Pentangle.

[Affair on Touhy Ave.]

Anyone know of this folk group?

[Doug]

I remember the name but couldn't remember any of their songs.

There's a decent number of tracks of theirs at the iTunes store.

[New 12 String Mike]

Yes, I do. They were a very popular group from GB in the late 60's-70's. The mixed traditional folk, blues, jazz, etc. into a very eccletic sound.

Lead guitarist, John Renbourn is remarkable and the other guitarist, Bert Jansch is hardly a slouch. The music includes wonderful vocals by Jacqui McShee and many instrumentals.

Try them.

[Cathy]

I've heard of them, but have to admit, I have none of their music.

[Auburn Annie]

Golly, I'll have to thumb through my collection but I think I have their "Solomon's Seal" album.

[johnfowles]

Originally posted by Affair on Touhy Ave.:
Anyone know of this folk group? Of course I heard Pentangle (http://www.mp3.com/pentangle/artists/1760/biography.html)
in the UK. but my mind I particularly remembered their beautifully voiced lead singer Jacqui McShee (http://www.jacquimcshee.co.uk/press_1.htm)
but the funny thing is I immediately said to myself Annie Haslam (http://www.anniehaslam.com/) who turns out to be another lead singer again with a beautiful voice but she was with a somewhat similarly inspired and contemporary group called "Renaisance" (http://www.irscorner.com/r/renais.html)
whose best known hit was probably the wonderful "Northern Lights"
from
Jacqui McShee's Pentangle (http://georgegraham.com/reviews/mcshee.html)
"The Pentangle was one of the three principal groups that established the English folk-rock sound that still attracts fans to this day. Probably best-known of the three was Fairport Convention, which was founded by Richard Thompson, and featured as their lead vocalist the late Sandy Denny. The other was Steeleye Span, whose singer was Maddy Prior, and was perhaps the most electric of the three."
and
"The Pentangle was perhaps the least-known in this country, though the most eclectic of the three"
notice the clever juxtaposition there of "electric" and "eclectic"

and I am not alone in comparing Jacqui and Annie as on
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Cafe/1614/Music/Popular/pentangl.htm
I read
"Jacqui McShee is my favorite woman singer, only compared with Joan Baez and Annie Haslan (sic)"

[Janice]

Oh how ironic to read this yesterday afternoon and conclude that I had not heard of Pentangle before - only to find several hours later, that we've booked John Renbourn to play a solo show for our concert series (July 15). It's like cue the Twilight Zone music.

I find it so bizarre that my Corfid pals often mention performers who have played for us or who end up playing for us.

BTW, John, the current configuration of Fairport Convention will also be here in July - they are touring the US as an acoustic trio, with original member Simon Nicol. I don't know if you're familiar with the group The Syn - whose founder, Chris Squire went on to form the classic rock band, Yes - but they (The Syn) played for us last month.

Another British group who apparently set the stage for others to follow has played for us twice in the last 18 months in their acoustic configuration - The Strawbs, including founder Dave Cousins and long-time band members Dave Lambert and Chas Cronk. They are joined by a few others for an electric configuration that also tours regularly.

There have also been American performers mentioned at Corfid who have played for us, as well as one Canadian of note (and no, unfortunately I don't mean Lightfoot :) )but I won't go into those since the discussion is British groups.

As I said, I just find it all very ironic.

