Inexplicably, and unfairly, less celebrated than his colleague Bert Jansch, John Renbourn‘s career was every bit as interesting, and when the famously acoustic guitarist plugged in and increased the rock component in his oeuvre, primarily in the ’70s, things became even more arresting. This is what a three-disc collection titled “Kokomo Blues: Gone Electric 1970-1979” and scheduled for release on December 4th concentrates on.
It contains the 1971 classic “Faro Annie” in full, and more obscure “The Guitar Of John Renbourn” from 1977 and “Just Like Me” – taped in 1972 yet issued only in 1996 – are included in their entirety as well, alongside pieces from other projects. There’s also a triplet of numbers by PENTANGLE, a previously shelved concert take on a Mingus staple – but it’s the rest of the live material on offer, 18 tracks in all, that makes this small box set truly special. A charming proposition.
Kokomo Blues:
Gone Electric 1970-1979
CD 1
PENTANGLE:
1. Jack Orion (instrumental edit)
John Renbourn – Faro Annie:
2. White House Blues
3. Buffalo Skinners
4. Kokomo Blues
5. Little Sadie
6. Shake Shake Mamma
7. Willy O’Winsbury
8. The Cuckoo
9. Come On In My Kitchen
10. Country Blues
11. Faro Annie
12. Back On The Road Again
John Renbourn & Jacqui McShee – Live at Stalybridge, 1975 *:
13. Wedding Dress Song
14. A Maid That’s Deep In Love
15. Kokomo Blues
16. Black Waterside
17. Sweet Potato
18. My Johnny Was A Shoemaker
Wizz Jones & John Renbourn – Live at Guildford, 1972 *:
19. Bells Of Rhymney
PENTANGLE:
20. John’s Song (take 5, fuzz guitar)
CD 2
John Renbourn – Just Like Me:
1. Just Like Me
2. Sleepy John
3. Riverboat Song
4. Green Willow
5. Seven Sleepers
6. To Glastonbury
7. Floating Stone
8. O Death
9. The Young Man’s Song
John Renbourn – The Guitar Of John Renbourn:
10. Swallow Flight
11. Light Traveller
12. Reflections (1)
13. Reflections (2)
14. Freedom Road
15. Introspection
16. Passing Time
17. Portrait Of A Village
18. Summer Song
19. Glastonbury
20. Little Hands
21. Deserted Streets
CD 3
PENTANGLE – Live at St Albans, 1972 *:
1. The Shoes Of The Fisherman’s Wife Are Some Jive Ass Slippers
John James (with John Renbourn) – Head In The Clouds:
2. Georgemas Junction
3. Wormwood Tangle
4. Stranger In The World
John Renbourn, Jacqui McShee & Sue Draheim – Live in France, 1975 *:
5. Reynardine
6. A Maid In Bedlam
7. A Maid That’s Deep In Love
8. Rain And Snow
John Renbourn – The Black Balloon:
9. The Pelican
John Renbourn – Live at the Cellar Door, Washington DC, 1979 *:
10. White House Blues
11. Blues Run The Game
12. The English Dance
13. So Early In The Spring
14. Lord Franklin
15. Mist Covered Mountains / The Orphan
16. Spirit Levels (with Stefan Grossman)
* previously unreleased
