Pentangle/Al Stewart…

[moehat]

Disappeared into the time tunnel that is utube the other night when someone on Facebook posted a link to a documentary about Pentangle. Hadn’t realised that they were heavy drinkers and used to leave Jackie on stage singing solo while they nipped to the bar. She used to worry that they wouldn’t come back. This led to another documentary with Bert Jansch and Al Stewart and the discovery of an American singer ( I need to look his name up*)I’d never heard of who only made one album; the songs on it are quite sublime ( he used to go out with Sandy Dennis but, being schizophrenic had quite a tragic life). Also found out that Al Stewart is touring again next year and he’s even older than me. Tempted to book a ticket in the hope that we both make it…
*Jackson C. Frank (a name that makes me think of L Frank Baum: must be an American thing…)

 

[Jayhawk]

Disappeared into the time tunnel that is utube the other night when someone on Facebook posted a link to a documentary about Pentangle. Hadn’t realised that they were heavy drinkers and used to leave Jackie on stage singing solo while they nipped to the bar. She used to worry that they wouldn’t come back. This led to another documentary with Bert Jansch and Al Stewart and the discovery of an American singer ( I need to look his name up*)I’d never heard of who only made one album; the songs on it are quite sublime ( he used to go out with Sandy Dennis but, being schizophrenic had quite a tragic life). Also found out that Al Stewart is touring again next year and he’s even older than me. Tempted to book a ticket in the hope that we both make it…
*Jackson C. Frank (a name that makes me think of L Frank Baum: must be an American thing…)

Sandy Denny wrote a song in code - Next Time Around - about Jackson C Frank, and it first appeared on her album The North Star Grassman and the Ravens. I prefer the version recorded for the BBC in 1972 which is on Spotify as part of the I've Always Kept A Unicorn compilation.
There's a short podcast about Jackson C Frank in the series A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs focussing on Blues Run the Game. I'll give it a miss as there's a warning beforehand that it mentions death and disfigurement of small children, disability, mental illness, gun violence and eye injuries. Paul Simon, Al Stewart, Jackson C Frank and Sandy Denny all stayed at one time or another in 1965/66 in the house of Judith Pieppe in the East End of London off Cable Street.

Do you know The News From Spain from Al Stewart's album Orange from 1972? Rick Wakeman plays on it.

 

[moehat]

The only album I’ve really listened to is Zero She Flies which I played non stop for ages a few years ago. I thought I knew all there was to know about Fairport et al but you never stop learning. Ashley Hutchins ( also still going strong) gave a talk at our village hall years ago. A friend of mine managed his son at one time. Does the podcast refer to the explosion that injured (killed) many children? I thought all the folk bands that I loved in my youth were so squeaky clean compared other musicians back then.

 

[moehat]

Have just listened to the podcast ( 499 more songs to listen to now). I’m now thinking that he must be referenced in one of my favourite books, White Bicycles by Joe Boyd, so I’m going to dip into it. What a sad, tragic life. Having said that, he influenced so many people and, who knows, without his encouragement Sandy Denny might have remained a nurse. Then again, maybe her life would have been happier had she done so. The fickle finger of fate, eh…

 

[Jayhawk]

Have just listened to the podcast ( 499 more songs to listen to now). I’m now thinking that he must be referenced in one of my favourite books, White Bicycles by Joe Boyd, so I’m going to dip into it. What a sad, tragic life. Having said that, he influenced so many people and, who knows, without his encouragement Sandy Denny might have remained a nurse. Then again, maybe her life would have been happier had she done so. The fickle finger of fate, eh…

Jackson C Frank purchased an Aston Martin, Bentley and a Land Rover during his year in London quickly using up the proceeds of his insurance payout from the school fire. He didn't fritter it away on gambling or at the horse sales.
Sandy Denny did not enjoy her short time as a nurse as she was given a variety of unpleasant tasks. She ran away from the hospital once and her father tracked her down to the house in the East End mentioned above.
There's a song - My Friend - on Roy Harper's first album titled Sophisticated Beggar which is also about JCF.

 

[moehat]

Yes. The Roy Harper song was mentioned and played in the podcast. It played several cover versions of his songs but I found that none of them were as good as the original version. He had a lovely voice. Strangely enough, I’ve only just watched Joker, even though I bought the dvd years ago. His music fitted well with such a bleak disturbing film. To go through all the things that befell him and then to get randomly shot and blinded in a park beggars belief.

 

[archie]

Bert Jansch was a folk hero at my youth club in the mid 60s. I saw him in concert at Manchester Free Trade Hall within 2 months of starting at university on a bill that included a young Al Stewart, John Renbourn and the Incredible String Band. He was due to be there again a few months later but was 'indisposed' and was replaced by Martin Carthy, Dave Swarbrick and the Watersons.

Al Stewart I saw again at the Rainbow (Finsbury Park) in, I think, 1972 when he was rather more famous.

Sandy Denny, I only saw once as part of Fotheringay in 1970 when they played the Albert Hall with the promising young singer/songwriter, Elton John, as support.

 

[2017diary]

^^^

Whatever happened to him?

 

[moehat]

60 degree burns at 11. His son died. He suffered from thyroid problems, depression, found himself living on the streets then got shot in the eye in a park when some kids were messing about with an air rifle. I think I’ve missed a few things out too!