purchased as a gift so have not opened. But item arrived in good shape. Exactly what I ordered. Transaction with this seller went just as it should. Thanks!
The folk song revival produced many contemporary folk songwriters and new folk songs. But it also gave a resurgence of interest in tradtional folk music. After the success the year previously with his debut album and second album with fresh new songs by Jansch, this third album leans more to the tradtional side of folk music but still retaining that Jansch sound of jazzy blues influence through the arrangements. This third album, Jack Orion, was recorded in 1966 and it is one of my favourite albums by Jansch. It contains the traditional epic title track Jack Orion. And there is also a ten minute adaptation of Glasgerion, a Child Ballad. The debut album had been recorded in the front room of a house belonging to engineer Bill Leader but that relaxed setting was followed by the stress of a studio for the second album. For this album, Jack Orion, and the next album Bert and John, also recorded in the same year 1966, Jansch returned to the front room atmosphere of their flat to record, here on this album are various influences such as Baroque, Hillbilly, Dylan, Jazz, Blues and British and Irish Traditional music. Once again we have the familiar acoustic guitar with vocal and instrumental tunes that form the unique sound of Jansch. Jansch had spent time with traditionalist Anne Briggs and the pair had played around at traditional songs together. This influence gave this album such a special unique sound. Many sang traditional songs. And many sang and performed in an established three chord sort of way. The unique performance style of jansch injected a new refreshing take on the traditional sound here. The album was a shake up for some of the traditionalists of the older generation. In the same way that Folk Rock would be criticised by some and praised by others, Jack Orion would also be embraced as just a new modern way to interpret folk music by some and derided by others. So here there are songs all from Tradition except for The first time ever I saw your face by Ewan MacColl. And even there Jansch’s rendition sounds so original compared to the MacColl version. . Also of note is that once again, like album two, John Renbourn helps out on a few tracks. The opening track The Waggoner’s lad, has Jansch on banjo whilst Renbourn plays the guitar. It is clear that this album influenced a lot of people in the music business. It is obvious that Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin more than borrowed from it. I first heard this album back in the 1980s on a original vinyl copy that I borrowed from the public library. It was the first album by Jansch that I heard. Since then I have discovered the other albums by Jansch and collected on CD. This album, and this CD version is one of my favourites and it is a fabulous release. The sound is excellent, and much better than that vinyl version years ago, and there is a good booklet with photos. This album should be a must have in a good folk collection.