Showing posts with label joan beaz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label joan beaz. Show all posts

Thursday, February 3, 2011

A Pentagle Of Music



Pentangle are a British band formed in the late 60's who floored spectators with their brand of folk jazz. Headed by guitar virtuoso Bert Jansch they had a huge commercial success over in Europe and most of the US. Jansch's strong voice paired well with Jacqui McShee's angelic soft voice. Pentangle used a plethora of different instruments in traditional folk songs to change the sound but still hold true to the richness of folk. House Carpenter is an old traditional folk song that has been sung by Dave Van Ronk, Doc Watson, and Joan Beaz just to name a few. Here Pentangle switched it up by throwing in a indian sitar and it sounded beautiful under McShees and Janschs voices. Beautiful job from one of Britian's national treasure.

Monday, December 20, 2010

If You Wanna Be A Hero Follow Van Ronk



This song has got to be one of the most raw patriotic war songs I've ever heard. Dave Van Ronk was the leader of the New York folk scene in the 60's. Residing in Greenwich Village where clubs like the Cafe Wha?, Folk City, The Bitter End and the Gaslight Cafe were just a few that sparked the careers of Bob Dylan, Joan Beaz, Pete Seeger, Weavers, The Kingston Trio, Phil Ochs and many many more. But with all the big names to come out Van Ronk was always considered the king of the Village. His rough and scratchy voice fits perfectly with this bitter song. A song about a veteran coming back with battle scars and nothing left, still getting left in the dirt with no respect for what he has done. The song is as raw as it gets and I love it, its one of my favorite Van Ronk songs to date.