bert Jansch was a Scottish folk musician. His discography consists of 21 studio albums, 8 live albums, 36 compilations, 5 videos, 2 EPs, and 12 singles. In addition, his compositions and guitar work have been featured on a number of albums by other artists.
John Renbourn was an English guitarist and composer. His discography consists of 20 studio albums, 5 live albums, 19 compilations, and 2 videos. In addition, his compositions and guitar work have been featured on a number of albums by other artists.