I may have posted this before, but I’m sure that even if I did, some readers may have missed it. It’s Bert Jansch (1943-2011), playing a song from his first album, the former called “Running from Home” (written by Jansch) and the album simply called “Bert Jansch.” The album was recorded on a reel-to-reel tape recorder and released in 1965. Jansch got £100 for it. I heard the album in high school and was greatly impressed, and in fact have never forgotten it. It has at least five world-class songs, including his most famous performance, “Angie“, a song written by Davey Graham. “Angie” has been covered several times, but no version is better than Jansch’s, not even Graham’s.
This is one of my five favorites on the album, “Running from Home,” here performed along with Finn Kalvik in 1973 (the original from the album is here). The structure is just A-A-A-A. . . there is no chorus. And it’s three-finger picking (“Travis picking”) with Jansch alternating the top strings with his thumb.
Jansch’s songs can’t really be classified as folk, rock, or pop. They are sui generis. But one thing they all are is plaintive.
Beautiful !
These are particularly good musicians – obscure, and perhaps we like it that way.
Just want to share another in this vein :
Nick Drake
Perhaps the only tune on regular play for me is River Man… ooo, just writing this gives me goose bumps… my god what a great tune.
I only found out about it when Brad Mehldau’s trio covered it as a modern standard on their recording at the Village Vanguard titled Progression, and also in the studio as one of their Art of the Trio recordings…
All three renditions are as good IMHO.
BUT I DIGRESS…. 😁
… this should be Nick Drake : youtu.be/idcaRTg4-fM?si=KawJFGOZ6G0b8nlV
3.8k comments on that song… One of them brought me to tears. Beautiful! Thanks for the link. Getting old is such a melancholy endeavor… the memories!
I may have to look that out.* Of Bert’s early work, I know Bert and John (with John Renbourn) best, and of course all the Pentangle albums. Thanks for the recommendation.
A big favourite of mine from that era would be Magna Carta’s first, self-titled album.
*PS Found a near mint copy on discogs.
The LP came today, and sounds lovely. Thanks again!
Lovely, thanks for sharing.
Very nice. Has a Nick Drake vibe.
Edit: I see Bryan upthread heard the similarity as well.
I know musical tastes are a very personal thing but if you want plaintive try this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL9pKTkhhcs. Its an old song Bert Jansch revived and became better known with Sandy Denny. The Irish sean nos style adds to it, I think.
Speaking of plaintive songs, here’s one by Matt Elliott that always get me: The Day After That (from his 2020 album Farewell to All We Know):
Very nice. Sunday morning song.