56. Bert Jansch | Bert Jansch (1965)

Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Strolling Down the Highway
2. Smokey River
3. Oh How Your Love Is Strong
4. I Have No Time
5. Finches
6. Rambling's Gonna Be the Death of Me
7. Veronica
8. Needle of Death
9. Do You Hear Me Now?
10. Alice's Wonderland
11. Running from Home
12. Courting Blues
13. Casbah
14. Dreams of Love
15. Angie

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Bert Jansch is a somber album. Needle of Death captures the essence of this album so well, but even the instrumental songs are sad and lonely. The music and Bert Jansch's voice together are haunting, yet compelling.

Many of the songs are so brief that you're not sure you've heard them at all. Despite just having a guitar to accompany the singing, the music is rich.

The folk artists featured so far on the 1001 Albums list have consistently sung about mature themes. Bert Jansch continues this trend by covering the dark and lonely sides of life and love.

I really enjoyed this album. This certainly isn't a pick-me-up album, but it is worth listening to. All of the songs with singing: Strolling Down the Highway, Oh How Your Love Is Strong, I Have No Time, Rambling's Gonna Be the Death of Me, Needle of Death, Do You Hear Me Now?, Running from Home, Courting Blues and Dreams of Love are excellent. The instrumentals: Casbah and Angie stand out among the others, which are still nice interludes.
★★★★★★★★★☆