[johnfowles]

Originally posted by Janice:

Another British group who apparently set the stage for others to follow has played for us twice in the last 18 months in their acoustic configuration - The Strawbs, including founder Dave Cousins and long-time band members Dave Lambert and Chas Cronk. They are joined by a few others for an electric configuration that also tours regularly.
Yes I seem vaguely to recall attending a Strawbs concert in the UK in the early 80's and somewhere I still have a cassette of their greatest hits

And another funny thing Janice
I am fairly sure that you once mentioned Al Stewart here possibly in connection with him being one of your guests at your emporium
I searched the forums here but all I found by you was a reference to his kinsman (badrat) John. I mention Al because on the way back from a routine hospital visit on Monday to New Brunswick (NJ-not Jessi-Joe country) we were passing through the town of Metuchen not 6 miles south of our home and out of the corner of my eye I caught sight of a poster for Al Stewart (who was once a resident of Bournemouth England 7 miles south of my parents home from 1949 to 1976). I quickly looked him up on the internet and found that he is appearing om Tuesday 2 May at the Metuchen Forum Theater
http://www.alstewart.com/news/concerts.htm
tix are on sale (at only $18.00 each)
from ticketmania at:-
http://www.theatermania.com/content/show.cfm/show/120239
I tried to see what tix were left but that selling organisation stupidly fails to tell you the actual ticket numbers (if you try to order on line)
I phoned and they could not tell me so I had to phone the theatre box office
OK current best seats are in row Q in the centre or row P on one side. Now when I mentioned this concert to Susan, although she remembered "Year of the Cat" she did not seem very enthusiastic.
But I still love "Time Passages" and find that I have the vinyl here albeit unplayed for many a year
http://eil.com/newgallery/Al-Stewart-Time-Passages-290791.jpg
I have looked at the glowing reports on Al at:-
http://www.corfid.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000633#000000
especially by David in Sweden so I must try to get Susan to read them.
but Janice did you ever have Al to your place ?

and
Sheryl did you get to see Al at McC-G-abes or not last July and if so how was it?
that Al Stewart topic got hijacked by Tyson fans (no Ian not Mike!)
John Fowles
And Janice I keep meaning to ask you this.
In the video that you were making of last May's Delta Chelsea jam session did you by chance capture anything of Ron Jones' remarkable "Face of a Thousand People" rendition, even if only audio?

[Cathy]

I have an Al Stewart folder on my computer and play his music quite often. I think he's pretty close to being a musical genius.

[DJ in MJ]

Sir John - Anytime Susan wants to pm me on the high praises of Al, she is more than welcome! For a good thirty years, Al and Gord have been an alternating one-two on my Top Two list. I will happily sing the praises of both gentleman!

Janice - No worries about blowing the name Pentangle. I hadn't heard of them either, but then when 12 String Mike mentioned Renbourn and Bert Jansch, my old brain finally clicked on (albeit on a very low light! :D )

In fact, Al Stewart did a cover of Bert's "Soho", and this appears on Al's "Down In The Cellar" CD from year 2000. This, however, is not to be confused with Al's very own "Soho (Needless To Say)", which appears on the 1973 album "Past, Present, And Future".

One more thing. I was going to post the Al connection earlier today, as I had read the first 4 or 5 posts early this morning. But I got sidetracked, and now when I come back here, the great Sir John has beat me to it, in his own roundabout and unique fashion of course!

[DJ in MJ]

Originally posted by Cathy:
I have an Al Stewart folder on my computer and play his music quite often. I think he's pretty close to being a musical genius. He IS a musical genius. :)

His lyrics are one of a kind and his guitar work on his solo shows is jaw-dropping.

[DJ in MJ]

Thanks for the confirmation, Sue.

Considering I like both Jansch and Renbourn, it should be a safe bet to buy, but as I am ever cautious I am searching for some snippets or samples first!

[ELizabeth]

Isn't Bert Jansch dead. If not someone should notify Sylvia Tyson at once. She wrote a heartbreaking song about his death and funeral. Can't recall the name of the song. Sorry.

