Bert Jansch
Birthday Blues
Album · Singer/Songwriter · 1969
As a full-time member of Pentangle, Bert Jansch decided to use his group for the backing of his solo album. Destined to be a cult artist, Jansch sticks primarily to the folk and blues of his youth with a few stylistic nods to the budding folk-pop of the day. With bassist Danny Thompson and drummer Terry Cox providing the solid backing, Jansch is free to spring for guitar pieces that don’t rely solely on his abilities. “Come Sing Me a Happy Song to Prove We Can All Get Along…” kicks things off in a surprisingly good mood. “Tree Song” explores the British folk currently in fashion in 1969 with earnest flutes accenting Jansch’s acoustic guitar. “I Am Lonely” is similar, evoking a pastoral scene. “Poison” goes ever deeper into the mystic with a lurching rhythm punctuated by a sharp harmonica. “I’ve Got a Woman” settles on acoustic blues. “Promised Land” electrifies those blues. Jansch never recorded anything not worth hearing, but his ‘60s material is special, as it speaks for an era.