Monday, August 18, 2008

the pentangle: light flight



the pentangle, 1970. terry cox (left back) and bert jansch (front left) perfect their "don't fuck with the folk musician" personaes.



TAKE THREE GIRLS UK BBC 1969

If you're of a certain age, and British, chances are you'll remember - with some affection - the BBC tv series "Take Three Girls" which originally ran from 1969 - 1971 and starred Liza Goddard; Angela Down; and Susan Jameson. Written by Charlotte Bingham and Terence Brady - one female scriptwriter was considered dicey enough - this popular sit-com was predictably of its time, highlighting the sagas of three young women sharing a London flat as the swinging 60's drew to its close. Stirring stuff. In a very understated way.

Quite the best thing about the show was its superb theme tune
written and performed by highly regarded folk group, The Pentangle comprising Jacqui McShee; John Renbourn; Bert Jansch; Danny Thompson; and Terry Cox. They were also responsible for the series' incidental music too, so there was a feeling of genuine continuity throughout. Renbourn and Jansch, especially, were folk idols at the time with two best selling albums as a duo already under their belt. If you are familiar with Jackson C. Frank, who visited London himself during the mid-sixties, you will appreciate just how much of an influence Jansch was on the Buffalo born American.

Recorded at IBC Studios, London, and produced by Shel Talmy.

THE PENTANGLE: LIGHT FLIGHT (THEME FROM "TAKE THREE GIRLS") from "Basket Of Light" LP (Transatlantic) 1969 (UK)

BASKET OF LIGHT REMASTERED

1 comment:

ib said...

I'd just like to say thanks to Brendan over on The Rising Storm, for linking to this post. I'm glad somebody out there noticed this one. The Pentangle were an astounding group. Not solely because of the exceptional contributions from Jansch and Renbourne, either. As a unit, they functioned better than virtually any group on the folk circuit in their time. And Jacqui McShee is deserving of special attention for her truly beautiful vocal skills. She really was virtually the only female singer who could give the great Sandy Denny a run for her money. And that's no exaggeration.

Such a paltry and hastily put together post as this fails to do proper justice to their standing as one of the most consistent talents in folk music.