[johnfowles]

Originally posted by ELizabeth:
Isn't Bert Jansch dead.No ELizabeth.
On his official site
http://www.bertjansch.com/
there is indeed a link serendipitously entitled "Live Info" that takes you to:-
http://www.bertjansch.com/live.html
listing many gigs in the near future in the UK and Ireland plus those for 2003 thru 2005
it does say though that:
"gigs were due to resume in the later part of the year (actually 2005) starting with the Edinburgh Festival. However that tour had to be postponed, as Bert had to undergo heart surgery. He is now recovered"
and here is a 2003 photograph of interest to this topic's subject(see the lady on the extreme right
http://www.bertjansch.com/photogallery/bertj28.jpg
l-r) Johnny Hodge, Ralph McTell, Bert, Johnny Marr, Bernard Butler,
Jacqui McShee - BBC Special October 2003
Talking of folk groups as we are reminds me to report that we have tickets for the
concert a week tomorrow (28th) at the State Theater in New Brunswick (New Jersey)
by Peter, Paul & Mary
http://www.johnfowles.org.uk/LIGHTFOOT/PPM_EMR.jpg
still from a video of PP and M beautifully singing "Early Morning Rain"
plus naturally we invested in tix for Gord's August 3 concert at the same venue
Woo Hoo!!!
John Fowles

[Auburn Annie]

Yep - from his site: New gigs!

Bert is fit and well again and is back on the road in April and May. The new dates are finally up on the live info page. He is playing various places in England through April and heading over to Ireland in the first half of May. Then Bert will play at All Tomorrow's Parties (the Devendra Banhart curated day) at Camber Sands on May 14.

[DJ in MJ]

I've heard nothing of his passing at all, and I do try to keep up with the British folk scene (Al, Ralph McTell, Richard and Linda Thompson etc...)

I find it interesting that the same bunch who did gigs and radio shows together almost 30 years ago, are pretty much the same ones appearing with each other today too.

Those folkies are suvivors!

[ELizabeth]

Oops! It must have the case that Bert Jansch wrote a song about a drug users death and funeral and Sylvia sang it(beautifully)and I assumed BJ was gone. Glad it's not so.

[Auburn Annie]

What about the late great JIM CROCE, now theres a poet who I can listen ti his music for hours. Gone way to early , a lot of bottled up talent in Jim Croce>> Lovers Cross, OPERATOR.\\\\\\\\

JUST BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

_________________________________________________

Agreed. He's the one singer-songwriter whose death has always had me wondering about what might have been. Taken way too soon.

[Cathy]

Originally posted by Jessi -Joe:
Al Stewart " YEAR OF THE CAT" CATHY your right very close to a Genis songwriter.

What about the late great JIM CROCE, now theres a poet who I can listen ti his music for hours. Gone way to early , a lot of bottled up talent in Jim Croce>> Lovers Cross, OPERATOR.\\\\\\\\

JUST BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Croce is right up there in my top five favorites.
Do you have high speed Internet and an e-mail address?

[Janice]

John: No, Al Stewart has not played for our series. I never really followed his career, but I do like a number of songs that I've heard - "Time Passages" and "Year Of The Cat" being two of them. I hope you can talk Susan into going. I'd love to see him, myself. For some reason I was thinking that Sheryl was going to see John, not Al, at McCabe's last summer, but I could be wrong and await clarification from her.

As for the 2005 Massey Jam Session, I still have not come across those tapes in the many boxes I'm trying to go through and unpack. As you may remember, I wasn't able to stick around for the entire jam session since I had to go pick up a special birthday cake ;) and other party supplies. When I left, I just turned on the recorder with a fresh tape and got whatever was played in the 80 minutes that followed. I have no clue if Ron arrived before the tape ran out or not. I have a lot going on right now with concerts and job hunting, but will continue my search for the tapes and my hope is to have an answer for you soon. (I'll make a copy for you either way)

David: the sad thing is that I not only didn't know the name Pentangle, but I didn't know the guitarists names either. I just thought it was ironic that I read about them here and within a few hours my partner sent me an email letting me know that he had just booked Renbourn. If I hadn't read about him here, I would have had no idea who he was when I received that email. Thanks to you guys, I was able to tell Carey, "Sure I know who he is! He founded Pentangle and is a highly regarded guitarist." :D

[geodeticman]

John Renbourn had a great instrumental album around '78 named ( get this John..) "Sir John a Lot of" or, it may have been contracted as: "Sir John Alotof". I still have it lost somewhere in the garage

It had a Medieval etching image on the album front of a Knight in full armor, holding a sword as I recall. It has some interesting guitar work on it that one might expect to hear somewhere at a Renaissance festival. Captivating and full of imagery; Arthurian dreams.

