Love That Album Episode 167 - Bert Jansch "Rosemary Lane" and "L.A. Turnaround"

There's a quote attributed to Louis Armstrong: “All music is folk music. I ain't never heard a horse sing a song”. Apocryphal? Who knows? Still, it does raise the question as to what folk music actually is. It can be contemporary contemporary or traditional. It can be associated with any number of cultures. It can be instrumental or songs without instrumental accompaniment. The songs can be about tales of heroes, cads, fair maidens, murder, politics, or.....that very infrequent topic of song – love.

Welcome to episode 167 of Love That Album podcast.

I am joined once again by Shane Pacey, singer and guitarist for The Bondi Cigars, The Shane Pacey Trio and Pacey, King & Doley. His own music may be rooted in blues (another category that's more varied than is often given credit for), but Shane has a passion and huge knowledge about English folk music. Together we discussed the music of Scottish guitarist Bert Jansch.

Bert was part of supergroup Pentangle (LTA episode 134), but before, during and after that group he recorded many albums in his own name. He has been put in the “folk” caregory, but he was part of a generation of UK musicians that were keen to expand what folk music could be. Bert and contemporaries like John Renbourn, Davy Graham, Wizz Jones and John Fahey were huge fans of American blues and jazz music. They sought to put all their musical passions into a pot and stir. Bert developed a guitar style that made him a revered figure amongst rock musicians like Johnny Marr, Jimmy Page and Neil Young, yet his playing was never about the flash or histrionics. He just quietly played original and traditional songs in HIS own sweet way....and his singing voice was not a classic voice in the rock sense, and yet it draws you in – there was no one who played or sang like him.

Shane and I talk about Bert as musician, our relation to his work, contemporaries, and we focus on two of his albums – 1971's “Rosemary Lane” and 1974's “L.A. Turnaround” (produced by a Monkee and featuring a 5th Beatle on bass). It's always great having Shane bring his musical expertise to the show. I hope you dig this one.

You can find Shane's music on line at https://shanepaceytrio.com.au/ or https://bondicigars.com/ or https://shanepacey.bandcamp.com/album/the-gardener.

Here's a link to a tribute concert to Bert that we mention in the show: https://youtu.be/Y_MyH_Uc--s

Download this episode of LTA from your podcast app of choice. The wider back catalogue of episodes can also be found at http://lovethatalbumpodcast.blogspot.com

Love That Album is proudly part of the Pantheon Podcast network. Go to http://pantheonpodcasts.com to check out all their great shows.

You can send me feedback at rrrkitchen@yahoo.com.au (written or mp3 voicemail) or join the Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/lovethatalbum

Proudly Pantheon.

Download episode 167 from here.

Love That Album Podcast Episode 134 - Pentangle "Basket of Light"

When we think of music coming out of England in the 1960s, it's often in relation to the Mersey Beat, psychedelia, prog rock, or The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band. England was also going through a folk music revival in a different way to the American one in the early sixties thanks to a number of artists who saw fit to combine the traditional songs of generations gone with a contemporary approach.

Welcome to episode 134 of Love That Album podcast.

I am joined once again, by blues guitarist and vocalist, Shane Pacey, to discuss the third album from English band Pentangle, Basket of Light, released in 1969. There were other great bands like Steeleye Span and Fairport Convention that were finding ways of mixing folk with rock. Pentangle had a jazz rhythm section, a guitarist in the blues tradition, a guitarist trained classically, and a singer who leaned in both a blues and folk direction. Recipe for chaos? Nope, because these were all seasoned musicians who knew how to blend their skills into a common vision.

Shane and I talk about our earliest memories of the band, the individual members' other projects, and a whole mess of other related topics, while hopefully convincing you that Basket of Light is one of the great albums deserving of your attention.

BUT WAIT...there's more.

I spoke with British jazz flautist, Rowland Sutherland who'd been invited by the London Jazz Festival in 2019 to assemble a band and play Basket Of Light live in its entirety as a tribute to the album's 50th anniversary. We discussed Rowland's background, his other projects, and how he came to arrange these beloved Pentangle tunes

Once again, I am grateful to have Shane bring his knowledge and conversation to the show....LTA is all the better for his participation. Having Rowland talk about a project so near to his heart was an absolute treat. My gratitude to him as well for his time and insight.

You can find Rowland's music and links to his recordings at http://www.rowlandsutherland.com/

Please explore the music of Shane at both https://bondicigars.com/ and https://shanepaceytrio.com.au/

Download this episode of LTA from Spotify, Stitcher or iTunes (search for “Love That Album podcast”). Love That Album is proudly part of the Pantheon Podcast network. Go to http://pantheonpodcasts.com/ to check out all their great shows.

You can send me feedback at rrrkitchen@yahoo.com.au (written or mp3 voicemail) or join the Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/lovethatalbum.

If you’d consider writing an iTunes review we’d be immensely grateful. However, it’d be even better if you told a friend about the podcast and Pantheon – at a (socially distanced) barbecue, over coffee (on Skype), on social media….whatever way you choose, consider me grateful.

Right click to download episode 134 here.