Solomon's Seal was an album recorded in 1972 by folk-rock band Pentangle: Terry Cox, Bert Jansch, Jacqui McShee, John Renbourn and Danny Thompson. It was the last album recorded by the original Pentangle line-up, before the band split in 1973. Jacqui McShee has stated that it is her favourite Pentangle album.[1] The album title refers to the Seal of Solomon — a mythical signet ring with magical powers, sometimes associated with the pentagram symbol adopted by Pentangle.
Solomon's Seal was recorded at Sound Techniques studio, London, between February and March 1972. Pentangle's contract with Transatlantic had expired and, amid a dispute with Transatlantic over royalties, the band had switched allegiance to Warner/Reprise, who had been their U.S. distributor. The album was released in September 1972, to coincide with the start of new tour. However, by the start of 1973, the band had split and sales of the album were disappointing, leaving the band members still paying off their debts, against the album's advance royalties, into the early 1980s.[2]
The album opens with their version of Cyril Tawney's song of a sailor's lost love: "Sally Free and Easy". Unlike its usual rendition as a sea shanty, Pentangle treat this to a slow bluesy rhythm. The remainder of the album is divided between traditional songs and the band's own compositions.
It includes some thoughtful arrangements (the use of sitar and recorders in "The Snows", for example) and displays production values of ensuring that every instrument is audible but balanced in the whole sound. However, it lacks some of the riskier features of early Pentangle albums: there are no improvised jazz duets between the two guitarists and no double bass solos, for example. As such, it could be praised for being a very "polished" sound or criticised for lacking the exciting creative edge of earlier Pentangle work. Colin Harper wrote "Solomon's Seal is a record of people's weariness, but also the product of a unit whose members were still among the best players, writers and musical interpreters of their day."[3]
Track listing
- "Sally Free And Easy" (Cyril Tawney) – 3:55
- "The Cherry Tree Carol" (Traditional. Arranged Jansch, Renbourn, Thompson, Cox, McShee) – 2:57
- "The Snows" (Jansch, Renbourn, Thompson, Cox, McShee) – 3:43
- "High Germany" (Traditional arr. Jansch, Renbourn, Thompson, Cox, McShee) – 3:15
- "People On The Highway" (Jansch, Renbourn, Thompson, Cox, McShee) – 4:46
- "Willy O' Winsbury" (Traditional arr. Jansch, Renbourn, Thompson, Cox, McShee) – 6:50
- "No Love Is Sorrow" (Jansch, Renbourn, Thompson, Cox, McShee) – 2:41
- "Jump Baby Jump" (Jansch, Renbourn, Thompson, Cox, McShee) – 3:10
- "Lady Of Carlisle" (Traditional arr. Jansch, Renbourn, Thompson, Cox, McShee) – 4:41
Note that "The Snows" is listed as a Pentangle composition but is actually a traditional song, previously recorded by both Archie Fisher and Anne Briggs.
Personnel
- Terry Cox – drums, percussion, finger cymbals, vocals
- Bert Jansch – acoustic guitar, dulcimer, harmonica, banjo, vocals
- Jacqui McShee – vocals
- John Renbourn – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, sitar, banjo, recorder, vocals
- Danny Thompson – double bass
Release history
Solomon's Seal was released in 1972 in the UK as Reprise K44197 and in the USA as Reprise 2100.
A digitally remastered version was released on CD in 2003, as Castle CMQCD555. This was produced from a tape owned by John Renbourn as the original masters were believed to be lost. However, the original master tapes have since been found in the U.S.A.[4]
References
- ^ Harper, Colin (2006). Dazzling Stranger: Bert Jansch and the British Folk and Blues Revival (2006 edition). Bloomsbury. p. 237. ISBN 0-7475-8725-6.
- ^ Harper p.268
- ^ Harper p.237
- ^ Harper p.375
External links
