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DVDfever.co.uk – Bert Jansch: L.A. Turnaround CD reviewElly Roberts reviews
Virgin Records
- Released: Out now
- Rating: 10/10+
Masterpiece from Scottish folk legend. His ninth album.
After the collapse of folk supergroup Pentangle, Bert Jansch was labeless. It must have been a tortuous time for the music legend.He was snapped up by Charisma Records owner Tony Stratton-Smith who recruited Monkee Michael Nesmith to turn his fortunes around in 1974.
Nesmith went on to produce three Jansch albums, Santa Barbara Honeymoon, A Rare Conundrum and L.A. Turnaround, all of which have been reissued this summer by Virgin Records.The albums have out of circulation for over 25 years and have never been available on CD until now, remastered under Janschs supervision along with previously unreleased material. This enhanced CD has an accompanying film.
At the time it was a bold move for Jansch who went to LA to make what would be a cultural shift, which had mixed reviews from the purists.Nevertheless, Nesmith being a shrewd operator saw the opportunity of bringing Janschs music to a much bigger audience by creating a much fuller sound for the potential American market.
Well never know his inner thoughts, but he must have wondered what the hell a bubblegum pop star could bring to the table. Jansch effectively put his fabulous reputation on the line. Softly spoken Bert just got on with it and the music spoke for itself. Critically at least, it paid off.To bring an American feel to things Nesmith masterfully employed pedal steel player Red Rhodes for some tracks, along with Byron Berline on fiddle / mandolin, bassist Klaus Voorman, Danny Lane on drums, Jesse Ed Davis and Jay Lacy on guitar, Michael Cohen on electric piano and Nesmith himself on guitar hence the fuller sound, though this is still very much a Jansch thing in all its glorious beauty.
Fans fears were unfounded, because the songwriting is amongst his best ever, still retaining his deep-rooted British balladry that made his name. The country folk template with Rhodes pedal steel shine on opener Fresh As A Sweet Sunday Morning with Janschs plaintive and understated vocal softly skirting this little gem and later on perky Travelling Man, Stone Monkey and Needle of Death.
The main feature of his work is the exquisite digital workouts found here on Of Love And Lullaby (also check the sublime bass work by Voorman) but even more so on the stripped -back acoustic instrumental Lady Nothing, also found further- in on the quirky and deeply countrified Cluck Old Hen and jaunty The Blacksmith.Nesmiths vision is best encapsulated on the gorgeous There Comes A Time with Rhodes giving a masterclass.
The alternative bonus tracks are superb, especially Open Up The Water Gate with Rhodes playing out of his skin, which isnt on the chosen version and the amazing In The Bleak Midwinter.
The verdict Fantastic. Go buy now!
Weblink:bertjansch.com /
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Fresh As A Sweet Monday Morning
2. Chambertin
3. One For Jo
4. Travelling Man
5. Open Up The Watergate (Let The Sunshine In)
6. Stone Monkey
7. Of Love And Lullaby
8. Needle Of Death
9. Lady Nothing
10. There Comes A Time
11. Cluck Old Hen
12. The Blacksmith
BONUS TRACKS
13.Open Up The Watergate (alt. version)
14.One For Jo (alt. version)
15.The Blacksmith (alt. version)
16.In The Black Midwinter
ECD Section L.A. Turnaround
the movie
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.