This album, and GL's Don Quixote were the tighly clutched pair of albums a friend of mine listened to at Purdue that was quite a Renaissance man. He was one of the most eggregious womanizers I knew at an age when I thought that was cool, too.

As a lifelong friend of his, it is interesting to note that when he finally settled on a very wonderful lady named Ivy, he proposed to her; she declined, citing his hedonistic lifestyle.

He went home, listened to both albums (Renbourn's and DQ), thought a long while, and decided to pursue theology and, ultimately, is now Father Sergius at the Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Massachusets. He is resident iconographer and metals/ceramics maker of crosses, etc.

He has been there for almost 23 years now, and when he and I speak sometimes of our carousing youth when we did not really respect women yet, he remembers very well that day playing Don Quixote and pondering Cervantes, and Gord's lyrics, it was his epiphone on life (for him). Watched him go through it all.

Amazing how Gord's musical tapestry weaves its way into the lives of thoughtful listeners who REALLY listen to his lyrics. Can be life changing at times. Certainly has seen me through a lot.

Sorry for the non-sequitor from Renbourn's great album; but the memory it brought back for me was ( I hope ) of interest to some of you because of the DQ tie-in.

Gord's music has been there at so many points in my life, and I know from reading of so many of yours as well.

I wonder what Renbourn and Gord would think if they knew that their work had a part in leading a (rather excessive) loverman into a monastic life full of philosophy, quiet contemplation, and hard work. My friend is also responsible for the extensive gardens on the Russian Orthodox Monastery's grounds.

An anecdote I hope of interest.
- geo Steve
Geo Steve

[<Phil McCavity (Dentist)>]

With reference to the very wonderful Al Stewart, somebody I have to see when hauls up to my neck of the woods. If you are near Chicago on 19th May, check him out. He has Laurence Juber with him on the gig. Laurence appears on Al's latest CD 'A Beach Full Of Shells' as producer and guitarist, an excellent fingerstyle guitarist. This will be an superb show.

Laurence was once Paul McCartney's lead guitarist in Paul's Wings days. So he has impeccable credentials.. I wish I could be there.
They will be at the Old Town School of Folk Music
http://www.oldtownschool.org/

[<Phil McCavity (Dentist)>]

Sorry about the silly minor typos in the above. The price one pays for not registering. Hopefully it can be understood.

[johnfowles]

Originally posted by Janice:

For some reason I was thinking that Sheryl was going to see John, not Al, at McCabe's last summer, but I could be wrong and await clarification from her.
Janice
when you said "see John"
did you mean John Stewart or John Renbourne??
Sheryl actually posted on:-
http://www.corfid.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000633#000000
"My husband (Gabe) just called from work. He was on the 'net and found out that Al Stewart is playing at a small guitar shop
in Santa Monica (McCabe's) next month, so we're going to try to get tickets "
I am still wondering If Sheryl and Gabe got to that concert or not and if so how was it???

Originally posted by Janice also:


David: the sad thing is that I not only didn't know the name Pentangle, but I didn't know the guitarists names either. I just thought it was ironic that I read about them here and within a few hours my partner sent me an email letting me know that he had just booked Renbourn. If I hadn't read about him here, I would have had no idea who he was when I received that email. Thanks to you guys, I was able to tell Carey, "Sure I know who he is! He founded Pentangle and is a highly regarded guitarist." :D that is such a weird coincidence Janice
John Fowles

[Janice]

Originally posted by johnfowles:
when you said "see John"
did you mean John Stewart or John Renbourne??
Sheryl actually posted on:-
http://www.corfid.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000633#000000
"My husband (Gabe) just called from work. He was on the 'net and found out that Al Stewart is playing at a small guitar shop
in Santa Monica (McCabe's) next month, so we're going to try to get tickets " I meant John Stewart, but see by your elaboration that I was mistaken about who Sheryl was going to see.

