Search - Bert Jansch :: Blackwater Side

Excellent two-disc review

C. H Smith | Bowling Green, Kentucky United States | 11/25/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This two-CD collection concentrates on Bert's early period--that is, the music he recorded between 1965 and 1971 as a solo act, with John Renbourn, and as part of Pentangle. The choice of material is excellent, though missing are a few of his best known pieces such as "I am Lonely" and "Jack Orion"; perhaps these were deliberately left out to make way for some infrequently heard B-sides of singles ("I Saw an Angel," "A Little Sweet Sunshine"). The balance of the material selected is good as well, with six or seven Pentangle works present, a couple of duets with John Renbourn, and the remaining thirty or so works a good sample of his best solo album work. At this price, moreover, the whole package is quite a bargain. This set represents good competition for the 1980 "Best of Bert Jansch" set (which covers the same period, but includes only material from his solo titles) and the recent 2-CD "Dazzling Stranger" collection, which attempts to survey his entire career (not entirely to its advantage, in my opinion)."