It’s was a wonder this album happened at all. Those on the inside assumed 1971’s “Reflection” – recorded amidst regular conflicts within the ensemble and a dispute with Transatlantic Records over royalties – would be PENTANGLE‘s final plater. So when, a year later, the quintet found strength to come up with “Solomon’s Seal” – a fresh set of originals and traditional tunes, with “Willy O’ Winsbury” reprised from John Renbourn’s “Faro Annie” longplay of 1971 on which Danny Thompson and Terry Cox also played – and even embarked on an English tour, their fans were surprised. Still, the sales didn’t satisfy the musicians, and despite Jacqui McShee’s confessed love for this offering, the others, first and foremost Bert Jansch, seemed eager to seek out alternative opportunities, and in early 1973 the band folded. When they got back in 1985 to stay on until the present day, the line-up changed, and old magic remained unrestored, with the group’s last classic album a testament to their talents.
Solomon’s Seal
It saw a few remastered reissues, but the one scheduled to appear on October 10th will be special, because it will feature a lot of additional material with a generous dose of previously unreleased numbers, mostly of stage provenance, with a couple of from-the-screen cuts thrown in for good measure. An essential edition.
CD 1:
1. Sally Free And Easy
2. The Cherry Tree Carol
3. The Snows
4. High Germany
5. People On The Highway
6. Willy O’ Winsbury
7. No Love Is Sorrow
8. Jump Baby Jump
9. Lady Of Carlisle
BBC Sounds Of The 70s, John Renbourn & Jacqui McShee – May 7th, 1973
10. Flower Of Northumberland *
BBC Sounds Of The 70s – June 19th, 1972
11. People On The Highway
12. No Love Is Sorrow
13. Jump Baby Jump
14. The Cherry Tree Carol
15. Lady Of Carlisle
16. Music from “On Any Day” documentary, 1972:*
John Renbourn (from “Faro Annie”, 1971):
17. Willy O’ Winsbury
CD 2:
The Final Tour: October-November 1972 Guildford Civic Hall – November 10th, 1972:
1. Yarrow
2. When I Get Home
3. My Sweet Potato *
4. She Moved Through The Fair
5. Reynardine *
6. Train Song
7. The Shoes Of The Fisherman’s Wife Are Some Jive-Ass Slippers *
8. Cruel Sister (part) *
9. People On The Highway *
10. Haul Away *
St Albans Civic Centre – October 27th, 1972:
11. The Cuckoo *
12. The Snows *
13. Cruel Sister *
Excerpts from “Christian The Lion” (1972):
14. Christian The Lion
15. The Furniture Store
* previously unreleased