Originally posted by John also:
that is such a weird coincidence Janice
John Fowles Even more freaky is that this was not the first time it's happened. Plus the opposit has happened where we will have booked or hosted a performer and their name will crop up here in some context or another, out of the blue.

[charlene]

Paul in Norwich, England said he saw Bert Jansch a week ago and a couple of nights ago saw John Renbourn. 6 feet away from both of them for the concerts!
lol

[johnfowles]

Originally posted by johnfowles:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Janice:
[qb]
I am still wondering If Sheryl and Gabe got to that concert or not and if so how was it???
OK OK I will answer my own question since Sheryl has not stepped up to tell me off
I am very sorry Sheryl,I must be going blind or something because in fact after your June 19th 2005 posting disclosing that Gabe had found that Al would be at McCabe's you did follow up on June 16th with a detailed review of the concert on:-
http://www.corfid.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000633#000000
al I now have to do is persuade Susan to find the time to read it plus the other recommendations in that topic

[DJ in MJ]

Originally posted by Janice:
Thanks to you guys, I was able to tell Carey, "Sure I know who he is! He founded Pentangle and is a highly regarded guitarist." :D Now THAT made me laugh. Proof yet again that Corfid is healthy for the grey matter between the ears. :D

[johnfowles]

Originally posted by Cathy:
quote:Originally posted by Jessi -Joe:
Al Stewart " YEAR OF THE CAT" CATHY your right very close to a Genis songwriter.
Do you have high speed Internet and an e-mail address? Yes I do why? [/QUOTE]Antbody who has a high speed conection and a mind to could visit
http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-nfo.php?id=92787
to get a 10 song Al Stewart FM broadcast "torrent" (a large high quality file of some 370MB).If you have no idea what a torrent is use the corfid search facilty to find
the relevant topic from 2005
John Fowles

[ April 23, 2006, 15:01: Message edited by: johnfowles ]

[Janice]

Originally posted by David (djb):
quote:Originally posted by Janice:
Thanks to you guys, I was able to tell Carey, "Sure I know who he is! He founded Pentangle and is a highly regarded guitarist." :D Now THAT made me laugh. Proof yet again that Corfid is healthy for the grey matter between the ears. :D [/QUOTE]Absolutely! I depend on the knowledge I gather from my fellow Corfidians to make me look good in other areas of my life - Carey, my concert production partner, was pretty impressed that I knew who Renbourn was (shhh...it will be our little secret that I just learned of him hours before) :D

[Janice]

Originally posted by charlene:
Paul in Norwich, England said he saw Bert Jansch a week ago and a couple of nights ago saw John Renbourn. 6 feet away from both of them for the concerts!
lol Paul!!! I'm very curious to hear your thoughts on the concerts - especially John Renbourn's. What were your impressions? was he well received? Anything that you can elaborate on to give me an idea of what to expect? Although I must say, if you went to see him, I feel comforted that we're probably in for a treat here in San Diego since I have the utmost respect for your taste in music.

Will you be in Toronto in November? I hope so, it would be wonderful to see you and the family again.

[Paul (PJB)]

Hi Janice and hi to all other friends who may read this. I haven't posted anything before on either Corfid or the newsgroup so please bear with me if I mess up!

Both concerts were excellent. I saw Bert Jansch and John Renbourn at Norwich Arts Centre. It was a coincidence that they came within a week of each other and even more of a coincidence that this thread is active. I sat in the same seat for both concerts - truly six feet away from each of them as they played. James came to see Bert.

