Tracks Include: The Hermit, White House Blues, Country Blues, Train Tune, I Know My Babe, Debbie Ann, Piano Tune, So Clear, Lord Franklin and More.
CD Reviews
Good sampler
C. H Smith | Bowling Green, Kentucky United States | 10/05/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The other reviewer's words notwithstanding, much of the material on this sampler is *not* from the pre-Pentangle period of John Renbourn's career (i.e., circa 1965-1967) but instead from "Sir John Alot," "Faro Annie," and others that were produced during (and even after) his Pentangle years. But these are just details. What you do get here is a broad sample of material from Renbourn's first seven or eight years of recorded music, and it's a good sample that shows just how effective he is at taking material from diverse sources and putting his own personal stamp on it. Renbourn is a real virtuoso performer, but his approach never lacks musicality or warmth. I can't ever remember getting a negative reaction from anyone I played John Renbourn material for."
Vintage Renbourn from the lean 'n' mean Soho days
Connecticut Yankee | 05/19/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Vintage isn't the best word because it implies ageing and this album captures John back in the Cousins, pre-Pentangle days when he'd roll into Les Cousins or chat with Davey or Imlach and he had a gutsy feel to his playing. There's stuff here from the classic Bert 'n' John album days and there's tunes from his 'Another Monday' album which saw him still vigorous. Then he sorta went into Segovia-with-a-Guild mode and learnt the Johnalot luteish stuff which is fun to shove on as candlelight sounds but this is the album to get for how he once sounded and how everyone should aspire to sound. At least listen to "So Clear" for how a tune can be structured; and all buskers should dismantle "I know my babe" to learn how a killer street anthem can pack that $$-packing punch without actually stetching yer basic technique."
Uh....Renbourn isn't dead, Griff Jones...
Bob Rousseau | Seattle, WA United States | 05/30/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"...physically or artistically. I just saw him do a show with Jacqui McShee in Seattle a week ago (May 2003). But- anyway, Renbourn fans- enjoy this one. I hope Renbourn will put out a live album with some of the material he's been doing for the past 10 years or so."
Before "going medieval": early-period Renbourn recordings
Connecticut Yankee | The Southland | 06/16/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is indeed a CD one can listen to all day, or at least all morning. Unlike classics "Maid in Bedlam" or "Lady and the Unicorn," this collection brings together early recordings more North American sounding than Celtic/Renaissance/Medieval. Lots of blues and ballads, some solo, some with Pentangle, some in tandem with Bert Jansch. From Dock Boggs to Thelonious Monk, from the Anglo-American tradition to Booker T. and the MGS (!), and into some of his own early compositions, this is a relaxing and engaging hour of music. If you have his Renaissance-Faire-oriented recordings, this is different but complementary; if you've never listened to Renbourn before, start here and work your way into the mid-seventies and beyond: he's still a most amazing fingerstyle guitar magician."
Track Listings (22) - Disc #1