The Pentangle instrumental “Jack Orion” that begins this set establishes the thrilling uniqueness of John’s electric lead guitar style and is probably his best recording with the group in this area. A rare fuzz guitar alternate take of his self-written “John’s Song” from 1971 and a previously unreleased live version of Charles Mingus‘ “The Shoes Of The Fisherman’s Wife Are Some Jive Ass Slippers” from 1972 are the only other Pentangle tracks.
The Renbourn solo albums “Faro Annie” (1972) and “Just Like Me” aka “Lost Sessions” (recorded 1972) continue this electric adventure, after which the electric guitar became a more occasional aspect of Renbourn’s recordings, generally absent from his work after the 1970s. This set also includes the rare and beautiful KPM Music Library instrumental album “The Guitar Of John Renbourn” (1977), three tracks from the John James album “Head In The Clouds” (1975) that feature Renbourn and another 18 previously unreleased live tracks.
Highlights of these include six tracks with Pentangle vocalist Jacqui McShee live at Stalybridge in 1975, and another four recorded live in France with McShee and American fiddler Sue Draheim that year. The instrumental “The Pelican,” from Renbourn‘s 1979 album “The Black Balloon,” is included as a showcase for the way Renbourn blends masterful acoustic technique with subtle electric guitar overdubs. The set ends with seven tracks from a fantastic concert by Renbourn at The Cellar Door in Washington, DC in 1979.
– 3xCD collection featuring legendary Pentangle guitarist John Renbourn.
• Following chronologically from the 6CD Cherry Tree box ‘Unpentangled – The Sixties Albums’, featuring a more selective and themed approach to the 1970–1979 period.
• Compiled by Pentangle expert Colin Harper, it focuses on Renbourn’s lead guitar playing (as opposed to pure fingerstyle) and also leans heavily towards original material.
Pre-Order “Kokomo Blues Gone Electric 1970-1979” here: https://www.cherryred.co.uk/john-renbourn-kokomo-blues-gone-electric-1970-1979-3cd-digipak
DISC ONE — Pentangle (from The Time Has Come, Castle 2007; recorded 1970)
01. Jack Orion (instrumental edit)
John Renbourn – Faro Annie (Transatlantic, 1972)
02. White House Blues
03. Buffalo Skinners
04. Kokomo Blues
05. Little Sadie
06. Shake Shake Mamma
07. Willy O’Winsbury
08. The Cuckoo
09. Come On In My Kitchen
10. Country Blues
11. Faro Annie
12. Back On The Road Again
John Renbourn & Jacqui McShee, live at Stalybridge 1975
13. Wedding Dress Song*
14. A Maid That’s Deep In Love*
15. Kokomo Blues*
16. Black Waterside*
17. Sweet Potato*
18. My Johnny Was A Shoemaker*
Wizz Jones & John Renbourn, live at Guildford 11/72
19. Bells of Rhymney*
Pentangle (from Pentangle: The Albums (2017) – Reflection (1971) alternate take)
20. John’s Song (Take 5, fuzz guitar)
DISC TWO — John Renbourn – Just Like Me (aka Lost Sessions, recorded 1972)
01. Just Like Me
02. Sleepy John
03. Riverboat Song
04. Green Willow
05. Seven Sleepers
06. To Glastonbury
07. Floating Stone
08. O Death
09. The Young Man’s Song
John Renbourn – The Guitar of John Renbourn (KPM, 1977)
10. Swallow Flight
11. Light Traveller
12. Reflections (1)
13. Reflections (2)
14. Freedom Road
15. Introspection
16. Passing Time
17. Portrait Of A Village
18. Summer Song
19. Glastonbury
20. Little Hands
21. Deserted Streets
DISC THREE — Pentangle – live at St Albans 17/10/72
01. The Shoes of the Fisherman’s Wife Are Some Jive Ass Slippers*
John James (with John Renbourn) – from Head in the Clouds (Transatlantic, 1975)
02. Georgemas Junction
03. Wormwood Tangle
04. Stranger in the World
John Renbourn, Jacqui McShee & Sue Draheim – live in France 1975
05. Reynardine*
06. A Maid in Bedlam*
07. A Maid That’s Deep in Love*
08. Rain and Snow*
John Renbourn – from The Black Balloon (Transatlantic, 1979)
09. The Pelican
John Renbourn – live at the Cellar Door, Washington DC, 1979
10. White House Blues*
11. Blues Run the Game*
12. The English Dance*
13. So Early in the Spring*
14. Lord Franklin*
15. Mist Covered Mountains/ The Orphan*
16. Spirit Levels [with Stefan Grossman]*
* previously unreleased