John Renbourn - Unpentagled: The Sixties Albums (Cherry Tree/Cherry Red-CRTREEBOX023).

By Decibel Report - June 28, 2019

Alongside his fellow Pentangle bandmate Bert Jansch, and other stellar acoustic maestro’s such as Davy Graham, John Renbourn is acknowledged as one of the most influential acoustic guitarists to emerge from the British folk scene.

He came to far wider attention as an essential member of Pentangle; the folk/jazz genre busting band he was instrumental in bringing together in 1967.

However, this carefully curated 6 CD clamshell box set - which Cherry Red do so very well - charts his early rise as an acoustic finger-smith. This beautifully collected release takes in Renbourn’s early rise up the folk ladder towards the formation of Pentangle.

His trio of solo albums, his two crucial collaborations with revered folk singer Dorris Henderson and his joint album with Bert Jansch: “Bert and John” from 1966 are presented with an in depth essay, replica album sleeves and very rare photos of this quiet genius of folk.

Of special interest, is a clutch of rare bonus tracks to add to the already comprehensive tracks which shine a glowing light on the man that folk club organiser and ZigZag founder Pete Frame once dubbed “the stoned Julian Bream of folk guitar”.

DISC ONE
DORRIS HENDERSON & JOHN RENBOURN – THERE YOU GO!

1. SALLY FREE AND EASY
2. SINGLE GIRL
3. RIBBON BOW
4. COTTON EYED JOE
5. MR TAMBOURINE MAN
6. MIST ON THE MOUNTAIN
7. THE LAG’S SONG
8. AMERICAN JAIL SONG
9. THE WATER IS WIDE
10. SOMETHING LONESOME
11. SONG (FALLING STAR)
12. WINTER IS GONE
13. STRANGE LULLABY
14. YOU’RE GONNA NEED SOMEBODY ON YOUR BOND
15. ONE MORNING IN MAY
16. A BANJO TUNE (ALIAS DARLING COREY)
17. GOING TO MEMPHIS
BONUS TRACKS
18. THE LEAVES ARE GREEN (ALIAS LEAVES THAT ARE GREEN)
19. THE HANGMAN

DISC TWO
JOHN RENBOURN – JOHN RENBOURN

1. JUDY
2. BETH’S BLUES
3. SONG
4. DOWN ON THE BARGE
5. JOHN HENRY
6. PLAINSONG
7. LOUISIANA BLUES
8. BLUE BONES
9. TRAIN TUNE
10. CANDY MAN
11. THE WILDEST PIG IN CAPTIVITY
12. NATIONAL SEVEN
13. MOTHERLESS CHILDREN
14. WINTER IS GONE
15. NOAH AND RABBIT
BONUS TRACKS
16. THE WILDEST PIG IN CAPTIVITY (ALTERNATIVE VERSION)
17. CAN’T KEEP FROM CRYING
18. BLUES RUN THE GAME
19. LUCKY THIRTEEN

DISC THREE
BERT JANSCH & JOHN RENBOURN – BERT AND JOHN

1. EAST WIND
2. PIANO TUNE
3. GOODBYE PORK PIE HAT
4. SOHO
5. TIC-TOCATIVE
6. ORLANDO
7. RED’S FAVOURITE
8. NO EXIT
9. ALONG THE WAY
10. THE TIME HAS COME
11. STEPPING STONES
12. AFTER THE DANCE
BONUS TRACK
13. THE WAGGONER’S LAD

DISC FOUR
JOHN RENBOURN –
ANOTHER MONDAY

1. ANOTHER MONDAY
2. LADYE NOTHING’S TOY PUFFE
3. I KNOW MY BABE
4. WALTZ
5. LOST LOVER BLUES
6. ONE FOR WILLIAM
7. BUFFALO
8. SUGAR BABE
9. DEBBIE ANNE
10. CAN’T KEEP FROM CRYING
11. DAY AT THE SEASIDE
12. NOBODY’S FAULT BUT MINE

DISC FIVE
DORRIS HENDERSON –
WATCH THE STARS

1. WHEN YOU HEAR THEM CUCKOOS HOLLERIN’
2. IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME
3. 30 DAYS IN JAIL
4. NO MORE MY LORD
5. WATCH THE STARS
6. THERE’S ANGER IN THIS LAND
7. MOSAIC PATTERNS
8. TOMORROW IS A LONG TIME
9. FOR LOVIN’ ME
10. COME UP HORSEY
11. GOD BLESS THE CHILD
12. THE TIME HAS COME
13. POEMS OF SOLITUDE
14. LONELY MOOD
15. GONNA TELL MY LORD
BONUS TRACK
16. MESSAGE TO PRETTY

DISC SIX
JOHN RENBOURN –
SIR JOHN ALOT OF MERRIE NGLANDES MUSYK THYNG & YE GRENE KNYGHTE

1. THE EARLE OF SALISBURY
2. THE TREES THEY DO GROW HIGH
3. LADY GOES TO CHURCH
4. MORGANA
5. TRANSFUSION
6. FORTY-EIGHT
7. MY DEAR BOY
8. WHITE FISHES
9. SWEET POTATO
10. SEVEN UP
BONUS TRACKS
11. THE EARLE OF SALISBURY
(ALTERNATIVE VERSION)
12. TRANSFUSION
(ALTERNATIVE VERSION)
13. FORTY-EIGHT
(ALTERNATIVE VERSION)

John Renbourn - Unpentagled: The Sixties Albums.