Search - Bridget St John :: BBC Radio 1968-1976

A FINE LOOK AT AN UNDERRATED WRITER-SINGER

Stuart Jefferson | San Diego,Ca | 05/20/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Two discs 64,71 minutes each approximately. The sound is variable-coming from several different sources,including both on and off-air recordings. The discs are slipped in,bare,into a tri-fold cardboard holder. The booklet has extensive information on Bridget St. John,the songs,and the era (1968-1976) when these tracks were broadcast. There are interesting reproductions of BBC correspondence,and several color and b&w period photographs of St. John. The recordings aren't in chronological order-jumping from year to year,and there is some DJ chatter between some of the tracks,but not to the level of annoyance.



Bridget St. John was never a mainstream artist (she should have been),yet she recorded fairly prolifically for the BBC,thanks in large part to the legendary DJ John Peel. The backing on these tracks range from small band (one session includes Chick Churchill from TEN YEARS AFTER and Mike Giles of KING CRIMSON),to a simple guitar sound,usually by St.John. While neither type of backing deters from her voice,the simpler,solo tracks is where St. John's slightly husky,ethereal voice is best heard.



Debuting on BBC's "Night Ride" program which began at midnight,in 1968 (found on CD 2),we hear a slightly tentative artist continuing to form her individual style. Along with Peel's youthful bantering,the session retains (along with bootleg quality sound)the feeling of the time-important for understanding the impact of her music on Peel and listeners who understood her style.



This collection contains songs from a number of her albums,starting with her first,"Ask Me No Questions",and continues through some wonderful versions of songs on the long deleted "John Peel Presents Top Gear" album. Also included are tracks from (arguably) her best album,"Jumblequeen",which includes many of St. John's best writing and arranging skills of her career. The final recordings from 1976 (also for John Peel) find St. John playing in an electric mode,using an old sound effects box. This gives her songs and voice a different foundation-yet the beauty of her songs and voice still shine through the atmospheric effects.



This beautifully written and sung collection of recordings was almost destroyed by the BBC (who routinely wiped their tapes of music they considered of no worth) in one of their notorious "Audition Panels",where it was decided that St. John's music was "borderline passable". Her music was described as "borderline rubbish,her guitar playing inaccurate and her voice dull". Given that artists like LED ZEPPELIN and David Bowie (and others) were accorded similar findings by "the panel",we're lucky to have this music at all. Bridget St. John's music-her beautiful careworn voice,and her "inaccurate" guitar playing created some of the best folk-based music of the era. Her songs are timeless,her voice rings out with emotion on these well crafted songs. For anyone who has heard St. John,this BBC collection is worth owning for the live versions of many of her studio recorded songs,and for songs that aren't found on any of her albums.



St. John was criminally underrated during the few years when she was releasing her several fine albums,and playing for small appreciative audiences. With the re-release of her first few albums,and now this collection of live tracks,spanning her best years,hopefully more people will find St. John,and be captivated by her well written songs and her voice,which is a combination not often found.



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