Bert is one of my heroes and he more than lived up to expectations. He played all of the classics. I particularly enjoyed Blues Runs The Game and Carnival both written by Jackson C Frank, an American singer-songwriter who had a fascinating but tragic life. Check out Jackson's only album released in 1965 and produced by Paul Simon.

John Renbourn was accompanied by Robin Williamson - another very talented folkie. It was an interesting set list. They played a superb version of Going Down Slow and some other blues standards.

Sue - I have Sweet Child too. You prompted me to listen to it last night.

I regularly see concerts at the Arts Centre. I am seeing Geoff Muldaur later in the week.

Thanks for your kind words Janice. I will be in Toronto in November but Yvonne and James will not be coming this time.

Paul

[charlene]

Paul!!
so happy to see you posting here!
I have NO idea who these artists are but if they got you to post then they're okay with me!
lol
Welcome to all the wonderfulness and weirdness at CORFID!
You know a lot of people here so you know you are a most welcome addition!
I do wish Yvonne and James could make the trip in November but if they came I wouldn't have my Massey date!
lol

[Borderstone]

I was out music shopping last night and came upon a nearly $25.00 box set of this group,which before this posting I had never heard of or seen anyplace.

Somethings afoot in the universe! :D

[charlene]

well there ya go B - that's the 'weirdness' working it's magic!
lol

[Janice]

Originally posted by Paul (PJB):
I regularly see concerts at the Arts Centre. I am seeing Geoff Muldaur later in the week.Thanks so much for posting, Paul. I know you read here at Corfid, but have never posted before - you did just fine! Please continue to jump in with comments.

It really sounds like John Renbourn will be a good concert - I'm now looking forward to July.

I think you will really enjoy Geoff Muldaur. He's played for us three times in our less than three year run and after show one, became one of our absolute favorites. He'll be playing for us again once he returns from his tour across the pond. I would be interested in hearing your thoughts after you see his concert, so please share them with us, here.

I'm so sorry that Yvonne and James won't be able to join us in Toronto. I enjoyed Yvonne's company very much and was hoping to convince James to play something for me since I wasn't able to coax him from his shyness last May :) You have a very bright young man, there, it was such a pleasure talking with him. But at least we'll see you and that's always a treat.

Hmmm, now if you could just convince our other Northern England pal to come over in November, that would put the icing on the cake :)

[charlene]

Yes Janice - we've got to get working on Alan.....he's not been back since 2001 so he's due a trip over!
And Paul will have between now and November to know he'll be playing guitar along with the others...
He gave me a private show of his guitar playing talents and I know he'd love to play one of Ron's babies.....
James comes by his shyness honestly but also his talent!
Less than SEVEN months to wait!

[Paul (PJB)]

Thanks Char and Janice. I am really looking forward to seeing you both and all other Lightfoot friends. Yvonne and James will will definitely be back in Toronto at some point in the future. They had a great time last May.

Janice - John Renbourn will be great. He was really well received in Norwich. Also, I am pleased to read your comments about Geoff Muldaur. I haven't seen him before. In addition to the newsgroup and Corfid, I read posts on the Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum and Geoff Muldaur has been mentioned there lately.

It certainly would be great to see Al again. I haven't seen him since 2001.

Paul

[Janice]

Paul, if you have the oportunity to speak with Geoff (I don't know about the venue you'll be seeing him at, but he usually comes out for a meet and greet with concert goers), tell him that Carey and Janice with Acoustic Music San Diego said "Hi"

I haven't seen Alan since I went to England in 2003 - it's been far too long!

[Janice]

Thanks for the additional insight, RJ. Now I'm looking forward to John Renbourn's gig at our humble little place, all the more. He'll be solo, but I'm still betting he'll be great.

[Jesse Joe]

Never heard of them.

[ May 17, 2006, 05:41: Message edited by: Jessi -Joe ]